The days passed, and Zen's bond with Alice continued to grow. They had become inseparable, their trust and understanding of each other deepening with each passing day. But amidst the camaraderie and laughter, Zen couldn't shake off the feeling that Alice was hiding something from him.
One evening, as they walked through the academy's corridors, Zen noticed that Alice seemed distant, her mind preoccupied. He nudged her gently, trying to bring her back to the present. "Hey, everything okay?" he asked, his voice low.
Alice hesitated, her eyes darting around the corridor before settling on Zen's face. For a moment, he thought he saw a glimmer of vulnerability in her eyes, but it was quickly masked by her usual confident demeanor.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, her voice a little softer than usual. "Just lost in thought."
Zen's instincts told him that she was hiding something, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he nodded and fell into step beside her, their shoulders brushing as they walked.
As they turned a corner, they stumbled upon a group of students gathered around a makeshift bulletin board. The atmosphere was tense, and the students were whispering among themselves.
Alice's eyes scanned the board, her expression unreadable. Zen followed her gaze and saw that it was a notice about a recent attack on a nearby village. The villagers had been slaughtered, and the Ashen Legion was offering a reward for any information about the perpetrators.
Alice's face was pale, her eyes flashing with anger. Zen knew that look; it was a mix of determination and fury. He also knew that she was thinking about something, something that was eating away at her.
"Alice?" he asked, his voice low.
She turned to him, her eyes searching. For a moment, Zen thought he saw a glimmer of fear, but it was quickly replaced by her usual determination.
"We need to talk," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Zen's heart skipped a beat. He knew that look, that tone. Something was wrong, and Alice was about to tell him what it was.
*To be continued...*