But it felt longer. Alden had returned to his previous self.
He decided to move on from the incident at Lustra.
If it was him from before, it would have taken at least a few days for him to accept it.
The academy was quiet in the meantime.
The announcement had been made early in the morning.
Astralis Academy would be closed for two weeks.
The official reason: "an internal investigation about the attack at ancient ruins".
In reality, they were just trying to find scapegoats to avoid public mistrust and protest.
It was all politics at play.
Important people didn't actually care about the lives of weak students.
They were more interested in Jeremy.
It was the perfect time for the great families to try and pressure Jeremy.
Not that it's going to happen.
Jeremy wasn't an Overlord for no reason.
Even the emperor had to think twice before speaking ill about him.
Honestly, Alden couldn't be bothered to care about any of that.
There was a whole chapter in the novel mentioning the politics at play after this incident.
Which Alden had just skipped.
He just sat in his dorm, silent.
He hadn't spoken to anyone.
It still lingered in his mind—the way she shook, the way her voice cracked.
It didn't feel like an act. Not politics. Not a royal performance.
He had never seen someone care like that for him after Ellara and Alice.
He didn't quite understand it, but all signs pointed to one thing— Amyra had a crush on him.
He hadn't known her for long, and to be honest, to him, her feelings felt more like a passing fancy.
Superficial, like a young girl's first love.
Maybe it was nothing more than that — a fleeting crush born from admiration or perhaps loneliness.
He didn't feel the same.
To him, she was just a friend, at best.
That was why he hadn't asked her why she hugged him.
He didn't want things to turn awkward.
Moreover, Amyra was pitiful.
Her backstory was never mentioned in the novel, but after transmigrating into this world and feeling everything firsthand, Alden understood.
Even he — an illegitimate son of the Draven family — suffered from family politics and cold expectations.
So he could imagine how much harder it must have been for her.
A perfect heir, weighed down by pressure and loneliness.
He felt pity for her.
He didn't want to hurt her. That was the reason he didn't tell her he didn't feel the same.
He just let her be for now.
He was pretty sure her feelings would fade with time—like most things that don't last.
He sighed and picked up his ManaSync.
The moment he unlocked it, the screen flooded with notifications.
Missed calls. Voicemails. Messages.
Most of them from one name.
[Are you still alive?]
[Seriously, if you're ignoring me, I'm going to teleport into your dorm and beat you.]
[I heard about the city. If you're dead, I'm going to kill you again.]
Alden stared at the screen.
Then he laughed quietly.
That was oddly comforting.
Maybe… he wasn't completely alone.
He replied to him immediately.
[I'm talking from heaven. Delete my search history. RIP]
After he was done sending the message, a new message appeared. From someone unexpected.
[Summons from Principal Jeremy Voidforge]
[Location: Head Office | Time: Now]
"…That's never good."
He felt laziness, but it was manageable.
The chaos had faded. The academy was silent. But the world didn't stop just because he needed a break.
He slipped on his jacket, tightened the cuffs and stepped out of his apartment.
The hallway was quiet.
He entered the elevator and soon arrived in the common lobby of the dorms.
The same wide circular space with velvet couches and elegant lighting greeted him.
It looked to be more welcoming than it really was.
And of course because the world hated him, she was there.
His dear half-sister.
Same red eyes. Same bloodline.
But that was where the similarities ended.
She sat on the edge of a lounge chair like she owned the building. One leg crossed over the other.
A delicate cup of tea in her hand, as if this were some royal garden and not a dead hallway in a dorm.
And for once she didn't have her simp Lucien around.
Her black dress was pristine. Her boots were spotless.
She looked up the moment he entered.
"Well," she said. "If it isn't our little disgrace."
Not even trying to hide it anymore, huh?
Seles had always been an annoying bitch, but she'd never said it so directly before.
She schemed subtly, behind everyone else's back.
He didn't know if it was because he was exiled or because they were the only two people within the lobby. She slightly showed her true personality.
Honestly, Alden welcomed this true personality more than that disgusting 'pretend to care about him' attitude she always showed in front of other's.
Alden didn't stop walking.
He didn't even blink.
But inside, a switch flipped.
Was he going to listen to her trash talk?
If she decided to show her true personality. He might as well show some of his.
"Morning to you too, sister," he said blankly. "Or is it evening? Hard to tell with how full of shit the air gets around you."
Her smile thinned slightly.
She didn't lose composure.
"I heard about your expulsion from the family," she said with a smile but it didn't reach her eyes.
Alden met her gaze. His red eyes were anything but empty.
"Oh no," he muttered, his tone as sarcastic as it went. "That truly makes my heart bleed with sorrow."
Seles's fingers tightened slightly around her cup.
"I'm glad you understand," she said coldly.
"Of course," Alden said.
For a moment, nothing moved.
Alden stepped around her, his expression returning to neutral.
"Anyway, it's been lovely catching up. But unlike you, I actually have places to be."
He walked off without waiting for a reply.
And for once, she had nothing to say.
The doors closed behind him.
And Alden didn't look back.
He didn't need proof to know she'd played a role in his exile. The smile on her face told him everything.
Seles watched Alden's retreating back. Her expression twisted.
She noticed it—the shift in his demeanour.
The way he carried himself, like he wasn't afraid anymore.
Like exile meant nothing to him.
Why was he still so arrogant?
He didn't even have the backing of the family anymore. No protection. No name.
And yet... he looked almost happy when she brought it up.
She couldn't understand it. That wasn't the Alden she remembered.
And she still hadn't forgiven him for that black market incident.
She was sure the scammer who tricked her was him.
She clenched her fists tighter.
I need to take care of him soon.
She didn't just want to humiliate him anymore.
But that wasn't her only problem.
That dumb, stubborn fool.
He'd started resisting her orders lately. A little at first. Then more.
As if he'd grown some wisdom overnight.
Too many variables. Too many problems.
But she wasn't going to lose.
Hey everyone, just being real for a sec—your support means a lot. Comments, gifts, golden tickets... they're not just numbers. They genuinely keep me going. It's hard to stay motivated when it feels like I'm writing into a void. So if you're enjoying the story, even a small comment makes a big difference :)