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—

have anything to do with me, and I understand

kind of emotion, but her slightly stoic demeanor was not

want to have anything to do

I see." Rey chuckled in

he was the one who took

though. I really appreciate it, Rey." She smiled, slightly using her fist to bump him on

it's no

shoulder as he muttered the

didn't feel any discomfort from her

the opposite,

mask, so thankful that she couldn't

friend, Rey. I'm lucky

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

huh? I guess… we

dark room…" Esme's voice was soft and sullen, but

despite bringing

strain my voice to call your name, you know? I said nothing initially, since I thought you would save everyone. Imagine my shock

report to the authorities, and they would have rescued you." Rey responded with

not what I thought back then, though. I was like… 'This jerk is just going to leave the rest of us like this? I can't believe he has a

I won't deny being a jerk." Rey laughed

me struggle just so you

that jerk would end up being such an amazing

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

not half bad yourself." Rey finally spoke up,

she heard that. "Well, isn't it very rare to have such a pretty friend like me? You can show me off to

image really came to mind once

thought about what would happen if he tried

she say, I

him. Making another friend was

But…

work out last

his friend gave

means she likes me, right? Maybe

Rey." Esme's voice brought Rey back to reality. "If it's for your sake, I can pretend to be your

"H-huh…?"

feel a bit