Rey just stood in front of the door, dumbfounded.
'What in the world just happened?'
For some reason, he get his heart skip a beat just now, and when he and Alicia touched hands, there was a sensation he hadn't felt before.
'This… is crazy.'
As Rey stared at his hand, he remembered what he said to him back when he was hiding in the bushes.
'She said I should be patient and study more…' Rey narrowed his gaze as his thoughts went into overdrive.
'Does that mean she knows of my intention?'
It was all so confusing to him.
'It seems like even if she does, she doesn't mind. I mean, now that I think about it… why was she so close to the walls?'
Rey's imagination began to get the best of him, and he imagined a situation where Alicia was also trying to escape the castle walls.
If that was the case, they were comrades in this together.
Then, there was one more thing.
'She noticed my absence in the library…' Rey felt a small smile curling on his face.
He didn't know why, but the moment she mentioned his absence, his heart had skipped a beat—maybe two.
'I guess it sort of feels good not being invisible all the time.'
As Rey's smile widened even further, he reached out for the doorknob.
Then…
"Hey, Rey."
A deep, imposing voice echoed right behind him. It sounded so familiar, yet something about it felt threatening.
"Wha—?"
~THUD!~
Before Rey could respond, he was pushed against the wall by the overwhelming force of the one behind him.
He couldn't see the person responsible, thanks to $his face being pressed upon the concrete, but at this point Rey could already guess.
"What were you talking to her about? What exactly are you up to, Rey?!"
The one with the ragged, imposing voice was Billy, and based on his tone alone, it was obvious that he was pissed off.
"What the hell are you—?!"
"Don't play dumb with me, Rey? You and Alicia! I saw you walk with her and talk to her. What were you two talking about? Did you make her uncomfortable? Tell me now!"
Rey felt a surge of irritation the more he heard Billy's words.
He felt like smashing his head against concrete and spitting on his battered body.
However, that would only bring about trouble.
"What the hell are you doing? You're going this far because of that?" Rey responded angrily instead.
It felt annoying that he had to take such a diplomatic position, especially after burning a bunch of monsters to crisps, but Rey endured the humiliation.
Nothing good could come out of standing out now.
'Just like Alicia said. I should be patient…'
"Just answer my—!"
"I wonder what Adonis would think if he saw you like this. The great Billy, righteous Grand Knight, is no more than a bully."
The moment he said this, Rey felt Billy's grip on him loosen slightly.
It was clear the boy was now hesitant, contemplating on whether or not his actions would have some dire consequences.
'Should I go a little further…?' Rey smiled within himself as he opened his lips while leaking out slight groans.
"I also… urgh… wonder what Alicia would think… if she saw you like this. If I tell her… what you did to me here, then…"
This was the last straw for Billy.
He swiftly let Rey go, taking a few steps back. It finally allowed the latter to stretch his stiff body and rub his itchy face.
'This bastard. He really resorted to bullying and only backed away because I threatened him with a girl…'
Rey already knew his friend was an asshole, since he abandoned him, but he never thought he would be this far gone.
'I don't really know Alicia, and I don't see us talking too often in the future, but I genuinely don't wish for her to end up with this pathetic excuse for a person.'
He gazed upon Billy's frowning face with impudence, almost as if daring him to do anything.
"You… why are you doing this, huh? You clearly know how I feel about her!"
At this point, Billy was getting jacked. Physically, he was becoming a beast thanks to all the training he was undergoing.
However, Rey could only see him as a big baby—especially when he asked his question.
This guy wasn't just pathetic, he was lower than that.
'I'm glad we're not friends anymore.'
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Rey responded with a sigh, his daring gaze still on Billy.
He had to assert that he didn't fear Billy this early on, or else he would keep getting harassed by him.
With that in mind, Rey stood his ground.
"Tch! What is this? Is it revenge because I'm no longer friends with you or anything like that? You brought it upon yourself."
Rey just listened to Billy blabbing, his eyes as empty as they would be if he was staring at a brick wall.
At some point, all Rey heard was rambling upon ramblings.
"Tch! Whatever… just stay out of my way!" With that, Billy pushed Rey aside and opened the door, entering the living room.
His fuming face soon melted into a warm smile once the students within greeted him, and he proceeded to exchange pleasantries with them.
'This guy…' Rey sighed within himself.
More than anything, he just wanted to ignore Billy and move on with his life.
'But this is the second time you've crossed me now. I'll have to ensure there isn't a third.'
To do that, Rey knew he had to do the one thing that would really get to his former best friend.
'I guess I'll see Alicia in the library tomorrow.'
*********
Just as was natural in school, where groups and cliques would begin to form over time, the same applies to training.
A hierarchy was soon built—both in the Beta and Alpha Group—and the rest of the students followed this pattern.
Of course, there were outliers, but for the most part, the students listened to and respected those they deemed to be superior to them.
As a result, Adonis, Billy, and Alicia became the sort of faces of the Alpha Class, and as for the Beta Squad, there were three major cliques.
One belonged to Trisha—the presumably strongest person among all the Beta students.
She was a tomboy with a fierce personality, but her bluntness made her very compelling as a leader, and so she had most of the students under her group.
The second clique mostly consisted of disgruntled individuals, and they were led by the most disgruntled of all—Adam.
"Tch… this sucks."
Adam and his group would often hang out together during breaks and even after classes.
Their day consisted mostly of complaining of how the change in the status quo sucked.
They were previously the top dogs of their class—bullies and jesters—and now, they were nothing but a ragtag group of six who felt sorry for themselves.
Adam was the most disgruntled of all.
"I used to hold as much influence as Adonis, you know? Now look at me! This Karma system sucks!"
This was Adam's mantra, and he had already said this countless times.
"YEAH!"
"ABSOLUTELY!"
"IT SUCKS!"
His group of "Yes" men supported his words, further driving him into his inner rage and frustrations.
Right now, this was all he could do.
However…
"My chance will come soon!" Adam grinned widely, his eyes narrowing in malevolent delight.
The members of his clique chuckled with him as he resolved to bide his time until he was ready to rise once more.
"None of them will see it coming!"
