"Hey, who's there?!"
Quira asked in a strained voice, certain he'd heard a woman's voice nearby. If that woman had witnessed what he'd done to those bastards, it could spell the end for him.
Bam!
Out of nowhere, a woman with crimson hair, wearing the same uniform, touched down right in front of him. It was Alexa, the woman blessed with the power of a dragon.
"What happened to you?" She questioned him, her tone laced with suspicion, her eyes scanning his torn clothes and noticing the bruises marring his body.
Quira knew this woman wasn't one to be deceived easily, so lying wasn't the wisest choice. Furthermore, her question indicated she wasn't aware of the full situation.
"Oh, Ridge and his boys chased me. After they beat me, they took off," he replied. This seemed like the safest response for now, as he could potentially use her as a witness when the investigation began. Ridge and the others came from prestigious families, so their disappearance would surely prompt an inquiry.
She scanned the area, searching for any signs of the trio. "Where did they go?"
"I'm not sure. As you can see, I passed out. When I woke up, I was the only one here," he said casually, trying to deflect further questioning while also making it clear that she hadn't witnessed the recent events. "What about you? What brings you to this place? Aren't you supposed to be at the Academy?"
Alexa shot him a sharp look. "Why do you care?" Her tone turned icy, and she sniffed before adding, "I sensed a strong bloodlust here, so I thought there might be a Black Matter member around."
Black Matter, an organization infamous for its members' criminal pasts and numerous ranker killings. They usually surfaced when planning artifact heists or ranker assassinations, their motives shrouded in mystery.
The bloodlust, akin to killing intent, was unmistakably potent, leaving Alexa somewhat unnerved. In truth, she suspected the presence of a notorious Black Matter member.
"Do you spot anyone here?" she inquired once more, her hand clenched into a fist. Anger welled up naturally, given that her brother had fallen victim to a Black Matter member.
It was a fateful moment during Alexa's brother's expedition through a portal. Their team had triumphed over the Magical Dual Head Orc, but their victory was short-lived. Just as they landed on solid ground, a Black Matter member known as Jade materialized. In a swift and brutal act, she severed her brother's head and swiftly dispatched everyone else.
Had they been in better condition, victory might have been within their grasp. Yet, their earlier fierce battle had left them severely wounded and exhausted, sealing their tragic fate.
Quira gently shook his head, studying the woman's face. "No, I didn't spot anyone nearby," he replied, pushing himself up and dusting off his pants.
A sudden twinge of pain shot through him as he took a step, his ribs still throbbing from Ridge's attack. "If you have no more questions, I'll be on my way to tend to this injury."
But just as he was about to leave, Alexa halted him. "Hold on a moment." She began to channel mana into her hand, causing it to emit a fiery red-orange light, a clear sign of her mastery of fire magic. "Come closer."
Heal!
She gently laid her hand on Quira's chest, and suddenly, his entire body was enveloped in a soothing red-orange light. A warm, comforting sensation spread throughout him, and the pain he had been enduring began to fade away.
What was this?
Was this her incredible power?
Quira couldn't help but be amazed, even though he recognized that it was an extraordinary display of Alexa's abilities. She wielded her magical power effortlessly, and he couldn't expect any less from someone hailing from such a powerful family.
"Thank you," Quira nodded in gratitude.
Alexa turned away, but before she departed, she left him with a final piece of advice. "I'm not looking down on you, but you should understand, this academy isn't like any other. Weakness is often treated as worthlessness. It's your choice whether to heed my words or not, but consider leaving this academy."
Quira's expression turned serious as he spun around to face her. "Will you support my living expenses? If you can do that, then I'll leave without hesitation. Honestly, it might be more appealing to just stay home every day."
Alexa found herself taken aback by Quira's response, but she chose not to reply. She sensed that his words were a reflection of his true intentions and the reasons driving him to pursue the path of a ranker.
_
At the house, Quira would like to see all the rewards he received after finishing the quest. However, he was so tired right now due to the side effect of the Rage skill, plus, he should explain to Rixia the current situation.
He changed his clothes before heading to Rixia's room, knowing she would be worried if she saw those ripped clothes. About the wounds? They were already healed because of Alexa's healing spell.
Quira knocked on Rixia's door and entered to find her sitting on the bed, engrossed in a book. He approached with a smile. "Hey, Rixia. What's that you're reading?"
Rixia looked up, returning the smile. "Just a novel, brother. But why are you here? Don't you have class today?"
Quira scratched his head. "Well, something came up, and we need to have a chat."
"What's going on, brother? It must be really important if you skipped your class."
Quira let out a deep sigh. "Well, the Academy informed us that we have to remain there for a while. I tried to explain our situation, but I don't think they'll be understanding."
Rixia smiled at him and nuzzled her head against his chest. "You always knew the Academy's strict policies, even though our house is close by. You knew they wouldn't allow it. I think you were just testing the waters."
Quira spoke softly, "I'm concerned about you, Rixia. There won't be anyone to look after you once I leave."
Rixia reassured him, "Don't fret, brother. I can take care of myself. Just leave the things I need within my reach."
Quira pondered for a moment before suggesting, "How about we try to find someone who can assist you with certain tasks? There are some things you might need help with."
Quira clarified, "No, I didn't mean sending you back to the orphanage. I understand how you feel about it, and I agree, there are other kids there who need attention."
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" he asked again.
Rixia nodded firmly. "Yes, brother. I'd rather stay here than go back there. And if you can come home once a month, that's more than enough for me."
Quira affectionately patted Rixia's head. "Alright, I'll make sure everything you need is taken care of. If you run into any issues, don't hesitate to call me." He struggled to rise to his feet, his strength clearly waning.
Rixia observed him closely, concern in her eyes. "Brother, why is your skin so pale? You look so weak. Did something happen?"
Quira shook his head, but before he could finish his sentence, he collapsed onto the bed, snoring loudly.
Rixia sighed softly. "He must be really exhausted. Earlier, he was full of energy. Is the Star Strek Academy really that demanding?"
_
The next morning arrived, and Quira began his usual routine, packing his belongings early in the morning and ensuring that Rixia had everything she needed as well. When it was time to bid farewell, Rixia managed to maintain her composure in front of Quira, but as she left, her emotions overwhelmed her, and tears welled up, a painful ache in her chest. Quira, too, couldn't hide his sadness, as this marked the first time they were parting ways after many years.
Quira headed to his class, where Sophia, their instructor, began calling out everyone's names.
Sophia, their instructor, furrowed her brow as she noticed the absence of three students. She made her priorities clear, stating, "We have three students absent today. Today's discussion is crucial, so it's their loss, not mine." She proceeded to write "Today, we are going to study about mana" on the board, signaling the start of their lesson.