The Reborn Magus and His Prince

Chapter 6.1: The Shameless

His eyes widen at seeing the person inches away from him.

"Alex..." His name escaped his mouth, astonishment written on his face.

Yulian had to admit that he wholly forgot Alex's existence since the last time he saw him and seeing him here was a pleasant surprise.

Alex on the other hand, with a calmness he possesses raised his hand and collected the fallen clothing away from his face. The owner seemed to be not keen on getting them as he only stood foolishly in front of him.

"Yours?" He dangled the thing with his forefinger.

Only then, Yulian reacts and hastily snatched his belonging and hid it behind him. But realizing how weird his action was, he cleared his throat. He's not even bothered strutting naked in front of others, why would he be embarrassed over a piece of clothing.

"Thanks," he mustered his most casual voice and even sauntered around Alex to appear natural. The small underwear was hidden away at the bottom of his pocket.

"So you're a student here?" Yulian faced him again after his ninja moves.

What he did not know, Alex had seen it all.

He had arrived at the academy this afternoon from the palace. And heard the event that took place at the dorm from Luke. A day before his return, Luke had come to him bringing a piece of news that somehow eased the tension he was feeling. Luke had given him data of the newly admitted students and one of them was Yulian.

After that night's ceremony at Ruke, an urgent message from his brother had awaited him, instructing him to return immediately. So the next morning, they board the carriage and leave the small town. He had not accomplished anything in his travel and deemed everything useless. Adding the annoying things his brother had stuffed him to do, he became irritable throughout the past weeks. On the surface, he appeared to be calm and steady as he greeted people at events however a deep growing uneasiness crept up inside him.

He had no particular impression of Yulian when they first met except for his height. Only there was a funny notion that he could crush the person who helped him with just one hand. Then that night happened, it made him think that no matter how twisted the string of fate is, it will find a way to entangle itself and eventually will lead him to its other end.

This thought swirling in his mind since the news when a white cloth floated downwards in the dead of the night on his way to his room. The path he had taken was a secret one and rarely did someone take this route. He had not realized what it was until that thing plastered itself to his face. A thud followed it. And he was faced again with the one who holds the other line of string.

Yulian shifted his foot when his question was met with silence. Alex no longer holds the same warmth in his golden eyes. A coldness that wasn't there before evoked a small shiver within him.

But then again, he's also a student of Caereus, and well, who wouldn't be happy if suddenly underwear came from the sky and covered your face? He for one would feel utterly disgusted if he were in Alex's place.

He rubbed the back of his neck and decided to come clean. "Look, I'm sorry, I had a rough day and I did not anticipate that a student would even come here."

In summary, he pointed out Alex's fault in getting plastered by underwear by coincidentally being in the place where he shouldn't be.

"Go back to your room, it's past eight." Alex did not acknowledge his apology and ignored his implication. He resumed his walk like no flying underwear had come to him and never looked back again at the shorter boy.

Yulian watched the straight back of Alex despite his towering stature. He stood at his place for a long time. Disappointment had risen within him though he didn't know why. It was only a brief encounter for the two, not enough to build between them.

The official start of their class wasn't until two days after they arrived. In that time frame, Yulian spent the time reading books being infected by Tim's enthusiasm. The guy brought all sorts of books and does nothing but read all day. They did not much have a choice though, the whole dormitory was swarming with boys who were all itching for troubles and entertainment that the two had the tacit agreement not to go out except for meals. Relationship with Emilia had progressed too, the three stick together in one table among these power tripping wolves. At least they were safe when there were professors around.

For the record, dealing with those students would not be so hard, especially when a clear warning had already been issued by the dorm president on the first day. But Ignis advised him to lay low for now and stay out of everyone's sight. It will be harder for him to move freely if he attracts their attention.

Ignis made himself too comfortable inside him and must have been sleeping throughout the day when the head of the bullies had locked in on him as their target. With a little courage, Yulian hid this bit of information from the light god and did what he was told. Either way, there are plenty of chances to sneak at night. But that plan was completely crushed with his night owl of a roommate. Tim spent day and night reading, saying he won't have this kind of privilege once the official class will start. On the first night, Yulian had to bash his head to sleep but controlled himself. He picked the book he was going to use as an instrument of murder and with nothing better to do, followed Tim's model. Utterly wasting the two days in reading books he could not understand.

At the start of the school days, the three new students made an agreement the night before to leave one hour earlier for the orientation program.

A thick dense of trees separated the dormitories from the academy residing on the north side. It would take a ten minutes walk before reaching it.

The sun barely managed to rise and three figures can be seen walking on the stone pathway leading to the official building. The lamp posts stationed on each side flickered before the light snuffed out signaling a new day.

The three walked briskly while Tim studied the map. He will serve as their navigator in finding their classroom. Yulian had to let him since he forgot the whole structure of the academy. After all, his stay here had been brief and mostly consisted of a dormitory and the classroom.

Through the id badge given along with their uniform, they found out that they've been placed in the same class and same year, year two. The three had been placed on the same and year two because what the academy actually needs was not their knowledge but their high talents to control their abilities. It's too late to place them at year one because of their age and too early to be put in the final year.

The academy was an ancient rectangular structure with each brick having a rune symbol known for wards. It would be activated once it will face an attack to protect everything inside. The grand and enormous lobby was empty with its intricate white crystals chandelier hanging at the center.

 Yulian trip on his toes once he saw those elegant crystals. He stumbled forward, hitting the full concentrated Tim on his back.

"What's wrong?" Tim with a frown looked back at him, annoyance on his face at being interrupted at his map reading. Now that each of them began to be familiar with each other, Tim began to relax and did not stutter anymore when talking to them. The downside was, his true personality was revealed, though he did not speak much his face would show his true feelings. Like right now, he stared in displeasure at Yulian at being interrupted.

Emilia on the back had seen the little accident but had no heart no rescue Yulian. Either she did not care or found a little guilty fun in seeing him trip. No one knows. She's on a standby while watching her two companions with her ever stoic face.

"Ahaha, sorry. I tripped on a stone - toes, I meant on my toes." Yulian hurriedly corrected himself. The lobby was shining clean and free of dust, much less of a stone inside.

Tim gave him a hard look, suspecting he was messing around but the sound outside made him whirl at the right staircase in a hurry. Some early riser students had arrived.

The two followed close. Though Yulian's face was calm as still water, in his mind, colorful curses and all kinds of disrespecting fingers he could muster had been directed at the despicable Caereus.

Those beautiful crystals were his gifts when Yulan was beginning to rise to power as a sign of goodwill to the small and useless academy at that time. He gave them the crystals that he had obtained during his adventures in a dungeon. Not expecting to be stabbed at the back months after. They even had the indecency to display it.

Oh, the shamelessness!

Yulian was experiencing an imaginary heart attack due to anger. He didn't notice a figure coming on his way, Tim on the other hand had already stuck himself to the wall.

A cold hand grabbed him by the collar to the side, it was Emilia behind him. Only then did Yulian recovered and noticed them.

Alex in the academy's black uniform,  the golden sun crest on his left chest perfectly complemented his eyes. His combat boots on his slender legs left no sound as he walks, his long arms swayed steadily on his sides.

The man gives off the illusion of leading a thousand troops. A predator in a wild jungle, the way those golden eyes glinted with coldness when it meet his.Totally, different from the gentleman he had encountered back at Ruke.

Aside from Alex, there were other two walking on both sides. One was Luke McAlister and the other one had the same face as his, probably a twin only a bit brighter than the sullen McAlister.

The three tall men walked past the three little midgets without a care, like they don't exist. However, the brighter McAlister halted his steps, and with a confused face, he turned back. He stops at Yulian

"I think I know him," he pointed at his face.

Alex and Luke had also turned. "It's the boy from that small town," Luke said to save his brother from wasting their time.

"Right! He's that boy who's good at dancing!"

Yulian scowled, what bad manners. They're talking as if he's not in front of them. "Excuse me-"

"What are you doing here?"

His words were cut off.

"You're going to perform an exclusive dance for the orientation?" the brighter but not so bright McAlister continued.

This time Luke rolled his eyes. "Leo, look closely."

"What's there to look- oh, you attend here?" The McAlister named Leo finally zoomed his eyes on the same uniform Yulian was wearing.

Well, no s**t Sherlock. He may not be as tall and manly as Alex when wearing this but he knows he also looked good. Tim even complimented him how the black uniform made him stand out among them. While he ignored Emilia's comments how it made him look more delicate.

This guy Leo had the eyes of a pig and his unpleasant feeling towards this place keeps on piling up.