By the time we reached the academy entrance, the chatter and hustle of students had intensified. Getting to class was far easier than my previous attempts; professors now guided the students efficiently, preventing anyone from getting lost. The campus was more crowded than ever, alive with excitement and anticipation.
I scanned the schedule in my hands. Elemental Arts… Physical Training…
I froze for a moment. "What the hell is Mantra Arts?"
Curiosity piqued, I glanced around the classroom. The room was packed, nearly every desk filled, a sea of students buzzing with energy. My eyes searched desperately for Lilia, but she was nowhere to be seen. A pang of loneliness hit me. I had no friends here yet, except her.
Then I spotted a familiar presence: Retsu, the blonde-haired hero, surrounded by the usual throng of admirers. My eyes met his briefly, and I quickly looked away, hoping to go unnoticed.
But he was quicker. He walked over, a confident grin spreading across his face. "Well, well… isn't this a surprise, Chloe Valastine. What you did to that nobleman earlier? Absolutely hilarious."
I froze, meeting his gaze. There was a spark of amusement in his eyes, but also… something else. Challenge? Curiosity? I couldn't tell.
『Forced partial activation: Perfect Vision』a faint, unnoticeable glow in my eyes.
Hero Retsu leaned closer, attempting to charm her again atlas with no success. He let out a frustrated grunt
"Something wrong?" I asked casually, my voice laced with mild curiosity.
He forced a smile, obviously fake. "N-nothing—"
"You don't mind if I sit here?" he asked, already moving toward the empty desk next to him.
"Do whatcha want," I muttered, clearly irritated but trying to hide it.
The bell rang, and students scrambled to their seats. The professor began the lecture on the basics of elemental arts.
"As you know," he started, "the fundamental elemental attributes are Pyro, Hydro, Anemo, Geo, Astrape, lightning and Physis. There are also Phao and Zopho Pháos (light) and Zophos (dark) (Greek words)
Sunlight poured through the windows, illuminating the room in golden rays. The chatter of students filled the air: gossip, the hero's flirtatious antics, and a few bored sighs from the sidelines. I rested my head on the desk, utterly bored.
"Do I have to sit through lectures like this for five years?" I thought, letting my fingers twirl in my hair before smacking my head against the desk with a soft slam.
"Um, Chloe, are you alright?" Retsu asked, leaning closer again.
I snapped, voice dripping with sarcastic irritation, a fake smile plastered on my face. "With all due respect… please shut the fuck up."
His eyes widened in shock. No one had ever spoken to him like that. A strange mix of surprise and fascination flickered in his expression.
"Sorry," he muttered, backing off slightly, though I could feel he wasn't used to being dismissed.
–Ring!
The lecture ended, students filing out slowly while the professor reminded everyone about tomorrow's elemental arts practice.
I finally had a moment of peace, Retsu temporarily off my tail but a shiver ran down my spine. I had a feeling that wouldn't be the last time he'd show up.
The mantra arts lecture room was nearly empty, save for a few students: Saintess Aria, Selina Slike, and one other unfamiliar face.
I poked at the empty desk beside me, when suddenly a touch on my back made my heart leap.
–ba dum, ba dum–
I spun around, hand to my chest, feigning annoyance. "Oh… it's you."
A brief silence followed.
"You get scared too easily," the voice teased.
"Yeah, maybe because you pop out of nowhere. Try showing your presence once in a while!" I shot back, narrowing my eyes slightly.
I slouched into my seat, but a soft whisper tickled my ear before I could fully settle.
"Heeyyy~"
I turned to see the unfamiliar student leaning over the top row behind me. Dark brown hair, tan skin, eyes deep and unreadable eerily similar to mine.
"Heya, you're Chloe Valastine, correct?"
"I am," I replied, studying him cautiously.
He hopped over the top row with ease and landed beside me, casually, like someone sliding onto a bar stool.
"–And you are?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm Alkaline," he said with a smirk, "your average know-it-all—"
He paused dramatically, then continued, "I'm everywhere helping the protagonist, or sometimes a side character in these kinds of stories. I might as well introduce myself before he forgets to add me and throws me in ten chapters later."
I stared at him, utterly nonplussed. My face must have been priceless, a mix of confusion, disbelief, and a dash of irritation. I had no idea how to respond to… whatever that was.
"What?" I asked, blunt.
"Doesn't matter," he replied with a casual shrug.
–Riiiiinngg!–
The students hurried to their seats as the classroom door opened. A tall figure entered, hair jet-black, eyes sharp and serious, carrying an air of someone who probably read the school handbook ten times over. His presence was both elegant and slightly intimidating, the kind that made even the most confident students pause.
He pulled down the chalkboard and wrote his name in neat, precise letters: Nicholas Rye.