My Second Chance in Life in Another World-Chapter 59: TRUST AND ALLIANCE

I woke up early but didn’t move a muscle to get out of bed. There wasn’t any need to rush today; it was the weekend, which meant no classes. The sound of the morning bell had rung ten minutes ago, but I ignored it, lying still as though it hadn’t disturbed me at all. My body felt heavy, and the weariness of the past few days clung to me like an unwelcome companion. Between swordsmanship and magic classes, I was pushing myself beyond my limits. My body was crying out for rest, and frankly, I needed it.

Still, I couldn’t fully relax. My mind wandered to the persistent threat of Alad. He hadn’t made a move yet, but the uncertainty of his intentions was an ever-present weight. Not knowing what he was planning forced me to stay on edge, unable to let my guard down even for a moment. As my thoughts spiraled, they were interrupted by the loud, piercing voice of the one person who could shatter any semblance of peace—my noisy roommate, Tyiyn.

"WAKE UP, EVERYONE!" Tyiyn bellowed, his voice echoing through the room like a clap of thunder.

The three of us still lying in bed groaned in unison. "SHUT UP! YOU’RE SO LOUD!" Tork, Raiden, and I shouted back, irritation lacing our voices.

Tyiyn, as usual, was unfazed by our complaints. "So you’re already awake. Let’s go to the cafeteria; I’m hungry," he said, grinning as if he hadn’t just caused all of us unnecessary suffering.

I let out a long sigh, rubbing my temples. "Why do you have so much energy this early in the morning?" I asked, throwing off my blanket and swinging my legs over the side of the bed.

Tyiyn simply laughed, not bothering to answer my rhetorical question. With no choice but to follow his lead, the four of us begrudgingly got out of bed, washed our faces, and changed into fresh clothes. The promise of food was enough to motivate even the laziest among us.

By the time we reached the cafeteria, it was already packed. Every table was occupied, the sound of chatter and clinking cutlery filling the air. We scanned the room for a place to sit, but there wasn’t a single empty spot in sight. Just as I was about to suggest we wait outside, I noticed Chris’s group finishing their meal and preparing to leave.

"I’ll grab us a table," I told the others. "You go ahead and place your orders."

Tork, Raiden, and Tyiyn nodded before heading toward the food counter. I made my way to Chris’s table, catching them just as they were standing up.

"Good morning, everyone," I greeted with a smile, hoping I wasn’t interrupting them.

Chris’s face lit up as she turned to me. "Good morning, Will!" she said warmly, her usual enthusiasm evident in her tone.

"Good morning too, Will," Lana and Lucia chimed in simultaneously, their smiles bright and welcoming.

Then my gaze fell on Crestia. She hesitated for a moment before finally muttering, "Good morning." Her voice was quiet, but it was enough for all of us to hear.

The corners of my lips twitched upward as I exchanged amused glances with Chris, Lana, and Lucia. The four of us couldn’t help but smile at Crestia’s uncharacteristic response.

"What’s your problem?" she huffed, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of red as she glared at us.

I held up my hands defensively. "Nothing at all," I said, though her reaction only made our smiles widen.

Before Crestia could retort, Chris spoke up, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Are you free later, Will? I want to show you my new spell!"

Her eagerness was contagious, and I was about to agree when I caught sight of Crestia’s expression. She wasn’t saying anything, but the look on her face spoke volumes. Her brows were slightly furrowed, her lips pressed together in a tight line. It was the kind of look that said she had something important to tell me.

I hesitated, torn between Chris’s excitement and Crestia’s unspoken plea. Finally, I made my decision. "I’m sorry, Chris, but I’m a little busy today. Can we do it tomorrow?"

Chris’s shoulders sagged slightly, but she quickly recovered, flashing me a cheerful grin. "Is that so? Okay! I can’t wait to show you my new spell," she said, her voice filled with determination.

"Then we’ll take our leave. See you, Will!" Chris said cheerfully, waving as she and the others prepared to leave.

"See you, Will."

"See you, Will," Lana and Lucia echoed, their voices warm as they smiled at me.

I gave them a small nod in return, my eyes shifting to Crestia. She hesitated for a moment, lingering just as the others began to walk away. Her gaze flickered in my direction, and then she leaned in slightly.

"Behind the fourth-year dorms, after lunch," she whispered so softly that only I could hear.

Before I could respond, she straightened up and followed the others, leaving me standing there with her cryptic words echoing in my mind.

It didn’t take long for my friends to finish ordering their meals. Once they returned with trays in hand, we used the empty table Chris’ group was using earlier and settled down to eat. As they began talking about various topics—everything from sword techniques to the cafeteria’s mediocre food—I found myself distracted. Crestia’s whispered message played on a loop in my mind, pulling my focus away from everything else.

What does she want to talk about? Why the secrecy? If it’s like this then it must be about Alad.

I absently pushed my food around on my plate, my appetite diminishing as my thoughts swirled.

"Will, is something wrong?" Raiden’s voice snapped me out of my reverie. His concerned expression made it clear he’d been watching me for a while.

"Huh? No, it’s nothing," I said quickly, shaking my head as if to dismiss his worry.

Raiden raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "You’ve been out of it since talking to Chris and the others. Did something happen? Did you get into a fight?"

"You’re overreacting again," Tyiyn said, chuckling as he shoved a piece of bread into his mouth.

I forced a laugh, trying to match Tyiyn’s lighthearted tone. "No, it’s really nothing serious. I was just thinking about how I can learn magic more easily. I’ve been struggling with it a bit lately," I lied, hoping they’d let it drop.

It wasn’t like I could tell them the truth—not about Crestia, and certainly not about why she might need to speak with me in private.

Raiden studied me for a moment longer, his sharp eyes seeming to see right through me. Then he sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Well, if you say so. But if you need our help, just let us know. We’re not much, but we’d appreciate it if you depended on us every once in a while."

He knew I was lying. I could see it in the way his expression softened as he spoke. Raiden was perceptive like that, always able to pick up on the things I didn’t say.

Tork nodded in agreement, his deep voice adding weight to Raiden’s words. "Yeah, that’s right. If you ever need help, just tell us. We’ll do whatever we can."

"That’s right!" Tyiyn chimed in, his usual enthusiasm shining through.

I managed a small smile, the corners of my mouth twitching upward. "Thanks, guys. I’ll keep that in mind. If I ever need help, I’ll make sure to ask."

"Good," Raiden said simply, his lips curving into a reassuring smile.

The conversation shifted after that, moving on to lighter, more trivial topics. While they laughed and joked, I forced myself to focus, nodding and adding a comment here and there. But no matter how hard I tried, my mind kept drifting back to Crestia and the meeting she’d arranged.

***

After breakfast, I decided to have an early lunch. If I was going to meet Crestia behind the fourth-year dorms, I needed to make sure I wasn’t late.

The bell rang just as I arrived at the back of the dorms. The area was quiet, secluded from the usual bustle of the academy. I scanned my surroundings, noting the shadows cast by the tall building and the sparse trees nearby.

I found a spot to hide, crouching low behind a bush. Something about this situation felt...off. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Crestia might not be the only one coming to this meeting.

The minutes ticked by slowly. My ears strained for any sound, my body tense as I kept watch. Finally, after twenty minutes, I saw someone approaching.

It was Crestia. She stood near the dorms, her posture stiff and alert as she glanced around. She seemed to be waiting for someone.

I stayed hidden, deciding to wait a little longer. My instincts told me to be cautious.

Five minutes later, just as I was about to step out and reveal myself, a familiar voice reached my ears.

"Thank you for coming, Crestia."

My heart skipped a beat. I recognized that voice. Peering through the foliage, I spotted a boy stepping into view. It was Cirris, the same boy I’d run alongside during the grueling fifty laps in training.

"Yeah, but it’s not only me here. I also called someone I trust, just to be safe, Cirris," Crestia replied, taking a deliberate step back to put some distance between them.

Her tone was firm, her eyes narrowing slightly as she spoke. She wasn’t the type to take risks lightly, and it was clear she didn’t entirely trust him.

Realizing it was time to intervene, I stepped out from my hiding spot. "I’m sorry I hid here," I said, my voice steady despite the tension in the air. "I was surprised to see you here, Cirris."

As I approached, I moved to stand beside Crestia, making it clear whose side I was on.

"Will? Why are you here?" Cirris asked, his voice laced with surprise. His eyes widened as he took a cautious step back, as though my presence had thrown him off balance.

"I called him here because I trust him," Crestia interjected, her tone calm but firm. She crossed her arms and glanced at me briefly, then back at Cirris. "Don’t worry; he won’t tell anyone whatever you told him. Right, Will?"

"Of course," I said, nodding to reassure him. "But first..." I shifted my gaze between the two of them, curiosity flickering in my chest. "Can I get a little explanation about what the relationship is between you two?"

Crestia turned to Cirris for confirmation, her expression softening slightly. "Can I tell him?" she asked, her voice quieter now, almost as though she didn’t want anyone else to overhear.

Cirris hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line, but eventually, he nodded. "Yeah, go ahead."

Crestia faced me again, her brown eyes meeting mine. "Then, both Cirris and I came from the same village. You can probably guess what’s going on now, right?"

The pieces clicked into place almost immediately. Just from that, I could already tell what was happening. If Cirris came from Crestia’s village, that meant he also knew Alad. And if he knew Alad...

I frowned slightly, my jaw tightening. That probably meant Cirris was also being bullied by him.

"Yeah," I said slowly, piecing it together. "I can already tell what your relationship is. But..." I turned my attention to Cirris, my brows furrowed. "Why did you bring Crestia here?"

Cirris shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. His gaze dropped to the ground, his voice low but steady. "Because I thought I was stronger now," he began. "I thought I could finally beat Alad. That’s what I told myself. But..." He clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening. "The moment I saw him again, I froze. I couldn’t do anything but become his plaything all over again."

He paused, taking a shaky breath, and glanced up at Crestia. "I heard Crestia was here too, so I called out to her as soon as I found out. I thought...maybe I could get at least one ally."

There was a vulnerability in his voice, a quiet desperation that made me reconsider my initial skepticism.

"So you want to make Crestia your ally?" I asked, my tone neutral as I studied him.

"Yes," Cirris said without hesitation. His eyes were resolute now, his earlier unease replaced by determination. "And maybe, together, we can come up with a plan to finally take down Alad."

Crestia nodded slightly, then added, "He was summoning Cirris because he hasn’t paid what he owes yet. Cirris was scared, so he wanted someone to protect him too." She turned to me, her gaze steady. "Alad can’t lay a hand on me because someone’s already protecting me. That someone is you, Will, isn’t it?"

Cirris’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at me, a mix of hope and awe flickering across his face. "Are you really that strong? Strong enough that even Alad won’t mess with you?"

The way he said it was filled with both curiosity and a hint of desperation, like he was grasping at the possibility that I could be the solution to his problems.

I studied him for a moment, weighing my options. His tone was sincere, and his story lined up with what I already knew about Alad. He didn’t seem like he was lying. If anything, he looked like someone who’d been pushed too far and was grasping for a way out.

"Maybe we can trust him," I thought. Having another ally wouldn’t hurt, and if we played this right, we might even be able to turn the tables on Alad.

"You said earlier that Alad is summoning you, right?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"Yes," Cirris replied, his brows furrowing slightly. "What about it?"

"Maybe we can catch him off guard," I said, an idea beginning to form in my mind. "I’ve got a plan to stop Alad. Do you want to take part in it?"

Cirris straightened up, his earlier nervousness replaced by fiery determination. "Of course!" he said, his voice firm. "I’ll do anything just so that bastard gets what he deserves."

A small smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as the plan crystallized in my mind. "I’ve been thinking about this for a while. If he won’t come to us, then we’ll go to him," I said. I turned to Cirris, my smirk widening. "And thanks to you, my plan is now perfect."

"Will?" Crestia’s voice cut in, her expression clouded with worry.

I met her gaze, my voice steady as I reassured her. "Don’t worry, Crestia. This plan is bound to succeed. I’ve got all the players I need now."

Her eyes searched mine, still uncertain, but she didn’t argue.

"Now," I said, turning my attention back to Cirris and Crestia, "let me tell you the plan."