Chapter 9: What about Liza? [2]
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"It's about Liza."
Greg Tunley's voice was barely audible, filled with an urgency that cut through the silence of the emptying classroom. Arios had been about to text Liza, his mind already crafting a message. Greg's sudden, direct address, and now that statement, they pulled his focus away.
Arios lowered his tablet, his gaze clear. "What about Liza?" he asked, his voice filled with the his internal annoyance at this unexpected interruption. He needed to understand what Greg wanted, and how it connected to his primary objective.
Greg shifted nervously, his eyes darting towards the door, as if he expected someone to overhear. "It's... it's better if we talk outside," he mumbled, already moving towards the hallway.
Arios hesitated for a moment, then shrugged internally. He had nothing else pressing at the exact moment, and Greg's distress seemed genuine. Plus, understanding Greg better could be useful for his plan to protect him from Kyousuke. He slung his bag more securely over his shoulder and followed Greg out of the classroom.
They walked for a few moments, the sounds of distant student chatter and the feel of the academy's air conditioning filling the air. They headed towards the dormitories, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the academy grounds. Greg kept glancing at Arios, as if trying to gauge his reaction or find the right words.
Finally, as they neared the dorm building, Greg cleared his throat, his voice still a little tight. "You know," he began, not looking at Arios, but at the path ahead, "I always wanted to be a Mage Knight."
Arios blinked, surprised by the sudden, seemingly unrelated confession. "Huh?"
Greg chuckled, a short, self-deprecating sound. "I know, right? That's weird coming from me. I don't exactly look like someone who's capable of swinging a sword, do I?" He gestured vaguely at his own frame.
Arios took the opportunity for a quick look at Greg. Greg was indeed pretty skinny, almost frail. His shoulders were narrow, his arms thin, and he moved with a slight, almost hesitant gait. His square glasses, constantly slipping down his nose, spoke of poor eyesight, and his vision, even with them, was clearly not sharp enough for the precise, rapid movements required of a Mage Knight. He was built for books, not battles.
"You're more academically inclined," Arios stated, his tone neutral. It wasn't went to judge, just his observation.
"Exactly!" Greg exclaimed, relief in his voice. "Everyone says that. My teachers, my classmates... even my family, sometimes." He sighed. "But my family... we're a family of Mage Knights. My dad is a West Wing Commander in the Royal Army. And my older brother, he's in Class 2-B here, and he's already cultivating at the Spirit Refinement stage."
Greg was opening up to him, revealing personal details, including family background. This wasn't just idle chatter. Greg's family connection meant he had direct insight into the military structure and the academy's true purpose, far beyond what most Class D students would know. But why was he sharing this with Arios, his basically a stranger? And how did any of this connect to Liza?
Arios pulled out his school-issued tablet, deciding to multitask. He needed to contact Liza. He opened the messaging app and quickly typed.
[Hey.]
[Didn't see u in class.]
He hit send, then slipped the tablet back into his pocket. He glanced at Greg, who had been watching him.
"How's she doing?" Greg asked, his voice softer now, a hint of genuine concern in his tone.
Arios looked at him, genuinely surprised at first. How did Greg know he was texting Liza? Then the obvious answer hit him. Liza was the only prominent student absent today, and Arios had just been talking to her yesterday. Greg, with his anxious and observant nature, likely noticed everything happening around him, even if he didn't participate. Arios felt a flicker of impatience. His time was valuable, and Greg was still circling the point.
Arios stopped walking, turning to face Greg fully. They were now standing near the entrance to the dorm building, a few students passing by, but none paying them any mind. "Greg," Arios said, his voice firm, cutting to the chase. "What does any of this have to do with Liza?"
Greg flinched slightly at the directness, his eyes widening behind his glasses. He wrung his hands together, his gaze dropping to the ground. He took a deep, shaky breath, as if steeling himself. When he finally looked up, his eyes were filled with a raw, desperate plea.
"The truth is… Liza and I went to the same high school back home," Greg began. "She was… she was bullied. Badly. It was awful to watch."
"Back then," Greg continued, his voice cracking slightly, "she didn't look like the other girls. Not like she does now. She was… flat-chested. Quiet. Awkward. She tried to blend in, to be invisible, but that just made her an easier target." His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "They called her names. Laughed at her. Made her feel like she wasn't even a real girl. They'd trip her in the hallways, hide her books, spread cruel rumors. Every day was a nightmare for her."
The image of the vibrant, confident, breast filled Liza Garnet Arios knew contrast violently with Greg's description.
As the social butterfly— she was the center of attention. That was just a carefully constructed facade. Greg words were a deep, painful revelation.
Her current personality, her loudness, her constant chatter, her desire for social influence – it was all a reaction, a shield built to protect herself from the trauma of her past. This wasn't just a girl with a secret crush on the protagonist; this was a girl who had been fundamentally broken and rebuilt herself, desperately trying to avoid a repeat of her past.
"Over time, it broke something in her," Greg said, his voice thick with emotion. "She just… shut down. She stopped speaking to boys entirely. She kept her distance from everyone, especially the popular crowd. She became a ghost, trying not to be seen, trying not to be hurt."
"The worst part?" Greg's voice trembled, his eyes wide with fear and anger. "One of the girls who did that to her… she's here. In this academy. I saw her yesterday, smiling and talking to Liza like nothing ever happened. She's in Class 1-C." He swallowed hard, tears welling in his eyes. "If Liza starts skipping classes again because of her… if she retreats into herself like she did before… she's going to lose points. And once that starts, it doesn't stop. Not in this academy. She'll fall further and further, until she's expelled."
Greg reached out, grabbing Arios's arm, his grip surprisingly strong. His voice was a desperate, raw plea. "I saw you talking to her earlier. She might listen to you. Please, Arios. I need you to bring her back. I'm begging you. Don't let her go through that again."