384 Chapter 63 - Third Semester (1)
The third semester had kicked off, and, like always, the school started with a ceremony. Winter still had its icy grip on everything, the sky dark and brooding, heavy clouds swirling above, dumping the cold down onto us like they were punishing the earth.
Each breath I took sent a misty cloud into the air, the cold biting into my lungs. I was bundled up in my winter uniform, standing by the gates, my eyes scanning the horizon as I waited for Titania.
Finally, after what felt like forever, I spotted her. She came running toward me, her face lighting up with that familiar, heart-stopping smile. She looked stunning, even in the freezing weather. Same winter uniform as me, but her lower half was just her skirt, her long, white socks hugging her thighs, leaving the skin in between teasingly bare. Her scarf was wrapped snugly around her neck, protecting her from the cold. As she ran, her breath came out in quick white puffs, the cold air catching it, and when she reached me, she bent over, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
"Sorry, I'm kinda late, huh?" she gasped between breaths, her chest rising and falling in rhythm.
She was only about 15 minutes late, nothing worth stressing over.
"It's fine," I said, shrugging it off. "Ready?" I reached out and took her hand, the thick glove between us barely stopping the cold. Together, we walked toward the academy, fingers entwined, the winter wind swirling around us.
Everyone at the academy already knew about us. The idea of keeping my relationship with a princess under wraps had been thrown out the window a long time ago. Sure, being discreet might've been smarter, given our different standings, but honestly, it wasn't too bad. I didn't love all the eyes on us, but when she was this sweet and affectionate in public? Yeah, that was something I could live with. No regrets at all.
"It's already our third semester. Just a few more months, and we'll be second years," she said, her face lighting up with that infectious smile.
Time had flown by, almost too quickly. One year at the academy was nearly over, and before we knew it, we'd be standing at graduation. Would I miss this place? Doubt it. It never felt like home to me.
"Ugh, but it's freezing," she said, hugging herself with one arm as if that would fight off the biting cold. Nôv(el)B\\jnn
In truth, I didn't feel a thing for Charlotte. She'd made her own bed. As far as I was concerned, everything that happened was her own doing. I wasn't about to start feeling sorry for someone who caused her own downfall. Sympathy? Nah, not for her.
"Come on, we're gonna be late for the ceremony," I said, shifting the topic.
Titania and I walked off together, hand in hand, leaving Charlotte behind us.
***
The ceremony finally wrapped up, marking the official start of the third semester. Most students would slip back into their usual routines. At least, that's what I thought—until Trill suddenly yanked me aside and shoved me against a wall. The next thing I knew, her hand slammed down next to my head in a loud thud—a classic kabedon. Seriously? A kabedon? I never imagined I'd be on the receiving end of one, especially not like this.
"Tell me," she snarled, her eyes narrowed, "what the hell did you do to beat me? Did you use some hidden skill out there?"
"I don't have a skill," I replied calmly. "I'm skillless, remember?"
"But you beat me," she growled again. "How the hell can a skillless loser defeat me?"
I shrugged. "Just because I'm skillless doesn't mean I'm weak. Skills are nothing more than special abilities some people are born with. But being skillless doesn't mean I can't walk, run, or fight just like the ones who do have them."
Skills or not, strength wasn't just about some flashy ability. The only real difference between the skillless and those with skills was that people with skills enjoyed a privilege.