Chapter 260 Craftmanship [1]

Chapter 260 Craftmanship [1]

"How have you been handling these past two days?" I asked John, a chuckle escaping my lips. "The atmosphere in that class must've been toxic as hell," I added, my gaze following them as they ascended the stairs to the upper floors.

John groaned in response to my words. "I've been keeping my distance from that psycho girl, but that other asshole Adrian is giving me a hard time too."

"Adrian Dolphis? What's his deal?" I inquired with genuine curiosity.

Adrian Dolphis was Amelia's brother and also a [Pretender].

"He wanted me to be his wingman, and I shut him down. That's why he's got it out for me now," John explained.

I couldn't help a smirk. "And did you actually agree?"

John shot me a look of disbelief. "Are you kidding? Like I'd ever do that! That's why he's siccing his lackeys on me."

"Adrian Dolphis... Wasn't he the yandere Pretender obsessed with Alicia?" I mused, sifting through my memory.

"Yeah, that's the guy," John confirmed, his annoyance clear.

I shrugged, nonchalant. "Don't let him get to you. He's not worth the trouble."

"That's what I'm doing. Let him do whatever he wants with Alicia, I couldn't care less. But he's tight with Cyril," John grumbled.

"Cyril, huh..."

Honestly, I wasn't keen on dealing with him. I had to admit, he was stronger than me. If I wanted to take him on, I'd need a solid plan, and he was no slouch in the intelligence department either. For now, I'd avoid intervening unless he became a real obstacle.

"Wouldn't it be simpler if Celeste just married him?" I mused aloud.

John's gaze met mine, and he snorted. "She's head over heels for Victor, so scratch that plan."

"Yeah, that would've been too easy," I agreed, sharing a knowing smile with John.

...

...

Since we had the same class, I walked along John to the designed class after eating while talking.

"Did you receive any letter from Layla?" I asked John.

"This is the sixth time you ask me in three days and again no," John replied.

"Well, I miss her..." I need a dose of Laylamin in urgence.

"You don't expect any letter from Miranda?" John asked with a frown.

"Miranda...well, I left in the dungeon, got imprisoned and left for another island. Layla told me during our engagement that Miranda was angry at me for leaving out of nowhere," I replied with a bitter smile.

"Did you expect anything else? It's Miranda we are talking about," John scoffed.

"Well, Layla is with her and I will accept any of her punishment and decision the next time I see her," I said.

"That sounds weird..."

I winced at John's mutter. "With that dirty mind, you won't get any girlfriends, John."

"I don't need one."

"A sis-con who stays virgin? That sounds weird."

"Fuck off."

Our friendly banter ceased as we stepped into the large classroom, which had been prepared to accommodate all three classes and over 150 students. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of puzzlement as everyone stood around, the tables arranged in a distinct pattern with adequate spacing.

And then it hit me. Oh no, I remembered what this setup meant.

My apprehension grew as I realized the potential implications. If luck wasn't on my side, this could very well spoil the entire experience of this course.

It didn't take long for all the students from the three classes to assemble. After a brief wait, the professor himself entered the room. He had a head of dark hair and bright yellow eyes, a clear inheritance from his Moonfang lineage, and his glasses added a scholarly air to his appearance. Brian Moonfang, Roda's and Percy's father, and also the elder brother of Rodolf Moonfang, was our Craftsmanship course instructor.

Following him was his assistant, someone who immediately caught the attention of every woman in the room. With his long green hair and striking yellow-green eyes, his elven features only accentuated his undeniable handsomeness. Kendel Teraquin, Allen and Alvara's older brother, was here. Like Christina, he too was taking on an assistant role this year after having graduated the previous year.

"Good morning, everyone. Before we begin, let's sort you into groups. In my class, you'll be working in groups of four. This will facilitate both my work and your learning experience, particularly for the group projects. Additionally, I want to emphasize that this grouping isn't confined to your individual classes. You're all in the same boat here, so remember that. It's also designed to prevent you from sticking solely with your friends and chattering away, of course," Professor Brian's voice resonated through the room.

And there it was, my fear realized.

I really didn't want to end up in a group with any of those racist individuals.

"I'll call out each of your names along with your group number. Once your group is called, take a seat at the designated table with your group number. This will be your assigned spot for the duration of this class," Brian explained, glancing at his notebook. "Group one: Celeste Indi Zestella, Rodolf Moonfang, Alvara Teraquin, and Moben Sid."

I couldn't help but wince at the composition of that group. Absolute chaos, waiting to happen. Celeste and Alvara together was a recipe for disaster, with Rodolf probably just observing the whole spectacle. And poor Moben Sid, I couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. Placed in such a group, a true underdog like him was bound to face challenges.

"Alright, group number two," the professor's voice echoed through the room, catching my attention as I leaned against the table. "Victor Raven, Selene Tepes, Cain Redgrave, and Cylien Elaryon."

Predictably so.

Victor, the charismatic trouble-magnet, had managed to end up with both the villainess and the heroine. Cain Redgrave was an interesting addition, though I couldn't help but think he might be feeling a little lost without Elizabeth by his side.

I let my gaze wander over the other groups, not particularly interested in the usual assortment of background characters that followed. But then, eventually, it was our turn... nOve-lb-1n

"Group seven," the professor called out, "Amael Falkrona, Sephira Teraquin, Sirius Raven, and Elizabeth Tepes."

Well, that's not too bad.

I grumbled silently at my luck, resigned to once again being surrounded by figures of significance in the Game. But, at least this time, there wasn't anyone particularly annoying in the mix. Sephira seemed like the quiet type, Sirius, despite his Pretender status, had an air of innocence about him, and Elizabeth appeared to be genuinely pleasant.

My eyes scanned the room, landing on a table with our group number elegantly engraved on it. Sephira and Sirius were already seated there, engaged in some quiet conversation. As I approached, an allure all their own.

"Well, hello there. You must be Amael," a friendly voice chimed in, drawing my attention to a blond-haired man with vivid crimson eyes. This had to be Sirius Raven, the elder brother of Alicia and Victor, and the younger brother of Cyril.

I extended my hand with a smile, shaking his in return. "Nice to meet you, Sirius."

His grin widened, and he settled back into his chair. "I'm not exactly a master of this class, so I hope you're better at it."

I shrugged, a hint of genuine uncertainty in my response. "To be honest, I'm not even sure what the class is about."

Sirius burst into laughter, probably thinking I was jesting, but I really wasn't.

Unfortunately.

"Hi, Sephira. Pleasure to meet you," I turned my attention to the quiet Half-Elf.

Sephira's blue eyes widened with surprise, though she eventually managed a handshake. "Thank you. I hope we can work well together," she spoke softly.

Her family seemed to have taken quite a toll on her, a fact that was probably contributing to her reserved nature. It was somewhat remarkable that she had managed to survive and thrive in such a toxic environment. I couldn't help but wonder how Kleah had managed to endure this for years.

Honestly, this place was a whirlwind of eccentricity and ambition, and sometimes I felt like I was the only one trying to navigate through it all with a touch of common sense.

[<Common sense? You? Is that supposed to be a joke, Amael->]

Shut up.

"Oh, finally!"

Our attention turned to the newcomer's voice, and my gaze landed I couldn't help but appreciate Sephira's beauty. Half-Elves truly had on Elizabeth Amaya Tepes. Selene's twin sister, though the similarities seemed to end at their appearance. Unlike her cold and composed sister, Elizabeth exuded warmth and kindness. Her pale face bore a smile that seemed almost out of place in this environment.

"I already know Sephira and Sirius, but I don't know..." Elizabeth's voice trailed off as she looked at me, clearly curious.

I offered a friendly smile. "I'm Amael, Christina's cousin."

Elizabeth's reaction to that was odd, to say the least. "You're Christina's and Connor's cousin...?" Her words came out somewhat surprised.

"Yeah, that's right."

What was with her reaction? It was as if my statement had triggered something unexpected.

"Oh, my manners. I'm sorry. I'm Elizabeth. But you can call me either Eli or Beth." She seemed a bit flustered by her own words.

"Sure thing, Elizabeth," I replied, opting for her full name. Nicknames weren't exactly my thing.

Her face seemed to light up at my response, and she let out a soft giggle. "You're quite the character, Amael," she said before settling into the chair next to me, removing her shoulder bag. "Well, either way, I'm looking forward to working together."