As soon as the bus stopped at the stop near the school, Alvano immediately got off along with a few other passengers. The morning air still felt fresh, even though the sunlight had started to warm the sidewalk. He took a deep breath, adjusting his body to the change in temperature after being inside the air-conditioned bus.
His steps were steady as he walked along the sidewalk toward the school gate. Several other students were also arriving, some on foot and others getting out of private vehicles. As usual, Alvano greeted the school security guard standing at his post.
"Morning, sir," he said politely and flatly as always.
The guard looked at him briefly before replying in a curious tone, "Morning. Hey, you didn't come to school yesterday, did you?"
Alvano nodded while slightly rolling up his sleeve, showing several bruises still visible on his skin.
"Yeah, I was sick yesterday. Maybe I was just too tired," he answered casually.
The guard shuddered as soon as he saw the bruises on Alvano's arm. His eyes widened, probably imagining how painful those wounds must be.
"Good grief! That's pretty bad! Are you sure you don't need to see a doctor?"
Alvano just gave a faint smile and shook his head. "It's fine, sir. I'm okay."
Without waiting for any further response, he immediately walked away from the guard post.
Upon entering the school grounds, the atmosphere was still fairly quiet. The clock showed 6:30 AM, and most students hadn't arrived yet. A few who had were chatting in the garden or sitting on benches scattered along the corridor.
However, as far as his eyes could see, Alvano didn't spot any sign of Theo.
Of course, he had arrived earlier than usual. Theo was probably still sleeping soundly at home after yesterday's incident.
Without thinking much about it, Alvano headed toward the first-year classroom building corridor. His steps were quick and light, free of any burden in his mind. He planned to head straight to his classroom using the elevator at the end of the hall.
When he reached the elevator, he pressed the button and waited. It didn't take long before the elevator doors opened with their familiar sound. Alvano stepped into the empty cabin and pressed the button for the third floor, where his classroom was.
The doors began to close slowly, but suddenly someone slipped their hand between them, stopping the doors from shutting completely.
Alvano was startled and immediately turned his head.
The person who entered wasn't just anyone. It was Arwen.
The girl he had just met yesterday stepped in gracefully, wearing her neatly pressed school uniform. Her long hair flowed perfectly, giving her an effortlessly elegant look.
As soon as the elevator doors closed again, Arwen turned to Alvano and smiled.
"Good morning," she greeted softly.
Alvano was still a bit awkward, but he responded politely nonetheless. "Morning."
Arwen glanced at him, seeming to observe his face closely.
"Did you sleep well?" she asked casually.
Alvano was slightly taken aback by the question. He hadn't expected Arwen to ask something like that. But after a few seconds, the awkwardness slowly faded.
"Pretty well," he replied, glancing at the floor indicator screen that continued to rise. "You?"
Arwen nodded slightly. "Quite well. But I woke up earlier than usual."
The light conversation felt strange to Alvano. They had just met yesterday, yet this girl already acted as if they were longtime friends.
Oddly enough, he didn't feel bothered by it.
There was something about Arwen that felt different.
The elevator kept moving upward, carrying them to the floor where their classroom was. The atmosphere inside was quiet, with only the soft hum of the machinery audible.
And within that silence, without realizing it… Alvano began to grow curious about Arwen.
The silence in the elevator deepened as the numbers on the floor indicator continued to climb. Alvano felt something nagging at him—something that had been sitting in the back of his mind since yesterday.
Ever since his first meeting with Arwen, he had felt something unusual. The girl had appeared out of nowhere at the perfect time, helping them without hesitation, as if she had known them long before they were formally introduced.
Alvano was about to voice his thoughts, to ask directly about his unease. But just before he could open his mouth, Arwen suddenly giggled softly.
"Hehe~"
Alvano was startled. His eyes immediately fixed on Arwen, who was now wearing a mysterious smile.
"Is there something about me that's been bothering you?" she asked casually, as if she could read his mind.
Alvano tensed slightly. How could she know I was about to ask that?
His eyes narrowed, and with a slightly serious tone, he finally asked, "What exactly are you?"
Arwen tilted her head slightly, displaying a deliberately confused expression. "What do you mean?"
Alvano wasn't fooled by the feigned innocence. He narrowed his question.
"Why did you want to help me and Theo? We didn't even know each other before."
For a moment, Arwen didn't answer. She only smiled, as if weighing something in her mind. Then, in a light tone, she said,
"Because I simply wanted to help."
The answer sounded simple, but to Alvano, it wasn't enough.
He didn't believe someone would help others without a clear reason, especially in a situation like yesterday.
"That's it?" he asked indifferently.
Arwen kept smiling, but her eyes hinted at something difficult to read.
Alvano finally dared to press further. "Why did you approach me and Theo?"
Just as Arwen was about to answer, the elevator chimed softly, signaling that they had reached the third floor.
The doors opened wide, revealing several students from other classes waiting to go down. The outside atmosphere was livelier than when Alvano had first arrived at school.
Arwen stepped out first, then turned back and smiled.
"See you," she said briefly.
Without another word of explanation, she walked away, leaving Alvano with his questions still hanging in the air.
Alvano stood motionless in the elevator for a few seconds before finally stepping out.
Arwen was truly mysterious.
He walked leisurely down the corridor toward his classroom, his mind still preoccupied with Arwen. That girl was far too mysterious. Her demeanor, her way of speaking, and the way she always appeared at just the right moment made it hard for Alvano to ignore her.
Why is she so interested in me and Theo?
Without realizing it, he kept walking while lost in thought until—
Thud!
His body bumped into someone.
Alvano staggered slightly, while the person he had bumped into stood firm in place.
"Ah, sorry," Alvano said instinctively.
But as he lifted his gaze to see who he had bumped into, he felt something strange.
The person was staring at him with an expression hard to describe—somewhere between interest and calculation.
A sharp gaze that seemed to be analyzing something about him.
Then, in a flat yet subtly pressuring tone, the person asked,
"You're Alvano Darwinsons?"
Alvano narrowed his eyes. He didn't recognize this student, but somehow, something in his voice made him wary.
"Yeah, why?" he asked, trying to stay calm.
The student stepped a bit closer, looking straight at Alvano's face with an unreadable expression before finally extending his hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm William Aubert."
The moment that name left his lips, Alvano's body stiffened.
Aubert?