I Refused To Be Reincarnated-Chapter 913: What Wasn’t Said

Amidst the students, Adam noticed Elliot. The boy sighed in relief, yet his worried frown didn't fade. Though he wanted to at least greet him, Teacher Diane loomed over him, her scarred lips curved like a dented knife. She tapped a slender finger on her crossed arms a little faster with each second crawling by.

Each tap drilled the question deeper into his silence. He had to answer. But what? The truth... wouldn't do, not without knowing what Rakhan and Rokhan had told her or Grum'Thal's next political move.

Politics, politics. He didn't care about it, but had understood something long ago: if you don't want to answer, keep things vague enough to make her believe you did.

He eventually shrugged. "I didn't do much, really. I toured the gorge, visited the orc villages, fought a couple in duels, then discovered Thaur'Gorath's bastions and collection of siege engines..." He pointed at Rakhan with a mischievous smirk. "And creepy shamans like this one."

"I'm in no mood for your vain jokes, Adam. Did these creatures imprison, torture, or experiment on you? Did Grum'Thal offer you deals too good to be true? Answer. Now!" Diane leaned before him, her nose almost touching his.

He didn't flinch as her brow twitched mere inches from his eyes. Instead, he shook his head as naturally as he sighed. "Nothing of the sort, teacher. Well, I spent a couple of hours in chains because I killed one of their warriors. After their investigation? I had the pleasure of tasting the orcs' hospitality in all its forms... most of them..." He rolled his eyes. "The mating tents were a bit... You can guess from the name, right?"

Rakhan stepped forth, his voice a calm yet firm breeze. "No matter how many or whom you ask, you'll only get the same answer, Diane Nyx Virelda. Your rascal infiltrated us for three days. It was your threats that forced the great shaman to send us to search for him during this time of celebration. We scoured half the gorge back and forth without success. Do you know why?" He clicked his tongue beneath the shadows of his hood. "While we sweated in the field, he never used mana after shapeshifting into one of us."

"Oh, I guess I did that." Adam's eyes darted to the side as he scratched his cheek.

"You've wasted enough of our time. Don't interrupt me!" Rakhan snarled, while Adam gazed at him knowingly. Diane pulled back to glare at the shaman. "We missed the troublemaker until he accompanied one of our clueless shamans inside Thaur'Gorath, where the gates expose trickery. The disguise fell, and the great shaman discovered him. But could he send a student so interested in our culture back? No! We had to show him our proud customs at this cycle's end. And here he is, back and healthy before sunset."

He shook his covered palms, his gaze locked with Diane's. "The great shaman sent us to avoid misunderstanding, but you don't seem to value his foresight. Very well. Do not trust us. Do not even trust your own student. Grum'Thal the Everflame requests a gathering of Brineheart's council. He shall discuss this matter with your supreme sorcerer in two days—if he values that single student so much, that is."

Diane's gaze shifted from Rakhan to the silent Rokhan. Her eyes narrowed for a moment. Then, she arched a challenging brow. "Between the shaman built like a siege engine, and the one whose eyes don't glow red, you do realise that I'd believe sewer gobballs more than the two of you?" She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Enough with the nonsense. I'll personally confront Grum'Thal in two days. In the meantime..."

Adam's eyes widened just as she turned toward him. Not because of what she'd do, but because nothing seemed to escape her. This deduction ability of hers was dangerously alarming. The longer he spent with her, the more she'd figure things out about him. Perhaps not joining her class in the next semester would be for the best.

As a deep furrow creased his brow, Diane continued with a raised finger. "Listen, Adam. You must tell me if they did anything to you. No matter how much they threatened or cursed you, you're safe now. The college will help you. I will help you. But I need you to talk first."

"About what, teacher? You don't look inclined to believe me in the first place. It's almost as if you're wishing that they actually did something to me. Unfortunately... I mean, fortunately, they didn't. What happened is more or less what the shaman said. Besides that, I really don't know how to answer."

He scratched his head to emphasise his confusion. Rakhan's recounting wasn't really a lie. As for what wasn't said? It'd better stay this way.

Diane's tense features slightly relaxed. She ruffled his hair gently, the corners of her lips raising. "Of course, I wish nothing but your safety. At least I don't feel any curse on you. Let's end it at that... for now. But you understand that I'm not pleased with your performance. You rank last on this field trip. Let's return."

Coming last mattered less than the extra points he didn't get, and even that was nothing. At least Diane hadn't deducted points for his escapade, which made him think that perhaps she had genuinely been worried about him. Still, points had never been his priority on this field trip. He got much better.

She turned away to end the conversation with Rakhan. Adam could barely hear her first sentence before the silent students crowded around him. They dragged him on the back of Diane's avian beast, pressing on his shoulders to make him sit. Then, more questions. Innocent this time, simple curiosity about the second half of the gorge.

Among them, Elliot smiled at him.

Ignoring the questions, Adam moved toward the boy. "So, how was your week? I bet you placed among the first."

Elliot grinned. "First place was Jonathan's team. Mine earned second place and four hundred points from teacher Diane. But I wasn't useful on my own. It was Morris' leadership and our teamwork that made it possible. But what happened to you? We all thought you'd get first place, only to learn that you went missing on the very first day. I... I was really, really worried..."

The surrounding students nodded, eyes sparkling, ears perking. Some doubled on Elliot's question, asking what it felt like to live as an orc, while another found the mating tents more mysterious.

Adam rolled his eyes, wondering if they were human or a pack of vixens. With a chuckle, he answered, "Well, it was a fun week. I learned more about shamanic arts, combat, and orcish honor. I even made myself a couple of green friends."

Students gasped for a moment. Then, Elliot nodded. "Hearing you, I wish I could have followed you. It's true that they are honorable creatures."

"Mhh?"

Adam tilted his head, and Elliot smiled.

"Even old or crippled, all they wanted was one last battle. So, I buried these warriors."

"It was you?" Adam slapped the boy's back, chuckling. "They deserved a resting place. Well done for understanding—"

Before he could praise Elliot for understanding the custom, Diane leapt on her beast's head, thundering. "Carry us back to the college."

Everyone clutched a giant feather as the beast unfurled its massive wings. Adam glanced below. Rakhan was watching him. They didn't need words. He read the gratitude in the orc's posture for what he had done for its species.

He waved at him as the avian beast shot to the darkening sky, bidding goodbye to Thaur'Gorath, the attaching orcs, and their surprisingly cursed history. Now all he wanted was for the beast to fly faster, to rest in his comfortable bed, and reunite with Quintella.

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AN: The orc arc is finally over. I hope you enjoyed reading it and are ready for the next one, which'll start in a few chapters. :D