Chapter 34: Confession

The day of the convocation arrived, and with it, a mixture of anticipation and dread for Alicarde. Wanting to avoid standing out too much, he chose a simple yet cool outfit—a crisp white button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves, dark blue slim-fit jeans that highlighted his figure, and a black leather jacket for an edgy touch.

He completed the look with sleek black boots and a silver brand-name watch he found in his room-sized closet, secretly hoping the stones stud weren't actual diamonds. Sadly, they were. His hair was slightly tousled, and he slung his guitar case over his shoulder, though it ominously contained his sword instead.

The campus was bustling with activity, filled with decorations, food stalls, and the buzz of students preparing for the big day. Alicarde made his way to Malefica's office, the weight of his assignment in his hands growing heavier with each step.

'That damn evil witch,' he thought, still sore from the grueling work she had demanded. With help from Anne and Elizalina, he had managed to finish it, but he still feared it wouldn't meet her sky-high standards.

Reaching Malefica's door, he took a deep breath and knocked.

"Enter," her cold, imperious voice called from within.

He stepped inside to find her seated behind her desk, her sharp eyes locking onto him immediately. She gestured for him to sit, and he handed over the assignment, his hands trembling slightly.

"Good morning, Professor," he greeted, trying to keep his voice steady.

Malefica began flipping through the document, her expression unreadable. After what felt like an eternity, she looked up. "Mr. Asad," she began, her tone icy.

"Please, you can call me Alicarde. It's no problem at all," he replied nervously.

She nodded with indifference.

'Geez, it's not like you haven't been calling me Alicarde already, you witch. Calling me Mr. Asad now could give me a heart attack,' he thought, his indignation kept safely hidden.

After a few more minutes of perusing his work, she finally spoke.

"Your written work is adequate. However, you must also present your findings. Be in my office at 8 PM sharp."

Alicarde's heart sank. Public speaking was his worst nightmare, and presenting in front of Malefica made it even worse. But he had no choice. The worst part? 8 PM was when the real fun would start, and he'd be stuck here instead.

'She really is a witch, a heartless one at that,' he felt utterly wronged.

"Yes, Professor. I'll be there," he agreed, trying to mask his dread.

She set the paper aside but didn't dismiss him. Instead, she looked at him, her gaze piercing.

"As of today, there have been three hundred and fifty-two cases of missing people in this city. What are your thoughts on this, Mr. Asad... or rather, Alicarde?"

His expression stiffened. He didn't understand where she was going with this.

"I still stand by my beliefs. This is a problem best left to the police," Alicarde replied, eager to escape her office.

She tapped her finger on her desk, her strict expression unchanged. "Tell me, if you had the power to prevent a tragedy unrelated to you, would you do it? This is purely hypothetical, of course."

Alicarde was exhausted from her mind games. He'd had enough of her already.

"If I had the power... sure, I would. But since this is purely hypothetical, I don't have any such power," he answered, trying to keep his cool.

Malefica smiled—a rare sight, and it unnerved him.

"So, you're saying that if you had the power to help prevent a tragedy, you would do it, no questions asked?" she asked, her smile strangely beautiful.

Her words felt like a trap, but he answered anyway. "Yes, I would. If I can prevent a tragedy with my limited abilities, I would."

"Very well, then. You may leave... but remember, I'm not done with you yet. My office, 8 PM, don't be late," she dismissed him.

He cursed her in his mind, 'Witch, demon, spawn of hell... why do you torture me so?' But he kept his curses silent, knowing better than to let them slip.

As he left her office, he texted Anne, knowing she'd kill him if he was late. After finding her, they made their way to the most crowded parts of the campus.

A large stage had been set up, with lights, banners, and everything in between. The campus was packed, with some family members even joining in the celebration. His parents had offered to fly in for the occasion, but he had shut that down quickly.

Carissa had also offered to come, but he told her to stay away. She was too much trouble. She had pouted, almost making him feel guilty, but his resolve to keep her out of his normal life was stronger.

The campus was alive with excitement. The stage was adorned with the university's emblem, and a sea of students, faculty, and proud family members filled the area. The administration had really gone all out for this event, even inviting some celebrities to perform.

As the boring formalities finally ended, the real party began. The sun was setting, and the energy of the event grew. He and Anne tried every food stall they could find, played games, and returned to the now even more bustling stage area.

The crowd was lively, and a popular music group took to the stage, their performance electrifying everyone.

Then, to his surprise, Elizalina stepped onto the stage. Her silver hair caught the lights, and the crowd hushed, curious. Her eyes scanned the crowd, landing on him. She was clearly nervous, her face flushed, and her legs trembling.

"Alicarde!" she called out, her voice booming through the speakers. "I... I... I'm in love with you. Please go out with me. I've been head over heels for you since we first met," her voice shook, and her eyes glistened with tears.

Alicarde's eyes widened not expecting this sudden revelation.

The crowd immediately turned to him, everyone around him scattering, leaving him feeling isolated and exposed. Only Anne remained by his side. The murmurs grew louder, and the guys in the crowd didn't seem happy for him at all.

"Is she serious?" someone muttered.

"That lucky bastard," another voice grumbled.

"She's the campus belle, why him?" a third voice questioned.

"I hate him" another expressed.

Rich bastard, getting all the hot girls" some else chimed.

"I love you Alicarde" Elizalina screamed into the mic with her alluring voice, her words silenced everyone.

The silence that followed her confession was brief but intense. The crowd soon erupted into cheers and applause. "Say yes! Say yes!" they chanted, their voices blending into a thunderous roar. Alicarde felt the pressure. If he said no, Elizalina would be socially ruined. But if he said yes... did he really want to date the campus belle?

He didn't have much time to think. The crowd's cheers grew louder, and he felt trapped. Anne stood beside him, glaring coldly at Elizalina.

With no other choice, he nodded through the noise. Someone handed him a mic, and he felt all eyes on him. Taking a deep breath, he spoke into the mic.

"Ehmm, Elly... I'm glad you feel that way about me... I errrh feel the same way too," he lied, trying not to sound as panicked as he felt.

Anne's eyes narrowed, and she walked away, leaving him to deal with the chaos. On stage, Elizalina's face lit up with a breathtaking smile, stunning everyone as she leapt off the stage and into his arms. The crowd cheered, but Alicarde was already looking for a way out.

A few minutes passed after he noticed that attention was no longer on them.

He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Elly, I need to go. Malefica wants me to make a presentation on my paper."

She nodded, releasing his hand, and he slipped away to find Anne. He knew she didn't like Elizalina, and he needed to explain things.

Meanwhile, Anne had walked to a more secluded part of the campus, needing to be alone. She was frustrated, feeling betrayed. She had never trusted Elizalina, always on guard around her. Now, seeing her friend unable to say no, and worse, actually saying yes, hurt her more than she expected.

The quiet area was covered by a few trees, giving it an eerie silence. As she stood there, she heard a growl behind her. Turning around, she froze, her eyes widening in terror at the grotesque creature before her. She couldn't breathe, her body paralyzed by fear.

Her heart raced as the creature reached out with long, sickle-like claws and grabbed her. Before she passed out, she faintly heard Alicarde's voice, yelling her name. She couldn't turn to him, though, and as the creature pulled her away, she saw a blurry image of her friend running towards her. The wind rushed past her as the creature carried her off to an unknown destination, and then everything went black.