Chapter 21: New ways

this is a fictional story by realTensai

Alvis’ body shook, a higher might forcing it to move. He was in his comfort zone, fully at peace, yet his peace was getting interrupted. The higher might shook stronger and stronger and Alvis knew he would leave his comfort zone soon. He started hearing a voice, and before he knew it, he woke up.

“Wake up Alvis, you got school!” his mother said, looking impatient.

“Just one more second,” Alvis pleaded.

But it was in vain. His mother just grabbed his blanket and pulled it away, exposing Alvis to the bitter cold.

“Noooo~!”

His mom grinned, obviously enjoying herself.

She took better care of me when she still thought I would die. Alvis joked in his head.

“Get up. Breakfast is ready.”

“Yes, yes.”

His mother left the room when she saw Alvis getting out of his bed. One glance at his holo watch confirmed his suspicions.

03.08.2123

Alvis had respawned.

Without wasting time, he opened up his system, wanting to see his notifications.

NOTIFICATION

[YOU FAILED!]

[TRY AGAIN!]

Experience is awarded for failing!

LEVEL 2: A lone girl

Mission: Save the girl

General:

Name: Alvis Silva

Race: Human

Class: Mage

Level: 3

Skills:

Basic mana manipulation Lvl. 4-> Lvl. 5

Mastermind Lvl. 2

Stats:

Mana: 91-> 96

Strength: 29

Intelligence: 80-> 85

Endurance: 36

Reflex: 32

Health: 45/45

Silently, Alvis just took it in. The changes had been like he expected, so it was not noteworthy. Though he was pleased with seeing basic mana manipulation getting a level up.

Alvis had failed his level again, but it did not bother him that much. He knew he did not save the girl in his last run, so respawning was not a shock. However, he had found out who the girl was he had to save. This alone should be a reason to be happy, yet Alvis could not muster up a smile. It was because he did not know how he should save her.

The girl was Lia.

Alvis knew Lia as the perfect girl with no flaws. Of course, he knew even she had flaws. No one was perfect after all. Yet Alvis could not see her flaws. That led him to wonder what she had to be saved from.

It did not fit in his imagination that he had to save her. An introvert like him had to save the most popular girl in the school.

Ha, it could not be more cliche.

Even though it would still take a bit of time for Alvis to warm up to the idea, he already had to create a plan for the upcoming two weeks. He had to get closer to Lia and find out what her problem was. Alvis would do everything it takes to get the answer he needed.

——

“What do you think about Lia?”

Once again, they were listening to the entrance ceremony, and it was the student council’s turn. Lia just announced her retirement, so the crowd was in an uproar. Alvis, who only focused on Lia’s demeanor, wanted to know if others also saw the same thing he saw. He wanted to know if others also saw through the act she put on.

“What do I think about Lia? She is cute. What more should I think?”

“Ah, what did I even expect?”

Dane was obviously the wrong person to ask.

As the ceremony came to an end, the students left to go to their classrooms. Arriving there, Alvis sat down at his place, wanting to observe the discussion about Lia.

“Is it true Lia? Are you really going to stop?” Kumi asked, her brows furrowed and her body fidgety.

Lia nodded with a soft smile on her face.

“Yes, it is just like I said at the entrance ceremony. I will stop being the student council president.”

“But why? Why the sudden change?”

“We are in our third year and our grades now are part of our final diploma. I want to focus on school and being the student council president would be too much.”

Her smile never wavered, and the softness in her voice made her seem like an angel. Yet the confidence she displayed was overwhelming. However, Alvis noticed something was off. Her reason did not make sense. Though the other students would call it out.

“You have straight A’s on every subject. And you did that while being the student council president. So why should that change now? Also, it is normal for the student council president to keep their position in their third year and retire in the fourth. This is what Fiona’s sis did, too.”

Karl said everything Alvis had thought. Alvis knew Lia did not tell them the true reason. Yet it was this true reason he had to find out if he wanted to help her.

“This is enough Karl! Lia does not have to justify herself,” Maya said.

Furious, she stepped before Lia, trying to protect her from her classmates. As her best friend, she did not want Lia to feel sorry about her decision.

However, Lia put her hand on Maya’s shoulder, trying to reassure her with a smile. Her emerald eyes looked so sincere, one just had to listen to her. After that, Maya stepped aside again.

“It is like I said, I will retire as the student council president. But don’t worry, I will still be in this position for the next couple of months before we have found a new president. I won’t retire until I find someone worthy. This is all I can say.”

Lia bowed before her classmates, her blond hair hanging down. Seeing that, they could not complain anymore and even apologized for questioning her. The mood calmed down while they got ready for class.

“What do you think about Lia’s decision, Alvis?” his seat neighbor Sekki asked.

Alvis did not answer right away. Sekki always asked him this question, yet Alvis always seemed to get it wrong. Only recently he realized what Sekki meant. The elf was a smart person, always observing the class without actively stepping in. For him, everything seemed like a game. That was why he searched for things that amused him. Sekki probably saw through Lia’s facade and wanted to know if Alvis did too.

“Only time will tell where her decision will lead the class. Lia’s position in the class is essential for the class dynamics. Her influence should not be underrated.”

This was the conclusion Alvis came to. After having spent three restarts with the class, he noticed things he would not have noticed if it were not for the restarts. One would normally think why one should care if Lia would retire as the student council president. But because it was Lia, her classmates could not just ignore it. They worried the pillar that kept the class together would collapse.

“I see, so you understand, Alvis.”

Sekki smiled, satisfied with Alvis’ answer.

With their conversation over, Alvis focused on Dane, quickly waking him up. This time he woke him up in 9 seconds.

Two seconds faster than last time.

Alvis had made a game out of this. He would try to beat his own time with every restart. When Ms. Myth entered the class, their lesson began. Though there was no way Alvis would pay attention to it. He would not listen to the same mundane lesson for the fourth time.

——

The bells rang, signalizing the end of the class. Alvis packed up his stuff while Dane was half asleep. Normally, they would go to the workshop and hang out there, though this time Alvis got other plans. He would take drastic measures compared to the other loops. If he wanted to get closer to Lia, he could not act reserved.

After waiting for most of the class to leave and also for her to leave, he stood up.

“Yo, we going to the lab?”

“Sorry Dane, I have got to do something.”

Dane looked at him but did not question it further. This was something Alvis liked about Dane. He did not bother to ask questions if they did not relate to him.

Alvis left the room, heading to his destination. He did not even know where their room was, though one look at his digital school map would give him the answer. It was not far away, so he arrived after five minutes.

Standing before the student council room, Alvis went through his plan for one last time. With his resolved set, one last deep breath in and out was all it took for him to be ready.

What he was about to do was so out of character that if one had told him in the initial loop, he would do that he would not have believed it. Yet Alvis would not hesitate now. He had no time to stay in his comfort zone.

Alvis knocked on the door and waited. He had heard voices inside the room, so he was sure they would answer soon. And the moment he thought about that, she responded.

“Enter.”

Let’s do this!

The first thing Alvis saw when he entered was Lia sitting behind her desk, paperwork in front of her. Next to her stood Maya, who seemed to have been talking to Lia. They were not the only ones in the room, though. One guy sat on the sofa, which was at the side of the room. Because Alvis saw him on the stage at the entrance ceremony, he knew he was part of the student council, too. He looked like a dwarf, though he also could be mixed.

They all looked at Alvis as soon as he entered, their faces displaying their confusion. Maya and the guy seemed puzzled, and Lia was the only one who was composed. Even though she wore a smile on her face, her gaze seemed to be questioning Alvis.

“Alvis, what are you doing here?” Maya asked, breaking the silence.

“I have got a request.”

Maya raised an eyebrow, though it was Lia who spoke up.

“What is it?” Lia asked, her green eyes focused on Alvis.

Alvis exhaled before he said the words, which would change everything.

“I want to join the student council!”