A Leader (2)

Chapter 17

Elijah left the school grounds with a beaming smile plastered on his face.

As he stood by the gate, waiting for Kai, he couldn't help but glance down at the system interface flashing before him.

The mission list was waiting for his attention.

[Missions]

Before any missions become available, you must choose a path.

[A Cruel King]

"The Tyrant's Might"

A King who shows no mercy, ruthlessly eliminating anyone who threatens his authority.

Enemies have a higher chance of surrendering or fleeing.

Reduces ally morale but boosts efficiency through the skill gained: [Intimidation].

[A Kind King]

"The Benevolent Ruler"

A King whose strength lies in his people, always putting their well-being first.

Gains the skill [Healing Aura], which helps in restoring health to allies.

[A Tyranny King]

"The Absolute Dictator"

A King whose cruelty is matched only by his absolute control over his subordinates, enforcing unwavering obedience.

Gains the skills [Mind Control], [Fear], and [Law].

[A Lustful King]

"The Enchanter's Embrace"

A King who cannot control his desires, always in need of the company of women, lest he suffer unbearable pain.

Gains the skills [Charisma] and [Seduction].

[A Pure King]

"The Righteous Monarch"

A King who refuses to kill, holding firm to a code of morality.

Gains the skills [Leadership] and [Justice].

[A True King]

"The Sovereign's Ascension"

The true embodiment of a King, not just a title, but the very essence of kingship itself.

A leader whose actions cannot be judged, for he transcends all the virtues and vices of others.

Only the path of a True King remains before him.

Gains the skills [The Monarch], [Zenith], [One], and [King's Aura].

Elijah's eyes lingered on the last option, "The True King," which seemed overwhelmingly powerful.

However, he hesitated.

While every other path had certain limitations, the "True King" path appeared to have none, which left him wondering about its potential consequences.

As he deliberated, he heard a voice behind him.

"Elijah, what are you doing here?"

Elijah looked up and saw Kai approaching, and his smile grew even wider. "Kai, I've got something big to tell you."

A few hours earlier, Elijah sat alone in the courtyard, wiping away the last of his tears before anyone could notice.

He wasn't sure how long he had been lost in thought, but the emptiness in his chest still lingered.

No matter how much he tried to bury his fears, they always resurfaced.

As the courtyard began to empty, with most students heading back to class, Elijah remained rooted to the spot.

He knew he should follow, but his body refused to move.

Instead, he let out a long, exhausted sigh and leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees.

"Skipping class?"

Elijah turned his head slightly to see Lisa standing beside him.

Her wavy brown hair cascaded down her back, and her deep green eyes held an inquisitive glint.

Without waiting for an invitation, she plopped down beside him with a sigh of her own.

"What's wrong?" she asked, studying him carefully.

Elijah hesitated.

He didn't know Lisa all that well, but for some reason, he couldn't find the strength to push her away.

Instead, he shook his head. "Nothing."

Lisa scoffed, clearly unconvinced. "Liar. You look like you just had an existential crisis."

Elijah let out a dry chuckle. "Maybe I did."

She tilted her head, waiting for him to elaborate.

When he didn't, she leaned back against the bench and closed her eyes. "You don't have to tell me, but if you ever want to talk… I'm a pretty good listener."

Elijah glanced at her.

For some reason, Lisa had always been easy to be around.

She never pushed too hard, never demanded anything from him.

She simply existed, in a way that made it hard to be anything but comfortable.

For a fleeting moment, he considered opening up to her, but the words never came.

Instead, they sat together in a quiet, companionable silence, watching the clouds drift lazily across the sky.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly as the sound of the school bell rang in the distance, signaling the start of the next period.

Neither of them moved.

Lisa suddenly stretched her arms above her head and smirked. "Well, looks like we're officially skipping class now."

Elijah snorted. "You're the one who sat down first."

"Details," she replied with a grin, before standing up and extending her hand to him. "Come on, I know a place."

Elijah hesitated for a moment, but ultimately, he took her hand.

She led him through the empty hallways, skillfully avoiding the few wandering teachers with a practiced ease.

Eventually, they arrived at a small storage room at the back of the school.

Lisa flicked on the light, revealing shelves stacked with old books, forgotten chairs, and various unused supplies.

"Not bad, huh?" she said, her voice laced with amusement. "It's quiet, and no one ever comes here."

Elijah raised an eyebrow. "You do this often?"

"Only when I need a break," she replied with a shrug, leaning casually against one of the shelves.

Her eyes never left him. "So, what's the real reason you look so miserable?"

Elijah sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's complicated."

Lisa hummed thoughtfully. "Complicated is just another way of saying 'I don't want to talk about it.'"

He chuckled. "Maybe."

She stepped closer, her voice softening. "You don't always have to carry everything on your own, you know."

The air between them seemed to shift, and suddenly, Lisa leaned in closer, her voice now playful.

"You know, if you wanted to be alone with me, you could've just said so."

Elijah let out a short laugh. "Yeah, because I totally planned this."

Lisa smirked. "Maybe you did, subconsciously."

Elijah rolled his eyes. "I don't think my subconscious is that smooth."

She shrugged nonchalantly. "You never know. Maybe deep down, you just wanted an excuse to be around me."

Elijah scoffed but couldn't suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I think you're giving me too much credit."

Lisa leaned in even closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Or maybe you don't give yourself enough."

Something in her words hit him harder than he expected.

Whether it was the way she said it or the sincerity behind her gaze, Elijah found himself letting go, if only for a moment.

Before he could overthink it, he closed the distance between them.

Lisa didn't pull away—instead, she met him halfway, her fingers trailing up his arm as their lips finally met.

It started slow, hesitant, but the tension between them quickly dissolved into something far more intense.

The weight of his worries—the gang, his mother, his future—seemed to vanish, at least for now.

In that moment, nothing else mattered.

Back in the present, Elijah finished telling Kai the whole story, and Kai erupted into laughter.

"Respect to Lisa."

"Wait, no respect for me?" Elijah raised an eyebrow.

"Why not, Elijah?" Kai chuckled, shaking his head. "She came up with the plan, and she won. If she could see the dumb smile on your face right now, I bet she'd regret it."

"I can't help it," Elijah said, trying to stifle his smile. "My mouth just keeps moving up on its own."

Kai laughed again. "Enjoy your girlfriend, but don't fall too deeply, okay?"

Elijah raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Kai shrugged nonchalantly. "If you're here, then let's help the others."