An Extra’s POV

"Let's go, Esme."

Rey took her hand and drew her close to him as he flew away from the scene.

With his Spatial Skill, he could have easily teleported the two of them out of there, but instead, he chose to ascend to the skies with her.

They both floated in the air, the ground far beneath their feet.

"W-what about Aldred? What will happen to him… and them?"

A single glance at Esme's face showed that, despite being hurt by the Elves, she still cared about them. Rey didn't understand if it was some kind of racial camaraderie, but he found it odd.

'Would I have been the same if the humans treated me like shit?'

He wasn't sure, but he doubted it.

Even when he was considered the weakest of the Otherworlders, and he sort of still was, the Royal Council didn't treat him with any kind of bigotry.

The only reason they separated the students into two classes was in order not to rush the training of the lesser skilled students and also to prevent the impediment of the growth of the more talented students.

It was a pragmatic approach, and Rey wasn't even the only one who was in Beta Class. Most of the students were there.

Promotions and demotions also existed, so it wasn't a strict hierarchy.

There were initially nine students in the Alpha Class, but they eventually got whittled down to seven. If Trisha continued her intense training, Rey had a feeling that she would have undoubtedly reached Alpha Class.

All of that was in the past now, but the bottom line was that he wasn't harshly treated by the humans in H'Trae. Lucielle and Brutus—as well as any other trainer in-between—were pretty fair to him.

He was treated pretty much the same as everyone else.

In fact, most of the scorn he recieved was from his fellow Otherworlders. A lot of them made fun of him in the beginning, but eveb that didn't last very long.

Everyone had their own thing, and so they soon ignored him.

No one really bullied him. Perhaps that was due to the influence of Adonis, but Rey also felt like they simply had their struggles and challenges to keep busy.

"I haven't really had it that rough, so I wouldn't know how you feel right now… Esme." Rey said as he looked at her.

For a moment, they stared at each other in silence.

Then—

to have anything to do with me, and I understand that." Esme spoke

cry or display some kind of emotion, but her slightly

to have anything to

I see." Rey chuckled in

like, rather than Esme, he was the one who took

for having my back, though. I really appreciate it, Rey." She smiled, slightly using her fist to

it's no big

shoulder as

feel

was the opposite,

mask, so thankful that she couldn't see his beet red

I'm lucky to have known

something move in his heart as she said those words. He felt a bittersweet sensation within him as he heard those

I guess…

still remember the first time we met. In that dark room…" Esme's voice was soft

smiled despite bringing

since I thought you would save everyone. Imagine my shock when you just started walking

rescued you." Rey responded with a nervous smile as he watched Esme shake

to leave the rest of us like this? I can't believe

deny being a jerk." Rey laughed

girl like me struggle just so you

that jerk would end up being

two stared at each other for what felt like a minute, allowing the winds to blow on them as they

bad yourself." Rey finally spoke up, replying in a

giggled the moment she heard that. "Well, isn't it very rare to have such a

so only one image really came to mind

about what would happen if he tried to show Esme

she say,

for him. Making another friend was not an easy task for Rey, so—naturally speaking—she would be glad

But…

out

as his

likes me, right? Maybe

to reality. "If it's for your sake, I can

"H-huh…?"

a bit jealous when