Chapter 29: Lonely Easton

A while Later…

"I'm the only one without a girlfriend." Easton sobbed; his face gaunt while he held a potato.

Easton had invited me and his friends for a celebration… At least it was meant to be a celebration instead of watching Easton cry about his pathetic life as we sat around a fire.

"What's that idiot's problem?" A boy with pink hair whispered to another student with brown hair, "I thought we were meant to be celebrating that we finished our first major exam."

"All my friends have girlfriends; Luke has a girl obsessed with him and Rei has a massive fan group… But I'm still lonely…" Easton slumped in defeat, "I'M THE ONLY ONE LONELY!"

"You've never had a girlfriend, right?" I laughed,

"Why is he bringing this up now?" The brown hair boy sighed,

The pink hair boy smirked, "To be honest, his default state is single. No girl with a brain is going to go for him."

"Shut up before I throw you into the fire." Easton glared at him, throwing his potato into the fire.

The two boys instantly shut up.

"But it's so weird. I have loads of good qualities." Easton sniffed tearfully, "I'm a prodigy magician, my face isn't half bad and I'm from a high-status family."

"But you're an annoying twit." Brown hair boy interrupted with a straight face.

"I never really liked Rei much." Pink hair boy leaned back into his chair, "But after I saw how he still managed to stay by your side after you kept annoying him, I changed my mind. If he has the mental stability to deal with you-"

He never got to finish what he was about to say because Easton flung a raw potato at his face.

***

I sat with a few girls in self-study period.

"May we join you?" Emilia smiled gently, unfortunately with Sardonna behind her.

We nodded our acceptance and they both sat down with us.

"Have you seen… anyone holding a purple and gold book?" I asked hesitantly.

I was still worried about why the shadow book was gone and desperately needed it back before someone did something with it.

Everyone shook their heads.

"Anyway, did you hear?" A girl snickered, "Apparently a boy fainted in Magical Studies."

"How disappointing." Another girl tsked, "He must be weak."

"How are his parents supposed to accept him if he's useless in magic?" A feminine voice cackled maliciously.

"…Wasn't that Lord Luke?" A naïve girl unaware of the situation wondered out loud.

There was a silence before they looked me at horror.

They knew it was Luke, but they wanted a way to secretly mock me.

How childish.

Before I could start berating them, Sardonna swung her fist and punched them.

***

"Do you realize how stupid you are?!" I complained, supporting Sardonna, while Emilia supported her on the other side.

Sardonna was naturally strong but with four other girls attacking her, she was quickly defeated.

"Lady Sardonna… You should be more careful; you're getting me more worried every day." Emilia sighed tearfully.

"Yeah, yeah…" Sardonna huffed.

Ah… another difference.

Sardonna in the otome game would have merely attacked them with harsh verbal words but now… her wounds proved the change.

Sardonna in the otome game was manipulative and calculating but now, she was tough on the inside but secretly soft in the inside.

I guess this was a positive change.

"Seriously, this hurts so bad." Sardonna complained, glancing at the blooming bruise on her ankle.

"I guess you learnt your lesson." Emilia smiled, "But think on the bright side, Lord Luke's probably in the first-aid room so you'll see him soon."

"LUKE!" Sardonna cheerily exclaimed.

"Ugh…" I scoffed, "Don't talk about my brother like that while I'm in the same wrong. It's disgusting imagining him like that."

"I can't help it!" Sardonna giggled madly.

We finally reached the first-aid room and opened the room.

"LUKIE!" Sardonna squealed, "How have you been?!"

"How did you faint?" I asked calmly, closing the door.

"I don't know why." Luke genuinely looked confused, "I've practised magic many times in the Boys Academy with no problem, but this time, it felt like someone was stabbing me."

"Maybe you used the spell incorrectly?" I tilted my head, "We should ask Easton later."

"I think we should leave now…" Emilia smiled sheepishly, tugging on Sardonna's sleeve, "Lord Luke needs his rest, let him have a break."

"…Alright." Sardonna replied sadly after a long silence.

She had already finished tending to her wounds, so we headed back outside towards the hallway, I gave one backward glance at Luke. I doubted he made a mistake in his spell, there had to be another reason.

But I was going to find out later.

I quickened my pace to keep up with Sardonna and Emilia.

"How did you two meet?" I smiled politely, trying to break the uncomfortable silence.

Sardonna chuckled while shaking her head, "It's a long story."