Chapter 35: Hush Part I
After several classes, it's finally time for lunch. Sevi turned to Noemi, intending to ask if she had noticed anything unusual about Carla. But before he could speak, she stood abruptly, gathering her things with a haste he wasn't used to seeing from her.
"Hey, Noemi," Sevi called out.
She paused, looking back at him with an unreadable expression. "What is it?"
'...I don't think it's time to ask about Carla,' Sevi thought as he caught the fleeting shift in Noemi's expression.
He gave a small, reassuring smile, hoping to keep things light.
"Nothing."
"If you're asking if I'm okay, I'm totally fine." Noemi said, her voice steady.
"Alright, if you say so," Sevi said in a light tone.
Noemi quickly exited the room, her brisk pace leaving Sevi with a lingering sense of unease.
'I should look into Carla's absence,' Sevi thought as he adjusted his glasses.
'It will also be a good opportunity to get closer to my classmates, especially since I just transferred here.'
He glanced around the classroom and noticed a guy being surrounded by a group of students. The boy stood out in the crowd, his orange hair striking against the muted tones of the classroom.
'Oh right! The class representative.' Sevi thought as he saw the guy.
Sevi waited as the group around Max slowly dispersed, some heading toward the cafeteria, others chatting with their friends. Max, still standing near the doorway, seemed to be enjoying the attention but didn't mind being left alone for a moment. As the last of the students wandered off, Sevi took the opportunity to approach him.
Max glanced up, noticing Sevi's approach.
He gave a casual wave and grinned. "Hey, Sevi! You're looking a bit lost in thought there," Max said with a grin, the ease in his voice belying the fact that he was always quick to make others feel welcome.
Sevi smiled back, relieved by the friendly tone. "Just trying to adjust to everything."
Max chuckled. "I get that. It's a lot to take in, especially here. This place can be a bit overwhelming at first, but you'll get the hang of it." He shrugged and smiled, "Anyway, I'm Max, your friendly neighborhood social butterfly."
Sevi laughed softly, feeling a bit more at ease. "Nice to meet you, Max."
"Same here," Max said, his grin widening. "So, how are you finding things so far? Classes, people... anything catch your eye?"
Sevi thought for a moment. "It's been good, I guess. I'm still trying to get to know everyone."
Max raised an eyebrow, leaning in a little closer. "Well, if you're looking for advice on who's who around here, I'm your guy. I know all the secrets—who's cool, who's not, and who's hiding something."
His tone was light, but Sevi could tell he was more than a little serious about his claim.
Sevi smiled. "I might take you up on that. It's kind of hard to keep track of everyone as a newcomer."
Max grinned and leaned back casually, looking around the room. "You'll figure it out in no time."
'I should ask about Carla.'
"Mind asking you about the one who is absent today? The one on Noemi's front." Sevi asked.
Max's expression shifted when Sevi mentioned Carla's absence. He seemed a little surprised.
"Carla's absent today?" Max asked, his tone genuine. "That's... kind of rare. She's got almost perfect attendance. I can't remember the last time she missed a class."
Max scratched his head, looking thoughtful. "Well, I don't really know the details, but there's been some talk around class. You know how rumors spread, right?" He glanced around as if to make sure no one was listening too closely before leaning in slightly.
"Apparently,"
Max lowered his voice, "Carla's been a bit... distant lately. A few people noticed she's been leaving early or disappearing for a while after class. Some even said they saw her talking to someone at the edge of the campus, but it's always been kind of... hush-hush. No one really knows for sure."
Sevi raised an eyebrow. "Do you think she's involved in something outside of class?"
Max shrugged, clearly unsure. "Could be. It's hard to say. Like I said, she's usually quiet about her personal life. But I wouldn't be too quick to assume anything, man."
Sevi nodded, absorbing the information. The fact that Carla was disappearing and having secretive conversations was definitely odd.
"Thanks for the heads up," Sevi said, his voice thoughtful.
Max gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "No problem, man. Like I said, it's probably nothing to worry about."
Suddenly, Max's stomach rumbled.
He chuckled and gave Sevi an apologetic grin. "Sorry, man. Looks like lunch is calling me." He clapped Sevi on the shoulder again. "I'll catch you later."
"Sure, sure," Sevi nodded with a smile, watching as Max waved and quickly headed out of the room.
Sevi wasn't particularly hungry, but the tension in the air had him restless.
'Maybe I should get some fresh air and a change of scenery,' he thought, deciding to take the long route to the cafeteria. It was a quieter path, less traveled by students, and gave him a bit of peace away from the bustling hallways.
As Sevi walked along the less-frequented corridor, his footsteps light on the stone floor, he heard voices ahead. He slowed his pace, instinctively stepping to the side to avoid being seen. The voices grew clearer as he drew closer, and he realized they were speaking in hushed tones, as though trying not to be overheard.
"Have you heard? The half-beastmen's situation is getting worse," one of the voices said, a young male tone, slightly gravelly.
"I know. We've been keeping an eye on them, but now they're getting more desperate. Someone's bound to notice if they keep pushing like this," a second voice responded, this one belonging to a female student.
Sevi's heart skipped a beat as his mind quickly processed the implications of their words.
Half-beastmen?
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