The commoner dorm and the nobles' dorm were separated by the training hall between them. Though there were gates and mana barrier as security in those areas, the students could go anywhere they wanted. But rarely did any commoner go to the nobles' section, and the nobles just avoided that area. On the upper side of all these dormitories, a small forest was made for students to walk around with their friends or their pets.

Nobody used it for training because why would you train there, where just below it was a highly facilitated training area for every first-year student. Levi walked to the forest, cautiously not making any sound. As he got deep inside, the sound of wood striking rang around the area.

Hiding behind a bush, he observed Eliza striking a tree with a wooden sword. Her sword kept striking the trunk of the tree, where a weird face was drawn. A round face, with a scar on the left side, demon-like teeth, and spiky hair. Levi touched his face and wondered,

'She really violated my face.'

Eliza kept on hitting that face again and again. Her beautiful sword dance wasn't seen. The sword moved in frustration, without a clear path, chained by ego and hate. Levi had never had someone hate him this much, maybe in his previous life.

Her hands were swollen from striking the tree. She had been doing this for an hour, but the flames inside her heart didn't die out; instead, the embers started burning even more. She also realized her unusual behaviour. Her usual attitude seemed to have been buried deep inside, without a way to surface again.

Soon, tears fell down her eyes. She knelt, sniffling and crying silently.

Eliza had been going through too much. Her mother getting trapped, without any chance of her returning, her loss against Blake, and mainly her biggest headache, Levi. He too beat her, and now she couldn't even face herself in the mirror.

Emotions ate her heart out, and she couldn't tell anyone about this. After all, the lioness of the braveheart should be strong. A flame of undying confidence and absolute strength, that is what society had projected on her. Levi walked away. He already felt like a stalker. Seeing her vulnerable without her permission didn't sit right with Levi. Maybe consoling her was an option, but it would backfire. Nobody is strong enough to let their vulnerable side out in front of the person they hate the most.

Levi felt a cloth in his pocket and took it out. 'I went to return it, but… maybe next time. When she doesn't hate me this much.'

******

The academy had the same atmosphere Levi saw yesterday walking through the streets. Everyone was feeling the joy of the upcoming festival. The academy celebrated the festival for four days straight, like every other one. During those four days, the academy would give a holiday for their students to celebrate the festival with their families or friends.

However, just before the holiday, the academy would organize a decoration competition where each class would be given equal materials to decorate the class. In the end, the class with the best decoration at the end would win. And also receive a special prize.

Levi planned to travel across the sea during that time. He decided to take a two-day leave, and right now, he was headed to Fiona's office to submit his application. On his way, Gabriel, who was heading to class, saw Levi loitering around the hall. He also noticed glances at Levi, mostly girls, trying to strike up a conversation with him. But Levi's "Don't approach me" barrier was too much for them to break into.

Sneakily, he tried to smack Levi on the back and missed again for the twelfth time.

Levi looked at Gabriel with the straightest face. "You make it too obvious."

Gabriel walked in pace with Levi, still wondering of a better plan to take him by surprise. He pointed at the envelope in Levi's hand and asked, "Is that a love letter? You should have kept it in a pink envelope."

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He hit Levi on the ribs with a smirk. Ever since he saw Levi with Yuki, he kept teasing in a subtle way.

"I can't wait for the cherry trees to blossom."

"You must love cotton candy, right."

"Do you know that flamingos' nests are made of mud?"

Gabriel was trying to associate everything he knew about the pink colour. At first, Levi found it weird and was interested in flamingos, but he slowly caught on to what Gabriel was trying to say.

"Yuki and I aren't like that. She doesn't see me that way nor do I."

Gabriel shook his head and raised his eyebrow. "Everybody says that, but somewhere along, the seed of love is waiting to bloom in their heart but they don't realize it. That is why they need a wingman like me, someone who can water those seedlings of love."

Losing himself in his own illusion, Gabriel wondered how Levi managed to do it because he never had seen Levi spend time with any other student like this, other than him. Maybe he talked with Harper, but mostly during their team assignments.

However, he too didn't know much about Levi. He never asked him about it, and Levi too wasn't the type to tell anyone about it. On the other hand, Levi always seemed to know about it. He could feel Levi subtly observing his behaviour and trying to adjust on the basis. At first, Gabriel did find it odd, seeing Levi trying to fit in, but soon realized he was trying to fit in, he was letting Gabriel feel comfortable and that is why he knew Levi was a good friend.

Gabriel and Levi kept talking for a few minutes until Gabriel brought out the topic of the festival.

"So when are you going to your hometown or do you have other any plans with your newfound love?"

Levi thought about how to answer because telling Gabriel he didn't have a family would probably upset him and make him feel sad for asking that question. Not that Levi himself cared. And he was sure Yuki would die of a heart attack if he approached her asking to spend her holiday with him.

Telling him about the plans with John was out of the option. He decided to lie and not complicate things. "I am planning to head to my hometown two days early from the festive."

Gabriel nodded, understanding the meaning behind the envelope. Levi wouldn't attend the decoration competition because each day mattered to him. Gabriel didn't ask any further about where his hometown was.

Levi decided to ask Gabriel about his plans, like how a "normal" friend should.

"So what plans do you have?"

Going home was the option for him. His relationship with his family wasn't that good; that is why Levi didn't ask about his hometown. "I don't have anything special planned. Just going to stay in my dorm and maybe go to the sauna every day. My sauna membership is going to expire soon."

Like unspoken words between them, Levi didn't ask anything about his family, which Gabriel appreciated. As he walked down the hall, both could see Fiona walking towards her office. She looked at her momentarily and entered her office.

Gabriel took a left turn and with a smile hiding his deep hidden sadness said, "See you at the class."

Levi just nodded and went to Fiona's office. Before his knuckles could reach the door, Fiona opened the door using her magic.

'Senses of a monster.' Levi walked in front of her desk and politely passed the envelope to her. She opened the envelope and opened the neatly folded paper.

It was a formal letter, but one thing caught her eye. His reason for leaving this early. 'Hometown, but I am sure he doesn't have anyone to call his family anymore.'

"Why are you going to your hometown?"

Levi knew Fiona had information about his family. Not because she spied on his personal life, the past Levi must have put it in his student's personal information. That is why, making an excuse of meeting his nonexistent family wouldn't work.

"It has been a long time since I went there, and visiting it during this festive would be a good time." He definitely wasn't going to the hometown. He only knew about it from some souvenirs the past Levi had brought with him.

Fiona kept asking more. "Then why do you have to go this early? You know that not participating in the decoration competition would result in you not getting the prize if your class wins, right?"

"I know I won't get the prizes. I just want a vacation after a hectic month." Levi wasn't running away; he was heading into even more trouble.

Fiona too felt Levi was hiding something, but she did want him to rest. He had been going through a lot, but still, she didn't like how he always hid his intentions. 'It's his life and decision, but no need to always lie to me.'

Fiona didn't say anything and signed the paper. Levi walked to the door, and before he could leave, she decided to ask him one last thing. "Are you good friends with Gabriel?"

Though Fiona often showed a cold shoulder to Gabriel. There was no need to hide it; everyone considered Gabriel the black sheep of the Dexer family, and that is how it worked in the high noble family. However, she didn't want to act that way; even the strongest have to bend to the circumstances.

With how often they talked and how frank they were with each other, they were friends. Friendship did seem an unfathomable concept to Levi but showing his true self to the world wouldn't go well for him. Nodding his head, he replied,

"We are good friends. He is quite funny, to be honest and sneakily too much hardworking. It is nice to have him as a friend."

Levi left the room. When he locked the door, he could see a small smile on Fiona's face.

'She does care… she never stopped.'