Night settled over the academy.
Lucien lay on the roof of the dormitory, hands behind his head, staring at the sky. The stars here were brighter than Earth's—too sharp, too close, like they were observing him back.
"Man… this world's really gone off-script," he muttered.
Kael's sword style replayed in his mind again and again.
Too fast.
Too early.
Too dangerous.
Lucien exhaled.
If the story keeps changing like this… even my future knowledge won't save anyone.
A soft sound reached his ears.
Footsteps.
Lucien sat up instantly.
No mana fluctuation.
No killing intent.
No presence at all.
That alone made his spine tingle.
"Who's there?" he asked lightly, though his body was already tense.
Someone stood near the edge of the rooftop.
A woman cloaked in pale silver, moonlight bending subtly around her figure. Her eyes reflected the stars—not metaphorically, but literally, as if entire skies lived within them.
Lucien blinked.
"…Whoa."
That was his honest reaction.
"You know," he said, scratching his cheek, "breaking into a student's dorm roof at night is kinda suspicious."
The woman smiled faintly.
"I wasn't sure how else to meet you."
Lucien froze.
Meet me?
A Presence Beyond Rank
Lucien's system stayed silent.
No warnings.
No analysis.
No rank display.
That had never happened before.
"…You're not from the academy," Lucien said slowly.
"No," she replied.
"…Not from this layer of the world either."
Lucien let out a low whistle.
"Figures."
Instead of panic, curiosity took over—classic Lucien.
"So," he said casually, "are you here to kill me, recruit me, or drop cryptic advice and disappear?"
Her smile widened—just a little.
"You're much calmer than expected."
Lucien shrugged.
"I've died once already. Kinda takes the edge off."
Something flickered in her eyes at that.
Pain?
Regret?
Lucien wasn't sure.
Sight Without Revelation
She stepped closer.
The world felt… clearer.
Lucien realized his thoughts were unusually calm. His anxiety about Kael, about fate, about drifting timelines—everything felt temporarily quiet.
"What did you do?" Lucien asked.
"Nothing harmful," she said gently.
"I only allowed you to see… without noise."
Lucien met her gaze.
For a brief moment—
He felt exposed.
Not judged.
Seen.
Every struggle.
Every lonely night.
Every quiet fear that he wouldn't be enough.
His throat tightened.
"…We've never met," he said slowly, "but this feels unfairly familiar."
The woman's fingers curled slightly at her side.
"That's because," she replied carefully, "I have been watching you for a very long time."
Lucien laughed weakly.
"Well, that's comforting. And creepy."
She didn't deny it.
A Warning, Not an Answer
"You noticed it," she said.
Lucien's expression sharpened instantly.
"Kael's sword style."
She nodded.
"It is not time for it yet."
Lucien leaned forward.
"In the original flow of things," he said quietly, "Kael loses first. That loss keeps him human."
Her eyes glimmered.
"You understand the danger, then."
Lucien clenched his fist.
"Yeah. And I don't like it."
She studied him for a long moment.
Then spoke words that sent a chill down his spine.
"Future knowledge will not be enough for you."
Lucien frowned.
"…You too?"
"Especially for you," she corrected softly.
A Gift Without Explanation
She raised her hand.
Lucien tensed—but nothing happened outwardly.
Instead, something settled inside him.
Not power.
Not rank.
Perspective.
"Think of this," she said, lowering her hand,
"as permission to keep walking forward… even when the road disappears."
Lucien opened his mouth—
But she was already stepping back.
"Wait," he said quickly.
"Who are you?"
She paused.
Moonlight framed her silhouette.
"Someone who sees," she answered.
"And someone who does not wish to see you broken."
Before Lucien could respond—
She was gone.
No flash.
No distortion.
Just absence.
Aftermath
Lucien stared at the empty rooftop.
His heart was pounding.
"…That's not fair," he muttered.
The system flickered faintly.
⟡ Observation Authority Detected ⟡
Status: Non-hostile
Impact: Minimal (For Now)
Lucien lay back down slowly.
Hands over his eyes.
This world really doesn't want me staying comfortable, huh?
Yet—
For the first time since Kael's sword style appeared—
Lucien didn't feel alone in noticing the danger.
And somewhere far beyond sight—
A goddess watched him carefully, restraining herself from calling his name the way only family could.