Central Walk

A teenager with blonde hair and light blue eyes was standing in front of a central fountain of Central Walk as dusk sky was covering his whole background. His clothes gave him a rich look while he, himself, has a charming look that stands out like a sore thumb among the crowd.

Beautiful girls are sneaking glances while some of them were staring so hard that he has no choice but wave at them. If someone asked Lucas that does he hate this? Answer will be a resounding no. He loves attention from beautiful girls more than anything!

If God asked Lucas, that to erase the world of demons or filled the world with beauties, he will even scoff at God for asking. It's no brainer to anyone that he will chose world filled with beauties!

"He is late."

Lucas muttered as he looked at the gate-like attraction not too far away from him. This side of central city is filled with all kind of attractions. Lucas has visited this place too many times to count though it will be first time to come here with a genuine male.

He found Ethan quiet a weird person. His face is average but his eyes stood out so much that you can't help wonder its origin.

He never hides his gaze and looked straight into your eyes. His eyes seem to be frighteningly pure yet strangely sharp. Lucas only talks to him because he found him interesting. He is not only able enters the one of the best academy with no actual strength but Lucas has almost never seem depressed or worried about himself inside the academy like it's not even his problem in the first place! He has suspicion about his strength but he truly doesn't care too much about it.

Lucas really likes being able talk about girls freely with him. Ethan always pays attention when he talks about girls. Normally, other guys see it as bragging and start fucking philosophy of their own and boast about their fake experience.

Ethan…well, Ethan is Ethan. He is just like a pure child…waiting to be corrupted by his new friends. Lucas wants to corrupt him so much that he just want buy some strippers and have them mess him up to the point, he become a sex addict!

"LUCAS!"

A loud voice resounded in the whole area. Everyone turns their head at him. The teenager who shouted just covers his mouth as if to pretend it was not him.

Lucas covers his mouth, trying to suppress his laugh. He can't help but think he is weird but he is just the person, Lucas needs in his life. Lucas waves his both hand above and shouted.

"I AM HERE, ETHAN!"

Lucas ran toward him without paying attention to any stares or comments directing toward him and threw hug toward him.

"Oh my friend, it's been a while. I missed you terribly!"

"'Miss' my ass. You just want me to sniff on woman's smell from you and asked you about it."

"How did you know?!"

"Nowadays, I have been quiet a badass if you asked me. I have been learning new things so your petty tricks might not work on me."

Ethan has a smug look as he raised his head. Lucas wraps his arms around his neck and pulls him down.

"It seems you are doing something interesting, are there beauties involved?"

"...No."

"What's up with that long pause?"

"Nothing. Just some bad memories."

"Yikes…Ethan, bad memories related to girls always ended up being engraved in your memories. You can't get rid of it even if you lose all your memories."

"…So…why do have this woman's scent on you?"

A shy smile formed on his lips… at the least it look like. Ethan can tell that shy smile is just a façade, he is actually proud about it.

Lucas explains how he met a girl in birthday party and both of them just had a hot date today. He also explained his deprave thoughts that he was having about her on their date.

"Wait a minute, Lucas. I have been playing along but mind telling me where are we going?"

"Clothes shop."

"…Please tell me I am not walking naked."

"…No…you are not…if you had, I would have killed myself."

"Then?"

"Did you even look at the mirror today?! Even guards at the entrance have better clothes than you."

Ethan looked toward the entrance and saw that guards black dress indeed look good. He was wearing clothes that were considered ordinary. Ethan knows that there are many fools doing foolishness in name of fashion. He doesn't want to be count with them so he chose simple instead of humiliating himself.

Lucas also didn't have any expectation about him in the first place. He would rather found it weird if Ethan looked good. He called him earlier because of that.

"Let's go. It will take some time with you. We also need to hurry up for restaurant. I can assure you that you will love the food there!"

Ethan just played along got dragged by him to shops. There are many clothes and he tried almost everything since trying won't charge anything. Lucas also tried all clothes and took photos with it.

"I think…you need to gain some muscle to bring your true charm."

"I am charming enough, it's just I am worried that all men will have to live alone if I increase my charm."

"…"

"…Say something."

"…Nothing. Let's go there are lots of places to check."

Ethan buys some sets of clothes for himself and leave. Lucas wants to pay but Ethan has already paid before he even got the chance.

Both of them look around the Central Walk. Ethan felt like a villager travelling the city for the first time. He tried to hide his amazement but Lucas had seen through it already.

There were lots of lights with multiple colors and multiple mysteriously attraction all around screaming for lots of attention. Lucas had asked him to click his some photos though Ethan has rejected him because he was somewhat shy in front of camera.

Lucas didn't say anything but just have him click some photos for him.

After taking a good look around, both of them finally moved towards their true destination.

Norra Hamnen, this was the name of restaurant they were visiting to. This restaurant is actually famous and even some famous S-Ranks are frequent customer here. It is easy guess that reservation for this place must be something to fight for.

Lucas managed get his hand on it and is quiet carefree about it. Ethan does know that he is from some rich family but he still don't know which. He makes a note to himself to find out about background when he has spare time.

His thought trace back to his roots and somehow found its way to Raven. Ethan is 100% sure that Raven is also from some big family or possibly one of the strongest one.

Ethan can tell that Raven is only around 20 yet her strength is already at B- or A-Rank!

The number of people who had reached B-Rank at early or mid-twenties can be counted on one finger while Raven is even younger than that but she is already at the same level. Not to mention, she also practiced multiple Arts and Runes which should further lower training speed but she is still so strong!

His mood turns off when he thinks about it. If he tried to pry, she will get angry but Ethan found himself terribly obsessed with her-

"Ethan?"

Someone called his name, interrupting his thoughts. Ethan raised his head toward Lucas. It was not him. Lucas was standing stiff while nervousness can't be more obvious at his face. Ethan traces his eyesight and looked in the same direction as him, only to end up freeze in shock.

"A-Alice!"

"Oh my, your friends?"

A beautiful woman with blonde hair was standing with Alice. Her facial features were similar to Alice with purple eyes shining like two gems. A middle-aged man with sharp feature and overwhelming aura was standing with her.

Ethan doesn't how to react for a second. Alice was also here with her whole family to eat those damn lobsters!

"H-Hello, Miss Evans."

Ethan gave a smile to Alice's mother as a greeting though it was obviously stiff. He thought not greeting her will be seen as rude now. She had already initiated the conversation. He knows that Alice will never forgive him for ignoring her mother. So, it will be better to do some small talk and leave this place…alive!

"What a polite child. What is your name?"

"…E-Ethan."

"Oh, it's a nice name."

Ethan turned his head and blush slightly. He doesn't why but her words have hit him in weak spot somehow. He had never heard anything like that from anyone.

Lucas finally pulled himself out of his stiffness and looked at them. He doesn't know what to do. They are his future in laws. What attitude will be better in front of them? In the end, He went ahead and copy Ethan.

"Hello, Miss Evans… Mr. Evans."

Miss Evans smiles at him while Mr. Evans looked at him with sharp gaze. Lucas flinched and avoided his eyes as he felt his gaze. He feels like a snake was wrapped around his neck and his head was hanging in front of him, waiting for him to raise his head, only to swallow his head right away.

Ethan had finally collect himself and stares at Alice with his practiced smile. She was wearing a sleeveless blouse and skirt. Ethan always feel pity knowing that such a beauty has such a nasty personality.

"It's been a while. Alice?"

"Hmm."

Greeting still felt awkward to him. Ethan has been practicing his speech to make it smoother but sometimes it still ends up like this.

Alice just gave a nod in response. She looks like a harmless sheep who can't even talk smoothly. It's seems she even pretends in front of her parents.

"So…are they your friends?"

Alice looked at her mother who was looking at her. Alice was in peril right now. If she says yes, then knowing her mother, she will likely drag them for conversation. If she says no, she will appear as a cold girl to her family.

"…We are not. Acquaintance or classmate will be better. She helped me out once in academy…that's all."

Conversation seems kind of awkward to him. Ethan just opened his mouth at heat of moment but he kinds of regret now. It was obviously mother-child talk. Who the hell he is to talk between them?

"Oh, still, you said that you're classmate, right? Our daughter never talks about academy with us. We are kind of worried if she is living without any problem or not."

Miss Evans looked toward her daughter with a worried look but Ethan was looking at her with a worried look! Having Problem? Who? She? You are the one with problem for not being to see your daughter's true face!

Ethan steals a side glance toward Papa Evans who was glaring at Lucas, torturing him with his eyes. He didn't say anything means he already know about his daughter. Only mother seems to be oblivious.

"…Miss Evans, please free your will of any worries. Alice is liked by every student in our class...whole academy actually...She is strong-willed, hardworking and idealistic person. She also had most contribution during class test...if you knew about it."

Ethan tried to talk as politely as possible to her. Alice stares at him while hiding her surprise. Ethan looks entirely different person from what she remembers. He was awkward and tries to keep his conversation shorts but right now he is not only having a nice conversation with her mother but he is even taking the lead to talk with her!

"Oh…we keep talking while standing at the entrance. If you two don't mind, would you like to join us at dinner? I did love to hear about my daughter from you."