Outside the café, Alex was leaning against a veranda pillar. Davina stood facing him, arms crossed, clearly uncomfortable. Alex eventually broke the silence.
"Alright, Davina… spit it out. Why did you want to talk to me?"
Inside, Ella was watching the scene through the window, a hint of worry in her eyes.
(I wonder what's going on… Why is that girl so interested in Alex? This doesn't feel good.)
Absentmindedly, she picked up a pastry and took a bite. Her eyes lit up.
"Oh! This thing is way too good!"
Meanwhile, outside, Alex looked utterly baffled by Davina's answer.
"Wait… could you repeat that?"
Davina sighed, slightly exasperated.
"I told you. It's simple: I just wanted to get to know you and talk."
Alex: (Excuse me, but… I don't get it. The concept completely escapes me!)
Frozen by the absurdity of the situation, he continued:
"So if I sum it up… you searched everywhere for me, interrupted my snack, dragged me outside just to tell me that?"
Davina put a finger on her chin, thinking.
"It's true that when you put it that way, it does sound a bit thin."
Alex sighed loudly as he straightened up.
"That's it, I'm going back to what I was doing."
He turned around, but Davina's voice stopped him.
"Wait! Could we at least… become friends?"
Alex stopped and turned his head, looking tired.
"I don't know. But something tells me you don't become friends in a single meeting."
"That's true," Davina admitted, thinking out loud. "So… what else could I say? Wait, I'll figure it out!"
Alex watched her sink back into her thoughts. (Is she serious right now?)
"Alright, I'm out. Good luck with your existential research."
"Oh! Thanks!" she replied, snapping back to reality.
"You're welcome… and good luck," Alex said as he walked away, hands in his pockets.
He returned to the café. Ella was devouring the remaining pastries with frightening enthusiasm. When he sat down, she asked, her mouth half full:
"You're done?"
Alex stared at the plate, now empty except for a single cake. Ella followed his gaze and smiled innocently.
"Sorry, I couldn't help it. I was hungry."
"Hmmm…"
He grabbed the last piece.
"That girl didn't even know why she wanted to see me," he grumbled between bites.
Ella sighed, her gaze drifting toward the exit.
"Maybe she just has trouble expressing herself. She was probably looking for an excuse to talk to you."
"Oh yeah? You suddenly sound pretty mature."
Ella waited for a waiter to pass by and take the plate before replying.
"Because I've always been mature, Alex."
Already lost in thought, Alex just muttered, (Hmm.) Then he suddenly turned his head toward her, making her jump.
"Hey, Ella… when do you think two people can be considered friends?"
"Huh? What kind of question is that?"
"Just a question like any other," he replied casually.
Ella took a sip of juice, thinking seriously.
"It depends on the person. But for someone like you, I'd say friendship starts when your interests align, or when one becomes essential to what the other is seeking."
Alex remained silent, staring into the distance. A cold sweat formed on Ella's forehead.
"I think I get it now," he finally said.
"Good, then."
She was about to finish her drink when he interrupted her again.
"And you and me? Are we friends?"
Ella nearly choked.
(He really has a talent for asking the uncomfortable questions. I've thought about it before, but…)
She set her glass down.
"Honestly? I'm not sure. I'd say we get along well, but friendship… that might be a bit much."
Alex leaned forward, resting his chin in his hands, and looked her straight in the eyes.
"Then how about we try? Being my friend?"
Ella froze. It felt as if an icy draft had passed straight through her.
"But… what's gotten into you?"
"What? I'm just asking if you want to be my friend. We're stuck here for a while and we're bored out of our minds. According to your definition, a friend could help pass the time. And besides, we already understand each other pretty well."
He studied her carefully.
"Are you listening?"
"Yes… I accept," she replied softly, finally snapping out of her daze. (Why did I answer so quickly?)
"Great!" Alex said. "Since you agreed, we're friends now."
The bell rang, breaking the moment. Alex jumped to his feet.
"Oh, already? You've got to get back to class. I won't bother you anymore."
He walked off with his usual nonchalant stride. Left alone, Ella stood up as well.
(Three more classes waiting for me… But wait, does that mean he really is my friend? Oh damn!)
The next afternoon, the training grounds were buzzing with activity. Alex was accompanying Melty to her "Internal Defense" class—a hand-to-hand combat training.
The instructor, Liam Yonass, was a charismatic young man with a stern gaze and a scar across his cheek. Wearing the blue uniform of the High Knights, he radiated raw power.
Alex, in his white royal guard uniform with shoulder epaulettes, observed him respectfully.
(He's not here to joke around. He looks tough.)
"Hello, I'm Liam Yonass, your instructor for this course," the man announced firmly.
Nearby, on the magic training field, Ella's class arrived. Alex spotted Davina giving him a small wave. He didn't react, his attention split between the two groups.
Both instructors began their lessons in parallel.
Liam: "Today's exercise is simple—"
Ella: "I haven't shown you anything yet—"
Liam: "You'll be facing each other barehanded—"
Ella: "The goal is to test what you've learned before coming here—"
Liam: "In short: put your opponent on the ground."
Ella: "Cast your strongest spell on the targets. Go ahead!"
Davina suddenly raised her hand.
"Professor! Could we get a demonstration?"
Ella sighed discreetly. (I knew it…)
"Alright. But I'll only do it once. Watch carefully."
She stepped in front of a target, raised her arm, and snapped her fingers.
"Light Impact!"
In a flash, a blinding beam disintegrated the target. Silence fell. From afar, Alex smiled.
(She never does things halfway.)
Meanwhile, Liam called out:
"Melty Nora and Sore Chion, you're up."
He observed the princess for a moment.
"A girl… and a princess on top of that. You've got guts."
"I'm not afraid," Melty replied coldly.
"I hope so. Otherwise, this boy will crush you."
Sore, a lean student with an arrogant smile, lunged at her. Melty didn't even raise a guard. As he struck, she pivoted with surprising fluidity, deflecting the blow with a light movement.
Alex frowned.
(Wait… that stance… is she trying to imitate me?)
Frustrated, Sore attacked again. Melty dodged every strike calmly, then found an opening and drove her knee into his solar plexus.
"You'll pay for that!" Sore shouted, charging once more.
But Melty used his momentum, grabbed him by the neck, hooked his leg, and slammed him violently to the ground.
Alex nodded, impressed.
(She turned her opponent's strength against him. Clean execution.)
"I think I won," Melty said, turning away.
Humiliated, Sore tried to charge her from behind. Without even looking at him, Melty spun and delivered a sharp, precise kick… straight to the family jewels.
Alex rolled his eyes, wincing in sympathetic pain.
(Rest in peace. Stay strong, brother-in-arms.)
"End of the match," Liam ordered. "Take him to the infirmary."
Melty joined Alex.
"So? Any comments?"
"None. Perfect execution."
"You were tougher than him back then," she noted with a small smile.
"Don't make me want to repeat the experience," Alex replied.
Suddenly, an explosion echoed from the neighboring field. Davina had just unleashed a massive Deflagration, instantly reducing her target to ashes. The crowd went wild. But amid the confusion, a whistling sound cut through the air. An arrow buried itself in the foot of one of Ella's students.
Alex reacted instantly.
(And there it is. Trouble. I knew it.)
A second arrow flew through the air, this time aimed at Davina. Alex rushed forward and tackled her to the ground just in time, the projectile passing through the space where her head had been a second earlier.
At the same moment, from a rooftop thirty meters away, Ella spotted the attacker. She launched a light spell that knocked him off the roof.
Alex picked up the injured student, a cynical smile on his lips.
(Ah, trouble… Why is my life full of it?)
END OF CHAPTER
NEXT CHAPTER: Royal Academy, Act 1: The Real Problem (3)