Powerless Boy is reborn as Lustful Elf
Chapter 102: A surprise attack

Chapter 102: A surprise attack

Alex’s shock gave way to a burning anger, his hands trembling as they gripped the edge of the table.

Sylra shot to her feet, her chair scraping loudly against the floor, her face a mask of indignation. "Vaelen, you can’t just throw accusations like that without proof!" she snapped, her voice cutting through the murmurs like a whip.

Her hands were planted on her hips, her posture defiant as she glared at Vaelen, who stood a few tables away, his smirk infuriatingly calm. "You’re stirring up trouble for no reason, and it’s not fair!"

Bastian, still standing protectively in front of Alex, nodded vigorously, his usual grin replaced by a scowl. "Yeah, what she said!" he added, his voice loud enough to carry over the crowd. "You can’t just point fingers and expect everyone to believe you. Where’s your evidence, Vaelen? Or are you just trying to look important?"

Vaelen’s smirk didn’t waver, his lean frame relaxed as he leaned slightly forward, his gaze locked on Alex. "Why shouldn’t I speak the truth?" he said, his voice smooth but laced with venom. "Think about it. The moment Alex shows up at Starhaven, Eclipse attacks the market. Quite a coincidence, don’t you think?"

The words landed like a spark in dry grass, igniting a new wave of murmurs among the students.

Heads turned, eyes narrowing as they began to consider Vaelen’s point. "He’s right," one student whispered, her voice hesitant but growing bolder. "It is suspicious."

"I mean, no one even knows where Alex came from," another added, leaning closer to his friend. "He just... appeared."

The murmurs grew louder, a chorus of agreement that made Alex’s stomach twist.

He wanted to shout, to deny it, to demand Vaelen explain himself, but the words caught in his throat, tangled in a knot of anger.

Sylra’s face flushed with frustration, and she slammed her hands on the table, the sound sharp enough to momentarily silence the crowd.

"I can’t believe you’re all seriously considering this!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and fury. "Alex isn’t part of Eclipse! You’re letting Vaelen manipulate you!"

Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Alex’s arm, her grip firm but not unkind, and pulled him to his feet. "Come on," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We’re not staying here to listen to this nonsense."

Alex stumbled slightly as she tugged him toward the cafeteria exit, his legs heavy with the weight of the accusations still ringing in his ears.

Bastian fell into step beside them, his usual swagger subdued.

He didn’t speak, his lips pressed into a thin line, his brow furrowed as if wrestling with some inner turmoil.

Alex glanced at him, hoping for a reassuring grin or a quip to lighten the mood, but what he saw made his heart sink.

Doubt flickered across Bastian’s face, subtle but unmistakable, a slight crease in his forehead, a tightness around his mouth.

It was as if Vaelen’s words had planted a seed, and even Bastian, loyal and brash, wasn’t entirely immune.

****

The next class was ability training for telekinesis, and Alex trudged to Sir Orion’s classroom, his mind still churning with the events of lunch.

The room was a familiar sight, its walls lined with charts of telekinetic techniques and shelves crammed with practice objects, feathers, stones, and small metal spheres.

Sir Orion, a wiry elf with a perpetually distracted air, stood at the front, adjusting a stack of scrolls. As Alex entered, Sir Orion glanced up, his expression brisk but not unkind.

"We’re heading to the field behind the school today," Sir Orion announced, his voice clipped as he gestured for the Alex to follow him.

"You’ll be practicing with objects found in nature, sticks, leaves, maybe a few rocks if you’re feeling ambitious. Let’s move."

Alex focused as best he could, lifting twigs and stones with his telekinesis, but his movements were sluggish, his concentration fractured by the memory of Vaelen’s smirk and Bastian’s doubtful expression.

When the session ended, Sir Orion clapped his hands to dismiss Alex, then paused.

"I need to run an errand for the principal," he said, already turning toward a narrow path that branched away from the main route. "Head back to the school building. Don’t dawdle."

Alex walked alone, his steps slow, his mind still heavy.

The path to the main building was quiet, bordered by tall shrubs and the occasional tree, their branches casting long shadows in the late afternoon light. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice the figure ahead until it was too late.

An elf stood in his path, their face obscured by a crude paper bag mask with jagged holes cut for eyes and mouth.

Alex froze, his heart lurching as he instinctively activated his infliction ability.

A faint chime echoed in his mind, followed by a notification: <Infliction activated>.

Before he could process it, two more elves emerged from the bushes, each wearing a similar mask, flanking the first. Their movements were deliberate, their postures tense, and Alex’s pulse quickened.

He tried to diffuse the tension with a weak joke, forcing a grin despite the fear clawing at his chest. "Vaelen, if you want to fight me, you don’t have to go through all this stress," he said, his voice unsteady.

He watched for a reaction, hoping to confirm Vaelen was behind this, but the masked elves didn’t flinch. Their silence was unnerving, their faceless stares chilling.

They began to move toward him, their steps slow but purposeful. Alex scanned their chests for any crest or insignia that might identify them, but their tunics were plain, devoid of any symbols.

These weren’t impulsive bullies, they’d planned this, covered their tracks.

His stomach twisted as he dropped into a fighting stance, his muscles taut, his mind racing.

The first elf lunged, thrusting their hands forward and sending a ball of fire hurtling toward him.

The flames crackled, the heat searing the air as Alex dove to the side, the fireball grazing past him and scorching the ground.

His mind flashed to his third ability, pyrotechnics. If he could counter fire with fire, he might stand a chance.

He focused, willing the ability to activate, but a sharp chime rang in his head, followed by a notification:

<Pyrotechnics is locked>.

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