The next day .
After class, Rou was in no particular rush to leave. He was mentally exhausted from the events that had unfolded the previous day—his fight with Elias, the strange tension between him and the others, and Elise's insistence on helping that village specially the demon part. He wasn't ready to deal with the mess that awaited him, but as he gathered his things, a familiar voice broke his thoughts.
Elias
[Rou.]
Rou turned, meeting Elias's eyes. He stood by the door of the classroom, looking a bit more subdued than he had the day before. His usual prideful posture was slightly slumped, and his hands were clasped together nervously.
Elias hesitated before stepping forward.
Elias:
[Look, about yesterday... I came to apologize for what happened.]
Rou didn't respond immediately, keeping his gaze steady but neutral. Elias was clearly expecting some kind of acknowledgment, but Rou wasn't in the mood, nor was planning to talk with these people.
Elias:
[I... I acted out of line. I thought I could fight you in the prince's name. For Caelum, I mean.]
Rou raised an eyebrow, nonplussed.
Rou:
[Seems like a dumb reason for a duel.]
Elias flinched, but he pressed on, not letting the cold reception stop him.
Elias:
[I know it was stupid, but... it wasn't just that. I wanted to see what kind of person you really are. And I admit... I was surprised.]
Elias took a deep breath.
Elias:
[You're stronger than I expected.]
Rou didn't flinch. He didn't care about the compliment—if anything, it made him more uninterested. He shifted his weight, staring at Elias for a moment before speaking in a dry tone.
Rou:
[... I'm not interested in playing games with you. What do you want, really?]
Elias seemed to be struggling to find the right words. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly before continuing.
Elias:
[I was thinking... maybe we could be friends?]
Rou blinked, not quite processing what he had just heard. The absurdity of the suggestion hung in the air.
Rou:
[Friends?]
Elias nodded eagerly, though Rou could see the uncertainty in his eyes.
Elias:
[Yeah, I mean... we could get along. You're strong, I respect that. I don't want to be enemies anymore, especially not after... well, after the fight.]
Rou's expression hardened, his mouth forming a thin line. The idea of becoming friends with Elias felt unnatural, and honestly, irritating. He could hardly imagine spending any time with the guy he despised in the game.
Rou crossed his arms and leaned slightly to the side, his eyes narrowing.
Rou:
[Do you really think that's how this works? You challenge me to a duel, then ask me to be your buddy? Are you stupid?]
Elias's face flushed slightly, and his enthusiasm waned, but he still held his ground.
Elias:
[I just thought it'd be better, you know? We're both here, we both have the same goals of becoming knights. Why not work together?]
Rou stared at him for a long, uncomfortable moment. Then he let out a low, humorless chuckle.
Rou:
[Yeah, right. Like that's going to happen]
Without another word, Rou turned and walked towards the door, leaving Elias standing there, a mix of frustration and embarrassment clear on his face. Rou didn't even look back as he stepped out into the hallway, leaving Elias behind to stew in his defeat.
He wasn't going to let some guy, no matter how good his intentions, drag him into this weird camaraderie. The last thing Rou needed was more people trying to drag him into their petty dramas.
Lunch came...
At the cafeteria, Rou sat at a table, his thoughts drifting. The chatter around him felt distant as he was lost in his own head. Elise's words about the demonic aura, the tension surrounding the village—it was all too much to process.
Amelia sat across from him, speaking animatedly about something, but Rou wasn't really listening. His mind kept wandering.
Amelia noticed his lack of attention and stopped mid-sentence.
Amelia:
"Rou... Is something wrong?" (she asked, concern creeping into her voice.)
Rou didn't answer immediately, his mind far from the conversation. Then he suddenly muttered.
Rou:
[It's none of your business.]
Amelia blinked in surprise. Her expression faltered for a moment before it hardened, hurt flashing in her eyes.
Amelia:
[Of course it is!] (she snapped, her voice shaking.) [We're friends, aren't we? I should be able to—]
Before she could finish, her words caught in her throat. Her eyes glistened, and with a quick, sharp intake of breath, tears began to well up. She stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor, and fled the cafeteria without another word.
Rou sat frozen, watching her go, his heart unexpectedly tightening. The moment lingered in the air, and for a moment, he couldn't quite comprehend what had just happened.
Shocked by her sudden outburst, Rou remained silent, his gaze fixed on the door Amelia had just left through.
Rou:
(Nice one... Dumbass...)
Night came...
The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting faint shadows across the room. Rou sat on the edge of his bed, his fingers drumming absentmindedly against the wooden frame. The events of the day had left his mind restless, unable to settle. His thoughts kept circling back to one thing—something he hadn't anticipated so soon: demons.
He let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair.
Rou:
[It shouldn't be... I mean it's too early... ]
His voice was quiet, more to himself than to anyone else.
In the game, demons had been a looming threat—an event that didn't unfold until later. Their appearance had always marked a pivotal point in the storyline, one that shifted everything. But now, with Elise bringing up the presence of a demonic aura... it felt far too early.
Rou:
[This isn't how it was supposed to happen. Not now... not yet.]
He leaned back against the headboard, his eyes scanning the ceiling, lost in thought. The demons were never just a minor detail. They had their own agendas, and the havoc they caused was enough to turn the world upside down. But if they appeared now, when the story was still in its early stages, it could rewrite everything.
Rou:
[If it's true... Why would they show up so soon? And why in a place... the village?]
(I never recalled the village having demon problems)
He paused, remembering Elise's words. A demonic aura.
Rou:
[... Tch!]