It was finally time for Alex to return to the academy. His so-called "vacation" had already stretched longer than intended, and now, he had no choice but to head back.
As he stood before the towering academy gates, a familiar sense of routine washed over him.
After a quick check-in at the entrance, he made his way toward his old dormitory—a run-down building meant for lower-ranked students. A stark contrast to the luxurious chamber he had grown accustomed to at Alicia's estate.
Since his promotion to the Advanced Class, he was supposed to be assigned a new, more comfortable dorm room. However, because he had returned later than expected, the reassignment process had already passed, leaving him stuck in his old space for the time being.
The moment he stepped inside, the room's cramped and spartan nature became painfully apparent. The bed creaked under the weight of his bag as he set it down. He took a slow look around—peeling wallpaper, a rickety desk, dim lighting.
It was leagues below what he had grown used to.
Letting out a sigh, he muttered, "Back to the slums, huh?"
"You should've just let Alicia buy you a mansion here." Aurora teased, materializing beside him in a faint shimmer of light.
Alex grumbled. "Besides, it's not like I'll be in this room for long."
Aurora chuckled, floating lazily around the room.
Ignoring her, Alex turned his attention to the list of things he needed to do before the day ended.
Since it was still the weekend, classes wouldn't resume until tomorrow, which meant he had some breathing room to handle the formalities.
First, he needed to notify the administration of his return. Then, he had to collect his new uniform. After that, he had to meet his new class teacher and settle into the Advanced Class.
One by one, he went through the motions— Reported his arrival. Endured a brief lecture from an annoyed administrator about "proper return protocols". Picked up his fresh uniform. A sharp upgrade from his previous one, more refined, more prestigious. Met his new class teacher. The man simply gave him a curt nod and reminded him to "not slack off."
By the time everything was done, the sun had started to set, casting long shadows across the academy grounds.
Alex let out a long sigh of relief. "Finally, some free time."
"So, what now?" Aurora asked, tilting her head.
Alex ran a hand through his hair. "I should go see Sherry. It's been a while."
Aurora smirked. "Aww, checking up on your little bookworm? How sweet."
He ignored the teasing as he made his way toward the research wing of the academy.
Given the late hour, there was a chance Sherry might not be in her lab, but knowing her, she was probably buried in research, completely losing track of time.
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As Alex raised his hand to knock, he hesitated. It had been a while since he last saw Sherry, and he knew she must have been worried.
With a quiet exhale, he finally knocked on the door.
A few seconds passed. Then a minute.
Just as he was about to knock again, the door creaked open slightly. Pink eyes blinked up at him in surprise. Sherry stood there, unmoving, her expression unreadable.
For a brief moment, she just stared, as if making sure he was real.
"Alex…?" she muttered hesitantly.
"Yeah, it's me." He gave her a small, apologetic smile. "I'm back."
Sherry's lips parted slightly, but she didn't reply. Instead, she stepped aside in silent invitation.
Alex walked in, taking in the familiar workspace—piles of books and scattered notes covering the desk, pages filled with research theories, and some random unknown artifacts.
As the door clicked shut behind them, an awkward silence settled in.
Sherry fidgeted, her fingers curling around the edges of her sleeves. Alex knew he had to address the issue head-on.
"I'm sorry, Sherry." His voice was quiet but firm. "Our plan to find clues about your parents… it got completely derailed because of everything that happened that day."
Her hands clenched slightly, but she didn't look angry. Just… conflicted.
"I know," she murmured. "It wasn't your fault. That whole day…"
Her words trailed off, and Alex could tell she was recalling the disaster that unfolded.
That day had been utter chaos. If not for Alicia stepping in, along with the reinforcements that followed, the city might have suffered an even greater catastrophe.
The damage had been immense. Lives were lost. In the aftermath, the truth that emerged shook the city to its core.
The City Lord—had been embezzling mana stones that powered the city's protective barrier. To cover up the loss, he had secretly shrunk the barrier's diameter, ensuring it only covered the wealthiest district while leaving the rest of the city vulnerable.
Worse still, several high-ranking officials had been complicit in the scheme.
It was a scandal that rocked the entire region. The City Lord was arrested, and his co-conspirators were being hunted down one by one.
But in the midst of all that, Alex had no time to stay. Alicia had whisked him away almost immediately, and only now had he been able to return.
"I should have at least reached out somehow," Alex said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But things spiraled too fast, and now, with the academy starting up again… I know it'll delay our plan even further."
Sherry lowered her gaze, her fingers lightly gripping the hem of her sleeve.
For a long moment, she didn't speak.
Then, finally—
"I was worried," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "... about you."
Alex blinked. "Me?"
"You disappeared without a word. I thought…" She hesitated, then shook her head. "Never mind. You're back now."
There was a softness in her tone—a quiet relief hidden beneath her usual reserved demeanor.
Alex smiled. "Yeah. And I promise, we'll get back to it. No matter how long it takes."
Sherry finally looked up, and for the first time since he arrived, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips.
"Okay," she said simply.
And for now, that was enough.
As they settled into the quiet of Sherry's lab, Alex took a deep breath. She deserved a proper explanation.
So, he told her everything. The chaos of that day. The sudden attack, the rift tearing open, and the giant monster that nearly killed him. How Alicia saved him. And finally—how she had decided to take him as her disciple.
Sherry listened intently, her expression shifting between concern and quiet curiosity.
"As long as you're okay." she murmured. "That's what matters."
A silence settled between them—not uncomfortable, but heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Alex could tell there was something else on her mind. Something more important than his own experiences.
He hesitated. Then—
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "For not being able to help you find your parents yet."
Sherry shook her head quickly. "You don't need to apologize." she said firmly. "This is… something you don't need to think much about. It's my problem. I don't want you to feel pressured by it. Besides, it's not like you owe me anything."
She meant it—at least on the surface. But Alex could see it. That faint shadow of longing in her eyes.
She still missed them. She was still searching. And despite every lead turning into a dead end, she hadn't given up.
Alex wished he could say something more. Something that would make a real difference. But for now, all he could do was be here.
"Well," he said, offering a small smile, "if there's anything I can do, just let me know."
Sherry's lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something. But instead—she simply nodded.
They continued talking, their conversation shifting to lighter topics—the academy, their upcoming classes, and small everyday things.
Slowly, the tension eased.
Alex could still sense the weight in Sherry's heart. But he also knew that talking had helped, even if just a little.
Eventually, as the evening grew late, they both knew it was time to return to their rooms.
"Get some rest," Alex said as he stood up. "We'll figure things out—one step at a time."
Sherry glanced at him one last time before responding. "Yeah… goodnight, Alex."
"Goodnight."
And with that, he stepped out into the quiet night, leaving behind the dim glow of her lab.