Chronicles of the Arcane Academy

Chapter 40

chapter Thirty-Nine

Tessa's gaze softened, a sense of remorse washing over her. "Jack, I'm so sorry. I was going through a tough time back then, and I wasn't myself. I never meant to push you away," she confessed, her voice filled with sincerity.

Jack smiled, understanding in his eyes. "It's alright, Tessa. Life gets in the way sometimes. I'm just glad to be here now, by your side," he reassured her, a warmth in his voice that melted away any lingering doubts.

The leader of the Council observed the interaction between Tessa and Jack, a faint smile playing on their lips. "It seems you two have a history," the leader commented, their voice tinged with amusement.

Tessa nodded, a sense of comfort settling within her. "Yes, I know Jack. He once saved me when I was in danger," she replied, a gratefulness evident in her voice.

The leader nodded approvingly. "That's good to hear. Having someone familiar among your allies can foster trust and camaraderie," they remarked, their tone filled with wisdom. "Now, as I mentioned before, these guards will accompany you on your mission to rescue Lucas. Take the time to strategize your plan and approach. Let me know when you are ready, and I will provide you with the means to reach that land."

With those words, the leader took a few steps back, their figure gradually fading into thin air, leaving the champions and their newfound allies alone. Tessa turned her attention back to Jack, a renewed sense of determination gleaming in her eyes.

"Jack, I'm grateful that you're here. Your powers and experience will be invaluable on this mission," she said, her voice filled with sincerity.

Jack grinned, his playful demeanor returning. "Well, Tessa, I'm excited to join forces with you once again. Together, we'll overcome any obstacles that come our way," he declared, his confidence unwavering.

As Tessa surveyed the room, searching for Tristan among the group, she realized he was nowhere to be found. Confusion clouded her mind as she turned to Jack, questioning his whereabouts. "Jack, where did Tristan go?" she inquired, a hint of worry tugging at her voice.

Jack shrugged nonchalantly, his gaze fixated on Tessa. "He left the moment I started talking to you," he revealed, his voice laced with a hint of mischief.

Tessa's eyebrows furrowed, trying to make sense of the situation. "Why would he leave just because we were talking?" she wondered aloud, amix of surprise and concern in her tone.

A faint smile played on Jack's lips as he leaned closer to Tessa, his voice lowered. "Maybe he thought we needed some privacy to catch up," he suggested, his eyes gleaming with playful amusement.

Tessa's cheeks flushed slightly, a realization dawning upon her. "Oh, I see. Well, that was unnecessary. We can continue our conversation later," she replied, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.

Jack nodded, his smile widening. "Sure thing, Tessa. I'm always here if you need someone to talk to," he offered, his words filled with genuine warmth.

Tessa's gratitude shone through her eyes as she reached out and squeezed Jack's hand briefly. "Thank you, Jack. It means a lot to have you by my side," she expressed, her voice tinged with sincerity.

As the conversation came to a close, Tessa turned her attention back to the rest of the guards. "Alright, you guys should go , I will send for you all later ," she instructed, a determined tone lacing her words.

"Okay champions they all said in unison and left except for Jack , " Jack you are included "said Tessa.

Jack's eyebrows arched in surprise. "But I thought you wanted us to talk?" he questioned, his voice laced with curiosity.

As Tessa took a deep breath, her mind

filled with thoughts of Tristan's sudden disappearance. "Where on Earth could he have gone?" she wondered, her concern growing with each passing moment. Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the sound of the bell echoed through the academy, indicating the start of her next class. Tessa realized she couldn't afford to dwell on Tristan's absence any longer and hurriedly made her way towards her classroom.

Walking briskly through the corridors, Tessa's heart sank when she caught sight of Tristan in a secluded corner, engaged in a conversation with a strikingly beautiful woman. Her shock quickly turned into a mixture of surprise and heartbreak as she noticed them holding hands, their connection seemingly romantic in nature. Tessa felt a lump forming in her throat, wanting to scream out Tristan's name and demand an explanation, but she couldn't find the strength to do so. She knew she had to keep her emotions in check and compose herself.

Tessa's heart raced as she stood frozen, her eyes locked on Tristan and the mysterious woman. It felt as if time had slowed down, amplifying her pain and confusion. She wanted to turn away, to shield herself from the sight, but something held her in place, an unexplainable mix of curiosity and the need to confront the truth.

As Tristan noticed Tessa's presence, his eyes widened in surprise, quickly releasing the woman's hand and taking a step towards Tessa. "Tessa! I... I didn't expect to see you here," he stammered, his voice tinged with guilt.

Tessa's brows furrowed, her voice trembling with a mixture of hurt and anger. "What's going on, Tristan? Who is she?" she demanded, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tristan's gaze flickered between Tessa and the woman beside him, his expression shifting from surprise to regret. "Tessa, I can explain," he began, but Tessa interrupted him with a wave of her hand.

"No, Tristan. Save your explanations for later," she said, her voice filled with a raw emotion she couldn't contain. "Right now, I have a class to attend. I can't be here witnessing... whatever this is."