Being Novatio

As Florence walked behind Allen, she found herself unable to tear her gaze away from him; seeing the stark contrast between the Allen she knew and the one before her now was jarring yet strangely captivating. With each step he took, she couldn't help but admire him.

He has all the things he wants to achieve. Not wealth, but the power to protect and the sense of caring for others. As Florence continued her tenure at the academy, a growing bitterness clouded her perspective, eclipsing her initial admiration for Allen, and she became more concerned about herself just to survive.

"Can I ask why you've been trailing me all day?" Allen's inquiry shattered Florence's reverie.

Taken aback, Florence stuttered a response, "Oh, um, I just happened to spot you in the corridor and was curious about your activities."

Allen countered, "Haven't you heard about me from the others? I'm rather renowned around the academy."