How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game-Chapter 428: Celestial Contract...IV

The current era, this timeline, wasn't broken anymore.

If I remembered the game's lore correctly, Lavine had already completed her duty long ago.

Her work was done.

The shattered flow of time had been mended, the tears in space sealed.

So then — why was she still here?

Why was Lavine, the Grand Magus of timeless wisdom, still shackled to this fading realm?

I looked at her — really looked at her — and the realization felt cold.

She wasn't here because the world needed her.

She was here because she didn't know how to leave.

This realm was no longer a sanctum. It was a prison.

A cage of her own making, forged by the very magic that made her a legend.

An eternal, unwithering husk of existence… slowly trying to fade, but unable to die.

And despite everything — despite all her power, all her knowledge, all her grace — she sat here alone, holding tea in her hands, like it was the only warmth left in her endless stillness.

It was always strange to me why the developers never expanded on her story.

Why they left her as a side note.

A myth with no resolution.

But maybe that was intentional.

Maybe not knowing everything was part of what made her compelling.

A living remnant of the world's past.

A guardian who outlived her purpose huh….

Of course, just because she denied me didn't mean I was going to simply give up.

That was never the plan.

I'd come here expecting resistance.

Lavine wasn't the type to leap to action at someone's request — not even if the world was collapsing around her.

That was exactly what used to infuriate me when I played the game.

The devs introduced these insanely powerful, fascinating characters — the Heavenly Swordsman,

The Hidden Blade, and of course, her… the Grand Magus — only to let them vanish into obscurity after their brief moment in the spotlight.

None of them ever made an impact in any of the epilogues.

None of them stood at the world's end.

Sure, the lore tried to justify it.

Each had their own reason — the duke chose to ignore since it was his daughter, the hidden blade turned a blind eye as it would be pointless and Lavine chose to remain outside of time — even when the world itself was ending, when everything was on the brink of collapse, those excuses always felt… weak.

They felt like wasted potential.

And this time?

I wouldn't waste it.

"…Then instead of helping us directly," I said with a smile, "why don't you help us indirectly, oh great mage?"

Lavine raised an eyebrow, setting her cup down on the floating table. "Please speak normally. Your formal tone reeks of hidden intention."

"…I-Is that so?" I scratched the back of my head sheepishly, then turned to Rose who still sat beside me in a suspended stasis. "Then how about this — why don't you make my lover your disciple?"

That got her attention.

She looked at Rose, then back at me. Her purple eyes sparkled, a smile playing on her lips.

"Fufu~ You expect me to take on a disciple, child?"

"Not exactly train her," I clarified, "but at least teach her. Impart a portion of your knowledge. She'll handle the rest — I promise. You've already sensed it, haven't you?"

Lavine remained quiet, her gaze drifting back to Rose, eyes narrowing slightly. She didn't respond, but I knew the answer.

"You already know it," I pressed. "Her affinity — it's the same as yours. It's rare, maybe one in a million, but she has it. Celestial magic. Not only that, her control over it is ridiculous. You don't even need to teach her spells — just give her your theories, your understanding of the higher planes, and she'll turn them into miracles."

I leaned in slightly. "Trust me… she's more of a genius than you were."

Lavine's expression changed. For a second, I thought I saw a flicker of pride… and then amusement.

"My, my~ Such arrogant words from a mere child," she said, shaking her head with a faint smirk. "To compare anyone to me is already blasphemy — but to call her more than me? That's a bit of a stretch, don't you think?"

"Maybe," I said. "But it won't feel like a stretch once you see her with your own eyes."

She let out a soft, almost wistful laugh. "Still… I suppose I don't mind the idea. It's been quite a while since anyone intrigued me as much as that girl did the moment you two arrived. Her soul… it sings of the stars. She is attuned not just to the surface of celestial magic but to its heart."

She rose from her seat, her long silvery-blue hair floating gently around her like waves underwater. The realm itself responded to her movement, threads of light bending around her form.

"Very well, Riley. I'll humor your request. I won't promise her power, nor survival, nor a place in destiny. But I'll give her what she needs — the chance to surpass me, if she dares."

Snap!

The sound of Lavine's fingers echoed like a ripple through space.

The moment it rang out, the stasis surrounding Rose shattered like invisible glass, releasing her from the spell that had kept her suspended.

Her body twitched slightly as her breath caught, blinking rapidly as her surroundings rushed back into focus.

"R-Riley…?" she mumbled, dazed, her voice soft and uncertain.

Her eyes slowly adjusted, locking onto me first with relief—then widening in sudden alarm as she noticed the third presence sitting calmly just across from us. freewebnøvel.com

"Riley, behind you—be careful! That woman is dangerous!"

Golden light surged to life in her eyes.

Without hesitation, mana rushed to her hands, raw and reactive.

A radiant heat began forming between her palms, the magic dancing with intensity far sharper than usual. She was ready to strike.

A spell was seconds away.

"Light hmm~ I see…" Lavine murmured, resting her cheek against her knuckles as she studied the scene with curiosity instead of concern. "So, your affinity isn't limited to celestial magic alone. There's something else swimming in that soul of yours as well"

She chuckled lightly, unbothered by the attack charging just meters from her face.

"No wonder you spoke so highly of her, child," Lavine said to me. "But if I were you, little disciple— I'd stop that flare of yours. Unless you want your first punishment right here and now~"

Rose blinked, startled. "Disciple…?"

She looked at me for confirmation, confused and tense, her magic still brimming around her fingers.

"Stop, Rose," I said, standing up slowly and placing a hand over hers. "She's not going to hurt you. Lavine doesn't mean any harm."

"But she—she did something to me just now, didn't she?"

"I did," Lavine answered plainly before I could. "You caught my attention, dear. Your energy was… fascinating. I had to take a closer look. A stasis spell seemed the best method to avoid interruptions."

Her tone was casual, as if reading someone's diary was just normal behavior.

Rose's eyes narrowed in confusion, still unsure whether to drop her guard.

So, I stepped closer and gently took her hand, easing it down, the heat of her magic dispersing softly into the ambient air.

"Let me introduce you properly, okay?" I said with a smile. "Rose, this is Lavine Chronos… the Grand Magus of the celestial arts."

Rose turned her gaze toward Lavine once more, her breath catching as realization slowly began to dawn.

"Lavine… Chronos…?"

I nodded. "And starting today… she's your new master."

The golden glow faded from her eyes as she stared in stunned silence.

Her lips parted slightly, trying to find words, but none came.

"Fufu~ You seem rather overwhelmed, young one. Rose, was it? I know it might've seemed like a whim… but ultimately, the decision is yours to make."

Her eyes glimmered like starlight as she tilted her head with casual elegance.

"So, how about it? Would you like to become my disciple?"

Rose blinked, glancing at me for a moment—eyes searching for clarity, for reassurance.

Then she looked back at Lavine, gaze steady now.

Her once-confused expression faded, hardening into something resolute.

"…No," she said flatly.

Lavine raised a hand, brushing her hair aside with an amused grin. "Of course, of course~ I mean, yes is the only reasonable answer after all. I'm—wait. What was that?"

"I said no."

This time, Rose's voice cut clean through the quiet like a blade through silk.

Lavine's smile faltered.

Her teacup paused halfway to her lips as her expression froze in stunned disbelief.

"…I beg your pardon? Perhaps you didn't quite hear the introduction the boy beside you gave just now."

She rose slightly in her seat, voice now carrying a quiet grandeur that reverberated across the formless space.

"My name is Lavine Chronos—the one and only archmage to have received the title of Grand Magus, master of the celestial arts, guardian of the Staff of Providence, founder of the Great Academy, and anchor of the very fabric of space-time itself. Surely, you've heard of me? Surely you know what I represent r-right?"

Rose looked her dead in the eyes, completely unfazed.

"Yes. I do."

Lavine blinked.

"But my answer is still no."

A rare silence settled between them—heavy and uncomfortable, like the moment before a storm.

"…Why?"

"I don't need a master," Rose replied simply, without arrogance. She stepped closer to me, just slightly, her hand brushing mine. "I've come this far on my own. I intend to keep it that way."

I couldn't help but chuckle at her stubbornness—even now, she never did follow expectations.

"You sure about that?" I said, softly. "I don't think you need to make such a rash decision. Lavine could help you more than you realize. She's not someone you meet twice in a lifetime."

But Rose just shook her head.

"No. My magic is mine to shape. If I'm going to grow stronger… it'll be by my own hand, not by someone else's design, I won't let anyone steal it from me!"

Lavine blinked again, then slowly placed her teacup down with a small clink.

"…I wasn't trying to steal your magic," Lavine mumbled softly…