Alex and the others had finally arrived at their destination and begun setting up camp around a beautiful area with fruits growing on bushes and a lake nearby that they could use to catch fish.
The way the trip was organized was that there would be three teachers with each student group; however, they could not assist the students unless their lives were in danger; otherwise, it was up to the students.
So the students in Alex's group came up with a plan that ended up with Alex and the girls scavenging the woods for edible fruits.
"I found some berries!" Amelie yelled out.
"Make sure they are edible; you have that guide book the teacher gave you, right?" Raven asked the excited Amelie as she was throwing away some poisonous mushrooms she had found.
"I did; I'm not an idiot, Raven." Amelie protested.
"Don't blame me; you're the one who almost ate some of these poisonous mushrooms." Raven said, which caused Amelie to pout.
"Where's Alex?" Freya asked.
"He went to the lake nearby; he said he saw some fish." Claire responded. "Maybe we should go see what he's up to?"
"Yeah, I don't like the fact he wanted to be alone..." Raven said, looking in the direction Alex walked.
*Alex Perspective*
Alex walked past the lake, where he told the girls he was trying to find some fish, and walked into a cave located on the other side of the lake.
As soon as he walked in, someone threw a knife at his head; however, Alex grabbed it by the handle and smiled.
"Did you think I wouldn't be able to stop this knife, Adelia?" he asked, looking at a shadow in the corner.
The shadow revealed herself to be Adelia who was smiling at seeing Alex again.
"It's so good to see you, Alex." she said.
"Yet you throw a knife at my head..." Alex responded as he offered Adelia the knife she threw.
"I needed to make sure your skills were still sharp." Adelia said as she took the knife out of Alex's hand.
"It's good to see you too, Adelia, but first off, how did you find me?" Alex asked.
Adelia sighed "I tried to see you while you were in your dorm room, but you left on this trip right as I got to the academy, so I had to follow until you guys stopped. Once I did that, I made sure you noticed me, and now here we are."
"Well, I assume you have a reason for doing all that; it couldn't be that you just missed me." Alex said with a bit of a teasing tone.
"And what if it was?" Adelia responded, teasing him right back.
"I'd applaud you for being so bold; who knows, maybe I missed you just as much." Alex said with a small smile.
His response made Adelia blush after hearing him. "I wish we could continue this conversation, but there is something important we have to talk about."
"What's so important that you stalked me all the way out here?" Alex asked.
Adelia pouted and said "I didn't stalk you; I just followed you for a few miles..."
"So...stalking." Alex said.
"Stop being such a bully!" Adelia responded, embarrassed. "But in all seriousness, it's something of significant importance; Percival wants to talk."
"Percival? What about?" Alex asked.
"Meet me back in this cave tonight; after that, I'll tell you everything. All I can say for now is, prepare for a fight." Adelia said warning Alex of what was to come.
"What am I going to fight?" Alex asked.
"Your toughest opponent yet; luckily, I'm here to help...as well as someone else." Adelia said, looking to the side while saying that last part.
"Someone else?" Alex asked.
"You'll see; just do what I said." Adelia responded.
"Fine...Fine..." Alex said brushing her off, but he knew if she said something like that, then something important was happening.
Alex was walking back to the group before bumping into the girls, who were now at the lake.
"Hey Alex, did you see that fish you were talking about?" Raven asked.
"No, it was too fast; I couldn't get to it." Alex lied to Raven, knowing he couldn't tell her what actually happened.
"Damn, well, we found some berries and stuff, so we should start heading back!" Raven said.
"Right behind you..." Alex said as he followed the three.
After they arrived back at the main camp, they started to organize what they had available, including food. However, as the sun started to set, they could smell smoke coming from the west.
"Smells like the teachers are making steak..." Freya said with an angry face, as there was only fruit and half a slice of bread on her plate.
"Dammit, this isn't filling at all!" Seraphina yelled out. She was used to luxurious meals made by the top chefs of their respected cuisine, not something this insignificant.
"Sounds like the spoiled brat is realizing not everyone can eat five-star meals a day." Raven mocked Seraphina,
"Hey! I'm not spoiled!" Seraphina responded.
Raven and Seraphina started to argue a bit, and Alex used this opportunity to slip out.
"I got to go to the bathroom." Alex said, excusing himself.
Alex, instead of going back to the bathroom, headed back to the cave where Adelia was; the moon was now full and shining brightly down on him, especially with the lake reflecting moonlight on its water.
"So, let's see what this is all about." Alex said as he walked into the cave.
"Thanks for meeting me, Alex. Now about what's happening. Let's walk and talk." Adelia said as the two left the cave.
However, they weren't the only ones at the lake.
"Who is that?" Freya asked, hiding behind a bush, far enough away to not be sensed by Alex.
The girls were suspicious of Alex's excuse and, with Raven's suggestion, followed him at a distance all the way to the cave where he met Adelia.
"I don't know; she kind of looks like Kaede but still definitely isn't the same person." Raven said,
"That's Adelia..." Claire said, she knew exactly who it was that Alex was talking to.
"Adelia? You mean..." Amelie said.
Claire sighed "Yes, the girl who helped train me and Alex while we were away from you guys—if she's here, that means something big is happening."
"We should follow th-" Raven was saying before she was cut off.
"Don't; if she's here, then it's something serious regarding Alex; he wouldn't want us to interfere in this business." Claire said.
"But you know who she is; why can't we just-" Seraphina tried to say, but Claire interrupted again.
"It's because I know who she is that I'm saying this; what's about to happen is their business, and people like us have no part in it." Claire said.
Raven and Amelie sighed; they knew she was an origin user like Alex, meaning whatever was happening had something to do with whatever an origin was, and even though Raven didn't like it, she understood it.
"Fine, but if he needs us, I'll be the first one running." Ravens said.
"As I expected of you, Raven." Claire said with a smile.
*Alex's perspective*
Alex and Adelia were walking for awhile but stopped in a clearing; however, something felt ominous about the area, as if it were shrouded in darkness.
It was then that Alex could hear a girl laughing from the woods.
"So this is our new Lightning Origin user. Isn't he just adorable..." the voice said.
Soon Alex was attacked; however, he couldn't even see where it came from.
"Good reflexes..." the voice said. Soon, a shadow figure emerged from the woods; however, the figure became more clear to see...and it was a sight that shocked Alex.
The paleness of their skin, the glowing red eyes, the long, pure white hair, and not to mention the long black dress she was wearing—Alex knew exactly what she was.
"A Demon?!"
----------------------------------
If you guys want to to support me check out my patreon, it's as cheap as a dollar!
Patreon:
https://patreon.com/Alex_Blackwood628
Discord:
https://discord.gg/97ejzvAGKb