Street Encounter

October 29, 9998, Yulan Calendar.

Fenlai City was exceptionally bustling at the end of the month. On Champs-Elysees Avenue, people came and went in a constant stream, carriages rattled by incessantly, and the cries of street vendors rose and fell in succession. With the month-end holiday only two days away, many nobles and commoners alike were taking advantage of the fine weather to go shopping.

Akes walked through the crowd, accompanied by Yale, Reynolds, and George. Linley had not come—he said he had business today and stayed at the academy alone.

"Rare for the Fourth to not tag along," Reynolds said, chewing on some jerky he had just bought. "Usually he won't come even if we ask, but today, he's got his own business."

"He has a girlfriend now, of course he has to spend time with her," Yale shot him a sidelong glance. "You think everyone is like you, a lonely soul?"

Reynolds was unconvinced: "Who says I'm a lonely soul? There are plenty of girls chasing after me!"

"Plenty? Then why are you still alone?"

"I... I'm just picky!"

George laughed from the side: "Alright, enough bickering. There's a newly opened magic materials shop up ahead, want to go take a look?"

"Let's go." Akes nodded.

The group of five became four, continuing forward along Champs-Elysees Avenue.

By the end of October, Fenlai City already held a chill, but the sun was bright and felt warm on the skin. Akes listened half-heartedly to Reynolds bragging, his gaze sweeping casually over the shops along the street.

Just then, Reynolds suddenly tugged at his sleeve.

"Third, look over there!"

Akes followed his gaze, and his footsteps faltered.

At the entrance of a cafe across Champs-Elysees Avenue, a man and a woman were walking out, hand in hand. The girl had golden hair and blue eyes, wore a pale blue dress, and was smiling beautifully. The man had short brown hair and was dressed in luxurious clothing, his head lowered as he spoke to her.

Alice.

That man was not Linley.

Akes stood where he was, watching the two walk away, chatting and laughing. Reynolds clenched his fists, Yale's expression darkened, and George's brows were tightly locked.

"That guy..." Reynolds gritted his teeth, "who is he?"

"Don't know him." George shook his head. "Judging by his attire, he should be a noble of Fenlai City."

Yale stared in that direction: "Does the Fourth know?"

No one answered.

Akes was silent for a moment, then spoke: "Let's head back first."

The group turned and walked toward the academy. No one spoke along the way; the atmosphere was stiflingly heavy.

Returning to the academy, the four sat down in the dormitory courtyard.

"What do we do?" Reynolds was the first to speak. "Do we tell the Fourth?"

"We definitely have to tell him," Yale said, "but we can't just say it directly."

"Why can't we say it directly?" Reynolds was puzzled. "Let him see that woman's true colors!"

George shook his head: "It's not that simple. Linley is head over heels in love right now. If you suddenly run up and say his girlfriend is with someone else, whether he believes it is one thing, but whether he can handle the blow is another."

"Then what? Just let him be kept in the dark?"

The others looked at Akes.

Akes leaned back in his chair, silent for a while: "I'll go tell him."

"You?" Yale looked at him. "How will you say it?"

"I'll ask him to drink tonight and drop some hints," Akes said. "Let him have some mental preparation first. Once he sees it with his own eyes, then let him decide for himself."

George nodded: "That's the safer approach."

Reynolds frowned: "What if he doesn't understand?"

"Not understanding is still better than telling him straight out," Yale said. "In matters like this, no matter what outsiders say, it's useless. He has to discover it himself."

The group reached a consensus.

That night, Akes brought two bottles of wine to Linley's room.

Linley was reading a book and looked surprised to see him enter: "Something up?"

"Came to drink with you." Akes placed the wine on the table. "Feeling a bit stifled."

Linley looked at the bottles, his brows slightly furrowed: "I'm not much of a drinker."

"It's fine, just have a little." Akes sat down, opened the bottles, and poured two glasses. "Keep me company."

Linley hesitated for a moment before taking the glass.

The two clinked glasses and each took a sip. Linley frowned at the burn, and Akes smiled: "Drink slowly, no rush."

Moonlight spilled in through the window, and the dormitory was very quiet.

"How have things been with Alice lately?" Akes asked.

Linley looked at him, a faint smile on his lips: "Pretty good."

"In what way?"

Linley thought for a moment: "She... is quite understanding. Last time I went to Fenlai City, she accompanied me for the whole day and even bought me this." He took an amulet out from his bosom; it was the size of a palm, embroidered with exquisite patterns.

Akes took it to look, then handed it back to him: "Not bad."

Linley put it away and took a sip of wine.

Akes deliberated before speaking: "Fourth, there is something I don't know if I should say."

"Speak."

"Matters of the heart..." Akes looked at his wine glass, "Sometimes the more you invest, the deeper the wound if something goes wrong."

Linley was stunned for a moment and looked at him.

Akes continued: "I don't have much experience, just talking nonsense. But I feel that when two people are together, you can't just look at the surface-level kindness; you have to look at the long term. Some things require a bit of caution."

Linley was silent for a while, then nodded: "You're right."

"So you..."

"I know." Linley interrupted him, "I will be careful."

Akes looked into his eyes and knew he hadn't understood. Linley thought he was speaking about general relationship advice and assumed he was just showing concern, never once thinking in that direction.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but eventually swallowed it back.

"That's good then." He raised his wine glass, "Come, let's have another drink."

The two clinked glasses.

Stepping out of Linley's room.

Yale and the others were still waiting in the courtyard; seeing him come out, they all looked up at once.

"How was it?" Reynolds asked.

Akes shook his head: "He didn't understand."

"Didn't understand?" Yale frowned, "What did you say?"

"I beat around the bush, saying one should be cautious in relationships." Akes sat down, "He thought it made sense, but he didn't think in that direction at all."

George sighed: "That's normal. His heart is currently full of Alice; how could he possibly imagine she would be with someone else?"

"Then what do we do?" Reynolds was anxious, "Just wait like this?"

Akes leaned back in his chair, looking at the night sky.

The moonlight was bright, and the stars were sparse. Occasionally, the chirping of insects drifted from afar.

"Wait for him to discover it himself," he said.

The group fell silent.

After a long while, Yale spoke: "Third, who do you think that man is?"

"I don't know," Akes said, "but judging by his attire, he should be a noble from Fenlai City."

"Could it be that one from the Debs Family?" George suddenly said.

Akes looked at him: "The Debs Family?"

"Yes." George nodded, "The Debs Family is a major clan in Fenlai City and has collaborations with the Dawson Chamber of Commerce. They have a young master named Kalan who seems to be a childhood sweetheart of Alice."

Akes felt a stir in his heart.

Kalan. That was indeed the name in the original work.

"How do you know?" Reynolds asked.

George shrugged: "I heard it when chatting with Yale last time. Their family has some reputation in Fenlai City."

Yale frowned: "The Debs Family... I have some impression. Their family head has had dealings with my family's chamber of commerce, but we aren't very close."

The next day, everything went on as usual.

Linley went to the back mountain to train in the afternoon and went to Fenlai City to find Alice in the evening. When he returned, his expression was calm; nothing unusual could be seen.

Akes didn't ask, and the others didn't ask either.

Days passed just like that.

On an evening in early November, Akes was training alone in the back mountain. The setting sun slanted low, and the evening glow dyed half the sky red. He sat on a rock beside the waterfall, closing his eyes to meditate.

The Fallen Heart Flame pulsed slowly within his body, and the Fire Spirit Bead glowed faintly. The surrounding fire elements continuously surged into his body, and the magic power in his middle dantian grew at a steady rate.

He was at the late stage of the sixth rank; there was still a long way to go before the seventh rank.

[Ding--Detected that this month's check-in opportunity has refreshed.]

[Do you wish to check in?]

Akes recited silently in his heart: Check in.

[Check-in successful.]

[Obtained reward: Azeroth Arcane Brilliance (Permanent)--Spiritual perception increased, meditation efficiency increased by ten percent.]

A cool sensation surged into his mind and instantly spread out.

Akes closed his eyes, feeling this subtle change.