Flare sighed as the closing bell rang.

The metallic chime echoed through the wide halls of the Academy, signaling the end of her first day.

It had been exhausting.

Not because the classes were hard… she'd handled worse back at home but because of the weight in her chest.

'I'm going to lose my new friend…' she thought sadly.

Her lips curved down. It had been so long since she'd gotten something that even resembled a friend.

The last time she had someone to talk to about random things, laugh with, or share silly thoughts… that felt like a lifetime ago.

Well, except for Sybil.

Despite how strange Sybil could be… her habits, her unpredictable comments, her weird obsession with the Sword saint's children.

She was still a good friend. But she wanted more.

She wanted to talk to people her age, people who didn't see her as some distant figure or someone beneath their notice.

That was why she'd come to the Academy in the first place.

She wanted to find out what the world was really like. To meet people, to experience normal things.

But now that she was here…

There was barely any difference between the Academy and her home.

Almost everyone acted like she didn't exist.

The long marble corridors were filled with laughter and chatter that never included her.

The noble students clustered in their own groups, even despite the Academy showing equality would never think themselves to be on the same level with commoners.

Commoners stuck together too, avoiding the nobles as if walking too close might get them scolded.

She walked silently through the courtyard, her books hugged close to her chest.

When she passed the cafeteria, Her stomach growled, loud enough to make her glance around in embarrassment.

'I have about three silver ares left,' she thought grimly.

Students didn't pay rent here thankfully but the cafeteria charged for every meal.

The food was good, made by skilled cooks and maids, but it wasn't cheap.

'I can buy some bread,' she decided finally.

Bread wasn't glamorous, but it filled the stomach.

She walked into the cafeteria again, though most of it was empty now.

The maids were busy cleaning up the chaos from the food fight earlier.

Splatters of sauce and crumbs still clung to the floor.

Some students lounged in corners, eating quietly at the few tables that had been cleaned already.

'I at least hope they discipline the ones who started that mess,' she thought bitterly, recalling Reinhardt's smug face.

She clenched her jaw.

'That guy Reinhardt… Who does he think he is?'

Her shoulders drooped as she sighed. 'I can still fix things with Azel…'

Her cheeks warmed when she remembered his face during the chaos, the way he had offered her his handkerchief.

She'd wanted to explain herself right then.

To say that she wasn't angry or embarrassed and that she was allergic to cake.

If she'd spoken, she might've thrown up on the spot. But leaving like that… now it just looked like she'd stormed off.

She reached the empty counter and faced the maid who had served Azel earlier.

"I'd like to bu—"

"Ah, Miss Flare!" the maid interrupted, eyes brightening with recognition. "It's good you stopped by."

Flare blinked, confused.

The maid reached under the counter and began placing several boxes of food on the counter, one after another.

A dozen neatly packed meals, each sealed with a paper charm that kept them warm.

The scents of grilled beef, soup, and soft rice rose into the air, making Flare's mouth water instantly.

"Mr. Azel said I should give these to you when I saw you again," the maid explained kindly. "He said to tell you he's not angry or anything."

Flare froze.

Her throat tightened. She wanted to say something but the words would not come.

Instead, she nodded quickly and stored all the boxes into her storage space with trembling hands.

'Ah… he's such a wonderful friend,' she thought with a tiny smile.

Her eyes glistened. W

ith this kind of food, she could eat well for days. Maybe this friendship wasn't lost after all.

…

Azel sighed as he walked through the quiet hallway.

All he could think about was fish.

The Academy had fish in its menus, sure, but they were bland… nothing like the ones Alani or even Anya used to make back home.

He turned a corner, realizing the campus layout still made no sense.

The enchanted map on his watch didn't help either — it was supposed to guide students, but apparently, it didn't function once school was out.

He seriously considered jumping out a window to shorten the trip back to the dorm. It wasn't like the drop could kill him.

That's when he heard the sound of hurried footsteps echoing from behind.

He turned and saw Esme sprinting down the corridor.

Her hair flew in waves behind her, her glasses slipping down her nose.

One hand clutched her bag tightly, the other pressed the glasses to her face.

She was panting like she'd just escaped a monster.

When she reached him, she bent over, gasping for air.

"Please…" she wheezed, "play along…"

Azel raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

Before he could react, Esme stepped right up to him, her arm sliding around his.

Her fingers locked around his elbow like steel.

"Wait—what are you—"

He stopped when a shadow fell over them.

A tall man in a professor's coat walked down the hall. He had dark blue hair that brushed his shoulders, glasses perched on his nose, and an easy smile that looked too confident for comfort.

Azel recognized him instantly.

Xebli Abron.

He was the one that Azel wanted information on and the so-called Alchemy professor.

Esme straightened up fast, her grip on Azel tightening.

"I already said I'm not interested!" she shouted suddenly, her voice echoing down the hallway.

Her cheeks were flushed but her eyes were locked on the man. "This is my boyfriend! H-he doesn't like what you're doing!"

Azel blinked.

Boyfriend?

What?

Xebli adjusted his glasses, peering at Azel with mild amusement.

"Eh, man," he said casually. "Keep some girls for us, will you? You're just getting all the good ones."

It was strange to hear a professor talk like that to a student.

But Azel wasn't having it… He hated this man.

He exhaled softly.

'I'm probably going to regret this later,' he thought.

Then he took a single step forward.

"Oh? Do you want to—"

Before Xebli could finish his smug question, Azel's hand moved.

He placed his palm flat on the man's head and smashed it right into the wall.

The impact was brutal.

The wall cracked and dust spilled down in a fine mist.

The hallway went silent.

Azel stared at Xebli's face now pressed against the dented stone.

'Fucking asshole,' he thought, pulling his hand back.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.