Chapter 87: A Comforting chaos

Words : 1252 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 87 : A Comforting chaos A soft chime echoed through the quiet room as the door slid open with a hiss, letting in a rush of cool, sterilized air and the noise of casual chatter. Six familiar figures stepped through the doorway—each of them bringing a spark of life into the still room. Draven was the first to enter, tall and broad-shouldered despite being from a dwarven lineage because of his mother's side. His cadet uniform had been replaced by a dark green bomber jacket layered over a fitted black T-shirt. His jeans were faded, boots scuffed—he looked like he'd walked off the set of a gritty street movie. His sharp eyes scanned the room quickly, as if always on alert. Behind him came Alden, radiating smug confidence as always. He wore a pristine white button-up shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms, the top buttons undone just enough to scream effortless charm. Slim charcoal-gray trousers and glossy dress shoes completed the "wealthy heir trying not to show off but definitely showing off" look. Ethan walked with quiet poise, wearing a navy-blue cardigan over a white tee tucked into gray slacks. There was a natural nobility in his movements, calm and reserved, like he was born with royalty in his veins. Ava bounded in behind him, wearing a baggy black hoodie with cat ears stitched on the hood, the sleeves far too long for her small frame. Torn jeans and mismatched sneakers made her look like a chaotic gremlin disguised as a high schooler. She carried herself with the chaotic energy of a caffeine-fueled sugar sprite. Seraphina entered like a breeze. She wore a loose cream-colored blouse tucked into sleek black high-waisted pants, the outfit hugging her figure elegantly. Her sky-blue hair was braided loosely to one side, a few strands dancing with her every step. Calm and composed, she gave the impression of a noble warrior on vacation. Lastly, Charlotte strode in like she owned the place. A cropped maroon hoodie showed off her toned abs, paired with black gym shorts and long striped socks. Her casual punk-princess vibe clashed in the most fashionable way possible. Lying in bed, Alex blinked at them, adjusting his head. His silver hair was longer, more unkempt after weeks of sleep. The room had been deathly quiet for days while he was unconscious, but now it buzzed with familiar voices. He couldn't help but smile. "Well, look who decided to invade my peaceful recovery." Alden smirked and folded his arms. "Well well... so you're finally awake, Miss Snow White. Glad someone didn't have to kiss you awake." Alex arched an eyebrow and shot back smoothly. "Well, if it had to be someone, I think your sister Alicia would've been perfect for the job." A beat of silence. "You bastard," Alden muttered, shaking his head. "Even after she kicked your ass into a three-week coma, your loud mouth didn't change one bit." There was another pause... and then both boys started laughing loudly, causing the others to groan. Ah, banter. Just what I needed, Alex thought, hiding a wince from the slight pain the laughter caused in his ribs. Seraphina gave them both a look. "That's enough. He just woke up. Maybe hold off on the ego duels until he fully recovers." "Yeah yeah," Alden said with a wave, though his grin didn't fade. Seraphina turned to Alex and smiled. "Don't mind him. That guy was worried sick about you. He visited you every day, you know." Alex blinked, then let out a wheeze as he started laughing again. "Ha... So you do care, Alden. Finally accepted my value, huh? Mr. Smug Face turning into Mr. Concerned." Alden turned red, glaring at Seraphina. "I told you not to tell him that!" He turned back to Alex, flustered. "I only visited to make sure you weren't dead! If my sister accidentally murdered you, I didn't want to deal with the emotional trauma of her becoming a killer!" 'Sure, buddy. Keep telling yourself that.' Alex thought with amusement, his grin widening. Trying to steer the mood back to calm, Ethan stepped forward. "So, how are you feeling now?" Alex nodded. "Better. Dr. Wizz said I'll be discharged tomorrow." "That's good news," Ava said, hands stuffed in her hoodie pocket. Draven leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Looks like the peaceful days are over starting tomorrow, huh?" Alex squinted at him. "Did you say something?" Draven suddenly flailed his arms. "I said—we're really glad to have you back!" Laughter rippled through the room again. Everyone found a place to sit or lean—Draven near the corner, Ava on the foot of the bed, Alden claiming a chair like it was a throne. The tension in the room eased into comfortable chatter. Then Alex's eyes lit up with realization. "Oh, I just remembered something important." All eyes turned toward him. "Before the duels, Ms. Vega mentioned the Academy was going to do potential evaluations. So... how did that go for all of you?" Even though he already knew the results from the game except for Ava, he played the role of curious friend with practiced ease. Smiles slowly spread among the group. Alden stood dramatically, placing a hand on his chest. "Peasant, you should start worshipping me now. Yours truly has the potential of a Transcendent. A cut above the rest." Alex gave him a mock bow. "I will... after you convince your sister to give me that kiss." "You really wanna get flattened again, don't you?" Alden growled, cracking his knuckles. Seraphina leaned close to Alden, whispering something in his ear. His scowl transformed into a wicked grin. "How about I call her here," he said sweetly. "You can ask her yourself. Face to face. Lip to lip." Alex paled, sweat beading on his forehead as flashbacks of the beating he got surged through his mind. "O-on second thought, maybe I should recover first... then we can talk about it later." Alden gave Seraphina a high-five and whispered, "Thanks for the save." Charlotte rolled her eyes. "If you children are done high-fiving each other, let me tell you something shocking. This princess of yours also happens to have Transcendent-rank potential." She looked straight at Alex, who just stared back blankly. "Come on! At least pretend to be surprised!" Alex blinked once. "Congratulations." Charlotte groaned. "You're no fun, Commoner." From the side, Ava looked like she wanted to say something, glancing between them. She opened her mouth, only for Alden to butt in, grinning. "Don't be fooled by the pipsqueak look—she also has Transcendent potential!" Alex's eyebrows actually lifted this time. "Wait, really? Ava too?" A vein popped in Ava's "HEY, UGLY! I was gonna tell him myself!" she yelled, fists clenched. "Why do you always have to butt in, huh?!" Alden raised an eyebrow. "Ugly?! You take that back, gremlin! My face is the epitome of handsome perfection!" "It's the epitome of a donkey's rear end!" The two of them began to bicker loudly, throwing insults like confetti. Alex chuckled, watching them with a calm smile. Looks like those two have gotten close... Maybe even a little too close, he thought, eyes twinkling. He leaned back against the pillows, letting the voices of his friends fill the room, the chaos somehow comforting. After weeks of unconsciousness and silence, this noise—this life—felt like the best medicine of all.

Chapter 87: A Comforting chaos

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