Ethan gazed out through the window of his room.
Until the familiar ding sound pierces his ears.
[You have gained 100 points for running over 20mk]
At first, Ethan seemed surprised, but he remembered the new feats stuff Rowena told him about.
"so this is how I'm gonna get points now, huh? Not bad though," Ethan mumbled to himself.
He swiped to his point bank. He checked his point bank and closed it. He had several thoughts in his head. Thoughts of how to rescue Helen.
He and his gang had already made some plans, but there was one crucial part.
How do they get out of the academy?
Ethan rose from his bed when his phone buzzed. He checked.
Noah sent him a message.
He walked out of his room and went to the canteen again.
Noah, Ileus, and Layla were already waiting for him.
"How did it go?" Ethan asked immediately after he sat down.
"The commander wants you to inform him in person," Noah said, picking up a glass of water.
Ethan didn't say anything for a minute. Why would the commander want to see him personally? He had never seen the commander. He only heard him give a few announcements, and those two were from a speaker.
"Why?" Ethan asked. "I don't have any fuses with him."
"is not that. That old man seemed to like you."
"You think so?" Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, that's why he wants to meet you."
"Ok, I'll meet him." Ethan stood up. "You guys not following me?"
"Nah, I think we'll stay he--"
"I'll follow you." Layla cut Noah off. "That's if you don't mind."
"Sure, come on, let's go." Ethan gestured to Layla, and they walked out of the canteen.
Noah and Ileus stared at them as they walked out. The two didn't look away until the duo disappeared.
"You think Layla has a thing for our boy," Noah whispered.
"Certainly." Ileus siped his red liquid. No one could tell if it was blood or wine, but no one paid attention to it.
It was blood.
"But I think Helen will be in competition mode when she returns." Ileus licked the blood from his lips.
---
Ethan strolls calmly with Layla behind him.
They were currently on the top floor, where all the paperwork concerning the academy was taken care of.
Ethan had never been to this part of the academy. The people here seemed to be only office-type people. They didn't look like fighters or soldiers.
Ethan and Layla stopped at a door and knocked.
A bald man with medicated glasses came out.
Ethan and Layla saluted the man and said, "Sir, we have an appointment with the commander."
"You can join the line," the man said, and walked back in.
"Line?" Ethan asked.
"What did you expect? He is the commander," Layla said and walked past Ethan.
The room they entered seemed to be a waiting room because military men and students were already seated waiting for their turn to see the commander.
Ethan and Layla grabbed a seat and waited for their turn.
Ethan pulled out his phone and started playing a game. Layla also did the same.
Two waiting hours later, it was their turn.
Ethan walked in, leaving Layla. She seemed invested in whatever she was doing on her phone, and he didn't want to disturb her.
Ethan entered the gray-painted office that reeked of strong alcohol.
He saw a scared man sitting across a wide table in front of a long bookshelf.
Ethan took him as the commander.
He wore a black military uniform that had three shiny stars on it.
Ethan wasn't good with military ranks, but he knew the commander would be a high-ranking soldier.
He saw the outline of the commander's bulging muscles despite being in uniform, but the deep scar on his left cheek made Ethan curious.
"If you're done sizing me up, you can seat your butt down," the commander said sternly.
He had no smile on his face, but if he did, he'd look creepy due to his bony cheeks.
Ethan realized his rudeness and saluted the commander, "Sorry for my rudeness, sir."
"I'll let it slide." The commander flashed a creepy smile.
Ethan didn't like that smile.
He still stood, waiting for the commander to let him take a seat. No one taught him about this, but pretty much everyone did this.
"Seat!" Came the stern voice again.
Ethan sat down. He already felt intimidated just by being in this high-ranking commander's presence.
"I heard from your friend that you want to take a leave from school, right?" The commander stared at Ethan.
"Y-yes." Those intimidating bony cheeks were doing their job.
making him nervous.
"You are aware that it's not yet time for breaks."
'Is there even a break?' Ethan wanted to say it aloud, but he said, "I'm aware, sir, but this is important."
"More important than the academy?"
"N-no, sir, it's just that-"
"Your request has been granted," Commander Xavier interrupted.
"Just like that?" Ethan thought.
He didn't expect it to be this easy, but he knew there was a catch.
One thing he had noticed was that these Earthlings hardly did anything for free.
Seeing how quiet it was, Commander Xavier said, "You're to return to the academy within 3 days if not...I'll keep that to myself. "
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. "
Xavier nodded his head and said, "Anything else?"
"No-yes."
"What is it?"
"I forgot to tell you." Ethan paused. He didn't know how to word this request.
"Boy, I have more important things to do."
"I'm taking my friends along with me."
Commander Xavier sighed. " I have already given you my word, no taking it back now."
"Thank you, sir. I really appreciate this. "
"Save all those thank yous because, in the future, you'll pay me back." Commander Xavier flashed another creepy smile.
Ethan gulped a mouthful of saliva.
All humans have a price.
Ethan left the office and regrouped with the group.
He told them about how the meeting went.
The next day, they prepared to leave for the city.
Time to save Helen.
*****
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