Chapter 24- To be or not to be

'They say time flies when you're having fun or living a good life.'

Noah didn't know about fun, but life at the academy passed in a blur. Time was slippery, days blending into weeks without warning. Homework, assignments, and academy events filled the hours, leaving little room to think about anything else. Vacations came and went, fleeting as a breath, and the changing seasons marked time more than the calendar ever could.

The very first time Noah visited the manor for the vacation had been nothing short of a whirlwind. John was overjoyed to see him, pulling him into a firm embrace the moment he walked through the door. Whenever he found time between his busy schedule, John made every effort to be with Noah, asking about his life at the academy and offering quiet reassurances.

Lucien, on the other hand, was perpetually busy. His presence was like a fleeting shadow, there one moment and gone the next, consumed by work and responsibilities Noah barely understood.

Then there were Jane and Evelina, the mother-and-daughter duo who made his life a living hell. Jane's sharp words and Evelina's smug taunts followed Noah everywhere with relentless cruelty. They were like monsters lurking in the mansion, and Noah dreaded returning to the manor.

At least in the Academy, he was far away from their grasp. Jane also didn't bother him much there because their grades were separate and so were their living spaces. Yet, even as he dreaded returning, the thought of Uncle John waiting for him kept his resolve intact.

Fleeting as a shadow, time moves quietly, leaving behind only memories of moments once lived.

"One and a half years," Dorian said suddenly, his voice cutting through the quiet of their shared room. He was perched on his bed, neatly folding a stack of clothes that rested beside him. "Just one and a half years left, and we can finally move to Dorm H. I heard the rooms there are much bigger."

"Yeah, I can't wait to be in year five," Silas chimed in enthusiastically. He flopped back onto his bed, arms spread wide as he stared at the ceiling. "I wish time would just speed up already."

Jude, who was sitting at his desk with a book in hand, shook his head at Silas's words. "You rush through everything. I'd rather enjoy my youth while it lasts," he said quietly, his tone calm but firm.

"Really?" Silas snorted, rolling onto his side to face him. "Then maybe you should stop talking like an old man, Grandpa Jude."

Jude lowered his book slightly and raised an eyebrow at him. "I don't talk like an old man. You're just too stupid to understand normal words."

Silas sat up, gasping dramatically as he pointed a finger at Jude. "Take that back!"

Jude ignored him with practiced ease, adjusting his glasses and returning to his book with a soft sigh.

Silas opened his mouth to retort but was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door, cutting through their banter. He huffed loudly, swinging his legs off the bed as he got up to answer it.

"Great. Who's bothering us now?" he grumbled, dragging his feet toward the door with exaggerated sluggishness.

When Silas opened the door, one of the boys from their building stood there awkwardly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

"Um… is Noah here?" the boy asked, his voice low but nervous.

Silas leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms with an interrogative air. "He's in the shower right now," he stated, his tone neutral but slightly curious. "Why? Something urgent?"

The boy hesitated, his hands fidgeting. "Senior Theodore asked for him to meet."

Silas gave a slow nod. "Got it. I'll tell him."

Closing the door, he turned back to the room. "Hey, Noah!" he called out, his voice carrying over the sound of running water. "Theodore's looking for you!"

The sound of running water stopped soon after, and the bathroom door creaked open. Noah stepped out, his hair damp and a towel draped loosely around his shoulders. "Brother Theodore?" he repeated.

"Yeah. Better hurry up before he gets bored of waiting," Silas said with a shrug as he climbed back onto his bed.

Noah dried himself off quickly before slipping into his neatly pressed clothes and polished shoes. He took a moment to ensure his appearance was tidy before stepping out.

Making his way toward the elite living quarters, he felt his nerves grow with each deliberate step. As he approached, he immediately spotted Theodore standing near the entrance, flanked by Lucien and Kevin.

As he approached cautiously, Theodore was the first to notice him and broke into a grin. "There you are!" he said, his voice warm and inviting. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me."

Noah stopped a few steps away and bowed politely. "G-Good afternoon," he greeted softly, his voice tinged with uncertainty as his gaze briefly flickered between the three figures.

Lucien gave a faint nod, while Kevin barely acknowledged him, his cold blue eyes flicking over Noah with something close to disdain.

"Well, shall we go?" Theodore said brightly as he grabbed Noah's hand and started walking, tugging him along with familiarity.

Noah stumbled slightly at first, caught off guard by Theodore's pace, but he quickly adjusted. "Um… goodbye, Brother Lucien, Brother Kevin," he said softly, glancing back at the two figures standing behind.

Theodore turned briefly, throwing a cheeky wave over his shoulder. "Don't miss us too much!" he called out as he walked away with Noah in tow.

Lucien didn't respond, his gaze following their retreating figures with quiet detachment. Kevin, on the other hand, let out a sharp huff, his arms still tightly folded across his chest.

"What's he doing, always glued to that kid?" he muttered under his breath. "It's starting to look ridiculous."

Lucien tilted his head slightly, the breeze catching strands of his silver hair. "He's just having fun," he said simply, his voice devoid of emotion.

Kevin shot him a sidelong glance, clearly unimpressed by the response, before turning his attention elsewhere.

They watched as Theodore and Noah disappeared into the distance, their figures growing smaller with each step until they were fully engulfed by the surrounding.

- - - - - -

As they arrived near the iron gazebo nestled within the heart of the campus garden, Theodore came to a casual stop, turning to Noah with his usual air of mischief.

"Alright, here's what I need you to do," he began, his tone light but oddly firm. "A girl is going to show up here. When she does, wait about four minutes… no, make that two, and then come over to us. Say this exactly: 'Mirabelle is looking for you.' Got it?"

Noah blinked in confusion. "Hmmm?"

Theodore grinned, a glint of amusement flickering in his dark eyes. "Don't overthink it. Just do as I say."

Noah hesitated, glancing toward the garden path before reluctantly nodding. He had long since learned it was pointless to question Theodore's odd schemes.

The minutes stretched on as Noah crouched behind a neatly trimmed hedge, the faint rustle of leaves breaking the quiet around him. His hiding spot wasn't the most comfortable, but his position offered a clear view of the gazebo.

Soon enough, a petite girl appeared, her short, sleek hair swaying as she skipped lightly along the path.

There was an undeniable excitement in her step, her hands hidden behind her back. From Noah's vantage point, he caught a glimpse of a folded letter clutched tightly in her fingers. She skipped past him, completely unaware of his presence, her bright eyes fixed on Theodore as she came to a stop before him.

The sight only deepened his confusion, but he reminded himself of Theodore's instructions. He tapped his fingers to count the minutes passed.

Taking a deep breath, Noah stepped out from his hiding spot and walked toward them. His voice was soft but steady as he repeated the line Theodore had given him.

"Um… Brother Theodore, Mirabelle is looking for you."

The girl froze, her head snapping toward Noah. The warm glow on her evaporated, replaced by a sharp glare that cut through the air like ice. It felt as though she might swallow him whole with her fury.

Without saying a word, she turned sharply on her heel and stormed off. The letter, once carefully held behind her back, slipped from her trembling grasp and landed softly on the ground. She didn't bother to pick it up, leaving it crumpled in her wake as she disappeared down the garden path.

Noah stood rooted to the spot, his gaze darting between the retreating figure and Theodore, who now tilted his head slightly as if to feign innocence. But the subtle smirk tugging at the corners of his lips betrayed him.

"Oh, the next bit is going to be interesting," Theodore commented, his voice brimming with amusement. Turning on his heel, he leisurely began to walk away.

Noah's gaze dropped to the discarded letter, then darted back up to Theodore. "Wait!" he called, rushing forward and grabbing Theodore's sleeves. "You're going to step on it!"

Theodore glanced down, pausing for just a moment. Then, with deliberate ease, he lifted his foot and brought it down hard on the letter.

"What's the big deal?" he said with a grin, his dark eyes glinting with satisfaction. "It's just a piece of paper."

Noah could only stare at him in silence, unable to utter a single word.

Theodore turned slightly, his smirk now replaced by a chillingly cold expression. "Oh, and by the way," he began, his voice dropping into a tone far sharper than before, "did I give you permission to touch me?"

The sudden shift in his demeanor sent a shiver down Noah's spine. He quickly released Theodore's sleeve, taking a small step back, his heart pounding.

This was Theodore Magnus, a person Noah could never fully comprehend, no matter how much time passed.