Chapter 25

All of them were familiar with the young master of Beryldot.

As Rinca's cousin, Note Raal inevitably heard things about Naell, yet he couldn't care less until he met him far back.

In his mind, some rumors were true, as the young master of Beryldot was indeed unsociable; far different from the joyful extroverted Note.

Namiku Asuna, who was both a childhood friend of Rinca and Note, heard only rumors about her friend's fiance. Nevertheless, when she heard of the harassment and how Naell had slapped Rinca, she strongly decided in her head that he was an awful guy.

For Rizaul Kekoy who was raised in the Beryldot estate, the half-elf became friends with the old Naell. Yet after the tragedy, their friendship did not last as the young master had secluded himself from everyone.

As for Andrew Sunheart, he and Naell were also childhood friends, but similar to the half-elf's situation, he was cast out. Before he could even reach out to the young master, their friendship was already beyond repair.

On the other hand, Viola Lumiheal was from another estate when her only living relative, a kinder and older cousin decided to move and work in the Beryldot Hospital. There they got acquainted with the lovey-dovey doctors, and their son, Andrew.

Viola had always found Naell's presence intimidating, but she knew he mostly isolated himself from others. That was why, she was somewhat surprised when Naell all of a sudden became violent.

Among all of them, Rinca Arigare was the only one who truly tried to understand Naell. That was why she was really pained when he had changed. She tried, yet the harassment he had done to Viola, and the slap she received, were things she could never forgive.

She would sometimes recall how Naell, back when Alicia was still alive, was a silent yet charming kid. He wasn't the most cheerful, yet he was very gentle beneath his mysterious smile.

Going back, their surprised faces did not last for long as they nonchalantly nodded. Rizaul's reactions were plain, Andrew was smiling awkwardly, Viola was half-concerned, and Rinca was half irritated, yet overall, they were slightly indifferent with the news.

*******

The canteen was full of students when they arrived, but it was still big enough to accommodate a lot of the other students. It wasn't really unusual as it occupied a big space on the first floor of the main building.

As they were seated, Namiku and Note were still surprised to see how they reacted. The princess couldn't handle their reactions, so she asked while still flabbergasted,

"Aren't you all a bit--- not surprised?"

.

.

.

All of them knew of Naell's late awakening due to Andrew's parents and Rizaul's teacher. Even his enrollment as a mage, and the simple rumors surrounding Naell were not new news for them.

"Well.... we've all heard." Andrew then explained how his parents often wrote him letters about Naell in particular,

"I hope all of you may forgive him, and trust your own judgment without prejudice of the past."

Your mom who dearly loves you,

Andrea Sunheart

P.S. Dad is also here!"

Andrew could not help but feel uneasy when they read the letters. All of it contained affectionate words from his parents, but he could not refuse the pleading Viola.

"Pfffttt, I see... Then all of you know of his appearance?" Note could not help but laugh towards Andrew who was then glaring at him.

Namiku was well aware of having a doting parent so she felt Andrew's anguish. She then asked curiously while she continuously pinched Note's cheeks.

"White hair and red eyes?"

Viola was amused at the thought.

"Were they really red eyes?" Viola could not help but add. As a mage, she was interested as red eyes were rare and were considered the color of prestige in the society of wizards and witches.

On the other hand, Rizaul was enjoying the scene while eating the food that they ordered a while ago.

"Truly! But it was pretty weird though. He had the same demeanor, yet the way he presented himself was different--- Please princess stop with the pain!" Note answered back while caressing his reddened cheek.

"What do you mean by that?" Andrew was the one who asked, as they were worried--- with the exception of the half-elf who couldn't care less.

Some of their doubts might have been because of Andrew's parents. The lovey-dovey couple would always try to see the light in the darkest heart.

Even the half-elf's teacher, Lieutenant Estra, just spoke full of ambiguity when they met him in the capital; Neither explaining nor confirming the rumors.

"Um...I'm not sure if you guys know... but persona can detect the intention of a person." They all nodded at Note's words as the knight slightly turned away in embarrassment.

To Note's dismay, many considered him a genius. He was one of the few who had awakened his persona, and at a very young age at that.

They could all see how the tables had turned as they saw the scene of Andrew smirking towards the embarrassed Note. The ladies could only sigh and think,

'Boys...'

With a fake dry cough, Note then shared how he met Naell…

*******

{ You see, as a Marquis' son, I had the privilege to stay in the upper floor of the gentleman's dormitory, yet I declined--- for formality was really a drag. }

"Can't you just get on with it normally?" Said Rizaul who was annoyed at Note's over-the-top narration and exaggerated gestures.

"Shusssh! I'm telling the story, okay... with style!" Note responded with a heavy tone as the rest could only sigh.

{ After some serious bargaining, the school had let me stay on the second floor where Andrew and Rizaul were staying. }

{ It was just a normal day as I was sleeping soundly. I heard the sounds of knocking and someone calling my name... but I knew, silence itself would silence those sounds. }

"And sorry about that... by the way."

{ As I was dreaming of my life without obligation, what woke me up was the same obligation I so eagerly wanted to escape from. Not to mention, the thought of my scary but good looking cousin, really. }

'Geez, if it weren't for Namiku, I might not have bothered to come at all.'

{ I still had plenty of time before the general assembly so I--- }

"Just get on with it!" With a glare said Rinca who was reaching her limit. Viola was trying to calm her down while the others could only sigh once more at Note.

"Ahem, as I was saying."

{ After some time, I was on my way, when I spotted the pale-looking, white-haired fella. I wasn't really sure who he was but I got curious as my persona detected his magic, and likewise, he detected mine. }

"Are you saying, he is that powerful?" Namiku knew of how Andrew had one-sidedly beaten Naell. Even Andrew and the others got troubled as they knew Note was stronger than all of them.

'If he is praising the young master, then that means, he is stronger than us...' Rizaul thought as he remembered how his teacher, Lieutenant Estra was reluctant to say anything about Naell.

Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Note then comforted them with a laugh as he said,

"He is, but somehow like I said, he has no ill intentions... His mana was pure."

'More like he wanted to have a quiet life like me..' He silently thought.

{ Anyway, he was rushing and that's when I remembered his face. }

"Naell?"

"Yes, who are you?"

"That's impossible, he met you a couple of times." Rinca could not believe what her cousin was saying.

In the past, Naell would often show hostility towards Note, who would then return the favor.

"That's what I thought too. We would often trash-talk back and forth, you know, but my aura would never make a mistake like that. I'm sure he doesn't remember me, but he knew me."

"Geee, you aren’t making any sense anymore, Note." Namiku and the rest got confused with what he had said.

"Well... When he asked who I was, even though I knew he wasn't lying, I did something contentious in our meeting, hahaha."

All of them once again sighed at the laughing Note who made them feel awkward with his absurd behavior. Nevertheless, he continued telling them what happened,

"I guess the rumors of you getting beaten so hard that it affected your brain was true, huh."

{ My tone and manner were full of mockery towards Naell. It's not surprising as I was mad for what he did to my friends and most of all, to Rinca and Viola. }

"..."

{ Yet, the trash talk and the contemptuous face of Naell did not come! With a cold gaze and a chilling smile, he replied, }

"I've never heard of that rumor, yet it's plausible. My brain would often make me forget my past. Therefore, I do apologize if I wronged you in some ways."

"..."

By then, Rinca really wanted to whack Note, and the same went for Rizaul, who found the overly narrative tale-telling even more annoying, yet they patiently listened anyway.

{ I was dumbfounded, really. I never thought he would apologize. As I was in a daze, I heard him speak once more, }

"So, who might you be sire?"

"Note... Note Raal."

{ I could only say my name and see his reaction become of surprise and somehow of sympathy... }

"Sympathy huh. Don't tell me you're both members of the overly dramatic tales club." Rizaul said as he smirked towards him.

Note could feel the mockery on Rizaul's face and tone. He could only glare at the annoying half-elf while Viola and Andrew were sympathetic towards him as well.

Only Namiku was laughing while heavily patting Note's back. He was in pain yet before he could even protest, he saw the irritated face of Rinca, who was urging him to continue. He knew by then he would be subjected to more pain if he chose to ignore his cousin's gaze.

"After introducing my name, he went and told me it was a pleasure to meet me and that's it... We parted ways after that. Then I met with Namiku who should really stop, please..."

"So in other words, he is now behaving. This isn't his territory so he knows his place." Rinca wasn't impressed, yet Andrew and the rest could not even begin to imagine Naell acting like that.

Yet before they could even continue their discussion, there they saw, a white-haired man walking inside the canteen. His ruby eyes were seemingly emotionless under his chilling gaze.

Namiku was at such a loss for words that even her painful actions stopped. Other students as well, felt the elegance of the man that they could only glance and murmur towards his charm.

It could be said that after that entrance, Naell became popular, having his very own admirers in the capital.

But it was Note who was really pleased with Naell's sudden presence, as he was his savior from the pain Namiku was inflicting upon him.