He remembered the black haired girl. So quiet. Always calm. She was nothing like the students in the Academy.
Even in the Academy, people thought of Adrian as a genius. But she was different. She taught him things he did not know. She was a true genius.
So, Adrian saw no reason to respect any of the nobles that went to this school, and he couldn't care less about their petty squabbles with him. He simply ignored all the looks he was getting.
Then the bell sounded twice. For lunch. And class was dismissed as everyone went looking for something to eat.
Adrian packed his things. Got up to leave the classroom. And—
He walked out. The boy frowned as he looked around.
Where’s Alice?
He saw her during classes. And she usually went to grab lunch with him during their break. But she was nowhere to be found.
A thought. A premonition weighed in on Adrian’s head. But he pushed it aside for the moment.
Maybe she’s in the cafeteria.
He found himself searching for the familiar blonde girl in the large dining hall, but he could not find her. He spent another 20 minutes looking around, but eventually gave up.
She could’ve been busy. Plus, it was not like she should always follow him around. They weren’t even that close.
So, Adrian ate his lunch. Today, it was seafood. A luxurious meal for the boy. He had never even seen a crab until the first seafood lunch he had in the Academy. He savored each bite, then went back to class.
He saw Alice there. He thought she saw him too, but she quickly returned to her seat. That’s…
Adrian was about to approach her, but the teacher came. So the boy got back to his seat. And while this was not history or language and formality class, Adrian did not pay any attention.
Instead, he kept casting glances back at Alice, as she avoided his gaze. He knew something was off. He had known since lunch. But he finally confirmed his suspicions when he caught a glimpse of Onia.
She saw him too. And for a moment. She just smiled sweetly at him. Then it warped into a smug grin. And she turned back to facing the front.
It was only during their dueling class, did Adrian manage to speak with Alice. Boys and girls were not separate. They could face each other without a problem.
Adrian was excellent in dueling. He may not have been very proficient with the sword, since he had not learned how to use it until he came to the Academy. But he could use mana tools well.
His dad had taught him how to use a gun. And he could actually aim well.
So with a sword in one hand, he parried his opponent's swing. And as they pulled back to thrust at him, he used the gun in his other to shoot them in the chest.
The other boy recoiled. The blast knocked him back, but he was still up. Then Adrian struck him across the chest, and he collapsed.
Adrian stood over him. The other boy was not dead. They were using dulled swords and stun bullets. It still hurt a lot, but it was far from lethal.
The other boy was panting and gasping for air on the ground. And while Adrian was sweating and breathing heavily, he was not exhausted. He was used to physical exertion, unlike his opponent. That was the difference in their background showing. In how they were raised.
A noble would never have to lift a finger for themselves. Even if they trained hard, they never struggled the same way a regular person would. So Adrian had more stamina.
The brown-haired boy grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat off his forehead, when he saw Alice exiting the training room. Adrian quickly excused himself, and followed after her.
While running out the door, he nearly bumped into another boy with light blue skin and slightly pointed ears.
"Excuse me," Adrian said in a hurry.
"A-apologies."
Adrian stepped past the boy, and chased after Alice. He saw her walking down the corridor, headed towards the washroom.
He approached her and called out her name.
"Alice."
The blonde girl turned around and blinked.
"Adrian? What are you—" she cut herself off, and stepped back. "I’m sorry, I can’t speak to you."
"Why?" he asked. "What did Onia say to you?"
It was a guess. An assumption. But it was correct.
Alice shied back. She lowered her head, and avoided making eye contact with him.
"She…" The girl hesitated. "L-lady Onia was kind enough to give me a warning. To stop speaking with you. She told me that if I did not listen, she would not only get me kicked out of the Academy but drive my father bankrupt."
"That coward," Adrian said as he clenched a fist. "She went after your family’s company?
"Yes," Alice answered. She bowed her head, and turned around. "I think of you as a friend, Adrian. B-but I… I can’t be seen talking to you. I’m so sorry."
With that said, the girl hurried off.
And Adrian could only grit his teeth as he watched her go.
It was petty politics. But the kind a noble child would learn from their parents. It made sense to Adrian, but he did not like it.
He went about the next few weeks dealing with constant stares. Odd looks by his classmates. And the occasional awkward eye contact with Alice.
He could understand her plight. She had to worry about the repercussions from rich nobles on her family. And unlike him, she could actually get expelled too. So he did not blame her for
