How To Survive A Calamity

"Will someone please explain to me what is going on?!" Chelsea yelled as the group retreated down the dark labyrinthine passageways.

"Shh! Quiet, you idiot!" Trise snapped back, wishing to almost tackle the loud auburn haired girl.

She turned her back, glared over her shoulders at Chelsea.

"Are you trying to get us killed?"

"Wh-what...?"

"Guys, i think this is far enough." While the two girls were arguing, the white haired Alexander stepped in to say.

After getting as far away as possible from the King of the Desert, and even at some point, the loud sounds of confrontation had ceased already.

Chelsea stumbled backwards and leaned against a wall before bending over her knees. Her hair was all over the olayce and her fair face was covered in sweat.

She raised her head and glanced between the two figures standing before her.

"So..." Chelsea said in a small voice, "will anyone explain what's happening to me?"

"Yes. My apologies, Ms. Harper." Contrary to what she expected, a different voice of suddenly came from the darkness as a figure's outline slowly emerged.

"Yeek!" Chelsea yelped in her position and jumped.

The one who had responded was neither Alex nor Trise. Chelsea turned towards tge direction of the voice.

The familiar figure of Xavier stepped out and was revealed. The youn male cadet was wearing a small smile. Coupled with his slanted, narrow eyes and pale face, gave him a rather sinister and slightly unsettling vibe to his handsome charm.

"Xavier, you made it." Alex exclaimed with relief and sighed back.

Xavier chuckled mildly, and limped forward, holding his side.

He appeared slightly more paler than before, but aside from that, he seemed fine.

"I told you I would." He nodded at Alex, grinning.

"And the Sand Worm?" Alex said.

Xavier lingered, his smile diming on his face.

"I barely held it back before quickly coming after you guys. I can't say anything much more than that."

Then he turned to face Chelsea.

Xavier glanced at her and gave a soft chuckle.

"It is finally good to have you with us, Miss. Harper — although i would prefer we didn't meet in such an unfavorable manner like this."

Chelsea blinked her eyes. She stuttered.

"Y-you are..."

How could she not know.

"Yes..." Xavier nodded, took a step forward and lowered his head in courtesy.

"Cadet Rank 7, Xavier Locke. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." He outstretched a flattering hand.

"Holy shit! It's number seven!" Chelsea drew in a sharp breath and gasped as she jumped in her position. Her face flushed in embarrassment and she fidgeted, "A-ah, yes! Charper—! I mean, Chelsea Harper! Nice to meet you!"

Trise who was watching from the side rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"What's with that reaction? You're even picking up that dimwit's cursing habits!"

"Ehh? B-but, i mean — i was just a little suprise. He's the top seven cadet, you know?" Chelsea said, twirling her hair lightly.

She was a bundle of emotions and confusion.

There was a severe distinction between the top ranked Cadets, especially the top ten.

Despite already being classmates with two of them, and a group member of one, Chelsea still found the presence of another top ranker like Xavier overwhelming. Especially considering the young man's already prosperous background outside the academy.

There was almost nearly no one in Aegis who didn't know about the charming second son of the Locke family.

All of this coupled to his distinctive aura that was much different than the cool, indifferent and sharp presence of Ceres, and the the cold, aloof and domineering presence of Deandra.

Xavier's was more... slithering. It was like a charm that slowly lured you into a grasp. And his handsome appearance was both unsettling and reassuring.

Xavier withdrew his outstretched arm and laughed flatteringly as he straightened up again. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

"I'm flattered you feel that way about me, but as both students of the academy, we are no different from each other." He said and turned to look away.

The small friendly smile wiped from Xavier's face.

"Especially now. I don't think the distinction of ranks matter at this moment when we should all be trying together to get out alive."

"Huh? What.... Are you talking about the Sand Worm from before?" Chelsea blinked amd asked. Then she shifted her head slightly and turned to the white haired boy standing nearby.

She froze and gaped, her breath caught in her lungs for a few seconds.

The cadet...

"....A-and you are...?"

She hadn't really paid it much attention before earlier, but...

'Oh, my world! He's, like, so cute!'

He was stunning!

He had pale white hair that looked soft and fluffy like immaculate snow, and long spotless white eyelashes like a girl's over two ghostly blue icy eyes.

He was the perfection physical representation of a softboy.

'I want to dress him up!'

Literally.

Those eyelashes... She wanted to see how amazing he'd look in a dress.

Who was he? Was he also a top ranker? But Chelsea would have sure as anything known about a beautiful boy amongst the top ranks like this.

Then she blinked and tilted her head slightly as she realised something.

'He kinds of lools familiar.'

Alex felt her gaze and felt a little flustered for whatever reason as he rubbed the back of his head meekly and coughed.

"Hi, Chelsea. I'm Alexander, but you can call me Alex, Ranked 787. It's the first time we're meeting like this in person although we're classmates."

"Ah! I knew you seemed familiar somehow! Hey, Trise, did you know we had such an eye candy in our cla—"

"Ah, i don't think this is the right time for all that now, Miss. Harper." Before Chelsea could continue to embarrass herself, Xavier politely but sternly interrupted with his words.

He looked around warily and cautiously, his eyes narrowing to thinner slits that made his face looke even more uneasy.

"Now that we've gotten the introductions out of the way, i don't think it's best we stay in an open area like this one for too long. This whole place is still crawling with monsters from all over, and I'm afraid we might have attracted a few of them towards this general area over our battle with the King of the desert." As Xavier said this, the faces of the group turned pensive and grim, leaving Chelsea only feeling left out.

"We should get moving. Miss. Harper, we'll explain everything along the way. For now, just come with us and do as we say."