Chapter 191
The class concluded, and I watched the professor carefully return the Amulet to its box. These items were incredibly valuable, costing around two thousand gold coins, an amount that would be nearly impossible for a commoner to afford. However, the academy spared no expenses in providing education to its students.
I turned and exited the greenhouse, reentering the familiar, normal world outside.
'What'd you see there?' Blaze inquired about what I had seen in there.
"Nothing specific, just something... weird. There seem to be several layers to this world," I replied nonchalantly.
... You know what, I think I'll bunk today.
I'm not in the mood to attend any other class today. It's not like it's compulsory.
'Then what are you going to do?' He asked. Maybe I'll visit someone.
'Who?' Maybe telling Blaze won't be fun. 'Hey!! Tell me where we're going!'
...
After a few minutes' walk, I stood in front of a classroom. This wing was quite far from the first-year classes as it's for second-years.
'Agh, what are you thinking?' Blaze grumbled.
Inside, the classes were about to end. I saw the teacher closing the grimoire and turning away from the station... and there she is.
Sitting in the first row was Cecelia. She intensely looked at her book and the board simultaneously. Besides her was Vexa. She twirled the quill in her hand without care, and her eyes wandered all over the classroom before they settled on me.
They were deep... her eyes, a blue amethyst-like shade.
Her eyes briefly met mine before she redirected her gaze to the front... Did she not recognize me? Her face remained emotionless.....well it's not like it matters.
A minute later, the teacher came out of the classroom and gave me a sideways glance before proceeding without saying anything.
As the students began to pour out of the classroom, Cecelia gracefully gathered her and Vexa's belongings. She turned slightly to her side, her gaze focused elsewhere...
"Ren!" An unexpectedly familiar voice rang out from the side as I leaned into the doorway to see who it was – it was Raven.
Oh, I forgot that they both are in the same classroom...
'Dude you serious? This is the place where all the main cast resides...' Blaze's voice taunting.
I offered a wave and a half-smile in response.
'Hehe, this should be interesting... repent!' Blaze chuckled in my mind.
Raven, on the other hand, was in her efforts to gather her things. She clumsily packed up her stuff, causing a book to tumble to the floor. In her haste to retrieve it, she bumped her head against the desk, forming a few tears at the corner of her eyes and a gentle rubbing of her sore head.
Raven's small mishap didn't go unnoticed by the nearby students, who couldn't help but chuckle at her clumsiness. She managed to recover her book, giving it an apologetic pat, and then turned her attention back to me.
Her eyes were still a bit teary, but she smiled warmly as she approached me. "Hey, Ren," she greeted me with genuine enthusiasm.
"Hey, Raven," I replied, still amused by her earlier antics. "How's everything going?"
Cecelia, meanwhile, had finished packing her things and, along with Vexa, walked past us without acknowledging my presence. Her face remained devoid of emotion, leaving me with the impression that she either didn't recognize me or was choosing to ignore me.
But then Cecelia stopped, and Vexa followed suit. "You here?" She looked at me and Raven simultaneously. Although they knew each other, their interactions had been limited so far.
"Yep, I thought maybe I should look at the classrooms. I'll be in the next year... not too bad, I guess," I replied in my unconventional manner of speaking.
'Agh, not again with that weird way of talking,' Blaze commented on my style, which he wasn't accustomed to. But if it worked, it was fine.
"Haha, I think it's too early for you to think about your sophomore year," Cecelia chuckled. "Most of the students tend to leave the academy after the first year."
I noticed Raven's gaze drifting toward Cecelia and Vexa, and I followed her line of sight. She glanced back at me, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "You know them?"
I took a moment to consider. "Yep... we're friends, right?" I glanced at Cecelia, who seemed to ponder it for a moment before nodding softly.
Raven raised an eyebrow, sensing that there was more to the story, but she didn't push the matter. Instead, she changed the subject. "What brings you here today?"
"I just wanted to say hello," I replied. "Are you free for a stroll?" I asked both of them simultaneously.
"Sorry, I have to-" Cecelia began but was interrupted when she looked past me toward Vexa, who seemed to be even quieter than usual.
"I'll go to the student council," Vexa said, stepping forward. Her shoulder brushed past mine as she gently took the books from Cecelia and left immediately.
A brief silence hung in the air after her departure, and then I spoke up. "Well, looks like you have one less job for today."
"Y-yeah, I... guess," Cecelia replied, her eyes still following the path Vexa had taken.
"Hmm...." Raven stood there feeling somewhat awkward.
"Oh, let me introduce you. This is Raven, and Raven, this is-" I began to introduce them to each other when Cecelia cut me off.
"Maybe someday. I'd love to. For now, how about giving a bit of your "Oh, I know her. She's Adam's friend. I've seen her around him a few times," Cecelia said, her tone not exactly radiating warmth.
"Oh, Adam?" I feigned ignorance, attempting to appear clueless.
"Yeah, he's a good friend of mine. I can introduce you to him -" Cecelia started to get excited but was cut off by-
"Cough!"a loud cough from Raven. She knew.
"Maybe someday. I'd love to. For now, how about giving a bit of your time to me?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation away.
'Smooth,' Smokeball chimed in my mind.
"W-why not," Cecelia agreed, a bit flustered.
As we walked through the tranquil garden within the academy's grounds, the soothing ambiance of the area helped ease the initial awkwardness of our meeting. The gentle sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a warm glow around us, and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze added to the peaceful atmosphere.
"So, how's your day been so far?" I inquired, hoping to initiate some small talk and break the ice.
Cecelia hesitated briefly but then replied, "It's been alright. Just the usual."
On the other hand, Raven seemed to brighten a bit as she shared, "I've been studying a lot for upcoming tests, but it's nice to have a break."
"Wow, tests, huh..." I mumbled, wondering if that would affect our dungeon dives in the coming days.
"Hey, Cecelia," I called out, steering the conversation in a direction I deemed important, "Who's this Vexa?"
I listened attentively as Cecelia began to explain. It was clear from her tone that Vexa's background wasn't a closely guarded secret.
"I've seen you with her a lot, so I just assumed she's a member of the royalty," I remarked casually as I took a seat on a nearby bench. Raven and Cecelia exchanged glances but remained standing.
Cecelia's confusion and uncertainty were evident in her words and demeanor. She admitted that she didn't have much information about Vexa and that she hadn't been told much about her. It was becoming increasingly clear that Vexa's true background and role within the academy remained shrouded in mystery.
"That is quite strange," I remarked, my curiosity piqued. "I mean, it's not every day you find someone closely associated with royalty who doesn't know much about them. Have you ever tried asking her directly?"
Cecelia shook her head. "I haven't. She's... well, she's not exactly easy to approach. And besides, I have my duties to focus on."
This revelation only deepened the mystery surrounding Vexa's true identity. It seemed even Cecelia, who was closely associated with her, had limited knowledge about her.
"Well, anyway, I was just curious if she was just the same as Aron," I said, leaning back on the bench.
"NO!" Cecelia's voice rose a bit, and a vein bulged on her forehead as she clenched her hands. "She isn't like... the Prince." Despite her evident frustration, she maintained her politeness for the sake of her position.
I raised an eyebrow at Cecelia's strong reaction. It was evident that something about Vexa had stirred a deep emotional response within her, and I couldn't help but be intrigued by the mystery surrounding this enigmatic figure.
"Alright, alright," I said, raising my hands in a placating gesture. "Raven, do you have a sweet tooth?" I inquired, my tone friendly and curious.
"Yesh," she bit her tongue before speaking.
'The fuck was that voice,' Blaze was baffled.
I turned my attention back to Cecelia and continued with my charade. "Then perhaps a delectable cake would be a delightful treat, don't you think?" I nodded in Cecelia's direction, maintaining the ruse a little while longer.
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