Chapter 153: Alex’s Heavy Heart

"Thanks for your purchase, and make sure to visit the hall from time to time." Supervisor Tyson said with a slight bow of his head as Alex exited the training hall.

Alex’s heart was heavy from having to spend his points once again at the end, and it did not give him any nice feeling.

Alex consoled himself, telling himself it was only three thousand points. However, his words did not seem to have much effect, for after earning the points himself it hurt him to spend them, and he was already starting to categorize the training hall and exchange hall as dangerous places he must avoid visiting as much as possible.

To think that the training hall would sell potions as an add on came as a surprise to him. It was like an upsell they were running, targeting exhausted students who had already spent their points training in the room. And since they would be tired after immersing themselves in training, most would not reject the potion even if they were a little short on points, unless they were so short that they didn't have enough left to buy one at all. Most of them would surely opt for the purchase of a potion, just like Alex had done at the end.

Alex walked along the path alone after leaving the training hall. He didn't fail to notice that the training hall had been empty on the first floor, and he also didn't miss the sight of some senior students making their way from the higher floors as he exited.

The first floor, designated for first years, was probably empty because most students didn't have enough points yet, or weren't knowledgeable enough about the hall. Or it could be entirely that they simply didn't want to spend their points this early in their academy journey, choosing instead to train in the training grounds by themselves or with their friends.

Alex’s eyes moved toward the sky. The sun had already risen way above the horizon, brightening the sky in pale blue. Students filled the path as he walked toward the dormitory building. They turned their heads toward him, and instead of avoiding their gazes he made sure to look back at them, and they flinched and turned their eyes away. Alex had noticed this same kind of attention earlier, while walking to the training hall and exchange hall.

He was used to stares from others, but today, for some reason, the stares felt different. The stares were more curious, wary even. The stares came from the few second years he happened to see. Mostly, though, it came from the first years.

Alex almost stopped a group of three first years he hadn't seen in his class before but recognized by their uniforms, though he held himself back at the last moment, since he was already running late for the assembly hall and didn't feel like causing a scene so early in the day. He also wasn't sure how they would take it if he stopped them and asked about the way they were looking at him, since it could be nothing more than wary stares, the same as the stares from yesterday.

Though, the most stares from yesterday were disdainful and mocking and today it was kind of different. However, he didn’t stay rooted in place to ask.

Alex shook his head and dashed ahead. Instead of walking any longer he chose to run, knowing that if he didn't he would be late for morning prayers.

He also needed to take a quick bath. His eyes dropped to his shirt and shorts, damp with sweat, and the sight only made him run faster, a cold sensation spread through his body as the morning air hit him from the front. It was a nice feeling.

He had always enjoyed training and pushing himself to his limit. Thanks to the potion from the training hall, his stamina was full once again, and he could have gone for another round of training, but he chose not to. Partly because his points were decreasing faster than he wanted, and at the rate he was spending them, he worried he would be broke within a week or two, and partly because he was already satisfied with his training and had gotten what he wanted. And, of course, the main reason was that the academy's morning prayers were about to begin.

He picked up his speed once again and ran even faster. Faster than he had ever ran before. A smile formed on his lips, and his long hair, tinged with blue at the ends, flew back in the wind. It had come loose while training and he hadn't bothered to tie it back. He shook his head slightly, letting his hair sway left and right, enjoying himself.

After running for some time, he reached the boys' dormitory building and swiftly entered, passing through the same two armored guards standing watch. They didn't flinch, not even a little, and he simply walked inside. After climbing the stairs and making his way through the hallway, he stopped before his dormitory room’s door. He proceeded to unlock it with his key, and entered the room.

Immediately, Alex was greeted by two boys in uniform who were on their way out. They were almost startled by him suddenly opening the door. But, they quickly returned to their normal expression and looked him over from head to toe.

Alex had expected some kind of comment from them after a look like that, but instead they simply stepped aside to let him pass. He set his outdoor shoes to the side, entered the room, and took out his towel and academy uniform.

Once he had gathered everything he needed, Alex turned toward the bathroom. He had half expected the boys to have already left the room, but instead they were still standing there, watching him.

Alex raised a brow, and the two of them exchanged a glance. After a few murmured words between them, Blake turned toward him. "Did Eldric and the others really get suspended for a week?" Blake asked, curious.

So this is why everyone had been looking at me warily. It finally clicked in Alex's mind. He had completely forgotten about Eldric's suspension. He was too caught up in everything that had happened one after another since he had opened his eyes in the morning.

Alex narrowed his eyes at Blake, remembering the bad first impression the boy had left on him, and allowed himself a small smile.

"Yes, and everyone who tries to trouble me from now on will be receiving the same punishment," Alex said, exaggerating just enough to make sure Blake would keep his distance.

Though Blake had never actually caused him much trouble beyond their first meeting, back when Alex had entered the dormitory late and things had gotten a little tense before quietly settling down, Alex decided to take this opportunity to rattle him a little.

Surprisingly, it worked. Blake flinched. "Bullies ought to be punished," he muttered, and exited the room.

What just happened? Alex hadn't exactly put Blake in the bully category, but the boy was rough and a little wild. Maybe he needed to adjust his impression of Blake, filing him under nice, just someone who didn't quite know how to show it.

Leo, who had watched the whole exchange in silence, turned toward Alex and only nodded. "Don't worry, he's rough with his words, but he's nice underneath," Leo said, confirming what Alex had already suspected.

"I'm heading out. Nice to meet you once again, Alex. Let's talk again sometime." Leo said, his fox-like ears twitched slightly, and with a small nod of his head he walked away.

Alex watched Leo's back as he left the room. Leo pulled the door and closed it softly behind him as he exited the room.

Alex didn't quite know what to make of the exchange. He hadn't spoken with either of them much before, but since they all lived in the same dormitory room it was only natural for him to make an effort to become friends with them, especially now that the two of them so clearly already were friends with each other.

It only made sense for Alex to be on good terms with them, and maybe even become friends eventually, since he didn't have any boys as friends. Well, he didn’t have any friends other than the princess.

The only real friend he had was Princess Eva. Suddenly, the images of Lara and Bella surfaced in his mind with whom he had pleasant, amiable interactions with so far. The former had helped him during the final exam, and the latter he had gotten to know after entering the academy. Bella had went as far as to act close to him just to make the princess jealous.

All of a sudden, Alex’s cheeks burned with embarrassment as he remembered how Bella had clutched his arm. He had barely been in his right mind back then, still reeling from losing the princess and from the happiness he should have felt entering the academy. Given how hellish his life had turned at the time, it only made sense that he was not in right mind and followed Bella without much of a thought.

However, now that his level had finally increased, and since he had exchanged words with the princess and learned she had never actually wanted to marry Lucian, that it was Alex she wanted all along, he had finally returned to his normal state.

But, even though he had returned to normal state, thinking back on everything that had happened since entering the academy, and how he had gone along with Bella's plan, didn’t help him much to avoid the feeling as thinking about that action still made him feel embarrassed all over again.

Alex shook his head and pushed the thoughts away. He felt cringe inside him, but there was nothing he could do about the things that had already happened. Repeating that he could not do anything about it any longer to himself over and over in his mind, he entered the bathroom, pausing to give one last glance at the clock hanging on the wall. 

The time showed 9:30. Shit. Only thirty minutes remained before the start of morning prayers, and he had to reach there at least five minutes early to not get unwanted attention.

***

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