The Ancient Genes

Chapter 352: The Cultural Night

Arcane Dorms, Academy District.

“Knock!”

“Knock!”

Kevin lightly knocked on the open door trying to get Axel’s attention who was lying on the bed with his head sinking in his pillow.

Seeing that he didn’t react, Kevin hesitated before entering the room and taking a seat on the bed.

“Creak!”

The bed gave out a creaking noise as it sank under the pressure.

“You shouldn’t have done that…” Kevin said with a worried look. Even though he came here thinking of cheering him up, he still ended up saying that.

“I know…” Axel’s muzzled voice sounded through the pillow.

“Did you tell him about it?” Axel asked after a pause.

“N-No! I didn’t tell him…believe me…” Kevin immediately denied and vigorously shook his head.

“It’s fine, I believe you…” 

“What are you going to do? He said he will be taking Lisa…” Kevin said with a complicated look. Both were his friends and he didn’t know what to do.

“That has nothing to do with me….”

“But don’t you love her?” Kevin asked.

“How many times do I have to say it to you? Don’t bring the past up….I only hate her now.”

“Max didn’t seem to believe it?” Kevin said as he looked at him.

“You are going to go on about that too? Axel suddenly raised his head and looked at Kevin, “Did you forget what she said that day? If you were in my shoes could you still love her after that?”

“Is that the only reason? Didn’t you started with it when Naze-“

“Enough, I don’t want to talk about it….I already am regretting fighting with Max. I don’t want to start another one…”

….

“Are you serious?!!” Lear looked at Max with wide eyes.

“Yeah, it seems that guy was totally crazy over her,” Max said with a smile.

“But…why? Shouldn’t they be married already?” Lear asked in confusion.

“Well that’s an exaggeration but I am sure they should have been dating or close to it by now if it wasn’t for Axel’s brother…”

Suddenly, Lear remembered Axel’s word. He had said something about his brother.

“Axel loved Lisa. I don’t know the reason though. My knowledge is limited. That’s why I wanted to hear it clearly from Axel.”

“Still, I will tell you what I know.” Max continued to explain as he remembered the scene from Lisa’s memories.

….

Max had just entered the place after looking through the fragment of Lisa’s memories.

“Where is she? She should be nearby…” Max turned his head around and soon found Lisa in the bustling crowd with Elly by her side.

Max quickly followed after them and soon he was walking side by side along with them.

“That guy is still following you….” Elly said as she slightly glanced behind.

Max followed her gaze and saw a person and his eyes widened. “Axel?”

But on a closer look, Max found his features to be different than Axel. There was only one person he could think of at this point.

Naze…

Max couldn’t help but frown. He had heard about the incident from Axel and the fact that his brother was following her like this didn’t leave a good taste in his mouth.

“Let him be, I can’t do anything unless he does anything. Besides, it will only look like I am picking up on him since he dared to confess to me…” Lisa replied with a troubled look.

Suddenly Max halted his steps as he noticed that the two had just got out of the crowd and headed into the washroom.

Max sighed as he followed in. He couldn’t just get far away from Lisa. 

“True, rumors will surely float if you did something to him for following you. Like how you are showing him his place. Thinking of yourself some highly being…” Elly said with a smile.

“Hmph…that’s true though. I am one in a million.”

“You sure think of yourself as the Queen.” Elly couldn’t find where that confidence of her came from.

“Am I not?” Lisa asked as she blinked her eyes innocently.

“Why don’t you just go ahead and date him then? Get some experience….as a queen isn’t that something you should have…”

“Well, I surely give him points for daring to say it out loud unlike those who just kept staring at me with dubious glances. But, that isn’t enough….beside, he is stalking after getting rejected…that’s minus points for him…” Lisa quietly gave an elaborate explanation.

“Well that sure is creepy…” Elly nodded as well.

Max had been listening with his eyes close all along and didn’t say anything. He didn’t have any particular thoughts about it. Lisa sure was arrogant and he didn’t find it surprising. Besides, you couldn’t just force yourself when it came to love. So basically, it was all her decision to make and you couldn’t blame her for that.

When they were done with their business, they got out of the washroom.

“He is still here…” Lisa said with a sigh.

“Let’s go, I will talk to him….” Elly said as she took the lead.

“Are you sure? I would like to avoid him…” Lisa felt a headache.

Max watched the scene as Elly called out to Naze who seemed to be leaning on the railing and looking below.

“Excuse me…”

The guy turned around to see Elly and Lisa. Obviously, Max wasn’t visible to him.

“Yes?”

“Could you just stop following her? It’s making her uncomfortable….” Elly was direct to the point and Max couldn’t help but appreciate her on that.

“Did I?” Naze asked with a silly look.

“You aren’t good at lying. Besides, I thought I made it clear to you…” Lisa said as she gave him a threatening look. 

“Um…sorry. It’s just hard to get over. I didn’t do it intentionally. It is just….” Naze spoke with a troubled face.

Max shook his head, ‘This guy….’

“Would you stop that already? How long do you plan to keep on acting?” Elly interrupted.

Lisa grabbed Elly’s arm surprised at the sudden change in her tone. Elly was the type who usually didn’t care much about anything. It was unusual for her to be acting like this.

“You are wrong, Lisa. Do you think this guy can’t lie? Not a single word he says is truth….” Elly pointed it out to Lisa. She has been having this feeling for a while and today, she finally confirmed it. This guy didn’t look a single bit sad on the rejection yesterday.

“She has got good eyes….” Max mumbled with a smile as his evaluation of Elly went up.  She was right, this guy was faking it. 

“No, I am not. I think we have some misunderstanding….” Naze tried to explain nervously but Elly shut him off.

“I don’t know what you want but, let me tell you this….there are some people you shouldn’t mess with me…” Elly warned him.

Naze’s face suddenly changed. It seemed to have turned dark for a moment as he replied, “I know.”

It was only an instant and Elly was the only one who seemed to have noticed that it was something else and not because of her words.

“Let’s go…” Elly grabbed Lisa and took her away as Max followed behind after glancing at Naze.

“You can threaten people?” Lisa asked in surprise.

“I am not good as you though. Anyway, I don’t know what his objective is. We should scare him or else he might do something foolish if left like that…”

“Oh…you really do care about me…” Lisa said as she hugged Elly from behind.

“Let go…”

“No, I won’t…”

Max continued to accompany them as they engaged themselves in pointless banter.  They met with a few friends and had soft drinks and a few snacks enjoying the night as they continued to gossip.

The Arcane Academy was the only one which allowed students to have such an event during the year where students could enjoy all they wanted. 

But it wasn’t pointless. It was a good way to develop friendships and deepen bonds. Besides, there wasn’t much of an event that allowed students to blow off stress….this was one good way. It also served as the way for the freshman to widen their circle. At least that was what the current Max thought.

“If it isn’t the two ladies…”

Max turned his head on hearing the familiar voice and saw James walking towards them.

The girls all around looked at James as if being charmed by his appearance and the noble aura leaking out of him.

Max had to give it to him. He wasn’t half bad. But, Max still thought he was better after his change.

“Are you enjoying the night, Sir Ovens…” Elly greeted him.

It was usual for them to greet each other like this.

“It is different from the Capital but it’s not bad…” He replied.

Lisa nodded as well.

“So do you have plans? If not, how about joining me for a meal…” 

“I am sorry but we already had ours.” Elly replied as she grabbed Lisa’s hand preventing her from saying anything unnecessary.

“I see….well then, I will take my leave…” James said with a smile before leaving. 

“Why did you lie? Aren’t you being too wary of him?” Lisa asked with a frown.

“I don’t like the air around him…”

“Really, I don’t feel anything odd though. Besides, he is totally hitting on you. Why don’t grab that chance?” Lisa asked with a teasing smile.

“Really?”

“What?” Lisa asked in confusion.

“He is after you, idiot?” Elly said as he tapped her forehead.

“You sure you haven’t misunderstood him….” Lisa asked.

Elly didn’t continue with the topic.

“Let’s go, I am tired. I will have the dinner at dorm…” Elly said as she got up from her seat.

“What, really? You are not going to eat here? There is so much in variety today. Besides, the food at the dorm sucks.”

“Then eat by yourself, I don’t like eating my meals in public….” Elly said as she took a step planning to leave.

But Lisa immediately grabbed her, “Then just pretend like you always do…”

Lisa didn’t gave her a choice and immediately dragged her out of the place heading towards a different area. She didn’t want to meet James again while eating. That would be awkward.

She dragged her all around the campus until finding a stall that was totally empty. Not totally, there was one guy eating.

Max looked at the red hair guy and could totally understand why this place was empty.