Rise of the Crusader

184 Leaving The Academy

A week passed since Raphael began working on the systems, and on the sixth day he began preparing to leave the academy.

“Sayonara”

Raphael remembered the last word that was said by Bane and Aiden before they left the academy, and then let out a chuckle.

“Are you ready?” Elisa asked as she stared at Raphael, who was scanning the room with a bewildered look on his face.

Raphael didn’t respond to Elisa immediately after she spoke, he looked at the room for a few more seconds before nodding his head gently.

“Yes,” said Raphael.

Unlike most students who left the academy with all sorts of luggage, Raphael wasn’t holding a single bag in his hand.

He had everything he needed in his ring, including the books which were on the shelves.

The light creaking sound from the door sounded soon after Elisa opened it, and as they moved to the living room, approaching the door, she experienced different emotions.

.....

The past few days she spent with Raphael were one of the best moments of her life, and even though she had discussed how the distance was going to affect their relationship, Elisa still felt worried.

Three months was a long time, and with women lurking around Raphael, Elisa was bound to be in this sort of situation.

“Raphael, there’s something I need to tell you.”

As they were only a few meters from the door, Elisa’s voice rang out.

She abruptly paused and peered deep into Raphael’s blue, glittering eyes.

“What is it?” Raphael asked in a soft voice.

He stared at his wristwatch afterward, before then moving his gaze to Elisa.

“I...” Elisa stuttered.

She heaved a deep breath, and once she seemed to have regained her composure, she spoke the words that were deemed the ultimate statement of affection.

“I love you, Raphael.” Said Elisa.

After she spoke, there was complete silence in the living room. The tension, however, rose quickly for Elisa.

She hoped for a response from Raphael, yet seconds passed and there was no reply for him. Elisa still had her eyes on him, and minutes went by, and there was still no reply from him.

He stared at her, evidently puzzled, and as she slowly turned towards the owl that was on his shoulder, Elisa was stunned to see its mouth wide open.

Elisa bit her lower lips hard and then dug her fingernails into her hand.

“Raphael,” She said.

This time around, Raphael reacted to his name being called by knitting brows, but still, no words left his mouth.

“Did you hear what I just said?” Elisa paused. “I said I love you.”

The ultimate statement of affection was said again, but unlike the previous time, she received a response that caused her to be dumbfounded.

“I heard. And thank you.” Raphael replied.

While Raphael’s response had caused Elisa to be stupefied, Gus was it coming. It then stared at Elisa, wondering what it was that she expected.

Before Elisa could regain composure from the word that just struck her, Raphael opened the room door, and with no delay, he stepped outside.

With her hands then clenched into a tight fists, Elisa walked out as well.

The both of them headed to the alley, and it couldn’t be any more awkward.

Gus glanced at Elisa and Raphael along the way, and after it couldn’t bear the stillness between the both of them, it began to let out snorts and hisses.

Raphael, however, had no response to any of the things that were said by Gus, he kept a straight face the entire time, and it was only when they arrived at the teleportation device that he spoke.

“I will let you know when I get home, goodbye.” Said Raphael.

Responding to Raphael, Elisa nodded her head gently.

And once the destination was inserted in the teleportation device, Raphael stepped into the channel immediately.

A long hiss that caused Raphael’s eyes to twitch was let out by Gus.

“Shut the hell up, Gus!” Raphael blurted.

Soon after, Raphael took a deep breath, staring at Elisa, who clearly was unhappy about what occurred in the past minutes.

He opened his mouth, “Elisa, I L-”

However, before Raphael would get the rest of the words out of his mouth, he vanished from the alley as well as the academy.

And even though Elisa hadn’t heard what he said completely, she was a little relieved when she heard the L part of his word.

Unbeknownst to Raphael, and Elisa, as they moved from the dormitory to the alley, the both of them were being watched.

“What do you think about him?”

A cold and ancient voice rang out.

The voice was as cold as it could possibly be, but if Raphael or the other students heard it, they would recognize as it the same person who spoke to them back in the administration block.

“He’s good.” Said the woman standing on the dean’s right-hand side.

“If you were to describe him in one word, what would it be?” The dean’s voice rang out.

“Gifted.” She responded again.

Amelia looked at the figure on her left, and even though she was unable to see the figure’s appearance, she didn’t seem to be concerned about it.

It had always been like this, be it students, directors, or instructors, no one in the academy had laid eyes on the dean.

And to date, the gender of the dean still remained a mystery.

“What about you, what do you think of him?” Amelia asked.

There was perhaps no one in the academy who would speak to the dean the way Amelia just did.

Amelia was neither a director, student, nor even an instructor in the academy, but the power that she amassed was only second to the dean.

“A rough diamond.” The dean’s cold voice rang out.

“What about if you were to describe him in one word, what would it be?” Amelia asked.

“Unambitious.”

The response came after Amelia spoke.

There was a change in Amelia’s expression soon after she heard the dean. Her mouth opened slightly, she was about to speak, when the dean’s voice rang out.

“The kid has no other goal besides surviving this harsh world.”

Amelia raised an eyebrow, “Isn’t the goal supposed to be survival?” Amelia inquired as she stared at the figure in front of her.

“No!”

The dean’s voice sounded.

The dean was clearly displeased with the response that Amelia gave, and as she heard the difference in the voice, she lowered her head immediately.

“Have you ever wondered why you young ones are unable to ascend beyond that stage?” The dean asked.

“The world has been drained of most of its resources,” Amelia responded.

While the dean’s body was covered in fog that prevented anyone from being able to see him, Amelia still felt a head shake come from him, after she spoke.

“It has nothing to do with the world’s resources, but instead none of you is ambitious enough and willing to strive to the top.” The dean said.

“I only see a change occurring when the world faces a threat beyond the God-level. Perhaps then someone would rise to the occasion.”

There was obviously disappointment evident in the dean’s voice. And even though Amelia wanted to oppose to what was said, she knew it was the truth.

The world was way too relaxed, and a change would only occur when they were to face a disaster.

“It’s the same with Raphael... The kid has potential beyond this world, but not being very ambitious would hold him forever.”

The dean said.

Amelia heaved a deep breath, “Will you do anything about him?”

The academy had high expectations for Raphael, and as the problem was known, Amelia hoped there would be a solution to it.

However, it wasn’t even up to a second after she spoke, and the dean suddenly burst into laughter.

“Haha hahaha!!!!”

It was rare to see the grumpy fellow in the state, and after the laughter quietened down, Amelia spoke.

“You have to do something about it.”

.....

“Never!” The dean retorted.

Before Amelia would question the dean’s decision not to interfere with Raphael, she received a response that very much explained it all.

“The last time I interfered with one of the Mikaelson siblings, I almost lost a hand.” Said the dean.

“And that was for the least favorite child, what do you think would happen if I’m to move against the favorite among them.”

Amelia’s mouth opened slightly, she was aware of a few things about the dean, but the incident with the Mikaelson’s sibling wasn’t one of them.

“What-”

As Amelia realized the dean had vanished from where they were, she shook her head.

The expression on her face changed very quickly, and after a brief moment, she disappeared from the surrounding.

Meanwhile, Dale city welcomed in Raphael Queen after so many months.

“Welcome back my son,” Yvonne said then pecked him on the forehead gently.

And Gus wouldn’t be Gus if it didn’t request for a peck on its head, right after Raphael was given his.