The morning sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon as Thalia, Gallus, Selena, Lead, and Nickolas, along with a disoriented Alithea, made their way from the dean’s office to the dorms. The events of the previous night had taken a toll on them, but there was a sense of accomplishment among the group.
Alithea, still looking a bit lost, was walking between Nickolas and Thalia. Her platinum blonde hair shimmered in the early morning light, as she basked in the sights of the all-too-familiar campus.
As they walked, the group was mostly silent, each lost in their own thoughts. The usually vibrant Selena seemed thoughtful, her eyes reflecting the morning light. Gallus, noticing her silence, gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. She smiled back at him, a soft blush coloring her cheeks.
Lead, who had been unusually quiet, finally broke the silence. “We did good, guys,” he said, a hint of pride in his voice. “We faced an elemental mystery and came out on top. And were able to explain everything to Dean Vanadium…”
Nickolas nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Yeah, we did. But this is just the beginning. The elemental mystery is far from solved, and we have a long journey ahead of us.”
“Yeah. I just hope I don’t get you guys in trouble…” Alithea said, a hint of guilt in her voice.
“Physically, there’s a chance your powers could go berserk. But luckily, Dean Vanadium knows about you now. So you’ll be okay.” Gallus reassured her. “Besides, they’ve survived my radioactivity for about half a year now.”
“Radon’s harder to control though,” Alithea explained. “Even if I sneezed right now, I may be releasing some radon. What’s your radioactive element again? Polonium? I forgot, sorry…”
Gallus shook his head. “Oh, it’s fine. It’s francium, by the way. Thankfully, I could stabilize it using some specific pills.”
“Wow, they invented pills to do that? That’s amazing. In comparison, tech was terrible 25 years ago!” she gasped. “Dude, I desperately need some of these pills.”
As the group continued their walk, Alithea’s curiosity about the modern world was evident. She was fascinated by the advancements in technology, especially the pills that Gallus mentioned.
“Sure, we can help you get those pills,” Nickolas offered, his voice filled with empathy. “We’ll need to consult with Dr. Aurelius and probably your parents too. They’d be overjoyed to see you again.”
Alithea nodded, her eyes filled with hope. “That sounds like a plan. I can’t wait to meet my parents after all these years.”
Meanwhile, Selena and Gallus were walking hand in hand, their bond stronger than ever. They exchanged glances, their eyes speaking volumes about their shared experiences and the challenges they had overcome together.
Lead, on the other hand, was lost in thought. He was grappling with his newfound feelings for Aurelia, unsure of how to navigate this unfamiliar territory. He decided to confide in Thalia, hoping she could provide some guidance. He wished he could turn back time to the good old days, before he fell for her. Besides, crushing on her, combined with the fact that they never had a chance, was stressing him out.
“Thalia,” he started, nervousness creeping in with every second. “What would you do if you liked someone, but said crush likes someone else?”
Thalia turned to look at Lead, her eyes filled with understanding. “Lead,” she began, her voice gentle, “it’s never easy when the person you like has feelings for someone else. Besides, it over-complicates things anyway. Just ask Aurelia about it. She’d go on about how overly complex the whole relationship thing is, ranting as if she's 70.”
Lead tried to force a chuckle. “What if I told you it is Aurelia?” he asked, voice soft.
Thalia let out a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, Lead, that’s quite a plot twist!” she said, her tone teasing. “But seriously, it’s okay. Feelings can be complicated, and it’s normal to feel confused. I can’t make heads or tails of emotions any better than you can, but yeah… this is all I know. Sorry I couldn’t be of much help,”
Lead nodded, managing a small smile. “No, that was pretty helpful, Thalia. I’ll keep that in mind.”
As they reached the dorms, the sun was now fully up, casting a warm glow over the campus.
“Alright, guys,” Nickolas said, stretching his arms out. “Let’s get some rest. We’ve got a big day of relaxing ahead.”
As they entered the dorms, the group split up, each heading to their respective rooms. Alithea, still looking a bit overwhelmed, was escorted by Selena to her room, to stay there until Aurelia returned.
“Get some rest, Alithea,” she advised, giving her a comforting smile. “We’ll get you some stuff later in the afternoon.”
Meanwhile, Lead found himself in his room, his mind still racing with thoughts of Aurelia. He couldn’t help but replay their past interactions, trying to decipher if there was any hint of reciprocation. He sighed, realizing that overthinking wouldn’t change anything. He decided to take Thalia’s advice and leave it be.
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After a few hours of rest, the group reconvened and decided to head to the mall. Alithea was particularly excited, eager to explore the modern world. They spent the afternoon shopping for essentials for Alithea, and also indulging in some leisure shopping for themselves.
As they were exiting the mall, laden with shopping bags and a sense of contentment, they spotted a familiar figure walking around, as surprised to see them as they were.
“Aurelia?” Selena called out. Aurelia turned around, and after a quick word with her mother, went toward the group.
“Hey,” Aurelia greeted, her eyes scanning the group and landing on Alithea. “You guys replaced me already?”
“No, this is Alithea Radon,” Lead answered, “yes, that Alithea.”
“Oh, wow… explain it to me later. Wait… didn’t you pass away 25 years ago?” she asked.
“There’s a lot you have to catch up on, Goldie… but for now enjoy your vacation.” Nickolas replied, a small smile on his face. “Also… I don’t think she’d like to remember what happened 25 years back.”
“Right… sorry Alithea,” she answered.
Alithea smiled at her, “It’s okay, Aurelia. These guys have been really helpful. You can catch up later.”
Aurelia nodded, her gaze shifting to Lead. There was a moment of awkward silence before Lead cleared his throat, “Hey, Aurelia. We got some stuff for Alithea. Thought it might help her settle in.”
“That’s thoughtful of you, Lead,” Aurelia replied, a small smile playing on her lips.
As the group dispersed to leave their things in the taxi, Lead found himself alone with Aurelia. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “Aurelia,” he began, his voice barely above a whisper, “there’s something I need to tell you.”
Aurelia turned to look at him, her eyes filled with curiosity. “What is it, Lead?” she asked, her tone gentle.
Lead hesitated for a moment, then decided to speak his truth. “I… I have feelings for you, Aurelia,” he confessed, his heart pounding in his chest. “I know you’re with Nickolas, and I respect that. I just thought you should know.”
Aurelia looked at him, surprise evident in her eyes. But after a moment, she gave him a soft smile. “Lead,” she said, “Wow… I didn’t expect that at all.But you’re right, I am with Nickolas. I hope this doesn’t affect our friendship.”
Lead nodded, feeling a sense of relief. “Yeah, me neither. We cool now?”
“Yup!” Aurelia chirped, a wide grin of happiness on her face. “Absolutely. You have to get moving, and so do I. I’ll see you on Sunday night!”
With that, they parted ways, each heading to their respective cars. Lead couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. He had finally confessed his feelings, and while it didn’t go the way he had hoped, he was glad to have gotten it off his chest.
Meanwhile, Aurelia found herself lost in thought. Lead’s confession had taken her by surprise, and she couldn’t help but replay their conversation in her head. She cared for Lead, but she was with Nickolas. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Now was not the time to dwell on this. She had other things to focus on.
【 Science Teacher Quote:
"Make sure you bring in your record book, pens, pencils, protractors and everything on Monday for the lab class. If you don't, you might as well be going to war without your weapons. What will happen?"
"You'll die," a student said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Exactly. If you don't bring your weapons in on Monday... you'll be outstanding."
(Translation, standing out)
Quote from my Physics teacher】
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