Han bolted out of his bed, grimaced and he stumbled. He saved himself with his [ Basic Reflexes ] right before he could hit his head against the stone floor. "Phew, close one." He glanced at the blankets entangled with his ankle. If he had bled to death in his room by knocking his head out and passing, no one would discover it quickly, would they?
And it was all because he ended up frantic that he was late, wasn't he?
There was a good reason for it.
Energy coursed through his nerves and gave him energy, jittery but it was still energy.
He ran to the bathroom, did a quick shower, shot out and then dug through his closet—picking out one of the shirts and trousers Timothy somehow managed to get him at the General Store in Rockfall Village. It seemed to have been a lifetime ago if he thought about it, as he forced his head through the hole and checked that his pants didn't have any holes before he dashed out the door.
Han welcomed a new day—
There was something in his peripheral vision that flickered, but as he glanced to his right, all he ended up seeing was Timothy standing outside his room. It was just him. His eyes were playing tricks on something then.
The young man gave him a frown.
"Hey, what are you standing around there for? Talking to thin air or something, we're going to be late—" He paused for a moment. Although if Timothy was still here and not banging on his door. Had he possibly gotten here earlier than he expected?
Wait.
There was also another thing! He took a deep breath and tried to regulate his breathing.
His thoughts were still whirling with all the plans in the back of his head. It didn't change at all even if he was here. First and foremost he needed to chat with Odele? Yeah, that was the Mermaid's name, but as he noticed the look that Timothy threw his way, it made him realize something. He almost forgot something. He also needed to chat with Peach again, but that wasn't it either.
Something that might have gotten placed in the background, but since it was related to Timothy and him in a way, it finally came back to him. More related to his friend, than his other friend. Well, he thought that she and him were friends but that wasn't important now. He stepped towards his Companion and lowered his voice, "So about the girl—"
"Now's not the time." Timothy snapped.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning." He eyed them but ignored it. There was a buzz in his veins that he couldn't exactly shake off, this was Han 200% on or something. Nothing could bring him down right now.
Timothy gave him a grouchy look, "I didn't wake from a bed at all."
"Oh, right." He summoned the interface screen and checked the time. There was still twenty minutes until Classes started. Magical Theory with the High Mage Pierce, so he wasn't exactly late and he still had enough time for something to eat. He grinned at his friend, "Let's get breakfast together?"
"You know that I'm going back to my room."
"Oh, so she's okay."
Timothy gave him another narrowed eye look.
He coughed and waved a hand, "My bad, when I just saw the mess in your room—"
"Hmm, what mess in Timothy's room?" Someone suddenly asked behind him. A presence behind him. "We have room service, someone who takes care of things if you wish."
Han didn't have to look back to know that it was Sir Leon, but did he sneak up behind Han or did he liberally use his Skill? He glanced behind his shoulder and smiled,"It's nothing big—Timothy handled it. Good to see you, Sir Leon."
"My, you seem to have an even brighter aura today than usual." An amused smile crossed on the Nobleman's lips. Behind him Donovan just arrived and gave a small nod, no longer that hostile as he used to be around him.
He waved back in greeting. "Sup?"
"Hello to you too?" Donovan raised a brow.
Sir Leon de Harrington cleared his throat, "By the way has something good happened to warrant that cheeriness? I feel that it was related to our conversation prior lunch, a level up perhaps?"
Han coughed. He didn't expect the Noble to bring that up but he scratched the back of his head, "Yeah, something along those lines happened. Your uh, word has been helpful?"
"Well, no need to thank me, it's quite the opposite really. I forgot to thank you for last night—the people enjoyed the game." He then glanced at Timothy, "It was a shame that you weren't there. But perhaps we could do it again later this evening?"
Timothy stared at the man but then muttered something underneath his breath. Han didn't quite catch it, but neither did the Noble. At least Han didn't think he did so, an awkward smile on Sir Leon's face. But did Timothy actually say anything important? It was probably just a grumble maybe.
But this missed his chance of asking…"Wait, breakfast."He really was getting distracted with everything.
"Ah yes, I was about to ask if we could join you two for breakfast." A brief smile crossed on the Noble's face, "I might have woken up somewhat late, I think we stayed up quite some time until the curfew."
The people here really liked 'spin the bottle' paired with 'two truths and one lie' that much did they?
Han almost felt proud, but he also began to walk. "Is that so? You should see me and Timothy, we were late on our first day."
"Because of you." Timothy eyed him, finally speaking up.
"You could have left me, you know?"
"And you'd end up getting lost and complain to me afterwards?"
Han coughed and waved a hand, "Fair point." he glanced at his Companion with a sheepish grin before addressing the Noble again. "I think this might be the few times that I woke up on time and have a good feeling today, I actually feel pumped to give it my all, you know?"
"Ah, well now that just makes me wish that it was infectious." A chuckle escaped the Noble's lips, "Some of us Nobles have a Skill that can silence a room or catch people's attention, well, we could also use our Aura or by sheer influence—but there are those who have the ability to uplift a crowd and rouse soldiers to action with nothing but a word. I can't help but think that you're a little similar. Or your disposition is really infecting me."
Han managed a smile, "Sounds like a compliment, thanks." Countless things on his to-do-list and he'd strive to do them all. He wasn't actually so sure all about the aura thing—was it similar to the qi and life force back on Earth? The way the Noble spoke of it, the operation was a little different.
He'd take note of the information, but for now, breakfast and then studying.
As much as he enjoyed it here, the ability to escape his own world and live freely as he already was now, if he could influence his own life as Han Jing and change it for the better—he'd take the chance. And it was a good thing that the two were inexplicably linked.