Chapter 218: Chapter 218 Thread of Fate.

Within his hazy consciousness, he began to stir after battling the drowsiness that kept pushing his mind toward the void, finally returning. Soma began to piece together the scattered blur before him until he created a complete picture of the scenery around him. He slowly fluttered open, blinking against the unfamiliar yet familiar sight that he spotted in front of him.

The light from the warm sun that filtered through the window beside him brought his motoric sense back, as he felt the heavy load from his limbs because of the stiff muscles caused by the absence of the movements.

Soma, who completely awoke, tensed the muscles around his body and began to raise his torso, sitting on top of the soft bed that was painted white. He scanned his surroundings and nodded his head upon the realisation that came.

"So another hospital then?".

There are no other people besides him inside the lone bedroom. Soma began to swing his leg to the side, trying to get out from his position, until the door inside the room slid to the side, revealing two girls wearing casual clothes that were pretty fashionable, bringing a pack of fruit in hand, but soon struck after seeing Soma had awakened.

"...".

"Soma?".

"Sera, Hina".

Serafina's muted response and Hina's relief words echoed inside the small room. The two girls began to approach the bed and settled themselves on top of the chair that stood beside the bed.

"I'm glad you're finally awake".

"Yes, thank you, Sera. How long have I been asleep?".

"You slept for two weeks whole".

"I see".

Soma, who heard Hina's answer, felt a bit relieved but also shocked because he had been sleeping only two weeks. That means that his body slightly adapted toward the power that caused that distortion between the mix of Saint and devil power.

"Ah, right. Do you need something? Do you feel thirsty or hungry?".

Hina, who loosened her facial expression, realised something important as she began to address him in a worried tone, and Soma, who received her kindness, parted his lips.

"I need some water".

"Here, wait a minute". seaʀᴄh thё NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Even though both of them knew Soma had many reserved foods inside his relic, Hina still offered hers. She took mineral water inside the storage, twisted the bottle cap, opened the lid, and gave it to Soma.

Serafina, who saw their interaction, took out the fruit, a banana she carried in her hand, peeled off the skin, and then presented it to Soma after he washed his plate.

"Here, don't forget your nutrition".

"Thanks, Hina, Sera".

Hina noticed that Soma addressed Serafina with her nickname, not uttering any words as she was too preoccupied that Soma had awoken.

"Hina, what about school?".

"Ah, that was…".

The two girls began to share about what had happened ever since Soma was sent to a hospital. Serafina, who acts as the witness, had informed the academy side and also sent her findings about Project Red, which started to operate again.

As for Hina, she told everyone in the class, especially about the people who are always hanging out with Soma. She also began to brief him about the lesson that he had missed for the past two weeks.

Soma, who heard the entire story while chewing the soft and sweet texture of the banana, raised his eyebrows because something was not right about Hina's story. It was as if she avoided telling him.

"What about Xiao Lian, is she saved?".

Hina never mentioned Xiao Lian in her story, which aroused his curiosity and worry. Soma recalled back that Xiao Lian received a severe injury in her abdomen that made her face contorted in pain.

"...".

"...About that,".

The two girls began hesitating to tell him, which further stirred Soma's curiosity.

"What? What happened?".

"Well, Soma, a woman needs a little time to settle her feelings".

"Senior Sera is right, Soma. Silver hair is fine; she needs some time to relax her mind".

"...I see".

[Extra Skill Puppeteer activated]

Upon looking at their stiffened expression, Soma exhaled a sigh while softening his expression on the outside; when inside, his heart was stirred, and he began to realise the source of it.

In the battle that unfolds inside that building basement, Soma, who draws the devil's power, seems to draw it too much until his appearance almost changes into the devil himself.

Soma, who knows her family tradition and is pretty strict regarding the matter of demons, Xiao Lian, is probably wondering about that matter because her best friend turns out he can transform into a demon itself, which makes her hesitate to get close to him.

Sensing the mood turned slightly awkward, Serafina began to interject and announce to Soma about the group division that was held yesterday.

"Soma, do you know? You belong in the C-group along with Kaori and Akane".

"Group? What are you talking about?".

Soma, who was already aware of the group division, acted in an oblivious way so as not to raise the unnecessary problem.

"Yesterday, the travelling club had a gathering together to discuss the matter of what we will do when we enter the dungeon".

"Yeah, Hina is right; so, that's how it happened, and you are included in C-Group".

"I see, what about you two?".

"Hehe, it's unfortunate, but we are in the same team as Xiao Lian in B-Group. Also, not just our club but some of the teachers, our supervisor, and the student council members will be coming with us as we explore the new dungeon in Okinawa. Do wait for our service at that time, okay".

"Ah, Senior Sera, you shouldn't say that".

"Service?".

"Soma, please forget about it!".

"Ufufu, wait for it, okay!".

"Geez, Senior!".

As the two girls bonded against each other, Soma, who heard the group division, cursed inside his heart, "Tch, we were separated, huh".

***

Two days after being awoken from the hospital, Soma finally started to fulfil his duty as a student to attend the class he remembered until the third grade.

Yesterday, after he arrived at the dormitory, he spent time wiping the blue spear he had borrowed from Xiao Lian. After hearing that, she started to distance herself from Serafina and Hina. Soma decides to give back the spear before things get more awkward.

The glare from the morning sun was warm, giving him the energy to start his day, and also, the slightly cold wind that brushed past his cheeks enhanced his resolve to settle things with Xiao Lian. Soma is alone in the bustling area in the middle of the academy while searching for Xiao Lian's figure.

After waiting several times, finally, her figure appears alone with a downcast gaze and listless aura around her, attracting many worried gazes from the other female students.

Soma, who saw her messy appearance, chuckled to himself as he felt a bit regretful about her absence from now on. "I'm going to miss her". He began to shift the gear in his mind and took a step approaching Xiao Lian.

"Xiao Lian!".

Xiao Lian, whose name had been called, turned to the source only to find Soma, with parted lips, approaching her side. Her drowsiness instantly blew away upon his appearance, and her heart began to stir wildly, as she clutched her uniform.

She never expected that she would meet Soma earlier in the day. With a stiff movement, she tries to fix her appearance, which is still a mess.

"Good morning, Xiao Lian".

"...Mm".

Her heart began to tighten in pain because of the curt reply she gave to him, making her face darkened in guilt. She was also happy at the same time seeing his healthy figure. Hina has already told Xiao Lian, but seeing it herself feels so much different.

Soma, who heard her reply, smiled wryly upon seeing Xiao Lian, who refused to meet his eyes. His heart got thumped for a second. He summoned the blue spear from the relics and presented it to Xiao Lian.

"Xiao Lian, I'm sorry for giving it this late".

"...".

"Thank you for lending it to me. Yesterday, I was thoroughly wiping off the spear, ensuring there was no dust and dirt stuck within the spear body. Also, it is such an honour to fight alongside it. Now, I give it to you back".

Xiao Lian's heart leapt because Soma praised her weapon and treated it as precious as she did. But she didn't know why she had a bad feeling about this; her heart began to whisper to her mind that she shouldn't take the spear now.

However, a chime from the academy bell rang across the place, making her body twitch in reflexes as she received the spear from Soma's hands.

"Crap, the lesson is about to start; Let's go, Xiao Lian. We will discussed something later".

"Ah,,,".

Xiao Lian gasped, and for the first time, she lifted her gaze but found nothing in front of her sight; the heart that held a thin thread that connected her fate with him was on the brink of break. Suddenly, her vision starts to blur because of the accumulating tears in the corners of her eyes that represent her current feelings.