"What?"
"A 17 years-old rank 3?"
"Not only that, but he can also use chantless fire magic?"
"That too, without the support of noble resources."
"Ge...genius!" all the people in the arena were shocked.
Alex walked to the dean and whispered, "Teacher, why are you babbling about my power? Aren't we supposed to keep it a secret?"
"Ah...I got carried away. Sorry. Well, I still keep your pure fire element and space element a secret," the dean said, feeling ashamed.
"But..."
"I will explain to the king about this, don't worry," he said again and left Alex alone.
'But, I don't want to get unnecessary attention!' he wanted to say that aloud to his teacher. Unfortunately, he already left and Alex couldn't do anything now.
Alex shook his head helplessly and left the arena. Two people were waiting for him in the corridor.
"Alex, are you okay?" Firia worriedly asked Alex.
"Of course he is okay, he is my Alex after all," she proudly puffed her chest.
"Why do you keep calling her 'my Alex'?" Firia snorted. She then turned to Alex "But, your battle just now was amazing."
"Thank you," Alex answered shortly, not wanting to direct all the attention toward himself.
They were talking for a while after leaving the arena before Alex said goodbye to them. Alicia and Firia went back to the dormitory, and Alex went to his teacher's office.
"Hoho, you already got into a fight just in your second day in the academy," the dean teased Alex while laughing.
"I'm sorry, Teacher," Alex sincerely apologized to him. He thought he had made the mistake by agreeing to have the duel earlier.
"Well, It's alright in the end. But if you get into a fight, make sure you tell me first."
"Yes, Thank you for your concern," Alex was moved.
The Dean secretly thought, 'so I can prepare a bet beforehand'. If Alex knew what his teacher thought, he might spurt blood and charge at his teacher. But, from Alex's expression, he could see that Alex was moved just like that. It seemed that Alex hadn't received other people's kindness for a long time and he was moved just by the kind gesture of his teacher. He could only build his character slowly and let him mature naturally.
The dean then gave him two bottles. Inside the bottle was a blue-colored liquid. Alex was confused about this liquid.
Looking at Alex's confusion. The dean explained, "This is spiritual liquid, it's good for your magic, it can improve the amount of your Mana. If you consume two of them, you might have a rank 4 Mana while you are only a rank 3."
"This...is too valuable, Teacher. Why don't you just use it instead of giving it to me?"
"It's a bet from Joshua's Teacher, Taiga. Even if I use it, it would only have a slight effect on me, which will not do much. It's more beneficial for you to use this liquid."
"Thank you, Teacher," Alex's heart got warm.
"You just finish a fight, so you better go back and rest for now."
"Yes, Teacher. I will excuse myself," Alex then left the room. The dean looked at Alex's back and shook his head, his heart was moved again and he let out a long sigh, "I will only help him if the enemy is far higher than him like just now. If not, I will just support him so that he can improve his power. He will be the one to improve his personality eventually."
Alex walked into the hallway while staring at the bottles, he asked the System.
'System'
[How can I help you, Host?]
'Can I use this liquid?"
[Analyzing]
[Spiritual Liquid (Polluted)
A liquid mixed from monster blood and herbs.
Use: Increase Mana supply (low), have a side effect]
'Polluted?'
[This liquid came from monster blood and monster blood carried polluted energy, the same energy as what Host called 'Exp', So System doesn't recommend Host to use it]
'Should I give this to Alicia? But it's polluted and has a side effect'
[Host can purify the liquid with your flame because the Host's flame is a pure element. The purification will erase the remaining polluted energy from monster blood and erasing the side effect]
'If I can purify the polluted energy, then why can't I use it?"
[The energy Host absorbed is Heaven and Earth Energy. While the energy from monster blood was worldly energy]
'Ain't it the same?'
[Heaven and Earth Energy mean the energy wasn't from this world but the Universe. This world absorbed the energy from the universe and infused it with the world's will, that is worldly energy while Heaven and Earth's Energy was the purest form of energy.]
'Then I will try to purify them and give them to Alicia'
Alex came back to his room. He saw Alicia, sitting on the sofa while reading a book, like yesterday.
"Alex, you've come back," she smiled and Alex just nodded.
"You will practice again?" she asked with a sad tone.
Thinking for a while, Alex shook his head. Alicia's eyes brightened.
"Then what will you do?"
"I will go to the town, I need ingredients to make breakfast too."
"...." Alicia was a bit awkward since that request was from her. She was still worried, "You can go out? I thought the first-year students don't have the privilege to go out?"
"I have a Teacher's token. If I show it to the guards, then I can go out."
"Can I follow you?"Alex thought for a bit, and he shook his head. Alicia was disappointed.
"I am only going to do some shopping for a while, does Princess want to buy something?"
Alicia's eyes brightened, she thought for a while and ultimately shook her head.
"We also don't have kitchenware."
Alex noticed this too, he nodded "I will buy them too, then."
"But where are you going to cook it?" Alicia scanned the room and there was no space for cooking.
"I will only buy the kitchenware, I can use my flame to cook it so I won't need much space. I can also train my flame control while I'm at it."
Alicia's eyes widened, "I think that will work too."
"Then I'm going now."
"Yes, please be careful, Alex."
Alex nodded and left.
After arriving in the market, he bought kitchenware and necessary items. He also went to a medical shop to buy herbs for Alchemy.
When he came back, it was already midnight and he saw Alicia sleep on the sofa. He shook his head in disbelief. This girl would never change.
"Why does she like sleeping on the sofa so much?" he then carried Alicia to bed.
After putting his groceries, he laid down on the sofa and closed his eyes.
In the morning after he woke up, he went to the cafeteria and brought breakfast for Alicia. Then he cooked breakfast for himself.
"What should I make…"
"It's only for breakfast so I will go with egg."
"Why is this egg having such a nice smell?" Alicia smelled the scent as she slowly opened her eyes and woke up from her sleep.
"Alex...?" she rubbed her eyes
"Princess, your breakfast is on the table."
"I will wait for you," noticing the aroma was from Alex's cooking, she slowly approached him.
"What did you make?" she was curious.
"I make an omelet," he finished his cooking soon after Alicia woke up, "I have finished it, Princess, let's eat then."
On the table, she looked at the omelet that Alex made. She smelled the aroma and drools seeped out of her mouth.
Noticing Alicia's gaze on his omelet, he sighed and gave it to her.
"Ah... no no, I don't want it," she wiped the drools on her face.
"If Princess wants it, please eat it. I will just take this breakfast from the cafeteria," Alex smiled as he gave the plate to her while taking the breakfast from the cafeteria
"Alright then..." Alicia slowly scooped the omelet. When the omelet came inside her mouth. Her eyes widened "Del...icious."
Without caring about the manner, she continuously scooped the omelet and put it in her mouth. Alex only had a few bites before he saw Alicia finish her food.
After a while, she noticed Alex's gaze.
"Ah..ah... Alex, it was too good," she embarrassedly put down the spoon.
Alex smiled, "I'm glad you like it."
"I never knew you can cook, with this food you can even be a royal chef."
Hearing her, Alex was a bit sad. He recalled, in the previous world he only cooked for himself. Even though his foods were tasty, in his mouth, there was no taste at all. Even if his food was too hot, he never felt the warmth of it. He was just too lonely.
"Ah...if you don't like to cook, then don't mind what I say."
He shook his head, "Since Princess likes it, I will cook it for you every day."
Alicia's eyes brightened, she grabbed Alex's hand, and with a star on her eyes she said "Really?"
But soon, she realized what she was doing and she was embarrassed, "Ah...". She awkwardly released his hand.
Alex nodded with a smile. For him, who was used to loneliness, cooking, and eating together like this was a blessing for him. Even with Firia bothering him on every single occasion, he felt joy in his heart. He never had any companion in his life for a few years. For the past few years on Earth, every person he encountered saw him with prejudice. Though he won't show it on his face.
"I will cook the meals, then."
"For breakfast?" asked Alicia with a star on her eyes and Alex just nodded.
"For lunch?" she asked again and Alex nodded.
"For dinner?"
Alex thought for a while and answered, "I will try." That was the best answer he could give.
Hearing Alex's response, she felt she was too greedy. She corrected herself, "Forget about what I said just now. I don't want to disturb your practice time."
Alex just smiled, "Let's get going. Even if I want to cook, there are no ingredients left. So maybe tomorrow," he decided to buy many ingredients tonight.
"Umm," she smiled at his answer.
When Alex and Alicia arrived at the classroom. Many students glared angrily at Alex. They couldn't accept it because an unknown commoner like Alex could beat the number one genius of nobles in this class by a large margin. That meant, many people will look down on nobles. They hated Alex for that particular reason.
Though a few didn't really care about that, especially Firia. Noticing Alex had arrived, she immediately went to Alex.
"You are very good Alex. You even can use chantless magic. You promise me that we'll train together, right? When are you going to fulfill your promise?"
"Did you promise her such a thing?" Alicia was jealous and Alex awkwardly nodded.
"What about next week?" he then asked Firia.
"Alright," she smiled for her response.
Alicia was sulking seeing Alex had agreed to train her.