Eternal Freedom's Ascension-Chapter 140: Returnee

’How...? I should have sensed him...!’

Eren gasped internally, standing up immediately. Behind him was the figure of a familiar junior.

It was the same blue hair and blue eyes that carried an empty gaze, and an expression filled with boredom.

"You...?"

He couldn’t find the right word to say. He didn’t even need to since Kaiser wasn’t looking at him.

Treating him like air, Kaiser’s gaze was solely focused on Maya, who remained frozen in her seat.

He tilted his head. "Are you that surprised? I’ve only been gone for a few we—"

’...!!!’

Before he could finish speaking, the girl suddenly charged at him, almost knocking him to the ground. He could have dodged but instead, he let her crash into him.

"You... you’re back."

Unlike what he thought, she wasn’t sobbing. Instead, she was beaming with happiness. Holding him tightly, she pressed her head against his chest.

"You’re really back." She whispered softly.

Eren regained his composure, straightening his jacket and turning to face them.

"Looks like our junior here really became emotional because of you."

His words snapped Maya out of her stupor, and she finally realized she was hugging him.

"U-uhm, sorry." She stepped back and apologized, though her smile was still present.

Kaiser’s voice softened. "There’s no reason to apologize. I can understand the sentiment."

He had also remembered her a few times during his training.

Standing mere meters away from them, Eren’s jaw locked.

’Is he... deliberately ignoring me? Or is he treating me as someone insignificant?’

His orange eyes turned a shade darker. Stepping closer, he said in a serious tone.

"It is rude to ignore a senior. Weren’t you taught manners, Kaiser?"

Finally, Kaiser’s attention turned to him. First, his eyes shifted to the senior, then his head turned slightly.

"Oh. You’re here, sun-eyed senior." He said flatly, as if he was acknowledging the presence of a leaf.

Eren’s brows twitched, meanwhile Maya tensed subtly. She wanted to avoid any conflict between them.

"I was curious," Eren raised his head slightly. "Where have you been in the past few weeks? Did you perhaps sneak out of the academy?"

Kaiser sighed, then rubbed his forehead tiredly.

"Sun-eyed senior. If that is what you want to inquire, please meet with the Chairman of the Academy. I lack the energy to engage in useless arguments."

Eren blinked, his lips twitching. ’This guy...’

Closing his eyes, he exhaled. When he reopened them, there was a sharp glint within.

"Very well. I hope you don’t do anything against the rules. I would personally deliver punishment to you as the Vice President of the Student Council."

Dropping such a powerful line, he pocketed his hands and left the library. Maya watched him leave in silence, while Kaiser studied her expression.

"You’re overthinking. Again." He said, and lightly tapped her forehead.

The girl winced, then looked up at him with her glittering green eyes.

"Kaiser. Do you hate the Vice President?"

Kaiser paused, cocking his head. "Hate? No. Why would I hate him?"

Maya lowered her head hesitantly. "You seemed very dismissive of him. You barely even gave him an audience."

He nodded calmly. "Oh, that? It is exhausting speaking to people of that kind. That is why I rarely communicate with others."

’So... he’s simply conserving energy? That’s a bit... I don’t know.’

Maya shook her head, smiling and inviting him to sit with her.

"Before I start, do you have enough energy to accommodate my questions?"

The boy nodded, resting his chin on his palm. "Go on."

He was prepared to listen to her questions and answer the ones he believed were necessary.

"Over the break... have you read any book?"

Kaiser blinked, a bit astonished. He had expected her to ask him about why he left abruptly, and what he had been doing since then. However, it was obvious Maya didn’t want to invade his privacy by being intrusive.

Smiling faintly, he cocked his head. "Books? I did read one book—a runic formation manual."

Maya’s eyes narrowed. "That’s... a book? Well, I guess it does count."

She pulled out a few books from her bag, setting them on the table with a smile.

"The day is still young. Why don’t you read some books to replenish your energy?"

Kaiser stared at the books one after the other, then chose one randomly.

"Thank you."

He opened the book and began reading, eventually losing himself in its pages.

Maya studied his focused expression, her hand hovering over the book she wanted to read.

’Although I can’t exactly tell, but he looks paler than before. He has also become less expressive. It seems he was really exhausted with whatever he was doing.’

She bit her lip, then opened the book before her.

’Let’s just read in silence. He’ll be fine soon—probably.’

...

Hazel was on her way back from the infirmary after checking up on Logan. He was already fine and only needed some more rest.

"This loss has brought down the morale of the class. A very sharp strategy from Apollo."

Beside her, Ariel nodded. "Majority of our classmates are weak-minded. This little stunt by Apollo is enough to demoralize them."

Feeling her phone vibrate in her pocket, Hazel paused.

She brought out the phone, then checked the message. Her eyes widened like saucers.

"What is the matter?" Ariel asked, though he still took a glance at her screen.

His expression shifted slightly. "He’s back? I see."

Hazel composed herself, then resumed walking. "We’re going to meet him."

"Now? That’d be unwise." Ariel cautioned as he stepped beside her.

"Why do you say so?" Hazel turned to him, brows furrowed.

He rubbed the back of his neck and answered. "No one would like being bothered after just arriving from a long journey. We should wait till night before visiting him."

Hazel’s hand, which was about to send a message to him, paused. Considering Ariel’s advice, she deleted the message.

"Alright. We’ll be visiting him at night."

In her brown eyes, there were complicated emotions swirling.

’There is a lot we need to prepare for this upcoming semester.’