Worthwhile

Chapter Thirty-Three: Worthwhile

Layla mentioned Alexandria Feloncia while knowing that he had a lot of people to protect him, also, he's probably who she wanted to find.

He's likely to cause trouble with a Dark Mage that'd make their teacher save him. A'lessander of Miano, One Who Conquered Death was careful as he's the lifeline to his family's rare element.

If this Dark Mage tried kidnaping Alexandria Feloncia, his older brother would kill her at the spot. "Well…"

"You sure you aren't lying?" the Dark Mage leaned towards her. "I have a sister your age and you girls lie pretty well."

A sister her age? Layla couldn't remember a younger Mage like her amongst their sister group, but she brushed it off. The Dark Mage had a family before joining the Dark path anyway.

"They are many Alexanders in my class but he stands out more so he's definitely the one…"

"Then that's your guess? Tell me all the Alexanders, I'd figure out which one myself or have all." The Dark Mage frowned. "Don't spare any details."

That was preposterous. When Layla tried stepping back, her legs became tons heavy and she couldn't move an inch.

"What do you even want to do with high school boys, you pervert!" Layla snapped, balling her fists.

The Dark Mage's face darkened and her soft features hardened. "Pervert?" A cackling sound was made from her throat even if her lips were tightly shut with a wide smile.

It creeped Layla and she covered her face, thinking she'd get hit. She had begun questioning all her life's decisions to that point.

The Dark Mage pulled her chin up and said. "There's more fun to find in young boys, apart from sexual pleasure. I'm twenty eight, they couldn't take me far."

Layla cringed at hearing that piece of information. Then what did she want with them? If she didn't need the shadow element or the son of a rich household, why did she need her classmates for?

"It's just that young people with potential… definitely hits differently." She flung her hair behind her and not everything went back because of its length.

"I'd assume that you are right and will go after the Alexanders in your class. If they could impress the Dead Prince, then they'd definitely be worthwhile."

Layla found her body released, she took many steps backwards so the Dark Mage wouldn't take hold of her body again. "Worthwhile? Are you just bored?"

The Dark Mage shrugged, while walking away, her hips moved smoothly as she walked. "Tell the boys to wait for me, okay? They can't run from me, anyway."

She disappeared into thin air and Layla could no longer feel her presence. Since the King of Villains and other powerful Entities were killed, many villains had been purposeless.

The slightly good thing about the villains, unlike the entities that survived the war, was that the villains could live life normally without depending on sucking essence to live, like entities did.

That's why the attacks from Dark Mages reduced when the King of Villains died, they rather survived than cause trouble. They were sensible, after all.

They were powerful ones who looked for trouble out of boredom or spite, but it was never anything big.

It'd reduce more by the time tales spread that the SSSSS-Rank Mage had returned to their realm, or it'd become concentrated at Gaden High since all the villains wanted a piece of Sir Zenith.

She felt the need to protect him from all that but it felt self-flattering because he could obviously handle it.

Layla still didn't know who the Dead Prince was but she'd just ask Alexandria when she'd meet him at class today. It'd definitely be a Dark Mage.

There's no way that sister would go to their school to take Alexandria so she didn't worry immediately and ran to school. The Dark Mage didn't also know that Sir Zenith worked at the school.

"Her name was Conjurer, wasn't it?" Layla said to herself as she hastened up. "I am surprised to know she changed her aesthetics so much."

Mages becoming Dark Mages were more common than Heroes becoming Villains because Mages liked freedom and didn't care for public opinion. "I hope no one I know chooses the Dark path ever."

Few minutes later, she reached the school gate and slowed down to talk to the security guard. "Good morning, sir. I was late because—"

"That's you and your teacher's problem. Show me your ID card, then go in." The new security guard said with a dismissive tone.

Layla quickly showed her card and he opened the gate for him. The contrast between he and the former security guard were clear, though Layla whished he'd be concerned as she escaped something traumatic.

As those thoughts ran in her mind, her legs suddenly became heavy and she tripped and fell on her face. Her skirt rose to her butt and she quickly slapped it down, but laid on the ground.

"Is that Dark Mage controlling me again? Or is this fear…" she shuddered and her environment felt cold.

Maybe she's not as mentally strong as she thought she was, if that Dark Mage with barely any presence had a mental effect on her. "I just want to cry…"

Silent sobs left her and she tightened her grip on her backpack on top of her head, shielding her face from the sun.

Did she feel this way because she was reminded of her mother or because that Dark Mage would've killed her without anyone knowing, because she's alone?

Five minute later, she heard footsteps, but still didn't find the strength in her legs to stand.

"I always find you in embarrassing situations, Layla Herbert." Zenith stood above her, with lidded eyes.

She turned and rested the side of her face on the ground, staring at his shoes. "S-Sorry about that, Sir. I-I'm still trying my best… I promise I am."

Zenith stared at her wet face, before exhaling. They were numerous reasons why she was always a mess and living alone would be one of them. "You can't stand, can you?"

He could sense poor essence circulation in her legs, or more accurately, an essence that stopped her legs from working properly.

It jammed in her legs in weird chunks. He couldn't identify who did it, but it wasn't done recently. It only had an effect on her because she's not on the right state of mind.

"I'd help you because I feel I'm involved in this. Did this Dark Mage also try to get me through you, a Gaden High student?" As he spoke, a white glow shone from his hands.

Layla shook her head slowly, she'd stopped sobbing. "She doesn't know you are a Gaden High teacher and only saw you save Alexandria from a 'Dead Prince'. She'd be after him now."

Zenith hummed, he couldn't place who that'd be.

Which meant they were an unimportant Dark Mage that'd bore him, even if they're fighting for their life.