The sky looked normal; there was nothing unusual on the road. Everything seemed to indicate it would be a day like any other, which made Alex sigh.

“You must abandon that bad habit, dear. Every time you sigh, a piece of your soul escapes,” said his mother, making him look at her puzzled. It was the first time he had heard her say something so mystical.

“What’s wrong, honey? What are you thinking about so much?”

His mother’s awkward laugh finally snapped him out of his reverie, and he decided to share what was on his mind.

“We’re finally close to finishing school. I’ll be able to leave this place behind,” Alex replied.

“What’s wrong with St. Edmund’s College? The campus is beautiful, the professors are top-notch, as are the buildings.”

“There’s nothing wrong with the school itself; it’s just that I don’t fit in.”

Alex’s offhand comment caught his mother’s attention, and he could see the sadness in her face, causing him to look away outside. Although he didn’t like to admit it, it was true that he didn’t fit in there, and his classmates made sure to remind him of it every day.

“Has the misunderstanding with Ethan caused you a lot of trouble, honey?” his mother asked.

Alex looked at his mother, a bit surprised by her choice of words. Everyone knew it wasn’t a misunderstanding, but he decided to go along with it.

“Honestly, no. Although it caused problems with the school board, the principal took care of everything. In the last few months, I’ve had much fewer problems with my classmates.”

Although the real reason was that no one spoke to him at all anymore, even to the point where teachers asked him to do group projects alone. Ethan’s parents had great influence, and he could bully and cause all sorts of problems, especially for someone like Alex, who attended on special scholarships granted by the principal.

His mother must have understood the situation somehow, as she soon replied, “Don’t worry, honey. Someday you’ll be a normal part of the student body.”

“I really don’t want to be like them. I’m happy with you, Mom, and with Dad. Those kids rarely see their families or interact with them. I prefer to keep my relationship with you as it is and follow in Dad’s footsteps.”

His mother looked at him tenderly and then responded, “You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you? Despite the sweetness of what you said, you know well that your father and I have already decided we don’t want you joining the military to follow in his footsteps. You know the whole idea of attending this prestigious school was to open up a new future for you, and it was your father’s idea.”

Her comment clearly emphasized the firm stance his father had taken against the idea of him joining the military. To be honest, he didn’t understand why his father wouldn’t let him, especially since he gave him military training whenever he could. Even during vacations, he would take him to America to train with some of his friends in the special operations branch of that country.

His mother seemed to want to say more, but they had already reached their destination. Alex gave his mother a big hug, and sensing her reluctance, she bid him farewell with a flurry of kisses and a reminder.

“No hitting your classmates in the throat or the temple, no spinning kicks. I know you can fight almost at a professional level, but these boys are normal. Next time, you might actually kill someone. Remember what your father said about responsibility.”

“Alright, Mom. I swear I won’t kill any of my classmates. See you this afternoon.”

His sarcastic comment was met with a frown, but her expression quickly changed to a loving one as she waved him goodbye.

Alex trudged from the parking lot towards the imposing facilities of St. Edmund’s College. The campus loomed before him like a monument to knowledge, but all he saw was a stretch of stone and brick that he couldn’t help but associate with monotony. The main building, with its majestic architecture and Gothic details, seemed to strive to impress him, but in his apathetic state of mind, it only left him indifferent.

Ancient trees lined the path, their branches swaying in the breeze with an elegant melancholy, seeming to sigh with him. Wooden benches sat lonely, as if knowing that few would take the time to enjoy their comfort. Although the gardens were full of vibrant colors, it felt to him as if they were trying too hard, as if attempting to hide the apathy that seemed to permeate the place.

The secondary buildings, each with their own history and character, did nothing to lift his disconnection. Gothic windows and intricate details adorned the facades, but even these features felt blurry and inconsequential to him.

The sound of conversations and the footsteps of students resonated in the air, creating a constant murmur that somehow blended with his thoughts. His steps were slow and heavy, as if the very architecture urged him to stay still.

Alex sighed, an automatic act that seemed to fit the overall atmosphere. His mother always said that every time he sighed, a piece of his soul escaped. In this place, on a day like any other, maybe that wasn’t so bad.

On the way to the classroom, he encountered Lucas and Emma, two other students who, like him, were there on some kind of scholarship. However, upon seeing him, both of them wore terrified expressions and fled.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Hello, Lucas, Emma, how was your weekend?”

Alex caught up with them at the lockers and greeted them casually as he usually did, but all he got in return was a nervous giggle.

Alex raised an eyebrow and looked at the pair. Emma was very nervous, clutching her notebooks tightly to her chest, while Lucas, seeing his friend’s reaction, stepped forward to cover her.

“Hello, Alex, hehe, how are you?”

They were both too nervous, and Alex instinctively knew why.

“Better than you, it seems. I’m not so cold as to be shivering like that. Do you need a coat, Emma?”

Lucas gave him a half-smile.

“You understand, these things… Our parents aren’t anywhere close to being war heroes like yours. If we get into trouble, there’s no way we can continue here.”

“I understand…”

“If you understand, I hope you don’t mind. After all, we have to do it, Alex. There’s no other way here.”

“Yes, it’s fine. Go back to your master. It’s no big deal.”

“Alex, there’s no need to be like that. If only…”

“Don’t bother, Lucas. You’d better get used to reality, or you’ll go crazy every time they yank your leash.”

“Hey, there’s no need to be…”

Alex simply slammed his locker shut and walked away without listening to what Lucas had to say. Although Emma seemed to want to say goodbye, a single hard look from Alex was enough to leave her trembling in her place, unable to utter a word.

Maybe I was too harsh with them, Alex thought to himself. He wasn’t sure if there was a right choice in that situation. He could rationalize that he helped them by giving them a reason to cut ties with him, thus preventing further bullying. Anyway, it’s not my problem anymore, Alex concluded.

Not letting this bother him, Alex headed to his classroom and took his seat. By now, he didn’t even bother greeting or looking at other people; he knew no one would respond.

The morning classes were normal until, towards the end of the period before lunch, they handed out a report card with the exam period grades. Seeing his almost perfect scores, Alex couldn’t help but sigh. No matter how hard he had tried, he couldn’t improve his grades; he had even lowered them slightly.

“Of course, you’d do poorly. You shouldn’t even be here,” came a sudden voice that caught his attention. Looking in the direction of the voice, he saw Ethan with a nasty grin.

Alex simply ignored this clown. It didn’t matter what he said or didn’t say; people like him spent their time bullying anyone who didn’t submit to their orders, using their family name to intimidate everyone else.

He noticed that Ethan was deeply annoyed at being ignored and was signaling to some people, which immediately put Alex on alert. Even though they were in a classroom, it wouldn’t be the first time they tried to hit him discreetly and then blame him for the fight. In many of those situations, the teachers would testify against him.

Turning around, he saw two of Ethan’s henchmen approaching discreetly, but at his resolute gaze, they quickly backed off.

“If you’re not afraid of losing an arm, come closer,” Alex said calmly.

The two boys shivered. The pain he had caused them last time must still be fresh, as it was enough for them to completely ignore Ethan’s shouts.

He turned to face Ethan.

“If you’re not afraid of me, face me directly.”

Suddenly, the bell signaling the end of the morning period and the start of lunch rang throughout the building. The students began to stand up and leave the classroom, but Alex remained in his place for a moment longer, watching Ethan. The other boy glared at him with contained fury but didn’t dare take a step towards him.

Finally standing up and leaving the classroom, Alex headed to the cafeteria. The path there was a labyrinth of hallways and stairs he knew by heart, but that day it felt especially tedious. The murmurs and laughter of the students echoed in his ears like an annoying buzz. Arriving at the cafeteria, he took a tray and served himself some food, though he didn’t have much of an appetite.

He sat at a table in the back, where there usually weren’t many people. From there, he could observe his classmates without being noticed. He saw Ethan and his group of friends sitting together, laughing and talking loudly. Near them, Lucas and Emma were sitting with other scholarship students, but they didn’t seem to be enjoying the company. Both looked at their plates in silence, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

As he ate, Alex couldn’t help but remember when things were different. Before the problems with Ethan started, he, Lucas, and Emma used to spend a lot of time together. They would study in the library, share their lunches, and talk about their dreams and aspirations. But all that had changed. Now, the atmosphere was tense and full of hostility, and it seemed there was no going back.

After finishing his meal, he decided to go to the back courtyard of the school. He needed a break from the cafeteria’s charged atmosphere. The courtyard was relatively empty, with only a few students enjoying the fresh air. He sat on a bench under a tree and closed his eyes, trying to relax.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching. He opened his eyes and saw a girl from his class, Lily, walking towards him. They didn’t have much of a relationship, but she had always seemed kind to him.

“Hi, Alex,” said Lily with a shy smile. “Do you mind if I sit with you?”

“Sure, go ahead,” he replied, surprised by her initiative.

Lily sat beside him, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. Finally, she broke the silence.

“I heard what happened in class today,” she said. “Ethan can be really unpleasant. You shouldn’t let it get to you.”

Alex sighed, a bit surprised by the empathy in her voice. “Thanks, Lily. But I’m used to his nonsense. It’s part of the routine here.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s okay,” she replied firmly. “No one should have to put up with that kind of treatment. It’s not fair.”

“I know, but there’s not much I can do about it. I’m just waiting to graduate and leave all this behind.”

Lily looked at him with a mix of understanding and sadness. “I get it. But if you ever need to talk or vent, I’m here. You don’t have to face it alone.”

Alex was touched by her words. He wasn’t used to receiving support from his peers. “Thanks, Lily. That means a lot to me.”

They spent a few minutes in silence, enjoying the tranquility of the courtyard. For Alex, that conversation was a small ray of light on a gray day. For the first time in a long while, he felt that maybe he wasn’t completely alone.

The rest of the day passed without major incidents. The afternoon classes were as monotonous as ever, and Alex immersed himself in his thoughts to pass the time. When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the school day, he got up from his seat with a sigh of relief.

He gathered his things and headed to the parking lot, where his mother was waiting in the car. Seeing him, she smiled and motioned for him to hurry up.

“How was your day, honey?” she asked as he got into the car.

“Normal,” Alex replied, though his mind was still on the conversation with Lily. “Nothing out of the ordinary.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Your father and I are proud of you, you know? All this effort will be worth it.”

Alex nodded, looking out the window as the car pulled away from St. Edmund’s College. Maybe his mother was right. Maybe all this effort would really be worth it someday. But for now, all he could do was keep moving forward, one day at a time.