"Dustan."
Ash approached the lanky student who still had heavy bags under his eyes—almost like he had been sleep-deprived for days.
As soon as Dustan heard his na, he paused and turned to look at the one who called him.
"A-ah... Master Ashfelt Zephyr, how may I help you?"
He bowed his head slightly in respect, keeping his gaze low and hidden so Ash couldn't see the contempt, disgust, or whatever emotion he was keeping hidden from him. As a Beta Class nobody, this was the only safety chanism he could employ.
Especially now that a lot of scrutiny had fallen on them for the White Death saga.
"Dustan..." Ash sighed, coming closer to the boy. "Can we talk?"
The last ti they spoke, things didn't go too well. Ash said so harsh things to push Dustan away, and that would have clearly given the guy a bad impression of him. In actuality, Ash was simply playing his part as a character, but he could see how that could be interpreted by those he interacted with.
For example, he didn't despise Seth at all.
In fact, he admired him.
However, all of their interactsions showed Ash having clear animosity towards his twin brother.
All of it was for the sake of playing a character.
'The original Dustan already bore resentnt towards the nobles of the Alpha Class. Having one of them befriend him, and then toss him aside despite his good intentions would only reinforce those negative emotions within him.'
In order to ensure that an incident like the White Death, or sothing even worse, didn't happen again, it was best for Ash to make reparations.
There was also an additional objective, but he wasn't willing to explore that at the mont.
"I wanted to apologize for my actions, and the words I said to you back then." He said, placing his hand on the shorter boy's shoulder. "You were only looking out for , and I appreciate your help."
"D-don't ntion it... it's fine."
"No, it's not!" Ash raised his voice slightly. "I made a stupiid decision that had unforeseen consequences, and it's a miracle I'm back here, honestly."
"W-well... it's good to have you back."
"I couldn't have done it without your help, Dustan. You were the one who planted the idea of reapplying in my head."
"I-I did?"
"Yes. You ntioned it before leaving my room, rember? I didn't even know we could do that."
"Really? I don't rember saying that, though."
"Well, it doesn't matter." Ash bead. "What matters is that I'm back, and I would like to be friends with you again."
Just as Seth had Elma as his bridge, Ash planned on Dustan to be his connecting link to the Beta Class Students. That way, he could ensure things didn't go out of control and he could keep controlling things from the shadows.
"Really? You want to be friends with ? Why?" Dustan asked a little suspiciously. "You're already back in Alpha Class, right? Shouldn't you have friends there."
"Well... most of them aren't too happy about my return."
"For real?"
"Yes." Ash nodded, making sure his expression was as sad as he could make it. "They all think the Academy was preferential or sothing, which is why I returned there."
"That can't be the case... I an, I don't think it is the case."
"Right? I worked hard on the Re-Entrance!"
"I'm sure you did." Dustan smiled broadly. "Don't mind those Alpha Class jerks..."
"Thank you!"
The two of them laughed, and before long the unease that perated the air vanished, replaced by lightheartedness and the blossoming wave of friendship.
It didn't take very long for both students to look at each other and nod in unison.
They had beco friends once again.
"We should et later tonight... you know, to celebrate!" Ash recomnded. "I know just the place."
Dustan reluctantly agreed with a smile.
He would normally be in the library at that ti, but friendship sotis demanded compromise, and he was willing to sacrifice so of his study ti for his only friend, Ashfelt Zephyr.
"You should call Ash from now on too! Friends don't need honorifics."
"Okay!"
With the agreent finalized between the two of them, Ash and Dustan shook hands and parted ways,
**********
It was late in the night, and two students—a boy and a girl—walked carefreely, their bodies close to each other as they spoke.
In the few weeks that the terror of the White Death reigned, no student would dare to be out this late, not to ntion discussing and laughing so casually. However, with the culprit already captured and executed, and the curfew now removed, many students had resud their late night activities—most of which was spent in the Library or the Training Hall.
These two students were no different, as they were returning from the library after studying together.
"I have to admit, Ashfelt, I was pleasantly surprised in the library today."
"Hmph!" Ash smiled as he glanced at the girl, Elma. "You an you were surprised that I could read a book for over an hour without saying anything?"
"Yeah!" She chuckled. "But then again, I shouldn't have expected anything less from the man who solved the case of the White Death."
"Shh... don't let anyone hear you say that."
"Why? It's not like they're going to believe any of it—Ashfelt Zephyr... going out of his way to solve the killings happening on Campus, and actually succeeding where many failed."
"I can tell you're being sarcastic, but I don't know wheteher to be proud of that fact or hurt."
"Both maybe?" Elma giggled even more. "Honestly, I would have taken all the glory for myself if I were you."
"Really?"
"Yup!" She nodded. "Much better than letting so smug old aristocrat steal my thunder."
"Fair enough..."
They kept walking until they arrived at a park, sowhere calm and serene.
A bench conveniently waited for them at that location, and they sat there after exchanging a mutual glance of agreent.
For a mont, the two of them were silent.
They simply enjoyed the quiet atmosphere of the night, and the cool breeze that brushed past both of their skin.
After a while, Elma rested her head on Ash's shoulder and smiled.
"This is nice..."
Ash looked at her for a mont, before removing his shoulder from her head, almost causing her to lose balance.
"H-hey!"
"Don't look at that way." Ash chuckled. "I don't want to get into any trouble for offering my shoulder to my brother's girl."
"What's that supposed to an?"
He offered her a knowing look, his smilr broadening as he parted his lips.
"You and Seth..."
"What? No! We're not together, if that's what you're insinuating."
"Really?"
At this point, Elma grabbed his hand and dragged him closer to her, resting her head on his shoulder once again.
"Yup!" She tapped his forehead with her finger. "But I actually wouldn't mind being together with you..."
"I see." Ash's smile vanished a little. "So you were after all along, not my brother..."
"What are you talking about?"
"The protection of our family na." Ash shrugged. "Seth would have been the more secure choice, so I'm surprised you'd choose ."
Elma scoffed imdiately, pulling away from Ash. "You think that's what this is about?"
"It isn't?"
"No, idiot!" She groaned. "I actually like you a lot, Ash... and I thought you liked too, with everything that's happened aleady."
Ash maintained his deadpan expression.
He had definitely given off that impression, and him studying together with her and even inviting her on this late night walk was part of that.
But—
"You should be with Seth."
"Why? Why would you say that?" She sighed. "You don't even see how amazing you are, do you?"
"I'm... amazing?"
"Yes! I an, solving the mystery of the White Death is sothing noteworthy. You also managed to defeat , and even returned to Alpha Class... all with your own efforts."
"Well..."
"Don't forget that you owe an explanation regarding how you were able to beat so easily, and why you have been hiding your strength and intelligence all this ti."
Ash looked at Elma with a strange smile, falling silent for a mont.
Then, he spoke.
"I am soone who suddenly transmigrated into this world, a novel that I rigorously read on Earth, which explains my vast knowledge. My incredible power can be attributed to the nature of my Soul and the preparations I made based on my knowledge of this world."
Elma's eyes widened as she heard all this.
Confusion, mixed with surprise, was plainly displayed on her beautiful face.
"W-what are you saying? I'm confu—"
"The reason I said you should be with Seth is because it follows the original storyline... but you're not interested in following that, are you?"
"I don't under—"
"That's why you chose to use Britta as the White Death and completely ssed up the first act of the novel's storyline." Ash sighed, looking at Elma dead in the eye. "It's also why you've chosen to remain close to under the pretext of romance, and why you continue to act oblivious, even now."
At this point, Elma ceased her surprised expression.
Instead, she returned Ash's cold and calculating gaze, her violet eyes reflecting his face as his crimson one reflected hers.
Finally, afteer the tense dance of silence, she opened her mouth to ask:
"How did you find out?"
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