BEYOND THE BLAZE

Akirion went to the stage and started the conversation with everyone down the stage, who were hungry for the school's hero speech. Their eyes were on him the moment he stepped forward, and the whole place suddenly felt way too bright. He gulped, his throat tightening like someone had wrapped a rope around it.

He hesitated and then said, "Hi everyone!" His voice cracked a bit, and he thought, 'Ohh god, this is scary.' He shook slightly, fear making his knees vibrate as if they had their own heartbeat.

Everyone cheered for him as if they didn't see his trembling at all. Their cheers hit him like a wave, and for a second he almost forgot what he was supposed to say. The pressure grew more as the crowd kept clapping and shouting his name, and he forced a smile that barely sat well on his face.

Elina raised her hands up, showing that he was supposed to continue talking. Her eyes told him, "Go on, you're fine," but his brain wasn't agreeing.

He thanked everyone. He thanked the teachers, the staff, the students, and even the janitor, who wasn't anywhere near the place, but fear can make you thank everyone who ever breathed in your direction.

He then breathed in deeply and introduced the story about him going to the dungeon.

Everyone gasped. The sound wasn't even delayed; it came all at once like thunder. Fear surrounded the place. It felt like the air thickened, like the walls of the hall leaned closer to listen.

Some panicked, their voices shaking. Some cried, tears already threatening to fall before he even explained why he had to go.

Questions were raised loudly, almost overlapping:

"How will he go?" "Will he go alone?" "Why does he have to go?" "Is he being forced?" "Is he leaving today?"

The noise rose like a storm.

After the question, "Will he go alone?" Elina suddenly walked to the stage too. She glared at the ground and took a deep breath, her head slowly going up.

She looked at everyone and said, "No."

The whole place froze. People got quiet and glared at her. Even the ones who were crying paused like their tears got stuck halfway. Akirion froze his eyes on her too, his heart skipping one beat, then another.

She added, "It can sound weird, but I've made up my mind; I'll go with him!"

Murmurs exploded all around the hall.

"Akirion is in love with Elina." "No way, why would she go?" "She'll be killing herself." "She can't survive a dungeon!" "She's doing this for attention." "This is… isn't this like going there to die?"

"That is definitely a plotted suicide."

"Isn't she the one in love with Akirion?"

The place didn't feel like a school anymore but a huge pot of boiling voices. A bar was better than that; the noise was filled by both whispers and loud voices.

Akirion felt like fainting when he heard the last murmurs, not the harmful ones, but the part where they assumed he was in love. His face warmed for no reason he liked.

The murmurs faded only when Akirion called out to Elina, his voice trying to climb above the noise.

They all opened their ears and listened.

Akirion jumped towards her, stopping right in front of her. "No, Elina, you can't." His voice was louder than he expected, but it wasn't angry; it was just filled with worry.

He told her it was dangerous. He repeated it two times because that's how scared he was.

"It's dangerous, Elina; you can't. It's dangerous, so you understand?" He asked, and then he added things like she can't leave school, she shouldn't risk herself, and she still has a future here.

"Everyone here is with you; you can just enjoy your life just like always. Don't try to help me or try to make me feel better; it's fine, I'm okay with it, it's my decision."

She replied instantly, her words cutting through his like blades, "It's my choice, Akirion. And it's all for my sister. So I'm going. End of discussion."

Her voice didn't shake. His did.

He wanted to argue more, but he knew she had already made up her mind last night; that look she had when they were walking to school earlier wasn't normal either. Now it made sense. She thought that she was betraying him, but it was her only choice; she wanted money for her little sister and for a good living. So it was a tough decision to make, but she did, in a treacherous manner.

She did it by just saying it in front of the crowd, giving Akirion no road to go to in arguing, so she was activating her trap card.

He had no choice but to agree.

He turned to everyone and announced that he wasn't going alone anymore; he was going with her since she volunteered.

The reactions came fast and painfully real.

There were some who cried again, louder this time. Two of the ones crying collapsed down to their knees, covering their mouths, unable to process the idea of losing their hero and the cheerful girl who often cheered everyone at school.

One girl from the back whispered, "No… not both of them…" Another said, "Why must our school lose people like this…?"

Akirion didn't know what to feel. He expected fear from the students, but he didn't expect their sadness to hit him this hard. He felt touched, almost overwhelmed.

His heart felt heavy but warm, like he mattered more than he expected, like his existence carried something big.

He clenched his fists slowly, not in anger but to hold himself together. He looked at the students who trusted him, believed in him, and didn't want him to leave.

Elina stood beside him. She didn't smile, didn't wave, and didn't act brave; she just stayed there, quietly. But that was enough. Just her presence made the stage feel less lonely.

The professor walked closer, his step slow and heavy. "Students," he began, "this isn't something for you to fear. Akirion and Elina… They are not choosing recklessness. They are choosing responsibility. And we must respect that."

But respect wasn't enough to silence the pain. Some sniffed loudly. Some lowered their heads. Some hugged their friends.

Akirion took one more step forward. He breathed in deeply, his chest rising with the last bit of courage he had.

"I promise," he said, his voice clear. "I'll be fine; don't worry about me. It's part of my life training."

Everyone lifted their heads instantly.

"And she'll come back too." He pointed at Elina without looking at her.

Elina nodded slowly, a bit of a smile printed on her face. "We'll be fine," she added, her voice soft but strong enough to reach everyone.

Akirion continued, "I know it sounds scary. But I'm not going there to disappear. And Elina isn't going there to hurt herself or commit suicide. We have a reason; she has her own, and I have mine. It's hard to get it, but I hope you'll understand. And we'll do our best. So please… don't lose hope."

The students stared at him with wide eyes, their sadness mixing with a spark of belief.

He wasn't lying. They could hear it.

And for that moment, the hall became quiet, with only sniffs of the ones who were crying. Lucas was also crying, tears flowing down his face, his eyes on Akirion.

'That guy saved me yesterday! Now he's leaving? He's our hero, not only a hero but a good person. If it wasn't for his good kind heart, I was going to die, and I was going to get that lesson of fighting a monster and how fighting is all about." Lucas thought, his eyes closed while tears made a river on his cheeks.

He remembered everything Akirion did during the event and the fight. He protected everyone and even helped them to know how strong the monster was the time when he took a break and left the others fighting the monster.

The professor was helping Akirion, but his heart was heavy as if it was bound by a big chain. He was unable to grasp the way Akirion and Elina thought of using it to leave the school. He was busy touching his eyes as if the dust got in his eyes while sniffing, his runny nose troubling him.

Akirion and Elina stood together, side by side, ready to face whatever would come next.

«««⟨ TO BE CONTINUED! ⟩»»»

Spoiler alert:

The two new characters—get ready for the beginning of the harem.

This is where the harem starts; I can also introduce the other one who will join, making it a 4-girl harem.

So brace yourself and unlock chapter 100 and enjoy the continuation.

And dungeon time is coming.

Get ready for the upcoming fight and the unexpected things.

Thank you for reading BEYOND THE BLAZE; this is where everything will end up being boring.