Chapter 67: Aria Tellus

After the peculiar encounter with Lilliana, Louise and I rushed to our respective classrooms, aware that time was running out. As we made our way, I found myself on the receiving end of a good deal of nagging from Louise.

She wasn't pleased with my recent disappearances, and I had apologized for not offering any explanations. It seemed my silence had bothered her, leaving her somewhat hurt.

I couldn't help but wonder if Louise was being a bit too nosy. We were friends, yes, but her level of concern about my sporadic absences surprised me. I pondered the reasons behind her unwavering curiosity.

Maybe it was genuine worry, or perhaps she simply had an inquisitive nature. Either way, I decided I should make more of an effort to keep her informed in the future?

As I made my way to my classroom, a sense of relief washed over me when I realized that the teacher hadn't arrived yet. The additional time provided me with a moment to gather my thoughts.

However, my relief was short-lived as I couldn't ignore the intense glare coming from someone in the classroom. It was directed at me, and it made me feel as though I was about to be condemned for something.

"Why is she looking at me like she's going to kill me or something?"

Just as she was about to approach me, I decided to break the ice and greeted her first. "Good morning, Euphemia."

".... Good morning?" It seemed she was a bit surprised, as she had typically been the one to initiate greetings in the past, while I tended to be more aloof in my interactions.

I extended the vial towards Euphemia, offering it to her with a slight smile. Her eyes widened as she took a closer look at the colorful concoction in the vial, and her surprise was evident.

"What's this...?" Euphemia asked, her curiosity piqued. "Adrian, is this?"

I nodded in confirmation. "Yes, it's the potion I made during the entrance exam. You can have it. I'm pretty sure you could decode something as easy to make as that, right?" I added with a hint of playfulness.

"Think of it as my apology for not attending any of our planned experiments lately. Haha."

However, Euphemia seemed to be entranced by the magical vial. Her attention was fixed on it, and she appeared to be lost in thought. To make matters more complicated, some of our classmates were beginning to cast envious glances at the vial. shit the principal did mention that this potion was a significant achievement, perhaps, I shouldn't have handed it over to Euphemia in such a public manner.

The teacher's timely arrival brought an end to our conversation. He ordered, "To your seats," and we all hurriedly complied.

Euphemia, however, seemed completely entranced by the vial, her gaze lingering on it with an odd smile on her face. Throughout the entire class, she didn't seem to pay any heed to the teacher's words, nor did she participate in the practical exam he presented. It was clear that her focus was on the vial in her possession.

While I knew the teacher was becoming increasingly frustrated with Euphemia's behavior, he also recognized that Euphemia's genius intellect was far beyond what he could handle. She could probably even teach him if she chose to. Thus, he decided to let her be and instead focused on his teaching, occasionally looking in my direction. Observing the top student diligently completing the test seemed to have lifted his spirits as a teacher, even if Euphemia was lost in her own world.

....

"No, please!"

"Young lady, are you okay?" Analise asked gently.

"Sigh, I wish I had a man like that."

Aria couldn't help but smile slightly at the reactions of her classmates, but she also couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched and judged from all sides.

Aria was fully aware of Alex's deep feelings for her, but she had never been romantically interested in him. Yet, she also understood the undeniable advantages of having Alex by her side in school. He played a crucial role in her school life, acting as a deterrent to those who might try to take advantage of her or subject her to bullying due to her Tellus background. Thanks to their supposed relationship, she maintained an average ranking without facing too much pressure from her peers. In her eyes, Alex was far too useful to discard.

She was well aware of the rumors surrounding their relationship, and she let them continue unabated. Aria knew that her actions might be considered manipulative, but she didn't care. For her, the bottom line was simple: as long as it benefited her and ensured her well-being, she didn't mind the deception or the manipulation involved.

As Aria reflected on her relationship with Alex, she couldn't deny that he had, in fact, saved her life on one occasion. This added another layer to her feelings towards him and her desire to be friends with him. However, she was also very aware of the boundaries she had set for herself. Despite the rumors and expectations, she didn't see their relationship evolving into a romantic one. Aria knew that she might have inadvertently led him on, making him expect something that wouldn't ultimately come to pass.

Feeling somewhat sorry for the situation, she could only hope that Alex would be satisfied with their friendship and that he wouldn't be hurt by the eventual realization that their relationship wouldn't progress beyond that point

Aria's mind wandered back to that moment during the joint Combat Exams when Alex had suddenly confessed his feelings to her. The memory of that confession was still vivid in her mind, and it made her cringe with discomfort. His words had been so unexpectedly cringe and sincere, that she had been taken completely off guard.

The confession had hit her like a bolt of lightning, and she couldn't bear to hear those words anymore. It had been so overwhelming that, without even thinking, she had instinctively slapped him. The memory of her own reaction still haunted her, but it was a reaction born out of a mix of surprise, guilt, and her persistent desire to maintain the boundaries she had set for their relationship.

"Alex, why are you here?" Aria asked as she looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

"I was wondering if you could join us for lunch," Alex replied with a hopeful expression.

Aria agreed almost immediately, even though she wasn't particularly interested in having lunch with Alex. Her true curiosity lay in getting to know his friend Tristan better, and for some reason, she felt a strong desire to have a private conversation with Adrian.

The curiosity she felt about what had transpired in Adrian's room back at the mansion still gnawed at her. She couldn't shake the feeling that something unusual was happening and wanted to put an end to the unsettling nightmares that had been haunting her night after night.

...

"Tristan, you're alone this time. Where's Alex?" Louise asked, her curiosity piqued by the absence of the usually boisterous Alex.

"He said he's gone to invite someone," Tristan replied, giving a small shrug. He knew that Alex was known for having a wide circle of friends, and it was not unusual for him to bring someone new to their group.

Louise, on the other hand, found it somewhat strange that the typically loud and outgoing Alex was not with Tristan. Her inquisitive nature led her to wonder about the identity of the person Alex was inviting. She couldn't help but feel a sense of unease and suspicion.

"Oh, Adrian, you're here now," Tristan greeted Adrian with a teasing tone.

"Yes, hahaha"

Adrian replied nervously, feeling the intensity of Louise's glare. Her presence and her recent confrontations had been perplexing to him.

"Although I want to ask you why you're frequently away, we can discuss that later as we wait for Alex,". It was clear that Tristan and Louise had no intention of letting Adrian off the hook easily, and their curiosity about his recent absences was undeniable.

Adrian couldn't help but shake his head internally. He found Tristan and Louise's nosiness amusing, albeit somewhat frustrating. These two were so similar in their curiosity and determination to uncover the truth, making it evident why they were the main "ship" in the novel. Their personalities were practically identical.