Chapter 85: – The Lord Is With Us (6)

༺ The Lord Is With Us (6) ༻

The Academy was vast.

It was so expansive that even the students were unable to grasp the full scale.

Most freshmen only ever remembered their classrooms. Beyond that, only a select few knew more about the school layout.

However, it became different by their second year. Whether by random discovery or by word of mouth from their seniors, they would typically find several hidden locations.

This was also when friend groups would usually form their own hang-out “routes”.

Then, by their third year, the students became familiar enough with the school to discover and traverse shortcuts as well as the alleyways. It was the time they would be able to comfortably navigate around the campus regardless of where they were.

Contrary to their third year, they were required to spend more time on their practicums outside of the Academy starting from their fourth year. Thus, it could be said that the third-years were the ones who knew the Academy campus the best.

Leto and I were third-year students. Despite not actively exploring the campus, we were still familiar with some of the hidden locations within the entangled ‘Alleyways’.

The center of the academy was clustered with various buildings, creating tight and narrow spaces between the structures. The resulting web of roads was dubbed the Alleyways.

Rumor had it that a club had even hidden its doors somewhere within that web, but I wasn’t particularly interested.

There was only ever one reason for Leto and me to visit the Alleyways.

It was the place where we could talk in private.

And today was no different.

I leaned against the damp, smelly wall and stared at Leto.

Leto was carefully scrutinizing me, and before long, he nodded in satisfaction.

“Good. You’re the Ian I know.”

I shook my head with a wry smile.

“Well, would there be another Ian besides me?”

“There is.”

It was a response loaded with various implications. Speechless, my mouth closed up as I looked at Leto, signaling him to elaborate.

He shrugged and continued.