CHAPTER 218: CHAPTER 218: GOLDEN [1]

"Classes and activities will officially resume as of next week Monday. And as such, once again, attendance will be mandatory — you’ll have to have very valid reason or excuse not to show up. Insubordination will be strictly penalized as of the usual protocol."

Ah...

Just as I began to wonder how long the Academy could keep this up, Wrenna suddenly dropped a sudden piece of information. The weight of the atmosphere in the half empty classroom shifted and stiffled at her words.

I glanced around, adjusting my elbow against my desk. Tsk, how annoying — I’d have loved to switch the arms propping up my head right about now, but left arm is currently useless.

I glanced around the classroom amidst my thoughts and i could see a mix of reactions from the Cadets all over.

It was to be expected.

Despite that said, Wrenna’s sudden piece of information really wasn’t that sudden. No, it shouldn’t have been.

The Academy couldn’t continue like this, halting the academic year program for this long while scheduling dummy classes and activities where basically no one showed up for. They couldn’t afford to do so without self-sabotaging themselves in the end.

They were bound to get back on track any moment.

And they seem almost desperate too. Or was harsh the word? That was what prompted the various mixed reactions of the Cadets.

There was only a few days till next Monday, less than a week, even. And in that little time, all classes and activities will resume as though nothing ever happened to begin with.

Without a doubt the first year schedule had already been held back for far too long, so it wouldn’t be too far fetched to say that tge Academy might intend to bulldoze through the next couple of weeks to somehow manage to catch up.

Until then, the First year cadets have no choice but struggle to adjust.

Looking around the scanty classroom and considering everything all at once together, i had a feeling that a lot of things were going to change after this...

I could already feel a headache just thinking about it.

Meanwhile, Wrenna continued, unconcerned by the reactions of the Cadets.

"Everything will return to how it officially should be. Also, I’d advise you get ready for your upcoming Continuous Assessment and Mid-Term Exams."

"Eh?"

I froze as Wrenna said those words and my eyes widened.

Now that was sudden.

Mid term exams... I had totally forgotten about that!

***

"More details will be disclosed through your bracelets. That is all for today. Dismissed."

Wrenna said her final words and rounded up before making her exit. And that concluded today’s homeroom.

I stared at her retreating back with hollow eyes when Alexander rose up to his feet and turned to me.

"...Why do you suddenly look like you’ve aged ten extra years?"

"No, it’s nothing."

I was in shock for a moment, but i managed to snap out of it.

With everything that was happening around me so far, it was hard to remember, aside from the unique setting and system of this World, i was still actually a student.

This slap back to reality was intense, shaking me to my bone as i shuddered under Alexander’s weird gaze.

"No, really are you sure —"

—Step. Step.

Before Alexander could finish or say anything else, a familiar figure suddenly climbed up the aisle between the seats and approached us.

"Victor, and Alexander too. I didn’t think I’d run into you here."

Deandra Lunar D’LaCurt, her fiery red hair flowing like a waterfall of crimson swayed like an illusion, as she looked eyes in my direction.

My lips parted dryly.

"Why are you staring at me in particular though?"

Wasn’t Deandra being insensitive right now? Contrary to whatever impression or unrated belief she had of me, i was a student — i was a Cadet of Aegis and had obligations to fulfil. Of course I’d show up for class. How rude was that reaction?

As if Deandra could read my thoughts from my expression, she gave me a dry look and shifted her glance.

"Anyway..."

"Don’t just pretend to ignore me like that—!"

"...i guess things will finally be returning to normal from next week." Deandra continued, staring at Alexander and blatantly disregarding my existence.

Her perfect facial features seemed to deepen as her usually and already stern expression became even grimmer and she looked around the scanty classroom.

With nothing else on the schedule for today after Homeroom, the cadets were slowly filtering out of the class and loitering away to their own devices — each with a thought and expression of their own.

"But it seems there’ll be some changes however." Deandra sighed deeply, a strand of her red hair falling forward over her beautiful face.

Thay sigh held a lot more weight and meaning of a paragraph of words, i could understand.

But amidst all this, i thought it was weird. I raised my head to stare lightly at Deandra as she massaged in between her eyes.

Why was she here?

The next moment, as if she could read my thoughts, Deandra spoke up —her blood red eyes meeting mine before i could even consider to look away — not that i was even going to though.

"I just happened to see you two and decided to see how you were doing."

Her gaze lingered longer.

"Victor, your arm—"

"No, sweet class rep, we’ve already been over this."

I raised my right arm forward before Deandra could continue and nudged at Alexander next to me with my head.

Then raising my bandaged left arm slowly, i wiggled my fingers and said dryly.

"It’s fine. See?"

"..."

Deandra stared at my arm, then at my face — she seemed to have something to say as her lips parted and bobbed a little, but ultimately restrained herself.

I watched this without much reaction, pretending not to notice.

"...If you say so then, that’s fine."

The moment Deandra said that, her Communicator beeped and she pulled it out to stare at the screen briefly before lowering it.

"I have to go. I’ll see you guys some other time then."

Deandra let out a small breath, nodded mildly in our direction before turning around and walking away — her bright red hair swaying lightly behind her retreating steps.

As i watched her walk away, i restaurant a sigh, wondering just when and how I’d become close enough to exchange pleasantries with the Class president like that?

’Where have i gone wrong?’

At the same time, i casually rose to my feet, shifting my glance to Alexander. The rest of the classroom was empty at this point, all of the Cadets other than Alexander and i who were left had already cleared out.

"We should get going to."

"We should."

I rubbed the back of my neck lightly while stretching it as Alex and i strode out of the empty classroom, the sounds of our footsteps echoing behind us.

Since homeroom had only recently been dismissed, there were still cadets loitering around the wide hallway. Soft sunlight poured into the walls of the half empty hallway from the windows.

’It’s warm...’ my thoughts trailed as my feet unconsciously slowed down before one of them.

Ultimately, i stopped and looked outside the window as i quickly caught sight of a familiar figure.

The First year building was so conveniently built right next to the ridiculously wide and expansive track field as a backyard. Amd standing just before the window, i could see Chelsea standing along the field with a deep solemnity, her now shoet auburn hair gave her a roughish charm.

She was in gym shorts and a sweatshirt, standing alone under the blue sky. Since i was staring from a higher vantage point from the window, Chelsea couldn’t notice my gaze, and as she seemingly continued to stare emptily into space, her orange eyes dark and spiralling — i continued to stare at her as well.

My thoughts were uncertain, even my emotions. For some reason i couldn’t take my eyes off her even when Alexander walked to my side by the window.

"Hm? What’s wrong?"

It seemed like Chelsea was standing there while waiting for someone, as the next moment, another familiar figure cane into view and approached the auburn haired girl.

Is that...

It was Deandra, looking much different than when we met her just mere minutes ago. Thanks to that, i didn’t immediately recognize her, but it was hard not to in the end, i hadn’t seen anyone else with such rich red hair after all.

This time around, Deandra had her long fiery red hair tied up in a ponytail swaying down behind her back. She also had changed into spot wears, a gym short and a simple basic top.

Her expression was as graceful and straight as always as she walked up to Chelsea who slowly turned to look at her without much of a reaction.

Finally, a slight ripple made it to my expression.

"When did those two start hanging out?" eventually, i said.

"Oh them? They’ve been training together for a while now, ever since the incident."

"...I see."