So We're Monsters, So What?

Chapter 21.5: The Dragon, Ryuka Aoi

Oka: Y/N! Y/N!! 

The elf Oka searching for her familiar, she turns her room upside down calling his name to no avail. Not in the room, Oka gives up accepting he's not here either and begins fixing the room. The day starting and a job to do, Oka grabs her things and checks herself one more time in the mirror. Fixing up a little messy spot in her hair, she leaves into the hallway hoping to find him somewhere else. Walking through the corridors, Oka felt a lot more nervous compared to before. The bustling hallways and voices that filled here every hour of the day were now filled with only a few dozen students. A week passing since the incident in Elroe which worried many nobles, many of them called their children back until everything calmed down. The ones still behind either didn't fear it enough or outright denied their parents demands to return.

Arriving to the classroom, Oka opens the door and sees many more empty seats than filled ones. A wave of sadness over her with Oka letting out a sigh, her second chance at her passion of teaching was essentially gone. The few that do remain either crowd around Hugo as the hero that killed the monster that unleashed the Elroe incident or sitting down in their seats quietly but still visibly anxious about everything. Being such a big event and illustrators capturing the corroded lands in pictures, it wasn't hard to figure out Oka's lie about it being a training golem.

The other reincarnations all over the room, Yuri was with the crowd around Hugo trying to keep his ego in check. Sue and Katia sitting on the floor criss-cross organizing boxes and their contents, Fei and Shun were reading a cookbook writing ingredients on the chalkboard. Yuri spotting Oka at the door standing, she calls out waving her hand making everyone else in the room acknowledge Oka.

Yuri: Oh miss Filimos, good morning!

Yuri's enthusiasm contrasting with the emptiness and anxious atmosphere, it manages to lift Oka's spirit just enough to put a small smile on her face.

Oka: Yes, to you to Yuri. I'm glad everyone has managed to heal since that sudden attack last week. Has anyone seen Y/N by any chance?

Katia: Ryuka? Nope!

Fei: Ditto here!

Shun: The most I saw of him was a few minutes a few days ago around 4 in the morning.

The same answers once again, Oka couldn't help but sigh disappointed. Ever since coming back, Ryuka has frequently disappeared for multiple days at a time only to come back at random intervals. Ryuka only quickly informing Oka of Elroe's dire situation, he just as fast ran away to the hills nearby. Whether it was his attention or not, it looked like in the reincarnations eyes he was intentionally avoiding them on purpose. Hoping he would at least return for the special occasion tonight, Oka just had to accept the possibility of it without him.

Oka: I want everyone to be there tonight but if he doesn't come, he doesn't come. I hope he's doing ok... 

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--------Outside The Academy's Perimeter

In the forest, broken bits of gravel and concrete cover the green floor in a grey cloak. Carvings of several battle strategies and plans scratched into the chunks of trees, the forest began to look like some crazy science equation. At the center of the forest, Ryuka was atop a massive boulder covered head and toe in grey concrete dust. Chipping away at it methodically, Ryuka's claws scratched and broke the boulder piece by piece. Not the main reason he started this, Ryuka's mind does wonder toward that one unique compliment A.O. gave him.

Y/N: "An artist"? Yeah right, there's no way someone like me can be that...

Finished, Ryuka backs away and jumps off to get a better look. In full view, Ryuka's eyes widen with even it's creator surprised at the pristine state it turned out.