Chapter 11: A Chance Encounter in the Cafeteria

After class, the students hurriedly left the classroom and made their way to the cafeteria. Alex was excited to have lunch with Max and spend some quality time with his friend. As he stepped into the cafeteria, he was greeted by a spacious room with high ceilings and large windows that allowed natural light to flood in, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The walls were painted in a cozy earthy tone that made the space feel comfortable and welcoming. The long wooden tables and benches were beautifully arranged, offering ample seating for the students. The bright red and yellow placemats added a touch of color and liveliness to the room.

The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, blending with the cheerful chatter of the students as they indulged in their meals. At one corner of the room, there was a large display of delectable desserts and snacks that enticed the students with their irresistible flavors. The cafeteria was a bustling hub of activity, a place where students could come together to enjoy a meal and catch up with friends.

As Alex scanned the room, he noticed that Max's table was already packed with students having a lively conversation. Realizing he might not get a chance to sit with him, Alex decided to find another table and catch up with Max later. He picked up a tray and grabbed a plate of succulent roasted duck, which was the special of the day, and sat down at an empty table in the corner of the cafeteria. Although the food was mouth-watering, Alex felt a sense of emptiness without any company. He began to reminisce about the times when he used to have lunch with his family, and his thoughts wandered away.

Max sat at a table in the cafeteria that had been reserved for him by some of his classmates. He basked in the attention he received, but what he truly desired was to have lunch with Emily Parker.

Max had been captivated by her beauty from the moment he laid eyes on her. After the ceremony, Max had only managed to talk to her once, and it was during their visit to the place where Alex's parents had tragically passed away.

Emily had asked Max if he wanted to see the site, and he was enchanted by the fact that such a stunning girl was talking to him, so he agreed without hesitation. As they arrived, Max saw that everything was charred, and in the area that had been most affected by the fire, a bouquet of red flowers had been placed. Max knew that Olana had put the flowers there because they were her favorite, and only he was aware of that. While they were there, Max overheard some adults talking about Alex, and how they believed he was responsible for the fire and that he posed a threat due to his inability to control his powers. Since then, Max had unknowingly harbored a slight fear of Alex.

He had never spoken to Emily again after that day, but today he longed to share a meal with her and converse.

Max surveyed the cafeteria in search of Emily, and after a while, he caught a glimpse of her standing with a tray in her hand, chatting with Alex who was seated alone at a table.

What perplexed Max was that Alex appeared to be ignoring Emily.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" Emily asked with a gentle smile, trying to get Alex's attention.

But Alex remained lost in thought, staring straight ahead. Emily tried again, "Alex, may I sit here?"

When there was still no response, Emily's patience wore thin. "ALEX! CAN I SIT HERE OR NOT?" she exclaimed, causing everyone in the cafeteria to turn and look at them. Emily was somewhat of a celebrity at the institute, and Alex was ignoring her.

Startled by the outburst, Alex jumped and replied, "Of course, please sit down."

Emily smiled and took a seat as if nothing had happened. "Hi Alex, my name is Emily," she said, introducing herself.

"I know who you are," replied Alex. "Your mother helped me a great deal when I was in the hospital. She's a very kind woman."

Emily beamed with pride. "Yes, she is. She told me she was taking care of you," she said. But then, she lowered her voice and added, "I'm sorry for what happened. It must have been very difficult for you."

Alex sighed, feeling a bit down. "Thank you, Emily. It was a tough time, but I'm doing better now. I take things one day at a time."

Trying to cheer him up, Emily said, "My mom told me that you're amazing. You survived a massive mana discharge in your body and only stayed in a coma for a month, while most people die or end up with permanent damage for the rest of their lives. I'm sure you'll be able to do great things!"

Alex was surprised to hear this. He had thought he fell into a coma due to emotional shock and stress. "I still don't really know what happened. I don't remember anything. I just remember feeling so sad and cold, and then I blacked out."

Emily was stunned. "What?! You don't know what happened? You defeated the Tera with the power of fire! Everything burned until even the stones on the ground turned to dust! After they found you, they analyzed the Tera's core and it was a very strong Tempest!"

Alex tried to remember, but his memory failed him. "How do you know all this, Emily?" he asked.

"I passed by the place where it happened with Max, and I've been curious to meet you ever since," she explained. "It was a tragedy, but I also wonder what a Tera that strong was doing so close to the cathedral on such an important night."

Alex's eyes widened, intrigued by her question. But before he could respond, they were interrupted by a person.