CHAPTER 47: FIRST LOVE

"Am I what?" William asked, his brows knitting together.

"That’s right," the staff member said, adjusting his glasses. "You’re allowed to move back to the dormitory."

William blinked, then frowned. "The punishment period isn’t over yet."

He was supposed to stay here — in this forested training ground — until graduation, which was still about seven months away.

"Due to your recent actions," the staff member continued with an air of self-importance, "the Headmaster has decided to forgive your past mistake."

William let out a short, dry laugh. "Oh, really? I was humiliated in front of the whole academy. If that old man wants me back, he can stand in front of everyone and say it out loud."

The staff’s expression stiffened. "The Headmaster is busy. We’re not assembling the entire school just for this."

William shrugged and leaned back against a nearby tree, his arms crossed. "Then forget it. I’m not going anywhere."

The man’s jaw tightened. He gave William one last glare before stomping away, muttering something under his breath.

A faint smirk tugged at William’s lips. "Figures."

He tilted his head back and closed his eyes. Out here, away from the noise and rules, he actually felt free.

No curfews. No inspections. No one telling him what to do.

He could train whenever he wanted — morning, night, or all day if he felt like it. And when exhaustion finally caught up, he’d just lie down and stare at the night sky.

The clouds moved faintly between the leaves above, and a cool breeze brushed against his skin.

"Yeah," he murmured to himself, his voice barely a whisper. "I’m fine right here."

Crunch.

William’s ears twitched. Someone was approaching.

For a second, he thought it might be Emma — but no.

This person wasn’t nearly as quiet. Even in her human form, Emma moved like a cat — silent, graceful, hard to notice.

He opened his eyes and turned toward the sound.

A familiar figure stood there.

Someone he didn’t expect to see here.

It had been a long time since the two of them met like this — just the two of them, without anyone else around.

Lizel.

Ever since they entered the academy, she had grown distant from him. His careless jokes, his blunt tongue, and his occasional perverted remarks had pushed her further and further away... until that day when she finally snapped and slapped him in front of everyone.

After the dormitory incident, they had barely exchanged a word.

But everything changed after that fight with Kaizek.

The disgust she once held had turned to something else — fear.

And after the island incident, that fear... slowly became respect.

A strange silence hung between them as the sunlight brushed against her violet hair.

William broke it first. "What do you need?" he asked, his tone calm but distant.

Lizel drew in a quiet breath, her hands tightening at her sides before she lowered her head.

"I wanted to thank you," she said softly, her voice steady but sincere. "For saving Kevin and the others."

William wasn’t surprised. He simply muttered, "Yeah, got it," and closed his eyes again, focusing on his breathing.

Lizel lifted her head and stared at him, slightly flustered. She hadn’t imagined a day would come when she would approach William, only to be brushed off like this.

In a hesitant voice, she asked, "Umm... I heard you’re coming back to the dormitory?"

William shook his head. "No, I’m not. So, no need to worry."

"I’m not worried," Lizel said quickly, her tone nervous but sincere. "I just... I know you’ve changed. You’re not the same person you used to be."

That made William open his eyes again, his brows lifting slightly. "You believe I’ve changed — and that’s why you came to talk to me?"

Lizel nodded, smiling faintly. "Before, you used to sound so childish and arrogant. Now, you’re calmer... more mature." Her voice softened. "I see the old William in you again."

For a brief moment, William’s composure cracked.

He almost said something — something sharp, something he might have regretted — but he stopped himself.

Her words had stirred up memories he’d rather keep buried.

After a moment of silence, he sighed. "I received your thanks. You can go now."

Lizel’s shoulders sank. She gave a small nod and turned away, walking off without another word.

William stayed there, eyes half-open, until her figure disappeared behind the trees.

Then he leaned back and shut his eyes again.

But this time, he couldn’t focus.

The past came rushing back — memories he wished he could erase.

Lizel... his first love.

The girl he once dreamed of making his bride.

She was the first person he had ever truly opened up to. He had trusted her enough to talk about his mother, about things he hadn’t even told his father.

She knew sides of him no one else did.

’What an idiot I was...’ he thought bitterly. ’Telling her everything like that.’

He was a fool in love — and that was why he was now so reluctant to let Emma get too close.

He knew himself too well.

To most people, he looked sharp-tongued and unapproachable, but once he let someone in... he was completely transparent.

It wasn’t just affection — it was surrender.

And he knew how dangerous that could be.

People could twist emotions, use secrets, and turn trust into a weapon.

That’s why, even now, he kept his guard up around Emma. He didn’t want her knowing too much — not yet.

Still, despite his caution... a part of him had already started trusting her.

And that, more than anything, scared him.

"Ah, forget about it...let’s train." He shook his head, trying to not think of needless things.

He was quite concerned about what he had faced yesterday on the island.

That woman...she kept flashing in his mind.

Her skills were ridiculous.

She easily deflected his mental intrusion as if the years of practice meant nothing.

Then, her ability to change the nature of his attack and redirect them on her will.

That was insane, something he has never seen before.

Deflecting attacks was one thing but changing the element of attack entirely?

That was unexpected and alarming. Someone with the ability to bend reality was quite dangerous.

He could tell that if she wanted, she could have killed him and everyone on that island.

His gut feeling told him. Yet she chose to spare him and even said that he has the potential to kill her one day.

’But...if she could actually bend the reality itself...how am I supposed to kill her?’

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. I hope the story is entertaining so far.