Trouble

"Oh it looks like we've been at it for a while, I better head back to the room." Del said. He yawned while raising his arm up to stretch.

As he raised his arm Melinda suddenly flinched. He glanced at her as he noticed the strange movement. Mel patted her skirt seemingly trying to play it off. Del lowered his arm and looked at her in her eyes while he leaned forward.

"Go already idiot." She said as she avoided eye contact with him.

"Aye aye fine." Del said with a chuckle at the end as he got up.

Del made his way back to room. When he got inside he noticed no one was there. That was fine, he wanted to rest since he felt a bit tired anyways. He took off his shoes and laid in his bed. "Time to get some sleep" He said before closing his eyes.

...

About a week had passed. Del kept the routine of training and rarely going to classes. Occasionally he would train with Melinda and other times Allyssa. He was thinking of making some male friends soon. Women weren't bad of course, but male bonding has been out of touch in his life so far.

"This is all cozy and all that, but it's getting kind of repetitive." Del said seeing as little has occured lately.

Barely a moment later the door to his room opened up and Christian was sobbing while accompanied by Allyssa.

"Del! We've been looking for you!" Allyssa said while taking Christian to a chair and sitting him down.

"Really? What for?" Del looked at Christian who was still sobbing, though he was taking deep breaths and sniffling trying to calm himself down.

"I-I need your help. My cousin is in trouble!" Christian said.

"Eh? What kind of trouble." Del asked with an eyebrow raised and crossing his arms.

"My cousin, he got into trouble with a gang. You were the only person I could think to turn to." Christian tried to maintain eye contact with Del through his teary eyes.

"The only person? No one in your family can help you? I'm aware that your upbringing isn't as poor as mines and that you have a family." Del wanted to knoe what he would be getting into first, and why he was the only one who could help.

Both Allyssa and Christian were surprised by how inquisitive Del was. They only ever saw him training and saw him rarely study. Topping that off with his personality, they thought his head was just full of meat.

"It's true that my family is not a poor one, but they had all wished for my cousin to be a bard as everyone else was. He didn't agree so he mostly broke off from the family, they don't even care about him anymore. The only reason they care for me is because the prospect of being a knight could bring them money." Christian who obviously calmed down a bit from his sobbing explained. He could tell though that from Del's look he wasn't convinced.

"What about Allyssa? She is obviously among the nobles, and you of course know her better than me." Del asked another question, asking about something which laid before him.

"My family isn't... quite like me so to say. They wouldn't even bother with people of a lower class then themselves." Allyssa interjected to tell him as to why she couldn't help.

"And it's obvious as to why the academy has to incentive, so will you help?" Christian asked right after Allyssa finished speaking.

"Mmm, and why do you think I can help?" Del asked finally.

"Uh..." Christian suddenly fell silent. He felt like bashing his head into a table right now. He hadn't even considered whether or not Del could help or not in his hysteria, only that he might.

"Doesn't matter, I won't be doing it." Del said with his arms still crossed. His face was indifferent to them.

It felt as if the roof had fallen onto them. He straight up wouldn't help?

Allyssa spoke up first, unable to believe that Del simply wouldn't help. "You won't help?! Why not? Didn't you stand up for him out of the kindness of your heart before?!"

Del's eyes flicked over at her, giving her a piercing gaze. "It was convenient." Del said flatly. "Besides, just as the school I have no incentive to help anyhow. Why should I waste my precious education hours to help someone I barely speak to? Not only that, it is a gang you two are asking me to handle. I wouldn't risk my life for no reward." Del said to them coldly.

Allyssa felt her heart sink. She started to feel the strange feeling she got from Del when they first met. She still couldn't quite describe it, but even more now then before it made her feel small.

Del was still standing there, but his gaze floated to the door. He took a step forward, then another. Allyssa simply wouldn't give up on her friend though. She had a heroic spirit undeniably. "You can ask me of something!" She said loudly.

Del stopped walking in his tracks. An impish smile went upon his face. "Is that right?" Del asked without looking back at them.

"It's true." She said. Her voice almost quivered. Christian tugged at her sleeve and shook his head. Allyssa looked back at Christian before looking back to Del.

"That seals the deal then, show me where this cousin is." Del said as he went back to walking towards the door.

"You aren't going to ask me for anything?" Allyssa asked.

Del opened the door and turned his head. A shiver went down the spines of both Allyssa and Christian. The smile upon Del's face was like a shadow of evil. It was was if he had got them just where he wanted.

"I'll think about it."