Falling Out

Dustan was silent—understandably so.

He had just been asked a rather peculiar question; one he hadn't thought he would ever be asked by the likes of Ashfelt Zephyr.

"Do you still want to get into Alpha Class?"

The answer to that was pretty obvious: Yes.

However, Dustan couldn't help but feel like he was being trapped at the moment. Depending on his answer, Ashfelt could interact with him differently.

'Despite being friendly with me, he is still a Noble. If I say I'm interested in Alpha Class, he might want to get in my way… especially since he probably befriended me to have connections in Beta Class…'

These were Dustan's thoughts, but before he could open his lips to say anything that could count as a response, Ash's voice echoed into his ears.

"To be honest, I need your help for something… and it's something that will benefit the both of us."

"Really?" Dustan asked. "What's that?"

In his mind, he already had an idea of what Ashfelt would ask of him: something along the lines of keeping control—or maybe even watch—over Beta Class through him.

Either way, he was already expecting—

"I want to kill someone… and I need your assistance."

"E-eh?"

At this point, Dustan was shocked.

Who wouldn't be?

Ashfelt Zephyr, a Noble and student of Alpha Class, barely an adult, wanted to kill someone and needed the help of a Beta Class Student like him…

The whole thing was a surprising mess.

However, the situation was still salvageable.

"You… want me to do your dirty work for you?" At this point, Dustan rose to his feet, smashing both hands on the table as he glared at Ash.

"Yes."

"Classic Alpha Class Student move! You think we Beta Class Students are nothing but pawns for you, right? Just because we are being oppressed as commoners, and this White Death Incident has made us susceptible to even more prejudice, you think you can use us as pawns? You think you can use me as a pawn to keep an eye on everyone and also drag me into your mess? No way!"

Surely, Ashfelt should have known the kind of thing he was asking Dustan to do.

The consequence could be mitigated for a Noble like Ashfelt, but if a Beta Class Commoner was ever caught in the act of murder, it meant certain death for them.

Britta was a good example of that fact.

"Go do your dirty work yourself… I'm out!" As soon as Dustan said this, he left the table and walked out the door.

Ash was calm as he witnessed all of this happen.

Then, he smiled.

'Is this arrogance or foolishness? Speaking so boldly against a Noble of my calibre, in public for that matter…' His smile grew even more intense. 'No, this is something else.'

Not long after, Ash was served his hot coffee brew, and he drank it with a glint of amusement in his eyes as his lips curled up in excitement.

"What an interesting guy…'

******

The next couple of days were uneventful, to say the least.

The unrest between Beta and Alpha Class only seemed to worsen, and the Joint Training remained suspended. Lectures were kept at the normal pace, and the students advanced in their curriculum as they ought to.

Life in the Academy was normally like this—boring school life, learning the theoretical and practical facets of being a Mage.

After all, it is only with understanding that manifesting can occur.

And so… as naturally as the sun rises and falls, so also did the chaos of the White Death experience a decline in relevance.

Eventually, hardly anyone spoke about it.

Not Alpha… and not Beta.

"Sigh…" Dustan left the library and proceeded to his dormitory.

He was exhausted from another day of lectures and studying. At this point, he wanted nothing more than to lay down on his bed and let the sweet warmth of sleep take him into dreamland.

If only he didn't have to wake up so early for classes the next day, his joy would have been even greater.

Still… he couldn't complain about this.

He chose this path.

"Haa… finally." He whispered as he opened his door and entered his Beta Dorm room.

He didn't know what the Alpha Class rooms looked like, so he had nothing to compare his considerably average abode to.

Still, it was a decent facility.

As a result, he had no complaints.

Besides, he was too occupied by exhaustion to think of anything else at this point. All he wanted to do was close his eyes and rest.

Perhaps that was why he didn't notice the silhouette that crept up from behind him.

"Dustan…"

"Eeeeek!" Instantly jumping due to the shock, he practically fell over backwards, his face depicting a mix of fright and then anger.

The reason behind his fright was the suddeness of the sound, followed by the presence that was next to him. As for his rage, it appeared because he instantly recognized the voice.

It was so familiar that he couldn't forget it even if he wanted to.

And now… the owner of the voice maferialized in front of him, a smile on his face as he stretched out his hand to help him get up.

"Sorry about that. I didn't mean—"

"What are you doing here, Ashfelt? Breaking into another student's room is an offence punishable by—!"

"I know, I know all about that… so save it." He retracted his hand and walked past Dustan, who was still on the ground.

His eyes burned with anger, also confusion.

Why was Ashfelt here? How did he get into his room? Did he follow him from the Library, or did he break in on his own?

The answer eluded him.

"Come… sit." Ash sat on the chair right beside his bed and patted the plump mattress with his right hand.

"You must be tired. I under—"

"What are you doing in my room, Ashfelt? You still haven't answered my questio—!" Before Dustan could complete his statement, a sudden pressure enveloped the room.

It caused all the hair on his skin to stand instantly.

"That's Master Ashfelt Zephyr to you…" Ash began, his cold gaze resting on the trembling Dustan.

"You already said we're no longer friends, so I don't think it's such a good idea for you to address me so casually."

"Tch…"

Dustan knew fully well the rules, but wasn't Ashfelt being a hypocrite? He had broken into another student's dorm, yet here he was correcting Dustan regarding another regulation.

'Still… I can't call him out on that or do anything, not right now.'

After all, not only was Ashfelt a member of the Four Great Noble Households, he was also an Alpha Student.

It was obvuous who would get into the most trouble if they broke the rules.

"I-I apologize, Master Ash—"

"Pfft! I was just teasing you, Dustan." Ash grinned. "Who would have thought you'd bend over so quickly? Where's that fire you had when you flared up in the cafe?"

"That was an ignorant mistake, Master Ashfelt. Please forgive my transgressions and show me mercy this one time."

Dustan bowed his hesd as he made this apology.

He didn't mean it, of course.

However, this was how this society worked. All he could do was hope Ash wasn't going to be petty about things and escalate the matter.

If he did… Then Dustan would have no choice but to—

"Doesn't it get hard sometimes?"

All of a sudden, Ashfelt's voice echoed in the room.

It was soft and thoughtful.

Almost like a gentle whisper of the wind.

'H-huh?' Dustan raised his head as soon as he heard this, staring straight into Ashfelt's eyes

"Be honest with me… doesn't it get hard? The pretense…"

"A-ah! I am truly sorry, Master Ashfelt! That isn't a pretense! It was my mistake, and it won't happen again. I am but an ignorant Beta Peasant, one who holds on candle to you and your Noble Family. Please just—"

"I'm not talking about a Beta Class Student, or being a Commoner, or even this fake applogy you're rendering to me now…" Ashfelt's lips slowly curled up until it formed a cruel smile.

"I'm talking about pretending to be from this world, Dustan… or should I call you by your real name?"

As he heard this, Dustan's eyes widened—nearly turning bloodshot—and Ash patted the bed beside him once more.

"Have your seat, Jack… we have much to discuss."

*

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[A/N]

Apologies for not uploading for some days now. I've been occupied with a lot of things, and I hope to be consistent from this point on.

This book recently got contracted, so please support with your Golden Tickets, Power Stones, and Gifts.

A castle would be good too… hehe!

Thanks a lot! That would really help motivate me a lot.