The others looked at Tyrande with varying degrees of contemplation.
Tyrande continued, "This matter isn't just about Krom; it's also about the reputation of Lioncrest Academy. So what if he's a genius? As long as he's not a student of Lioncrest Academy, he's nothing more than a hopeless failure!"
Most of the elders of Lioncrest Academy, after weighing the pros and cons, chose to agree.
However, a few remained hesitant.
Seeing that the majority of the elders supported her, Tyrande pressed on:
"Lioncrest Academy has always been an unrivaled powerhouse. If he dares to join the opposing Sirius Academy, there's no need to show him any mercy. Leave his corpse here!"
"Exactly! Not joining Lioncrest Academy isn't our loss—it's Alan's greatest mistake!"
"Only those who join our academy can be called geniuses. Everyone else is just trash!"
"The trash we reject is taken in by Sirius Academy—what a joke!"
Quickly, under the influence of Lioncrest Academy, Alan's reputation as a "failure" began to spread.
Along with his tarnished name, word of Sirius Academy's decline also traveled far and wide.
"I heard Sirius Academy is on the verge of shutting down!"
"No wonder they'll take anyone, even rejects from Lioncrest Academy! What a disgrace, haha!"
On a remote mountain trail.
Alan carried Isabella on his back as he followed an old man with a bulbous, red nose.
Though the old man wobbled as he walked, his pace was surprisingly quick.
"My headache feels much better now. Put me down; I can walk on my own."
"You've only just recovered. Close your eyes and rest for a while."
"I'm fine now, really. Brother, promise me you won't lower yourself to ask for help like today ever again, okay?"
"Alright. Whatever you say, your brother will listen."
"I knew you were the best, big brother!"
Led by the old man, they followed the winding mountain path and soon arrived at a valley surrounded by mountains on three sides.
At the valley's entrance stood an ancient stone tablet inscribed with the words: Sirius Academy.
The text bore a timeworn elegance but was heavily covered in moss and creeping vines, giving it an air of extreme dilapidation.
"Since Sirius Academy's decline, you're the first person to voluntarily join."
Alan didn't seem to mind. Instead, he curiously asked,
"Senior, does this mean I'm the only student in Sirius Academy right now?"
"Not quite. Including you, there are currently two students."
"Two students?"
Alan's mouth twitched. Two students—this could still be called an academy?
The old man chuckled and said, "Don't worry too much. I've recruited—oops, I mean persuaded—two more students this year. That brings our total to four students."
Isabella, who had already known that Sirius Academy had been heavily suppressed, hadn't expected it to be this miserable.
"Brother, I think we've fallen into a pit."
Alan also felt that the situation looked far from promising, but he was still grateful to the old man and smiled.
"No matter what, this senior saved your life. That kindness is worth any price."
Following the old man's guidance, Alan and Isabella entered the valley.
At the valley's center stood a cluster of grand halls, now in utter disrepair, resembling some kind of ancient ruin.
The old man, familiar with the surroundings, said nonchalantly, "It's a bit rundown here, but at least it's peaceful!"
"There are plenty of empty rooms. Just pick one to settle in."
"Get familiar with the area yourself. I'm getting old and need to rest."
"Brother, you go find us a room. I'll tidy up this hall a little," Isabella said as she got down from Alan's back and looked at the weed-infested hall.
Alan nodded. Since they were here, they might as well make the best of it.
He recalled that Harris had said Sirius Academy once rivaled Lioncrest Academy, so there had to be something special about it.
"Just tidy up a bit. Once I find a room, I'll come help," Alan instructed before starting to explore.
Perhaps due to years of neglect, most of the buildings had collapsed, leaving only the central area intact.
Thinking about living with his sister, Alan decided to find a relatively large house with a courtyard.
After searching for a while, his eyes lit up as he spotted a verdant courtyard.
The area had nice scenery and was centrally located, offering privacy and safety—an ideal choice.
Excited, Alan quickly walked in and pushed open the door, ready to inspect it further.
But as soon as the door opened, he froze.
Not far in front of him was a pool of crystal-clear water. A black-haired girl was swimming in the pool—and she wasn't wearing anything. Through the sparkling water, her graceful curves were clearly visible.
The girl's face initially carried a relaxed and blissful smile, but upon noticing Alan, her expression froze.
Alan was momentarily stunned, his mind almost shutting down.
Before he could turn around and pretend he hadn't seen anything, a burst of agitated splashing erupted behind him.
Suddenly, he felt a chill on his back. A sharp dagger was pressed against him, ready to pierce his skin at any moment.
Knowing he was at fault, Alan's mind raced. Then, in a loud voice, he declared,
"Actually, I'm gay!"
For a moment, the air went silent.
Alan didn't dare move. The girl had moved so quickly that she'd disarmed him in an instant.
Although his shock had delayed his reaction, her strength was undeniable.
If his first instinct had been to flee, he might have stood a chance.
But now, with a blade at his back, he was entirely at her mercy.
A moment later, the dagger disappeared.
Alan felt the tension in his body ease slightly.
After hearing the rustling sounds of someone getting dressed, Alan cautiously turned around.
The girl now stood before him, her fiery red dress accentuating her graceful figure.
Her deep blue eyes seemed both as passionate as flames and as cold as ice, keeping others at a distance.
A true beauty!
Though she wasn't fully developed yet, her facial features and figure hinted at the stunning woman she would become.
Alan wasn't leering; he simply appreciated beauty.
At that moment, the girl met his gaze.
Alan, determined not to be seen as a pervert, was about to explain when she suddenly blinked and asked,
"So, are you a top or a bottom?"
Alan: "…"
What the hell?!
He thought he'd met an innocent girl who didn't know much about the world, but it turned out she was a full-fledged fujoshi with a keen interest in the subject!
Seeing Alan's hesitation and discomfort, the girl quickly lost interest.
With a glance that seemed to confirm her suspicions, she decided he must be a bottom.
"I've heard bottoms have the hardest time and often have twisted personalities," she muttered before turning to leave.
Alan relaxed once she was gone.
Though her final look was strange, it didn't matter as long as the situation was resolved.
Afterward, Alan decided not to linger. He scouted around and found two other courtyards, which he tidied up before hunting some wild rabbits that were overrunning the area.
His time in the Northern District had given him excellent survival skills.
Returning to the main hall with the rabbits, Alan found Isabella waiting.
"Brother!" she called sweetly, her relief evident.
Alan smiled back at her and began preparing their lunch.
Skinning the rabbits, he used the abundant firewood in the area to roast them.
Before long, the enticing aroma of roasted meat filled the air.
And just then, the familiar figure of that black-haired girl appeared once more.