[Pinnacle Academy, Aetherium Nexus: Corridor]
Realizing he might be too close for comfort, Rel quickly moved back, crouching down to et her eye level.
"Well?" he asked, his voice a low murmur.
"Are you going to tell what you're really doing here?"
Alice's cheeks burned even hotter.
She couldn't et his eyes, her gaze darting nervously around the empty hallway.
"I-I..." she stamred, her voice barely a whisper.
Rel tilted his head, a playful smirk on his lips. "Cat got your tongue?"
Alice swallowed, mustering all her courage.
"I... I wanted to apologize," she finally managed to say.
"Apologize?" Rel echoed, genuinely surprised. "For what?"
"For... for not thanking you properly," Alice said, her voice gaining a bit of strength.
"For the notes, and for helping with my studies. You didn't have to do that, and I... I really appreciate it."
Rel's expression softened. "It was no big deal," he said, his voice sincere.
"I was happy to help."
He uncrossed his arms, but his gaze remained fixed on her face.
A mont of silence stretched between them, the only sound the gentle hum of the Nexus' machinery.
Then, Rel stood up, breaking the spell that had held them captive.
"Well," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, "I should probably get going. I have things to do."
Alice nodded a wave of disappointnt washing over her.
Just as quickly as he had captured her attention, he was slipping away again.
"Right," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "Of course."
Rel turned and walked away, leaving Alice alone in the corridor.
She watched his retreating figure, her heart still pounding in her chest.
***
[Rel's POV]
A few days later, the results of the combined exams were posted in the central courtyard corridors.
The top 500 students' nas and rankings were displayed along the longest hallway in the academy, the first year's section closest to the southern buildings.
I strolled straight towards the number one spot, a smirk tugging at my lips.
I'd heard whispers of how everyone had studied their butts off to dethrone in the theory exams.
But to their dismay, they'd all fall short of the one who left everything behind, to his overwhelming intensity to cheat and sleep.
Ah, the sweet taste of victory.
Rel Laurence, the true academic champion of this world.
_______
Exam Rankings Theory Top 100:
1. Rel Laurence
2. Alice Elizabeth
3. Louise Villerion
4. Valencia Freya
5. Valeria Ayers
6. Miya Takeo
...
...
_______
Drop!
The sound of books hitting the floor snapped out of my smug reverie.
I turned to see Alice standing beside , her face pale and her eyes wide with shock.
I could understand her reaction.
She'd never tasted defeat before, especially not in academics.
I'm sure she was confident I'd fall behind after not studying for two weeks, but it seems she underestimated the power of a well-placed cheat sheet (the system) and a strategically tid power nap.
I offered Alice a small, reassuring smile and waved as I walked past her.
She returned the gesture, quickly regaining her composure.
It was a brief mont, but it felt like she understood I hadn't intended to take her first-place spot.
(She didn't.)
***
A few more days passed and it turned into a routine of unease.
I continued my previous route of shadowing Bennett relentlessly, following him doing his usual routine but those Three days of this tedious surveillance gave nothing out of the ordinary.
It was as if he were a completely different person from the sinister figure I had created in my novel.
I couldn't shake the feeling that sothing was amiss.
Bennett's behaviour didn't align with my original plot, and his lack of suspicious activity was unsettling.
For now, I decided to let him be.
I didn't have any concrete evidence to incriminate him, and I didn't want to make any rash decisions that could further derail the story.
I'd simply have to be more vigilant and aware of his actions from now on.
BZZZZT!!! BZZZZT!!!
My watch buzzed, interrupting my thoughts.
It wasn't a ssage from anyone I knew.
That ant only one thing: a new mission from the rcenary Corp.
[You've received an email from: The rcenaries HQ]
[Dear Axel, There has been an urgent eting called to our attention and we'd like you to head towards the HQ as soon as possible, please report to the IDS Station room when you get there and you'll be briefed.]
[From Mary The Receptionist.]
"Wouldn't have doubted it for a mont. I'll head there right now,"
I muttered to myself, standing in the middle of Pinnacle's outer courtyard.
...
...
...
[A Few Minutes Later...]
[Eldoria, cerenary Headquarters]
I quickly made my way to the HQ without any problems.
I still didn't know much about the missions the special forces undertook, but there was no guarantee of safety either way.
Upon entering the rcenary building, Mary greeted with a curt nod and handed a sheet filled with information about a certain character.
The description detailed a person nad Philip Han.
The familiar na suggested he was connected to Vladimir Bane, one of the main villains of this novel.
"CA25B and VE4B are waiting for you in the IDS station room," Mary said, her voice emotionless. "You'll be debriefed shortly, so stay there until Jaxon arrives."
I nodded quickly, adjusted my mask to conceal my face, and headed towards the station room.
Inside, I found Christian and Vanessa sitting on separate benches, so distance apart.
Vanessa appeared angry, her posture and the way she turned her head away from Christian suggested there was a problem.
*
"Hello...team?" Rel asked, confused as he looked back and forth between Christian and Vanessa.
Christian turned imdiately upon hearing Rel's voice and rushed towards him, grabbing his shoulders.
"...!"
"Axel! You... you gotta help , man!"
His voice was almost desperate, and Rel glanced over Christian's shoulder to see that Vanessa's mood and body language remained unchanged.
_________
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