The next day at school, Alaric found himself in a contemplative mood. The red cross around his neck was a constant reminder of the protective measure his father had left him. He wore it with a sense of both comfort and unease, aware of its significance but also eager to live a normal life. He was trying to focus on his schoolwork and blend in with his peers, but his thoughts were never far from the strange occurrences of the past few days.
As he walked through the bustling school hallway, he noticed Evelyn in the distance. She seemed lost in thought, her gaze fixed in his direction. Alaric had observed her doing this several times, and it piqued his curiosity. He decided to approach her.
"Evelyn!" Alaric called out, waving his hand to get her attention.
Evelyn looked up, her face flushing slightly as she met his gaze. She quickly composed herself and gave a shy smile. "Oh, hi, Alaric."
