A Place For Strangers

The Magic Theory lecture ended, and the room buzzed with students packing up and whispering. Ved's earlier comment still hung in the air. Some students glanced at him nervously, while others avoided him completely and just pretended he wasn't there. He'd expected that. It was no surprise. Predictable.

He didn't care.

Ved left the hall without a word, moving smoothly and deliberately. His mind was already elsewhere—Magic Theory was a necessity, but it was nothing compared to practical combat. 

Magic Theory was important, but real fighting was what mattered. All those "counters" they talked about in class were just for people who weren't strong enough. If someone relied on magic alone, they were already at a disadvantage. And the endless discussions of magic formulas and theoretical applications bored him.

This was his life now: academy, students, and lots of rules. Everyone was polite to his face but talked behind his back. 

They whispered about him, part scared, part curious, trying to figure him out. 

He didn't care what they thought. Their opinions meant nothing to him.

Stepping outside, Ved was greeted by the vast courtyard that stretched between the academic buildings. The academy was built in a huge circle, with towering spires marking each wing. The sky was clear, the sun casting long shadows over the trimmed hedges and enchanted lanterns lining the pathways.The air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and the faint hum of magic.

Students gathered chatting in small groups, some arguing. Some practicing magic in the open training areas. The sounds of swords clashing and magic crackling filled the air, while other students studied and huddled around study materials.

Ved ignored them all.

His next class wouldn't begin till tomorrow, leaving him with a lot of free time he hadn't yet decided how to spend. Normally, he would have taken this opportunity to train, to hone his skills and push his body to its limits. 

However, given how much he had trained this past month before arriving at the academy, he knew he shouldn't push himself too hard. He was aware of the delicate balance between pushing his body and breaking it. He knew he shouldn't push himself too hard or it would be bad for body in the long run.

He sighed quietly.

Still, he kept walking.

"You walk like a ghost," someone said behind him. Ved knew it was Keith without even turning around. The younger-looking annoying elf always seemed to pop up unexpectedly.

"You sure you're not undead?" Keith continued, falling into step beside him, his sharp blue eyes glinting with amusement. "Because I swear, I barely hear your footsteps. You're like a whisper in the wind."

Ved said nothing.

Keith let out an exaggerated sigh. "I mean, I get it. You've got that whole 'I don't need anyone' thing going on. But walking around like an ice sculpture? Kinda depressing."

Ved stopped.

Keith blinked, his amusement replaced by surprise. "Oh? Did I finally get a reaction? I was starting to think you were really made of ice."

Ved turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "If you have nothing useful to say, leave."

Keith laughed. "See, that's the thing. I find this useful. You're probably the most interesting person in this academy right now. Everyone else is so predictable, so…boring."

Ved kept walking. Keith, as usual, followed him.

"I mean, you did just turn that student into a public embarrassment," Keith continued, voice light. "Not that he didn't deserve it, but wow—you were ruthless. Seriously, I admire the dedication and how committed you are to being the bad guy."

Keith tilted his head. "What, did I say something wrong?"

Ved's voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable chill beneath it. "If I were a villain, you'd be dead already."

Keith finally shut up for a second. 

Then, he grinned, a wide, genuine smile that transformed his face. "Okay, now I'm impressed. That's exactly what a villain would say."

After finally shaking off Keith, Ved ended up in one of the academy's gardens. It was a place where people usually went to relax or study quietly. The garden was beautiful, with perfectly trimmed bushes and marble benches spaced evenly apart. A gentle, magical breeze kept the air cool and fresh.

It was mostly empty.

Mostly.

Princess Elowyn was sitting by a fountain. Her silver hair shone in the sunlight, and she looked elegant and relaxed. She appeared to be reading an old book resting in her lap.

She didn't look up immediately, but Ved could tell she had noticed him. There was a subtle shift in her posture, a slight stiffening of her shoulders.

"Do you always wander aimlessly?" she asked, finally lifting her gaze from the book.

Ved met her emerald eyes but didn't answer.

She tilted her head slightly, studying him with an intensity that made him uncomfortable. "No purpose. No destination. You're adrift, aren't you?"

Ved remained still.

A soft chuckle escaped her. "You dislike this place, don't you?" she asked, her voice soft.

She continued, her gaze sweeping across the garden. "Not the academy, I mean the world."

Still, he said nothing.

She smiled faintly, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "You don't have to answer. It's written all over you."

Ved shifted his gaze slightly, as if dismissing her presence entirely. He had no interest in engaging in a philosophical discussion. But Elowyn wasn't easily ignored.

She closed her book and stood up gracefully. "You're a strange mix of things, Ved Flack," she said.

Ved stopped. The thought flashing through his mind like lightning. 'Could she be talking about the Nagi soul fragments?' he wondered.

He finally spoke, his voice low and carefully controlled. "And you make pointless observations, Princess."

"Perhaps," she admitted, a hint of amusement in her voice. "But it doesn't change the truth, does it?"

Ved's expression didn't change, remained neutral.

Elowyn regarded him for a moment longer before stepping past him, her voice barely above a whisper. "Be careful. There are those watching you more closely than you think."

He didn't turn to watch her leave.