"You passed right in front of my relaxing place together with your newfound friends and you didn't even see me? You are so mean." John said as he closed his eyes, pointing his head in the opposite position to Arslan's, with his arms folded.
"Hey, it is you who always uses that annoying stealth skill!" Arslan answered while he was recovering his breath.
"Hehe!"
"Don't -hehe- me! And they weren't my friends, as you could clearly see." Arslan said annoyed by being teased like that.
"Really? I thought you were playing hide and seek! I wanted to play too."
"Come on, stop joking. I need to get back to take the herbs Elder Oak requested me to pick up." Arslan said as he stretched his back and got ready to leave.
"Yes, yes, let's go." John said while he was still laughing a bit, but trying to cover his mouth with his right hand.
They both started walking side to side, but John curiosity couldn't be stopped,
"Arslan, I see that you don't want to show off, but if I hadn't helped you, what would have you done? You could use that technique way earlier than when we met." John said as he crossed his arms behind his head.
"It isn't for that reason." Arslan said while his expression got a bit more gloomy.
"Mhm?" John wasn't getting what Arslan wanted to say.
"Elder Oak... it was him to tell me to lay low..."
"Then, was all you said yesterday a mere lie?" John wondered as he raised his right eyebrow.
"Eh? No! I said the truth... but it seems Elder Oak didn't like me being so exposed too."
"Is he also the reason why you don't get any credit at the end of the week?"
"..."
"I'll take your silence as a yes."
"Ahhh... Considering you just saved me from a difficult situation, I guess I can tell you why he is an obstacle to me."
While continuing walking, Arslan decided to explain to John that Eveline was the source of all his problems and that he couldn't rebel, because she could threaten him with his sister at any moment.
"Wow, this is bad. You have your arms and legs tied, basically." John said as he looked up at the sky, trying to imagine how it would have been to be in his situation.
"Yeah, thank you for remembering me this detail." Arslan said, glaring at him with his eyes half-closed.
"Oops, sorry my bad. But why didn't you ask for other elders' help? At least to contain Elder Oak's threats."
"Asking them for help? They are all the same! They knew what Elder Oak was doing and never intervened to stop him. Probably they thought a powerless disciple wasn't worthy of their efforts." Arslan said as he thought to Elder Song, with a disappointed gaze.
"I see... but now Elder Song seems to be pretty interested in you. You could ask him to lend you a hand."
"He is exactly the type of elder I wouldn't ask for help to." Arslan answered with a decisive tone of voice, not leaving any space for John to change his mind.
"Ok... At this point, I wonder why Elder Oak cares about what you do. I mean... why should he want you to lay low? The more you show your strength the more the other disciples will beat you down to put you back in your place... this should be positive for Miss River's aim." John said as he looked carefully at Arslan while placing his arms along his body.
"Ahhh... I don't know, I was wondering about the same thing. Indeed it doesn't make sense." Arslan arrived at the same conclusion, but couldn't find a good reason that explained Elder Oak's behavior,
'Wait for a second... Maybe it doesn't make sense, because I thought Elder Oak was following Eveline's orders. And what if this wasn't Eveline's request? Then, what would Elder Oak's purpose be?' His doubts about that whole situation began to arise.
"Damn, it is all so complex... I need to get stronger faster so that no one can be a threat to me." Arslan said as he scrambled his wavy short hair with his hands.
"..." John didn't reply.
"By the way, we arrived at the bush where I hid them." Arslan said while he was pointing his left forefinger to the bush near them.
Arslan kneeled and inserted his hand into it,
"And here they are!" He said as he took the five dragon tail herbs out, looking at John with a toothy smile on his face.
"Are you planning to go back to the Academy now?" John asked as he looked at the herbs, raising an eyebrow, due to the strange form they had.
"Yes. I don't have time to waste being chased by some lunatic," Arslan said as he stood up while keeping the herbs on his chest, with his right arm under them,
"Are you not gonna come?" Arslan asked as he noticed John looking at the inside of the forest.
"No, I'm gonna stay for a bit more. I thought of a good place to go to train to."
Arslan looked in the direction John was looking at, but just saw an endless number of trees, 'Does he know some sort of long-range eyesight technique too?' He wondered as he looked back at John.
"Well, I bid you farewell then!" John said in trepidation for what he found.
"Ok, have fun." Arslan answered as he understood not to delay him anymore.
"I will!"
After that, John left, and Arslan headed towards the Academy,
"He is really a straightforward guy, but sometimes can be so mysterious..." Arslan said as he thought about John.
One hour and a half passed from when Arslan went to the forest,
'Damn, it took way more time than what I expected.' Arslan thought as he got almost at the Outer Gates, while fastening his walking pace.
"Finally, you came back. You sure took your time." A familiar voice coming from the Gates said to Arslan, who was approaching.