Chapter 24
This is a fictional story by realTensai
Alvis relaxed as he made himself comfy in one chair in his lab, a book in his hand. He had read it halfway through now and already learned much new stuff. The best thing was that it was practical, and Alvis could envision how he would use what he had learned in real-life situations.
Alvis was more than surprised when he saw that the school library had such a book. He had initially intended to watch HoloTube videos on the topic, though because he had found a book, he just had to pick it up.
His actual reason for going to the library was that he wanted to find a book about empaths. Empaths were rare, so rare that Alvis didn't know what their abilities were. He only knew they could feel other people's emotions, but not more. Yet, if he wanted to deal with Lia, he had to know what she was capable of.
To his luck, he found several books about them, a few of which he then added to his reading list. Though right now he wanted to read the book he had in his hand.
As his eyes finished reading another paragraph, he took out his phone and noted this new enlightenment down.
"Dane, did you know that girls will say one thing but want you to do the opposite? For example, they might say leave me alone, but when you leave, they will be mad. Crazy, isn't it?"
"Bro, you good?"
He stood up, wanting to grab something, but then he saw the book Alvis was reading, and his reaction was… well, confused.
"Al…. why are you reading a book called How to Understand Girls?"
"My life depends on it."
——
"I have collected all applications for the clubs," Alvis said, handing Lia a staple of papers.
"Thank you, Alvis," Lia answered, a genuine smile on her face.
Seeing her like that, Alvis couldn't help but smile, too. Somehow, he felt great whenever he could help her. After joining the student council, Alvis realized how much work they had to do. Even Alvis felt overworked, yet he only did a tiny bit of work compared to Lia.
Alvis wondered if she was some kind of cyborg the way she could manage all of her tasks and still get straight A's in every class. Now he understood why people called her perfect.
However, Alvis saw how much effort she put in and that even Lia felt tired sometimes. Yet the way she always gave her best was something Alvis admired. That was why he gave his best too, so that he could support her. It was not just because his level demanded him to save her, but more so it became his own will. He wanted to save her.
"Hey Alvis, let's go eat something after school."
As soon as those words entered Alvis' ears, he froze on the spot. He couldn't answer, while his brain was busy processing the meaning of her words. For a moment, Alvis had thought she wanted to go eat something with him, though Alvis almost slapped himself as this arrogant thought crossed his mind. There had to be another meaning.
Yeah, there is no way. He thought, shaking his head.
"What, you don't want to?"
"W-Wait, are you for real?!"
Alvis didn't want to have hope just for it to be utterly crushed. Yet when he saw Lia's beautiful white face blushing and her averting her gaze, he realized she had been serious.
"Of course, I want to!" He spurted out. "B-But how come I deserve a date with you?"
"It is not a date!" Lia said, her pointy ears glowing red. "I just wanted to reward you for your hard work, you know. I see how much effort you put in and considering you only joined because of me, I thought it would only be fair to give something back."
"I'm not dreaming, am I?"
"If you keep joking like that, I will withdraw my offer!"
"Okay, okay, fine. I will be more than happy to go on a date with you."
"It's not a date!"
——
As the sun began its descent, casting a warm and golden glow across the horizon, the evening sky came alive with a breathtaking display of colors. It wasn't every day that heaven blessed one with such a sight, yet it felt appropriate for this special day to end.
Alvis and Lia had finished their date, even though Lia didn't want to admit it was one, and were strolling down the streets. It couldn't have gone better for Alvis. The date went perfectly. He had used a few tips he had learned from the book and they even worked. Lia opened up to him, progressing their relationship a step further.
Alvis could now proudly announce they were friends.
"It sure must be tough," Lia said, her eyes somewhat trembling.
"What do you mean?"
Her sudden comment had Alvis tilt his head.
"Don't tell me you don't notice it," she said, turning her head left and right. "All these people keep staring at you."
"Oh, so that was what you meant." However, Alvis just waved his hand, chuckling. "Don't mind them. This is just because of my hair. I already got used to it."
"But this isn't okay!" she said, frowning. "This is straight-up harassment. I will tell them to stop."
She turned around, her mouth already opening.
"Stop, stop, it's good. I don't want you to make a big scene."
"But-"
"I'm already happy that you care so much," he said, smiling. "Thank you, Lia."
She seemed reluctant, but in the end, gave in with a sigh.
"I guess you can't just dye your hair or something?"
"If it were that easy, I would have done it already."
He remembered the times he had tried to dye his hair as a child and how it failed every time. It was the mana within him that turned his white hair, so as long as he had it, his hair would stay white.
"Why don't you go bald?"
"Haha, you don't want to see me with a bald head."
She stared at him, grinning.
"Now that I imagine it, I do want to see it."
"Hahaha, stop."
They both laughed.
"It's incredible how good you get along with everybody. Even with someone like me," Alvis said.
"Ha, you give me too much credit. It's not hard with my ability."
"What do you mean by that?"
He said that, though he knew what she meant. Because she was an empath, she could feel how people felt, so it was easy for her to get along with them.
Alvis had to suppress his surface thoughts so she would not notice he already knew the answer.
"Ahh, just forget it. I was just talking some nonsense," Lia said, wondering why she had even mentioned it.
It was obvious she didn't want to reveal her empathetic abilities, so Alvis wouldn't dig into it. Yet he wanted to tease her a bit.
"Ohh, I didn't know the perfect girl Lia could spout some nonsense," Alvis said in an overdramatic manner.
"Ha, me and perfect? I'm the complete opposite of perfect."
Her voice was low, so low Alvis almost didn't hear what she whispered. She looked at the ground, yet Alvis could see her lowered eyebrows and her lips slightly trembling. Her green eyes showcased a multitude of emotions.
"You are right. You aren't perfect. No one is. But so what? You don't have to be perfect. As long as you give your best and strive to become a better person, everything is fine. That is what makes us humans, after all. Well, I guess in your case, elf and vampire."
Alvis just continued walking, but Lia suddenly stopped. When he turned around to face her, he noticed her widened eyes.
"What is wrong?" Alvis asked.
"I just noticed that you are a really kind person," Lia said with an angelic smile.
Alvis' heart raced so fast he felt like her cuteness could kill him.
I have to watch out for those surprise attacks.
——
Alvis lay in his bed, his holo watch in his hand.
22:18
His heart raced as the time of his death approached. Two weeks had passed and the night he always died had come. He had spent the last two weeks getting closer to Lia and gaining her trust. And as far as he could tell, he had done quite well. Now he only had to see if Lia felt the same.
If Lia would come to his room this night trying to kill him, he would have failed. However, if she didn't come, it meant she trusted and liked him enough to choose not to kill him. But this also meant she would have to disobey her orders. Alvis scratched his palm, envisioning her decision.
I believe in her.
After having spent so much time with her, this was the decision his heart settled on. Lia wasn't a cold-blooded killer. She would never kill a friend.
"Yes, this is the Lia I know."
His heart calmed down, and he once again glanced at his holo watch.
22:23
"Wait, it's already 22:23? Doesn't that mean…"
Alvis remembered the time Lia had killed him for the first time. It was 22:21. So her not being there by now could only mean…
"Yes!" Alvis clenched his fist, shouting. "I knew it! Thank god! Yes, I finally made it!"
He jumped out of his bed, adrenaline moving him.
"After all this time, I survived."
He fell back onto his bed, his arms spread out.
"Finally."
A deep sigh escaped his mouth as a tear almost formed in his eye.
Three times. Three times had he died by her hands. But now he finally made it.
"I'm so glad."
Even if he hadn't passed his level yet, he already felt as if he had won. Now that his life was ensured, he could fully focus on saving Lia from the organization.
"I will—"
Suddenly, his vision darkened, his consciousness fading away. However, it was the blue light of his system that he saw last.
[YOU FAILED!]
[TRY AGAIN!]