"Where are we going now?" I asked as we stepped out of the academy into the bustling city.
he city was called Vytrinae. It was owned by the academy and created so the students wouldn't feel caged inside the academy after staying for too long, especially since no one could leave until the end of a semester. The place bustled with activity as buyers—most of whom were students—and sellers haggled over the prices of goods. It was a hub of energy and commerce, giving off a sense of freedom. I guessed that's why the academy invested so much in it. But with so much freedom came consequences; some students inevitably got carried away and neglected their studies. Not that it seemed to bother the academy much; those who were serious would always remain serious.
Anyway, Vytrinae also served as another revenue source for the academy. Merchants paid taxes, as did the residents who lived here. The currency used in this place, however, was points. Every expense was deducted from a student's monthly allocation, which varied significantly depending on their rank.
"Alies Seres," she said with a grin.
I frowned. "What language is that?"
"It's not a language, you big dummy! It's a couples' café," she explained, to which I nodded absentmindedly.
I nodded but paused as realization hit me. "Wait… how was I supposed to know that? I literally started school the day before yesterday."
She laughed it off. "You don't have to be an ancient student to know it! It's so popular in the academy that you should've at least heard of it once from other students, even on your first day."
I shook my head, unwilling to continue the argument. It was clear we weren't getting anywhere.
"But you said it's for couples… are single people banned or something?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Well, no… not directly. But the atmosphere inside would scare any lone dog away. So don't even think about going there without me," she said, smiling. Despite her expression, her tone carried a hint of seriousness that wasn't lost on me.
"So basically, I need a girlfriend to go in there freely?" I asked blankly.
She nodded eagerly.
"But you're not—" I started, but her smile widened unnaturally, not quite reaching her eyes.
"I'm not what, Ryan?" she purred, leaning closer.
Before I could react, she pulled me into an alley and slammed me against the wall. Damn, this is so embarrassing! And I can't even do anything about it. She's way stronger than me. I've learned through experience not to provoke her. With all my years searching for Renay, I've developed a scumbag-like attitude—one word from me and most girls would hate me instantly. But with Selena? That attitude takes a hike. Maybe it's my subconscious recognizing that she could strangle me in public and no one would intervene until it was too late.
"I asked a question, Ryan," she said, her knee pressing dangerously close to a sensitive area as she leaned in. Her sharp gaze locked onto mine. "I'm not what?" she repeated.
"You are not only my girlfriend," I blurted out, panicking as I scrambled for a response.
"And I'm what then?" she asked, her hot breath brushing against my ear.
AHHHHHHH!
I hate this! I absolutely hate this!
Tsk.
Now that I think about it, that bastard Zel has disappeared, so I can't even merge with the darn blessing.
Damn it!
"You…" I sighed, finally settling on the most cringe-worthy line I could find in my bag of BS. "...are my everything."
To my surprise, it worked. Her face turned bright red as she blushed furiously. Taking advantage of her flustered state, I flipped our positions, pinning her against the wall instead. Now, she couldn't even meet my gaze, her eyes darting everywhere like some lovestruck maiden.
"Alright, enough of this. Can you just give me the points I asked for? I'm really short on time," I said, finally getting serious.
She looked up at me, shrinking slightly under my gaze. "Y-yes… but what about—"
"We can go there tomorrow," I cut in firmly.
She nodded meekly.
Huh. This feels good. Why isn't she always this docile?
Anyway, the points I mentioned were the reason for all this drama. I'd asked for a portion of my points to pay for transportation to a specific sector of Vytrinae. She insisted, however, that she wouldn't give me a single point unless I agreed to accompany her somewhere first.
Without the points, I couldn't get to where I needed to go. Walking there was out of the question, as I'd miss curfew—which would probably earn me the dorm master's wrath. Plus, I had to get there today. Lucas was heading there tomorrow for training, and in the process, he'd retrieve a certain relic that I needed.