"Oh, nothing... Just a few unrelated news, like Princess finding her compatible Person's identity and stuff similar..."
I felt the blood leaving my face as I realized the meaning behind Oscar's words. My mind instantly raced to the possibility of the Elven Royal family breaching the Trygnomy's database and accessing the information about the Ice Dungeon's entry.
'It shouldn't be possible...'
Feeling cold sweat gathering on my palm, I clenched my jaw, trying not to show any emotion or panic.
"..."
I could feel Oscar's gaze on me and slowly lifting my head, I saw his brown eyes smiling at me in amusement.
"Fuck..."
A curse escaped from my lips as I realized that the information was probably already known. If my guess is correct, it seems that the Trygnomy probably sold the information to the Elven Royal family for a hefty price.
'Trustworthy company my ass...'
I muttered under my breath, going over the possible scenarios that could now unfold, due to the Elves knowing I am Rose's compatible person.
Well...
I just hope I'm not locked up in some kind of tower or forced to sign a Mana Contract I'm unable to breach.
"..."
I could feel my anxiety raising, but I bit my lips, controlling myself not to run away. I've already set my mind on being near the light, rather than hiding from it.
If I want to be a Shadow, then I must learn to embrace the light and use it to my advantage rather than fearing it and hiding from its gaze in fear of being exposed.
"Do you want to grab a drink?"
Maintaining my composure, I turned to Oscar and gave him a small smile. Although to him it probably seemed that I was calm, I had given up.
"You seem unbothered..."
Thankfully, he didn't comment further and instead followed my lead in changing the subject. We both headed toward the school cafeteria to grab a can of soda and some snacks, before heading outside and taking a seat on one of the benches.
Gulp...
As I took a sip of my drink, I frowned, feeling the cold liquid rush down my throat.
Whoosh...
After a few minutes of peacefully sitting in silence, a gust of wind blew by, attracting my gaze toward a girl with long Azure hair, standing across the campus, looking around hesitantly as if searching for someone.
"You should probably go..."
I spoke up, pointing towards the Elven Princess standing in the distance. Oscar quickly understood the situation and got up, nodding in agreement and tapping me on my shoulder.
"I'll catch up with you later..."
Seeing him off with a wave, I took one last sip of my drink before releasing a deep breath and allowing my Mana to seep into the surroundings.
Click...
Instantly, two azure eyes were fixed on me, but I calmly met them with my own golden ones, inviting her to approach me.
"It feels like I'm about to face a Boss monster..."
***
A few hours ago...
"Wasn't that Aiden's voice?"
Tess spoke, looking at her friends, her voice slightly above the normal pitch. Although it might seem like she didn't care much, her pointy ears were struggling to stay in place as they twitched slightly, indicating her emotions.
While Drake didn't know much about Aiden in the first place and couldn't differentiate his voice, Tess just nodded her head in agreement.
There was no need to tell Rose about the little talk they had in the garden.
Tess didn't know the relationship between Aiden and Rose, but just in case... she didn't want to make her friend jealous.
"Let's go... He's probably in the Academy..."
Seeing that this was going nowhere Drake, finally, spoke up. He didn't have the mood to look at two girls exchanging non-verbal communication.
"..."
As they all boarded a vehicle owned by Tess's family, Tess felt that the mood in the car was tense, or rather the temperature around Rose was significantly colder than before.
"Rose, what are you planning to do?"
Drake's question, while straightforward, managed to capture the attention of everyone in the car.
He wouldn't normally have asked such a question, but since his seat was very close to Rose, he could feel the cold seeping onto his bone.
Drake was well aware that a Compatible Person was very important, however, he couldn't quite understand why Rose seemed to be so attached to Aiden.
Rose's gaze shifted towards Drake, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions - gratitude, slight shyness and determination. She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself before answering.
"He saved my life..."
Rose finally responded, her voice carrying a weight of vulnerability.
"While I could've died in the Dungeon to some kind of a G Rank monster, he gave me his Mana. He was there when I was all alone..."
Tess closed her eyes, nodding in understanding. It felt like a romanti-
"And he stole my Wyvern loot!"
However, her imagination was broken, upon hearing Rose's next words. Even Drake raised his eyebrows in surprise at the sudden twist.
Rose's face now seemed to convey slight irritation while her tone hinted at a playful frustration as she continued to rant about the stolen root.
"That guy..."
Even Tess couldn't help, but slightly chuckle hearing the entire story from her friend's lips.
The tension in the car seemed to lessen.
***
Whoosh...
The wind blew a chilly breeze as the trio get out of the car, approaching the entrance of the Academy with determination etched on their faces.
"You go search for him inside the buildings..."
Rose decided to split the group, giving specific instructions to Tess and Drake on their mission.
She wanted to talk to Aiden today and not push this conversation any further.
Tap... Tap...
Walking around the school campus, she saw many students, however, none of them seemed to be her Aiden's.
Rose scanned the area, her eyes sharp and focused, searching for any signs of Aiden, but she couldn't sense his presence.
Tch...
Clicking her tongue she decided to move east, thinking that Aiden might be hanging out somewhere near the cafeteria.
While walking she began to think about what to tell him when she finally saw him.
'Hello, you are my compatible person!'
No, she couldn't just start a conversation like that! It has to start from a more natural place.
'Hello, thank you for saving my life...'
That sounds better, but he stole my core!
Rose felt her ears twitch, but at this point, she couldn't tell if it was either from excitement or frustration.
Whoosh...
Suddenly, she felt a Mana Wave or a signal that was similar yet unique to all others. It felt like the Mana was somehow familiar.
Click...
Rose's eyes quickly shifted in the direction of the signal, and she saw Aiden sitting on one of the Academy's benches, drinking a soda.
His Golden eyes seemed calm, while his gaze was surely fixated on her.
"..."
Rose felt that he was inviting her, however, she felt slightly confused. According to his past behavior, Aiden would've preferred to avoid her, yet here he was, waiting for her.
As she walked toward him, her steps became measured, each one deliberate, as if she were traversing a path filled with unseen obstacles. Her heart raced within her chest, its steady rhythm a reminder of her own vulnerability in the face of uncertainty.
The distance between them closed gradually, the gap shrinking with each tentative stride. Rose's azure hair cascaded down her back, a vibrant waterfall of color that mirrored the depths of her emotions. She held herself with a mix of poise and hesitation, her body language betraying a conflicting blend of confidence and vulnerability.
Whoosh...
The soft breeze carried the faint scent of blooming flowers, mingling with the crispness of anticipation in the air. The world around them seemed to fade into the background, their surroundings becoming nothing more than a blur as their connection grew stronger. The sunlight filtered through the leaves of nearby trees, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow upon the ground, mirroring the dance of emotions within Rose's heart.
'To be angry or grateful...'
Rose thought to herself, unsure of how to approach Aiden.
Finally, Rose stood before Aiden, her eyes locked onto him as if searching for answers and confirmation. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. The air seemed charged with an unspoken tension, both exhilarating and nerve-wracking as if their meeting held the power to alter the course of their lives.
Without a word, Rose slowly lowered herself onto the bench, her movements graceful and deliberate. She sat beside Aiden, their shoulders almost touching, yet an invisible barrier still separating them.
Rose's azure eyes mirrored a myriad of emotions, flickering like flames dancing upon a hearth. There was a mixture of curiosity, hope, and a hint of apprehension in her gaze. Her lips parted slightly as if poised to speak, but the words remained trapped within her, struggling to find their way to the surface.
"Do you want a drink?"
However, Aiden was the first to break the ice with a simple question, offering Rose an extra can of soda.
