Something about festivals.

A month had passed, and Alexander had grown stronger as a player and student. 

Thanks to his vast wealth of knowledge from his old life, most classes were a breeze.

Most of the time he performed so well that some professors made him their class assistant. 

It wasn't anything fancy, but It was enough to have people recognize his genius.

When he wasn't practicing with books and pens, he was swinging a sword and fighting on the field. 

His time with the Pathfinder team had grown to take a large part of his day. 

And while he got better with every stroke of the blade, a new challenge or drill would emerge to challenge him in a new way.

Not that he minded it.

— — —

Alexander was currently in line for lunch, with Jules and Karl running a little late. Instead of waiting for them, he decided to get in line by himself.

When suddenly he noticed Louise walking up to him, along with a white-eyed girl at her side.

Alexander quickly raised an eyebrow.

It had been weeks since they last talked. 

Is she coming to me, surely I'm misreading this…

Louise stopped in front of Alexander with her hands on her hips. 

Her brow furrowed as she crossed her arms. "What are you doing?" She asked, her tone almost accusatory.

"Getting… lunch?" Alexander said nervously, looking around the line curiously, avoiding Louise's gaze.

Louise pressed her lips together as she tilted her head. "Getting lunch." She repeated, her tone skeptical. "Well, I assume you'd be eating with me, right?"

Alexander blinked.

Why would I eat lunch with you, you haven't spoken to me since the first day.

"Uhm, why?" Alexander asked with a nervous chuckle.

Louise frowned as she crossed her arms, "why do you think?" She asked, poking out her hip as she narrowed her eyes.

Alexander shifted his jaw as he squinted his eyes. 

Aw fuck… this again.

There wasn't anything important happening, not that he knew of. 

But even if there was, why the hell would Louise come to him about it?

They haven't talked in a month!

"Well?" Louise asked, tapping her foot slowly.

Alexander ran through every interaction he had with Louise since they'd been in school.

He then paused, his eyes growing wide. 

Wait, maybe she wants me to fulfill my promise to protect her?

Alexander breathed a sigh of relief as his gaze softened. "I remember," he replied, "where are you sitting? I'll join you."

Louise smirked confidently as she glanced over her shoulder at her friend. "Where I always sit, don't pretend you didn't notice."

Alexander nodded. "Got it."

Louise then turned on her heel and walked away with a confident sway of her hair. 

Alexander watched her leave, before shifting his attention towards the white-eyed girl. "Hey."

The girl smiled, "hello." She said with a giggle, before grabbing two trays. "Can you help me?"

Alexander nodded as he took one of the trays from the girl. 

Together they moved down the line, filling their trays with bread, fruit, soup, and meats. 

The aroma was as welcoming as always, but this time it felt a little different. 

Maybe because Alexander couldn't help but notice the white-eyed girl stealing glances at him.

"Alexander?" The girl finally spoke, grabbing the last of their food as they left the line. "How long have you known Louise?"

Alexander raised an eyebrow as he balanced both trays in his hands. "About four years." He replied, "But, we were never close."

The white-eyed girl smirked as she subtly nodded. "Interesting…"

The duo eventually reached Louise's table, her eyes locked solely on Alexander. It was like she was daring him to sit somewhere else.

Alexander sighed softly as he sat across from her, placing down both trays. Louise leaned forward as she pulled away one of the trays, her gaze lingering on him.

"So," Louise began, leaning back. "Mind telling me why you've been avoiding me?" She asked coldly, her tone dropping as she picked up a fork. 

Alexander blinked. "What?" He replied, his tone confused as he looked around.

Is she serious, she's been avoiding me…

"You heard me," Louise said, stabbing her fork into a fresh cut of meat. "Answer the question."

Alexander frowned, "what are you talking about?" He asked, genuinely attempting to understand Louise's logic, "I haven't been avoiding you."

Louise scoffed as she crossed her hands. 

"Oh, then what do you call your time with Elizabeth?" She asked, "Because you've certainly been paying attention to her."

"We're just friends," Alexander replied instantly, almost defensively. 

"Don't make that something it's not." 

"Oh?" Louise replied, setting her chin on her hands. "So what do you call walking her to the dorms every night? Or eating lunch every day?"

Alexander paused, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. 

What was happening?

One moment he was preparing to chow down with friends, and now he was being grilled about his friendship with Elizabeth.

"I call it being a good friend." Alexander finally replied, "You know how Elizabeth is, you've been her friend longer than I have."

Louise narrowed her eyes. "Exactly, which is why I'm confused about why you chase after her." Her glare sharpened, "is it because you're blind, or an idiot?"

Alexander opened his mouth to respond but stopped himself when he noticed Louise's gaze shift.

She looked past him, her lips twitching as she straightened up. 

Alexander slowly turned around to see a warm smile greeting him. "Hi, Alex," Elizabeth said with a wave. 

She was now dressed in the black and gold uniform of the student council and was flanked by her two friends Chloe and Juliet. 

Alexander felt a rush of tension, and Elizabeth immediately shifted the atmosphere and the dynamic.

With a slow gulp, Alexander smiled. "Hey, Elizabeth." He said nervously.

Elizabeth giggled as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Can I sit with you?"

Alexander slid closer towards the wall as Elizabeth sat beside him. Louise's expression hardened as she watched Elizabeth and her friends sit down. 

There was no smile on her face.

Alexander was no better, surrounded by five girls, two of which he knew personally

"So," Elizabeth began, her smile unwavering, "what do you plan on doing in this upcoming festival?"

The question was open-ended, but Alexander felt that it was directed at him. 

She had grabbed his hand under the table and her gaze lingered upon him. Her pink eyes were unrelenting.

Alexander chuckled nervously. "A festival?" He asked, "I almost forgot we were having one, I've been so busy…"

Elizabeth giggled as her thumbs lazily traced circles around the back of his hand. "Always working." She teased, "You need to take a break at some point."

Alexander smiled as he looked down at his food, his appetite no longer present.

Suddenly an irritable voice cut through the air. "Huh, maybe you should take that advice yourself," Louise said with a frown, her friend barely holding back a smile. 

"Alexander needs a break from you just as much."