novelraw Chapter 179: A Moment To Breathe
Chapter 179: A Moment To Breathe
A one-horned dog-wolf, a red-eyed cat, and a tall white-haired man walked into a building...
That alone sounded like the beginning of a joke.
But it wasn’t.
Ignotus didn’t bother announcing himself or pretending he belonged here. He just strode forward like he owned the place, his boots echoing across the polished stone. Alba padded behind him, and Eris flicked her tail, hopping lightly from tile to tile.
The Academy dorms were normally peaceful. Students walking, chatting, or trying to avoid responsibility. But today? The entire hallway froze the second Ignotus stepped inside.
And it wasn’t because he was infamous, though he was, but because it was Ignotus.
Every single person he passed stared at him, scared that a natural disaster had arrived. Which technically wasn’t factually wrong, especially when considering his Calamity.
The white-haired Stellae had a reputation, and "peaceful" wasn’t anywhere close to it.
"Oh no."
"Why is he here?"
"Did something happen?"
Whispers chased behind him, and many shut their doors.
Ignotus ignored all of it, of course, too busy admiring his cute little companions.
The one-horned dog-wolf woofed proudly at the students’ reactions, adorably puffing out his chest like he could fight the whole dorm if needed.
Eris meowed with the exact opposite demeanor, unimpressed and judging everyone equally.
The two followed Ignotus to the end of the corridor, where a wide set of double doors waited. His room. The one granted by his title, not his grade, as that didn’t amount to much.
Because yes, the rooms were assigned by rank, and even though Ignotus sat smack in the middle of the leaderboard, being a Stellae gave him his own private space.
"Alright, let’s see..."
He pushed the door open and stepped inside for the first time.
"...huh."
The interior was... surprisingly decent.
Sunlight filtered in through tall balcony windows framed by pale columns. The walls were made of white stone veined with faint gold, giving the whole place a noble appearance.
A proper kitchen sat to the left, marble counters and bronze fixtures gleaming. To the right was a stone-framed doorway leading to a bath large enough for at least three people.
"This’s really fancy."
Ignotus wandered forward and found another room tucked behind a curtain—an actual training chamber. Sand flooring, weapon racks, reinforced walls, and even a small statue of a star constellation in the corner watching over it all.
"They really gave me all this?"
He whistled.
"And here I was living in tents half the time."
Eris flicked Her tail, and Alba sniffed the floor, perhaps checking for spells.
Ignotus explored for another minute before—
Knock, knock.
He raised a brow.
"For once, can people let me enjoy myself?"
Opening the door, he saw a woman in a maid’s uniform standing there. She held a large metal pot with a towel-wrapped base. Behind her was a cart loaded with similar-looking pots.
"Good afternoon, Sir Stellae."
She gave him a polite bow.
"Today’s lunch is a traditional meat soup. Approved for high-nutritional-recovery diets."
"It’s fresh soup?"
"Yes, Sir Stellae."
His eyes flicked to the pot.
"You prepared it this fast?"
"Yes, Sir Stellae."
Chuckling, Ignotus accepted it with a nod.
"Thanks."
"You are very welcome. Please enjoy your meal."
She bowed again and wheeled the cart onward, leaving Ignotus to close the door behind him.
Once inside, he carried the pot to the kitchen, pulled down three bowls, and portioned out the steaming stew. Rich broth, chunks of meat, and vegetables he couldn’t name.
He lowered the bowls onto a low wooden table in the middle of the living room.
"Alright. Come eat."
Eris immediately trotted over, sitting primly like a queen waiting to be served.
Alba, on the other hand, plopped his butt down and wagged his tail so fast it made a thumping rhythm against the wood.
Ignotus handed each of them a spoon.
Alba grabbed his in his mouth, puffed up with determination, and carefully scooped soup.
It was an incredible sight of a very civilized wolf-dog trying to be human.
Eris used Hers daintily, every motion annoyingly elegant.
Ignotus sat cross-legged and began eating too.
For once, everything had slowed down.
The room was warm, the food was comforting, and only the sounds of spoon clinks and soft chewing filled the air.
A break that Ignotus hadn’t experienced in a while.
He leaned back a little, exhaling slowly.
After a while, he looked at Alba.
"So your plans or problems—whatever they were—are they done?"
Alba paused mid-scoop, then shook his little head.
"No, huh?"
The dog’s horn glinted in the lamplight.
"So you came here to save me despite that?"
Alba woofed without hesitation.
Ignotus cracked a grin.
"Good boy~."
He reached out and ruffled the pup’s fur, earning another determined wag of the tail.
"Do you need help?"
Alba shook his head firmly.
"Will you be leaving soon?"
This time, Alba nodded.
Eris meowed immediately—a victory meow.
’Sorry.’
She said inside his head, but Her tone was the exact opposite of apologetic, making him laugh.
"Don’t worry about it. And Alba..."
Ignotus scooped another spoonful of soup and pointed it at the little wolf.
"Be careful, yeah? War will burn this stratum. I can’t have you..."
He didn’t complete that sentence.
’Don’t worry, we’ll all survive.’
But he didn’t need to, Eris understanding him all the same.
"Yeah, and I’ll make sure of it."
Alba, aware of their exchange, finished his bowl. He then lifted it with both paws and licked it clean with the seriousness of a warrior cleansing his blade. Only after it gleamed spotless did he trot over, plop down beside Ignotus, and lean his whole body weight against his side.
"Hm."
Ignotus didn’t move him.
Eris, seeing Her rival gain ground, devoured the rest of Her food in a flurry of dainty bites before strutting over to claim the remaining open spot. She pressed Herself against Ignotus’s other side, Her tail curling around his leg.
And just like that...
The three of them settled.
It was a nice moment of still peace.
They had finally taken a moment.
A moment to breathe.
Ignotus let his eyes close.
"...this’s not bad."
Not bad at all.