Descending Into A Novel-Chapter 53:Ellen’s situation

"Wow! Raymond Vance right? And you’re Ellen Grace!"

During lunch, while Raymond and Ellen were quietly eating together. Lucy excitedly bounded over to them, grabbing their hands and shaking it before Raymond himself could even realize what was happening. His mouth still occupied with his food.

Ellen politely responded for him. "Nice to meet you Lucy...and Cador."

Cador just stared at them, his green eyes were still. Compared to Lucy who appeared more calm and tranquil. With her sunshine-like demeanor occasionally peeking through. Cador just seemed more emotionless and blank. Raymond had yet to see signs of any emotions in his eyes, his facial muscles as still as a statue. Never moving at all.

If he didn’t blink and walk. Raymond might have truly been able to believe he was just a really lifelike statue, made by a skilled artist.

A particularly tall statue. Seriously how was this guy the same age as them? He had to have been at least 180 cm minimum. But Raymond wouldn’t have been surprised if he was closer to 190. He had to strain his neck to make eye contact with him!

Just two more years. Then he would return to his natural height. But for now, he was still a very average 167.2 cm (yes the .2 was important).

"We should go out sometime! But I don’t really know any places within the commercial district. Haha, I really wish I could have joined the academy at the start of the year rather then only being able to transfer now."

"Of course! But if you don’t mind me asking. Why didn’t you join the academy at the start of the year?"

Raymond’s ears perked up slightly. Only to be quickly disappointed by her reply.

"Oh just reasons, I was actually homeschooled for the past few months so hopefully I’m not too far behind on any of the classes."

"Don’t worry! All the classes are easy anyways, Raymond here doesn’t study much but he’s still first in terms of grades."

That was only because he would just use his more advanced knowledge from his years as an Archmage for subjects like foundations of mana sciences and basic mana skills. The ones that he couldn’t like history or biology? He would just memorize the entire textbooks for the subjects.

As a matter of fact, once he had memorized the entire textbooks for his whole year. He hadn’t done any studying whatsoever, still managing to ace the occasional surprise tests given out by their teachers. Getting full marks each and every time, occasionally managing to score above due to whichever bonus mark questions the teachers gave out.

It was the same strategy he employed to stay at the top during the four years he had spent in the New Rayan Middle School for Elites, and it worked even here at the academy.

He nodded to confirm Ellen’s statement.

"It’s true. I just memorized the entire textbooks for every subject. It’s pretty easy once you do that."

"...I see!"

Lucy mentally questioned his mindset, before remembering that he had managed to get a potential score over 100.

’Right, a genius wouldn’t think like us normal folk.’

If Raymond had heard her thoughts, he might have questioned her definition of normal folk. He was, in his own opinion. Probably one of the most normal people in the academy. Considering his circumstances, he found it to be a pretty remarkable feat.

Lucy quickly changed the topic. "Anyways! Can I get your numbers?"

He shrugged, him and Ellen both handing over their numbers to her.

"Okay thanks! I need to go find the other special class students now!"

***

By the end of her first day, Lucy had already managed to become the second most popular person in their class. Nearly overtaking Arthur’s throne as the most popular kid. A remarkable feat.

"It’s actually kind of impressive."

Ellen raised an eyebrow, "What is?"

He continued, "In just one day, Lucy’s managed to make more friends then you have for the past three months."

"I’m going to attack you now."

"Huh? What did you sa-

There was a reason why Ellen only ever talked with him, sat with him, walked with him and ate with him.

She was undeniably, a loner.

A leopard can’t change its spots after all. Even in their middle school at New Rayan. Ellen was still a loner. Now in the academy, it had only gotten worse. She unfortunately had zero friends that weren’t Raymond or any of the other special class students.

Except Thomas was always surrounded by his other friends—who were mostly female, Noelle with her sycophants that just couldn’t get enough of her, and Audrina well...was in a similar vein to Ellen. Safe to say that Ellen didn’t have anyone to talk to other then Raymond.

It was even worse in the previous timeline. At least now she had Raymond and interacted with the other special class students in advance. Previously, she would go entire weeks without even talking to a fellow classmate or anyone at all.

Such an issue was only fixed after the start of the second year, when Zachary joined the special class. Meaning she went an entire year as a loner. Even within the Zachary gang, she was always the second quietest—only behind Audrina.

"Ellen! Let go of my hair please!"

"What kind of shadow says something like that to their master huh?!"

While Lucy within one singular day, managed to somehow become friends with everyone in their class. The special class, class B and a lot of the academy employees. Her calm and occasional excited demeanor managed to strike a soft spot in people’s hearts he supposed.

Whereas Ellen appeared to have a passive aura which repelled most people. Shooting down the occasional person who managed to muster up the bravery to go and talk to her.

Well, he could kind of understand. Most of the few who did approach her were just a bunch of bootlickers. She wanted real, true friends. Friends who she could share her secrets with and laugh about funny things they see together. Friends who she could trust to be honest with her. Not friends who praised her every accomplishment.

"Ellen please! i don’t want to go bald!"

"You should have thought of that before saying it out loud!"

Raymond himself would have also been a loner like Ellen. But thanks to his decision to join the coffee club. He now had regular biweekly meetings where he interacted with others (mainly with Lily ).Meanwhile, Ellen was denying any and all interaction—even in her clubs.

That was why she also loved to bother him so much. Constantly intruding into the training hall, barging into his apartment (she managed to get a set of keys from the academy). Forcing him to go outside with her on shopping sprees—with him paying.

She just had no other option except for him.

"Ah! Did you just tickle my foot?"

"Your grip is too strong for me to escape otherwise you strength brute!"

Raymond himself was on the brink of bowing down and asking Thomas to introduce her to a few friends. Surely a guy like him knew a few decent people right?

How was someone on the verge of turning forty mentally still having troubles with making friends! 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Actually he himself also had quite severe social anxiety but Ellen was different! She didn’t have his social anxiety!

Or maybe it was because she was turning forty mentally that she didn’t make any friends? It was a bit weird when you were so much more older then everyone else in your friend group by two and a half decades. Ignoring Raymond’s age of course.

"Come back here before I use my authority on you Raymond!"

"Hell no! Get away from me you villain!"

Although truth be told, Raymond didn’t really mind her coming to bother him. It provided some good entertainment in his life. Hearing her complain about whatever trivial thing that bothered her like the homework or any group project assignments given. The occasional rambling about whatever random topics she could think of and sometimes forcing him to accompany her on her training sessions. During which, he would just sit on a random bench and watch while Ellen trained by herself.

To others, she may have been a quiet and cool person. Displaying a nonchalant vibe that made people think ’she’s so mysterious...". But in front of Raymond, she was just a big-mouthed yapper.

"I sincerely apologize for calling my master a brute, I promise to never do such a thing ever again."

"And?"

"I also promise to never tickle the master in order to try and escape her grip. Rather, I will simply accept any and all punishment that has been given to me."

"That’s what I thought."

A particularly sadistic yapper who also took pleasure in humiliating others. Namely him as her only victim so far.

He was pretty sure she wasn’t like this in the previous timeline, so how did she suddenly develop such sadistic tendencies!