Eternal Undying Chronicles

Chapter 29 Unstealthy Ninja

Alicarde had nothing to say for himself. The countless missed calls from Anne weighed heavily on his conscience. He had been too depressed to even look at his phone, and once he emerged from that dark cloud, he left all her messages on read. The guilt gnawed at him, far more potent than any excuse he could muster.

Anne was not just his first friend here; she was his only friend. The blonde girl with a heart of gold had always been there, worrying about him, wondering why he hadn't been coming to class. In truth, if the roles were reversed, Alicarde would have likely stopped caring after the first call—assuming he even made one.

But Anne had grown on him in a way he hadn't expected, her kindness penetrating the hardened exterior he'd built around himself.

"So, Anne... right... so I had this thing, and I... well... I wanted to text back, but honestly, I felt really guilty for ghosting you for so long. It was sort of my bad." His words were awkward, the guilt more than apparent.

Anne looked at him, her eyes narrowing. "You show up after a few days looking like you just crawled out of a luxury magazine, and that's your excuse?" Her glare was sharp, cutting through any pretense.

"My bad, Anne. Forgive me, Anne-sama," Alicarde replied, trying to lighten the mood with a playful tone, bowing his head slightly.

Her expression softened, but the glare remained. "Hey, am I being a nuisance to you by calling and texting?"

Her words stung, making his heart sink further. "No, never... you are literally my only friend, and I appreciate it. Knowing that you have my back means a lot to me." He spoke with sincerity, hoping she could feel the truth in his words.

Anne's eyes brightened, her smile like a rainbow after a storm.

"Really, I'm your only friend? Geez, you need a social life. Well, I guess I'll tough it out with you for a little while longer. After all, I am your only friend," she teased.

Alicarde felt a wave of relief wash over him. She had let it go, at least for now. Anne gently placed her hands on his shoulders, locking eyes with him, her expression serious.

"Ghost me again, and I'll kill you and be the only person at your funeral. You get me? Capish?" she whispered, her voice taking on the tone of an Italian gangster.

Alicarde nodded quickly, a playful smile creeping onto his face.

"Are you an Italian gangster now... Capish?"

Anne gave him a cold glare, balling her fist and holding it up to his face.

"Yes, ma'am, understood. But it would be hard to kill me with that cute and dainty body of yours. I'm sort of immortal, you know," he said, trying to keep the mood light.

Anne's face reddened slightly as she adjusted her glasses.

"I'm... I'm not cu... cute," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

Seeing her flustered state, Alicarde leaned in, using his finger to lift her chin.

"Wow, are you blushing? That's so cute... you are the sweetest thing in existence," he whispered softly.

Anne must have had enough of his nonsense, as she suddenly punched him in the gut. It didn't hurt, but he pretended to double over in pain.

He gazed at her noticing the faint shimmer of a chain on her neck.

"Madam Anne... no, Mommy Anne, I believe! I believe in espers. In fact, I was the first person to believe in espers, and your grandma was definitely not scammed by a shady character. That charm works like a charm," he said, his tone dripping with sycophancy.

Anne looked at him, stifling a laugh at his ridiculousness.

"Fine, I'll let it go. Oh, and by the way, I believe in the existence of monsters too... I just don't believe you fought one and lived without a scratch. Next time, show up with a broken bone or two, okay?" she said, reaching into her bag.

She handed him a thick stack of papers, and Alicarde stared at it in disbelief. He was supposed to study this in under ten minutes and expect not to fail?

Anne stood up from the bench, giving him a look of pity.

"I'll go now. I still have class rep work to do, and also, I cannot believe the hoops I had to jump through for you. You owe me lunch or something, but I could totally take your soul if you offer it," she teased.

Alicarde placed his hand on his forehead, falling to one knee in mock despair.

"Fair maiden, I would gladly offer my soul. A shame my folly has cost me my soul and my life, now owned by a wicked she-devil."

Anne chuckled at his dramatic flair, always amused by his antics. She said her farewells and walked toward the large building where their class was held, leaving Alicarde on the bench.

Alicarde looked at the thick stack of papers with a serious expression and began to skim through them. The topic was interesting enough to hold his attention, so he read on, absorbing as much information as he could.

When he finally raised his head and checked the time on his phone, his heart sank. He was late—by a whole twenty minutes.

"Oh God, I am so screwed," he muttered, jumping up and sprinting towards the building.

Of all the professors in the psychology department, Alicarde had heard the most about Malefica. She was the kind of professor who made students tremble in their seats—not just because of her strictness, but because of the stories that followed her.

Even though he barely attended classes, he knew she was ultra-strict, notorious for catching students off guard. But the rumors didn't stop there, some said she had the beauty of an angel but the soul of a demon.

As he approached the lecture hall, Alicarde noticed with some relief that the side door was slightly ajar. 'Perfect,' he thought. It had worked last time, it should work again. He slipped through the door, which creaked ever so slightly, and entered the room as quietly as he could, trying to be as soundless as a ninja or a nightshade moving through the darkness.

As he crouched and began to move closer to the other students, he caught sight of his familiar, Warth, looming on the wall beside him. Warth seemed to have a presence all its own, its form darker and more defined than mere shadows should be. Its eyes, seemed to glare at him with that ever-present menacing look.

It was a reminder of the darkness that lingered in his life, always watching, always waiting.

'I don't have time for this,' he thought, pushing the dark presence out of his mind. He rolled into a crouch behind some seats, then slowly began to edge forward, hoping to blend in with the other students before anyone noticed him.

Just as he started to relax, thinking he might have actually pulled it off, a voice rang out, cold and precise.

"The student that just came in, the one that fancies himself a stealthy ninja... I have a question for you."

Alicarde froze, his heart sinking. Malefica was facing the other way, but he could feel the weight of her words pressing down on him.

She turned slowly, her gaze locking onto him with a laser-like intensity that made his blood run cold. Her hazel eyes were like shards of ice, her expression as unreadable as ever.

He stood up, feeling the stares of all the other students drilling into him. He was the center of attention, and at that moment, all he wanted was for the ground to open up and swallow him whole.