How To Survive A Calamity-Chapter 257: Stalker Details

After the small disruption in Wrenna's lecture — which, by some bizarre miracle, we got away from with only a warning — class continued until it was finally over.

Honestly, I wouldn't even have noticed if Alexander hadn't quietly nudged my elbow while I was still wallowing in mixed emotions and tangled thoughts.

"Vic, class is over," he said cautiously.

Before I could react, the soft sound of approaching footsteps reached us. A few familiar faces gathered around our seats.

"What was that all about back there?" came a familiar voice — Deandra, our red-haired, sweet, and ever-dutiful class rep.

She placed one hand on her hip, exchanging a curious glance between Alex and me. Then Chelsea, crossing from behind her to the front row, sat down across from us.

First, she looked at me. Then paused.

"What's wrong with Vic?" she asked Alex, her short auburn hair bobbing slightly. I'd noticed lately that Chelsea and Deandra had been spending more time together — probably because they'd started training as partners.

Alexander looked torn about how to respond. He sighed deeply, the weight of mental exhaustion clear in his voice.

"Victor's acting a little weird… more than usual," he said flatly, as if I wasn't even there.

Chelsea tilted her head slightly, her once-bright orange eyes — now dulled by old scars and battles — fixing on me with deadpan curiosity.

"So Vic's being Vic, then. Weird or weirder? I don't see the difference," she said, the corner of her lips twitching up ever so slightly.

They went on talking about me like I wasn't sitting right in front of them.

Usually, I'd feel at least mildly offended, but honestly? I had bigger things to worry about than their light teasing right now.

"You look like you haven't slept in months," Deandra hummed, then suddenly perked up as if remembering something.

"Also, congratulations on your new rank. Wow, you're in the top 500 now. That's—"

"Terrifying," Chelsea cut in, finishing her sentence. "Vic's growth is terrifying. Who would've thought that just a few months ago, he was ranked dead last in the entire year? Now he's halfway to the top." Her orange eyes flicked toward me. "Vic, don't tell me you were hiding your strength this whole time. You know the Ranks are based on a lot of things — not just raw power."

Despite how close she was skirting to the truth, the conversation flowed strangely naturally. They were talking about me, sure, but it didn't feel like they were trying to pry.

It just felt… casual. Light. Like friends chatting after class.

And somehow, that was what felt strange.

For the first time ever, people were actually gathered around my seat after class. Granted, everyone here had fought beside me — putting our lives on the line together against Nicodemus. Still, there were a few missing faces: Xavier, the Class C student; Don, who'd lately started distancing himself…

And Ceres.

Between Deandra and Chelsea leaning toward us, I caught sight of her. Ceres Walker — that enigmatic, quiet beauty — still sitting alone at her desk while the rest of the room buzzed with chatter and laughter. She was reading, of course. Her face calm, expression unreadable — the kind that told you nothing, not even what she might be feeling.

As if sensing my gaze, Ceres tilted her head slightly and met my eyes.

Those cold, crimson eyes locked with mine from across the room — distant, unbothered, immaculate. Then, without a word, she closed her book, stood up, and walked out.

As Chelsea, Deandra, and Alexander continued to drone on about me like I wasn't even there, my gaze drifted — lingering on Ceres's flowing silver hair as she walked out of the classroom with that quiet, graceful poise of hers. I watched her go like I was in some kind of trance.

"...ic. Vic?"

"Huh? What?" Alex's voice snapped me out of it. I blinked, realizing I'd been staring after her far too long. My mind had completely wandered off.

"Are you sure you're okay, Victor? You've been acting really strange today. You're not sick, are you?" Alex asked, concern lacing his tone.

"Sick? Maybe he's just nervous after what happened yesterday," Chelsea said casually. "It means Victor can't exactly stay under the radar anymore. He's bound to get a lot of Duel challenges from now on."

But that wasn't it. Not even close.

I shook my head and stood up slowly, letting out a long sigh. "No. I'm fine. And could you guys stop smothering me already?"

I'll admit, I'd been… distracted most of the day. But for some reason, watching Ceres walk out like that helped snap me back into focus.

The sooner I realized it, the more I understood how much time I was wasting sitting around moping about yarns.

"Chelsea," I said, turning to her with a faint scoff. "I appreciate the concern, but what exactly do I have to be nervous about?" I rolled my eyes. "If anyone comes, they can have the Rank—once I'm finished with it."

Chelsea blinked, caught off guard by my tone, then a subtle grin tugged at her lips. "Ah, looks like he's back."

"This arrogant… To think I was worried," I heard Alex mutter helplessly under his breath. I pretended not to notice.

Exhaling, I swept a few stray strands of hair from my face. My head still ached faintly, and my mood wasn't great—but there was something I needed to do.

"Now, everyone," I said finally, straightening up, "if you'll excuse me, I've got better things to do than to not be here."

I finally got a grip on myself and parted ways with the others in class. The moment I stepped into the hallway, I tugged at the collar of my blazer, straightened its fabric, and inhaled deeply.

The first thing I was going to do was gather as much intel on Alice Al'Rowen as possible. Maybe there wasn't much I could do yet, but I at least needed to know who I was dealing with.

Her activities, her personality, her quirks… small stalker-level details for now. I couldn't just blindly trust someone who claimed to know more about me than I knew about myself.

Plus… there was something about that girl.

Alice Al'Rowen — Rank 10 among the First Years. Finding out more about her couldn't be that hard, right? There were already a few things I'd passively picked up from rumors, but if I wanted something concrete, I'd have to start with the people closest to her.

Alice was a student of Class C. So naturally, that was where I was heading.

And if I remembered correctly, there was one other person I knew in Class C.

---

"Victor Bright. The man, the ghost, the legend himself. To what do I owe this unexpected surprise?"

The voice was smooth and theatrical, full of flattery and amusement. It belonged to a young man with neatly parted blond hair and pale yellow eyes, half-hidden behind narrow, knowing slits.

Xavier spread his arms wide and laughed almost hysterically from across the table.

"I was quite shocked about the commotion. Who would've thought it was you? Or maybe… it's not that surprising?"

I'd made a slight oversight. While Xavier and Alice were both in Class C, so were a few others — including some less friendly faces.

A sharp slam echoed across the table.

—Thwaam!

"This is absurd, Young Mas— I mean, Xavier! Why are you sitting and talking with this trash?! You saw what he did to our guys yesterday!"

The male cadet's nostrils flared so wide I half-expected to get inhaled on the spot.

It turned out the ten guys I'd made a point with during Derrick's class yesterday all just happened to be from Class C.

So when I showed up at Class C unannounced, you can imagine the kind of "warm welcome" I got.

A little commotion broke out — the kind that probably would've escalated if Xavier hadn't stepped in.

Now, we were sitting at a café a few blocks from the Academy. Apparently, the same ten geniuses decided to tag along, flanking Xavier like his personal honor guard.

I set down the cup of smoothie Xavier had been generous enough to order for me, then looked up at the group of red, puffed, and thoroughly irritated faces staring daggers at me.

"…Who are you guys again?" I asked flatly.

"This bastard—!" they snapped in unison, half-rising from their seats, but I ignored them completely and went back to my drink.

The tension thickened until Xavier finally spoke.

"Hey."

He didn't even turn around. Just that single word — calm, level, but heavy enough to crush the noise flat.

"If you're going to be loud, then leave. You've already lost once to Victor. Don't embarrass me any further in front of my guest. Now get lost."

His tone was ice — a stark contrast to the warm, almost playful one he'd used with me seconds ago.

The air went cold. Whatever protests or curses the cadets had brewing in their throats instantly died there.

The one leading them clenched his jaw so tight I thought his teeth would shatter. Then, without a word, he turned around and gestured stiffly to the rest.

"We'll go then… sir."

One by one, they shuffled off until the last of them vanished into the street crowd.

Only then did I take another sip of my smoothie.

"Wow."

Xavier gave a bashful smile, brushing a strand of blond hair behind his ear. "I'm sorry you had to see that, Victor."

"Don't be. It was… an experience." I shrugged, then added quietly, "But I doubt it'll end here."

"What?" Xavier blinked, but I shook my head dismissively.

"It's nothing. There's something I wanted to ask you, if you don't mind."

"I thought it was strange you'd come find me out of the blue," he said with a chuckle, leaning back in his chair like he owned the café. His tone was light, but his eyes were watching.

I felt a flicker of guilt, even though it was misplaced.

"Hey, I'm sorry if it looks that way. I just… have my reasons. And this is important."

That was a lie.

As friendly as Xavier seemed, there was something about him that set my instincts on edge. Still, he was ranked even higher than Alice — and they were classmates. If anyone could give me useful information, it was him.

Xavier waved off my apology with a casual laugh, his grin stretching wider.

"It's fine, Vic. It's fine. So, what can I do for you? Anything for a friend." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The way he said friend made my skin crawl just a little.

I resisted the urge to grimace and decided to cut straight to the point.

"I want to know more about Alice."