After dinner, Ellie quietly left the dining hall and slipped away to her room. Meanwhile, Brock walked alongside Alex back to his quarters. Without much talk, they both fell into their beds and drifted into sleep.
But Alex, restless, switched on the small lamp near his bed. With Darcy curled beside him in her white tiger form, he pulled out the last volume of Horimiya . One by one, he devoured the pages until he reached the final chapter.
"Darcy," he whispered, eyes wide and heart full, "damn... how can love be so awkwardly beautiful?"
Darcy let out a small huff, almost like she agreed. Alex smiled, closed the book, and finally let sleep take him.
Early morning.
A weight sat on his chest.
Alex groaned and cracked open his eyes. A familiar giggle echoed in his ears.
"Brother! Are you Ellie's husband?"
A kid one of the younger orphans was sitting on him with all the seriousness of a town crier.
Alex blinked, unamused. "Why would you ask that?"
The boy giggled. "Because my friends are mad at you. One of them likes Sister Ellie!"
Alex chuckled, ruffling the kid's hair. "Ah, so I've made enemies already. Great. Now get off and go back to your drama club."
The kid leapt off and ran off shouting, leaving Alex muttering, "I'm too young for this nonsense."
He cleaned up, threw on his bone armor, and stepped into the crisp morning air. As usual, he ran laps around the ground until his breath burned in his lungs. Then he sat, slumped on the church stairs.
Ellie approached quietly and handed him a cup of water. He nodded, accepting it without a word. An awkward silence hung between them like fog.
As he stood to return to training, Ellie suddenly grabbed his wrist.
"Come," she said, dragging him back into the dining hall.
Without explanation, she sat him down and started feeding him again, their eyes meeting in soft, skittish glances. Every time they locked eyes, both of them would quickly look away, cheeks warm.
The days passed like this.
Training. Spear swings. Magic lessons. Comic books. Awkward silences. Stolen glances.
Alex and Ellie began orbiting each other like moons too afraid to collide. Even Darcy noticed, growling when the tension got too thick.
Finally, one evening after dinner, Ellie had had enough.
She waited by his room.
As Alex opened the door, she marched in, grabbed him by the collar, and slammed him against the wall.
"Hey, idiot! Look at me! Talk to me! It's weird when you go all silent and avoid me! Say something! Tell a dumb joke or insult my shoes! Just... stop pretending we're strangers!"
Alex blinked, startled. Her hands were trembling, but her eyes were blazing.
He met her gaze calmly, watching the flush rise in her cheeks.
"It's lonely when you ignore me, Alex," she said, her voice softer now. "I don't like it."
Still, Alex remained quiet.
She stepped closer, nose almost touching his. "Say something, idiot!"
He blinked, then smirked. "You smell like mud. Should we visit the pond?"
Ellie burst into laughter, dropping her grip. "At least you've still got that broken sense of humor."
Alex chuckled. "I'm just saying... common sense says if you're gonna tackle someone, be freshly bathed."
She smiled, brushing her hair back. "You're impossible."
"Really, though," Alex added, stepping beside her. "You should know... you have fans."
She frowned. "Fans? What fans?"
Alex gestured vaguely. "Some of the boys here. They're upset with me. One even asked if I was your husband."
Ellie blinked, then snorted. "Let them be mad. They've got good taste. But I already picked my idiot."
"Then I better find some fans of my own to compete," Alex replied with a grin.
She looked away, red-faced. "Start by not smelling like a cabbage cart crash."
In her mind: What a muscle head. I just confessed to him and he didn't even notice.
They both laughed, and for the first time in days
the tension cracked.
The next morning.
The same kid plopped on Alex's chest again.
"Good morning, brother!"
Alex blinked, then wrinkled his nose. "Did you even bathe today, kid?"
The boy giggled. "Nope! I bathe after tomorrow. That way, we both smell!"
He jumped off and ran out the door like a menace.
Ellie stood nearby, watching. "That's the boy who likes me?"
Alex shook his head. "No, it's his friend. He's just the messenger of doom."
She watched Alex rinse his mouth with magic, the water floating and evaporating around him.
"Wait you're using magic to brush your teeth?"
Alex shrugged. "Hygiene is sacred."
He threw on his training armor and jogged out.
Like every morning, Alex sprinted around the church for hours. The rhythm of his feet and breath echoed against stone and silence.
After his run, he dropped on the stairs, panting.
Ellie handed him water.
He drank, nodded thanks, and headed straight to spear training.
Later that day, he sat with Ellie again, this time guiding her through mana flow.
"Focus near the heart," he whispered. "That's where your flow begins. Like water under pressure."
The days blurred.
Training. Teaching. Sparring.
Until one morning
Alex stood tall in the training ground, spear spinning like a ribbon around him. His basics were now muscle memory. Each step fluid. Every movement sharp.
Frank stood with arms crossed, grinning. "It's been a month and a half, kid. You've got every basic down to the bone. Time for a real match."
They stood at opposite ends of the field.
Frank vanished and reappeared his spear lunging forward.
Alex didn't flinch. He pivoted, dodging with calm focus. When Frank parried, Alex's hands shifted smoothly, recalling a technique Athena once demonstrated.
He smiled.
Twisting his spear, Alex lashed out, feinted, and then moved for a powerful side kick.
Frank raised an eyebrow, impressed.
Alex spun again, this time rotating with enough force to send wind spiraling around them.
Frank countered his attacks grew faster, heavier. The older man stopped holding back.
His spear spun like a storm.
But Alex matched him with agility, his footwork swift, weaving through the assault.
Until—
frank pulled alex in split second !
A blur.
Alex hit the ground, flat on his back. Frank's spear hovered inches from his throat.
The arena went quiet.
Alex exhaled, chest heaving. "Damn… looks like I give up."
Frank burst into laughter and hauled him up. "Kid, you've got guts. But you're starting to stink. Go wash up."
Ellie laughed from the sidelines. "When did you learn that technique? It was seriously powerful!"
Alex smirked. "I watch. I learn. Especially when gods are fighting in front of me."
She grinned, shaking her head. "Still a muscle head. But a clever one."
They both smiled as they ate lunch together, Alex teasing and playfully poking at Ellie between bites. Just as she tossed a grape at his forehead, Hellen appeared beside them, arms crossed and smirking.
"So… we're heading to the pond for a bath, right?"
"Yep!" Ellie said with mock disgust. "Alex stinks. It's getting dangerous for our noses."
Alex snorted. "Look who's talking! I had to fight the wind this morning it was running from you."
They all laughed.
After lunch, Alex, Hellen, and Ellie climbed onto Darcy and rode toward the pond. Just before they arrived, Hellen leaned toward Alex with a wicked grin.
"Hey Alex, we don't mind if you peek."
But Alex was already settling back with a manga in hand. "Pass. Kaguya sama has my heart."
Ellie rolled her eyes and pulled Hellen along. "Let him drool over paper girls."
As they undressed by the water, Hellen elbowed Ellie. "Okay, but seriously you look way too good. What's that mark near your hip? It's… kinda hot."
Ellie chuckled. "That? Birthmark. Symbol of Poseidon's royal bloodline."
They splashed into the pond, laughing, half swimming, half tackling each other.
Darcy padded over and peered in. Seeing no trouble, she gave a soft snort and turned away.
"Why's Darcy acting like our security detail?" Hellen asked.
Ellie blushed. "Alex can feel if I'm hurt or scared. Darcy picks up on it too."
Hellen's eyes widened. "Wait. You're telling me he sensed your kidnapping?"
"Yeah. He was there before I even knew I was screaming."
Hellen grabbed her in a hug, giggling. "You're living a romance manga!"
"Shut up!" Ellie mumbled, face going red.
Alex's voice echoed through the trees. "Hey! Maniacs! Quiet down! Some of us are trying to read and not get trauma from your screaming."
"Still hot even when cranky," Hellen muttered.
She leaned closer. "So… have you ever seen Alex's body?"
Ellie blinked. "No? I mean, I've bumped into him, but never really looked."
"Well," Hellen grinned, "the maids say his back looks sculpted by angry gods."
"Hellen!"
"What? We're curious! Today's the day. Operation: Glimpse the Greek."
Alex, hearing the chatter, turned to Darcy. "Remember, never become like them. Cute girls are classy."
Darcy grunted solemnly.
Later, the girls crept around the pond's edge, trying to sneak a peek. They spotted Alex sitting at the water's edge, heating it with spear magic. Mist curled around him, hiding just enough.
He looked like a painting serene, strong, and entirely unreachable.
But Darcy stood in front of the bush like a furry wall.
"Come on, Darcy," Hellen whispered. "Just two seconds."
Darcy didn't budge.
When they leaned forward, she gently shoved them back with her tail.
The girls squeaked, faces blazing, and stormed past him without a word.
He grinned. "Obvious amateurs."
after they reach home alex called when they were walking.
"Next time you plan to sneak when i am not around , make sure you not bring darcy with me !"
That evening, over dinner, Alex leaned closer to Ellie, voice low. "So… how much did you manage to see?"
Ellie gave him a slow blink. "Enough to know your dragon's scarier than you."
He laughed.
"Also," she added, smirking, "maybe next time don't hum while you bathe. It ruins the mystery."
alex laugh and say " i belive ! you are more upset that hellen !".
they both laughed at hellen , after they finished eating alex went his room and slept well .