Chapter 74 Banquet [1] [Bonus Chapter]

In the end, after making a mental note to write back to my sister with my contact details the next time, I put away the large box and letter and laid down on my bed. I made the final summaries to my cumulative thoughts of the day. Partially, I had an obvious sense of relief from the letter. It felt like a heavy chest had been lifted off my shoulders. Adrianne and my family weren't mad, and we're even more worried. But considering the truth about everything and what I had done, I also had mixed and slightly complicated feelings. Did I truly deserve such warmth and comfort from these people? When I thought that, I immediately concluded it was a depressing process. For that moment, I shook the thought out of my heart. In the end, my mind only ever kept returning back to my uncertain state and standing in the academy.Nôv(el)B\\jnn "Really," I sighed deeply and shook my head, "things have become so unnecessarily complicated since I came here. Not once have anything gone according to my plans or expectations." Muttering that to myself, I inadvertently directed a glance to the bronze ring on left arm finger. Unknowingly, my eyes twitched as a strained smile crooked in my lips. "... Just my luck." The Flaw of Solomon's Ring was a weird thing I still haven't managed to crack open or understand. Unlike the more direct and clear Flaw description of Mumur's Mask,the Flaw of Solomon's Ring was more vague and iffy. No, it was also quite clear with its words, uncannily so and more than I appreciated, but even then it was still strange. "You shall never know peace. Unluck follows you like a shadow... Yeah no matter how one sees that, it's definitely a curse." I refuted. What made this terrifying and uncertain for me was the word, 'Unluck'. That could be or mean anything, at different times and situations. This made the Flaw very hard and dangerous to decipher. But strangely, or fortunately, I haven't encountered any situation that was irreversibly unlucky or dangerous for me. There were a few instances when unexpected things happened, or certain things didn't go my way and such, but that was the extent of it. The only difference between when I didn't have the Ring, and now when I do have it, was probably that my overall luck had become unstable and annoying. "Sigh. With this damned Ring, I'm sure things will only get more unlucky and harder for me." Grumbling as I slowly succumbed to my faith, i stuffed my face into my pillows and slowly became limp. '...The banquet is in two days.' a Saturday. I shifted my gaze slightly and looked at the cardboard box sitting at a random corner of my room and just stared silently at it with a complicated expression. Tsk. 'How annoying...' I stuffed my face back into my pillow against the embracing comfort of my bed. 'Let's just go to sleep for now.' The night was quite late, and the banquet was still two days away. I had enough time to make up my mind by then... *** The first Year Social Banquet, that was what it was called. The first ever small social event hosted by the academy at the beginning of a new school year, each year. A 'small' welcome celebration and event where the Freshmen gather together to mingle and grow familiar with their new peers who they will be studying side by side with for the next three years. Aegis was the most prestigious Hero academy in the Human domain: it was a place where all sorts of incredible, influential and talented individuals gathered. If there was ever a place where one could hope to make the right connections, then The Academy was just that. It was also an institution which took in the various heirs and children of powerful, to small noble and prestigious families. Heck, even this time they had the Imperial princess no less. And so, while the first year banquet wasn't necessarily deemed mandatory for all freshmen to attend, many wouldn't make the mistake of missing such an opportunity. To them, it was like taking the first official steps, although many more similar chances in the future may arise. In the end, it was the first impressions that mattered. Standing next to one of the buffet table filled with all sorts of beverage and dishes, I stared at the bustling hall with a sullen expression, while wearing half of the suit Adrienne got for me. "But you don't seem to have any friends either." "..." I froze. A short moment of silence passed between Alex and I. Quietly, I sucked in a breath. 'Well played.' Then... "Isn't that obvious?" I said seemingly indifferent, and shrugging my shoulders. I let Alexander do the contemplation of my words, and his expression amusingly slowly warped from a small grin, to a troubled and sorry look. My Talent evaluation and bottom rank would play a significant road block even if I wanted to make friends. I'm not denying it's possibility, as there will always be odd balls and wackos like Alex in certain cases. As if he found it like he had said something insensitive indirectly, the white haired young man with silent next to me for a while. "A-ahem. I apologise." "... it's fine." I really didn't mind. "Oh, right. About that...do you still...get that happening to you?" Get that? 'Oh, he must be talking about the bullying incident.' silently I thought. Actually, I haven't found myself in such an exact scenario ever since that day. There were still a lot of piercing looks, scoffs, and jabbing comments made about me each time I passed, but I haven't been openly confronted as I was at the beginning. For now. In response to Alex's question, my lips parted slowly as I said in consideration. "No...not really." Alex heaved a honest sigh of honest relife next to me. Then he said, looking at me, in a stern and befuddling scolding tone. "I'm glad, that's good. Remember, if you ever find yourself in such trouble, do not hesitate to report it to an instructor. As long as it's not an official duel recognised by both parties, any forms of fights or bullying outside of that will face punishment." No, no, no. What is this? Why am I getting scolded this way? Even if what he says is true, it might apply slightly different for me. Instructor Wren was out of the picture, I bet she wouldn't even give me a glance. And I had a sneaking suspicion, most other instructors wouldn't either. So all of what Alex just said was something I rendered as futile. The occasional bullying and snarky comments at my back were certainly going to be very annoying, but they were problems I would have to ultimately more or less solve myself at some point. But as if he could read a part of my thoughts, Alex purser his lips out slightly before adding. "Or if you're somehow unable to... then, I'll be there to help!" No, really... "...Why would you go out of your way to do something so troublesome? No really, i couldn't understand why Alex would would be acting like we were close. Couldn't he take a hint and realise I was trying to avoid him?! Alex's expression didn't really change much, but he went silent for about three seconds as if he was quietly contemplating what to say. He held my gaze, and his lips parted. "Because we're—"