The Extra is a Genius!? - Chapter 377

Chapter 377: Chapter 377: Return to Valon
The morning light filtered through the high windows, pale gold streaks slipping past the curtains and painting long shapes across the floor. Elyra stirred beneath the covers, blinking once before sitting up. For a moment, everything seemed normal—the faint scent of polished wood, the soft rustle of servants already moving through the halls.

But the feeling in her chest wasn’t normal. A tightness sat there, an itch she couldn’t shake.

She pushed back the sheets and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, staring at the floorboards as if they could give her answers. That sense again—sharp, gnawing. The one she had learned never to ignore.

Her fingers brushed over the braid resting against her shoulder. “…It’s Noel,” she muttered under her breath, the words meant for no one but herself. “I know it. Something’s off.”

A servant had left tea steaming on the desk, but she barely touched it. Instead, she moved to the mirror, tying her uniform jacket closed, gray eyes locking on her own reflection.

She looked steady, collected, the perfect Estermont heir. But inside, her pulse beat uneven.

‘My intuition’s never wrong. Not once. Whatever it is, it’s tied to him. I can’t stay here.’

Straightening her collar, she let out a slow breath and squared her shoulders. The decision was already made—she would leave for the academy. Even if the term hadn’t officially resumed, the dormitories were open. And waiting there was better than being trapped here, restless and blind.

She turned toward the door, her stride quick and sure. Her parents wouldn’t like it, not at first. But she didn’t care. This wasn’t about permission.

It was about Noel.

The dining room was quiet except for the clink of silverware and the faint murmur of servants moving in and out. Caeron sat at the head of the long table, posture straight as steel, while Elissabeth sipped tea with her usual composed grace.

Elyra entered briskly, braid swinging behind her as she took her seat. She didn’t bother with pleasantries—her mind was already set.

“I’ll be returning to the academy today,” she said plainly, reaching for a piece of bread.

Both her parents paused. Caeron’s fork halted mid-air, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “The academy? Elyra, term doesn’t resume for another month. You still have weeks of leave.”

Elyra shrugged, chewing casually before answering. “So what? The dormitories are open. I want to see my friends, spend time there. Staying cooped up here will drive me insane.”

Caeron frowned, but didn’t push immediately. His daughter wasn’t one to speak without reason, and he knew it. Still, his instinct was to question. “Friends…?” His tone carried more weight than the word deserved.

Elissabeth, however, was watching more carefully. The slight twitch at the corner of Elyra’s mouth, the faint shift of her eyes—it wasn’t about friends. She knew it.

Still, she set her cup down and intervened smoothly. “If she wants to return early, let her. Elyra has always known what she needs better than anyone else.”

Elyra gave her mother a small smile of thanks, then looked back at her father. “I’ll be fine. Don’t overthink it. I’m not a child.”

Caeron exhaled slowly through his nose, then gave a curt nod. “Very well. But if you’re going, carry yourself as an Estermont. Do not embarrass this house.”

“I never do,” Elyra replied, her tone light but her eyes steady.

Elissabeth hid her knowing smile behind her cup. ‘It’s Noel she’s restless for. And nothing I say will stop her.’

The gardens of House Estermont stretched wide, their trimmed hedges and marble fountains glistening in the morning sun. At the far end of the courtyard, the great quetzal waited—its plumage shimmering emerald and sapphire, wings folded but trembling with restrained power.

A small entourage of servants bustled nearby. At the center was her personal steward, carrying two modest trunks. Elyra hadn’t packed much—just essentials, spare uniforms, and a few personal belongings. She hadn’t felt the need for more.

Her boots clicked against the stone path as she approached. The quetzal let out a low, throaty trill, its sharp golden eyes fixing on her with an almost knowing look. Elyra reached out, brushing her fingers along the feathers of its neck. “Easy. We’ve got a long flight ahead.”

Her mother stepped forward, silk robes catching the breeze. Elissabeth leaned in and placed a kiss on Elyra’s cheek, her hand lingering briefly. “Trust yourself, as you always have. And don’t let anyone make you doubt it.”

Elyra nodded faintly, lips curving. “I won’t. Thank you, Mother.”

Caeron came next, looming tall in his dark red jacket. He didn’t embrace her, only gave a curt nod. Yet his eyes softened, just for a moment. “Remember who you are, Elyra. You carry our name whether you’re in Valon or beyond it. Don’t forget that.”

Elyra smirked. “I’ll make sure the whole capital remembers it.”

The steward secured the trunks inside the runed cabin strapped to the quetzal’s back. Elyra climbed the steps with practiced ease, pausing only once to glance back at her parents. Elissabeth raised a hand in farewell, while Caeron stood with arms crossed, a silent guardian.

The pilot gave a signal, and with a thunderous beat of wings, the quetzal surged upward, the estate shrinking beneath them until it was nothing more than a cluster of red roofs swallowed by clouds.

Hours slipped by in the air, the endless skies broken only by the shimmer of rivers and the jagged lines of mountain ranges. Then, at last, the horizon shifted.

Valon rose like a jewel of white stone and silver banners, sprawling across the valley. The Imperial Castle towered at its heart—walls gleaming in the sun, its banners of crimson and gold fluttering high. Streets wound outward in perfect symmetry, and within those walls, the Academy Imperial stood like a second citadel: broad courtyards, tall spires, and dormitories nestled against the inner district.

The great quetzal let out a piercing cry as it descended, spiraling toward the Academy’s landing grounds. Elyra leaned against the cabin’s window, eyes narrowed. ‘Back again. This time, it feels… heavier somehow.’

The quetzal landed in a rush of wind and beating wings, startling students and servants alike. Elyra stepped down from the cabin, adjusting her braid as her steward followed behind with the trunks.

She paused at the edge of the courtyard, gaze sweeping across the familiar towers of the academy. “So this is where I’ll wait, Noel… until you come back.”

But her thoughts shifted. Another name rose unbidden. ‘Seraphina… I wonder how she’s been.’

As if in answer, the sound of wheels echoed. A black-and-gold carriage bearing the crest of Valor rolled into the courtyard. The door opened, and a figure in flowing crimson stepped out—hair bright as flame, posture regal yet warm.

Seraphina of Valor, the imperial princess, smiled as her eyes met Elyra’s.

“Elyra!”

Elyra’s lips curled into a grin, genuine and bright as she strode forward. “Seraphina!”

The two clasped hands in greeting, laughter echoing between them.