Road of the Heavenly Light

3-1: Lost Passion

"Push back the string, aim, take a deep breath, and... release." An arrow flew towards a tree with great speed, and hit the bullseye of a target.
"Looks like you've still got it," Felix said, pinching the arm of his friend.
"Of course I do! Did you ever doubt me?" Glen asked.
Felix laughed, "not for a moment. Although, not too long ago you were missing quite a lot, and you even stopped flirting with women. Just like that!"
"That was just a small phase, a dip of sorts, I'm over that now," Glen aimed and shot another arrow into the bullseye, "Royale High is the perfect place for me! All the girls from across the continent gathered in one place, and so many local beauties too! And since I'm a prince, I don't have to worry about finding someone of good station. Though, you don't need a lecture on that, Felix. Or should I say future king-consort of Falmar?"
"Shut up. You know that I don't love Laura because she's a princess."
"Well, anyway, may the whole school know that Glen of Aurion is back in the game!"
"Yeah, yeah, we get it, you're a show-off. We have classes in a bit, so come with me." The two guys went back to Royale High and went towards their first class: literature. Glen's favorite. Not. Books were his biggest nemesis, and he loathed them more than anything. Still, being smart would impress all of the girls, so he had no choice but to try overcoming his disgust for letters and paper. Once the teacher had arrived, everyone went inside the library and towards the books they needed. Glen saw it as the perfect chance. First, he had to choose a target. None of the princesses were good ones, as Laura and Elizabeth were taken, Amaya would punch him, Astrid and Anna just wouldn't feel right, and Audrey would ensure that the whole school would gossip about him. With that, it also eliminated Audrey's other dormmates, Eleanor and Isabella, as they were known for feeding the princess' desire for gossip and rumors. So a noblewoman, or even two, it would have to be. Thankfully, there were still plenty of targets to choose from. Glen settled on two noblewomen from Brightwald. It would be risky, with Audrey being who she was, but both of them were quite the beauties.
"Ladies, let me carry those heavy books for you," Glen offered, walking up to his targets. The ladies giggled and let him take the books. He also balanced one on his finger before throwing it onto the pile with a wink. He then carried the books towards the table and laid them down.
"Say, you wouldn't happen to be available sometime soon, would you? I know an amazing place in Earth that I'm sure you'll find the best. We could drink a bit, play some games, and have a nice time together. What do you say?" Glen asked.
"Sorry boy, but I'm already engaged to someone," one girl said, grabbing her books and going to a different table.
"And I'm not interested," the other girl said, following her friend. A boy. She called him a boy. That was pathetic! How was it possible that this was a failure? Glen never picked the wrong targets, he always chose ones that were interested in him! This must have been some kind of mistake... Oh well, this was just the first opportunity since he'd returned to his usual business. It was bound to happen.

Once lunchtime arrived, Glen walked up to the table where his friends were sitting and grabbed Felix and Levi.
"Sorry, urgent men-only discussion, I need to borrow your boyfriends," Glen turned to Astrid and Anna, "and boy friends." Glen took them with him to an empty table.
"What was that for?!" Felix asked.
"You won't believe what happened during literature class!"
"What? You read a book?"
"Not funny, Levi. I was trying to flirt with two girls-"
"As usual..."
"Stop interrupting me, for god's sake! I tried my usual tricks, but it didn't work! That's never happened before!"
"Glen, I think you're exaggerating... I mean, it's true that your tricks have never failed before, but that doesn't mean it's the end of the world. Just try again after lunch," Felix said.
"Fine, I guess there's no helping it..." Glen sighed.

Once lunch had ended, Glen saw a new chance appear at the start of etiquette class. This time, a noble lady from Wyvernston caught his eye. And so, in the midst of a lecture about table etiquette, Glen slowly approached her.
"This is all so boring, isn't it? I mean, a lecture of forks and spoons, really? We could, you know, slip out and go out into Earth for a drink?" Glen suggested with a wink. The girl was about to respond, when someone else interrupted.
"Finally, someone else who thinks this damn talk about table whatever is a waste of time! Let's leave right now," Drake said. The girl rolled her eyes and walked off. Yet another failed attempt.
"Actually, I think I'll stay..."
"Suit yourself, I'm out. And keep your mouth shut about me leaving, or else!" How did this keep happening?! Girls were supposed to come to him like bees to flowers!  Was it really possible that he'd lost the passion he had before coming to this place? But how... He wasn't doing anything differently than before, and it couldn't be the girls either, he'd faced far more difficult girls to interest. Glen needed to find a girl that could become interested in him and stay interested... If he didn't leave Royale High with a girl at his side, then his fate would be sealed for good... Once school was over, Glen locked himself in his room to focus. He looked at his prized bow, Quintain, lying in the corner. How was he supposed to shoot targets if he couldn't properly aim for a girl's heart?
"Glen? We're going to study together, are you coming too?" Felix asked on the other side of the door.
"Not now, Felix," Glen sighed, falling onto his bed.
"What's with him?" Levi asked Felix.
"I have no idea... I've never heard him like that, and he hates studying alone... There's something more going on with him."
"Could it be that he's still down about those girls rejecting him?"
"He was in such high spirits this morning... Something tells me more girls rejected him and he now thinks he can't make any girl like him anymore..."
"Why is all the flirting so important to him? He seems desperate to get a girlfriend..."
"You'd be better off not knowing..." Felix sighed. "Besides, if there's one thing Glen loathes more than being rejected, it's people pitying him."
"But we have to do something! He can't go on like this."
"I agree. We need to find something to once again lift his spirits and get him back in the game!" Felix said.