Chapter 17: Conversation (1/2)

Life inside the training camp was quite boring before the beginning of the lessons, especially for those who didn't have the Credits to spend on recreational activities.

Khan spent most of his time inside his room, while Samuel often decided to leave to avoid the tension that fell whenever the two of them were together.

Khan pretended not to notice that behavior. The most significant interaction with Samuel had been on the first night when he took his food, but the duo didn't speak at all during the following days.

Samuel was too scared to interact with Khan. His mandatory daily visits to the medical bay reminded him that Khan was quite strong, and the memories of the scuffle confirmed that his battle experience didn't match his roommate.

On the other hand, Khan didn't care about his roommate. He spent his time training and visiting the canteen as he waited for the lessons to start. Samuel probably knew more than him when it came to mana, but Khan didn't trust the boy enough to question him.

The week went by quickly, and no other roommates arrived in Khan's room. It seemed that the camp had far more dormitories than needed, and Khan could only feel happy about that extra space.

On the night before the beginning of the lessons, Samuel returned to his room five minutes before the curfew. That was his usual routine. He wanted to limit being with Khan as much as possible, but some curiosity had eventually appeared in his mind.

Samuel left early in the morning and came back late at night, but he always found his roommate in a meditative state. Khan woke up before him to train, and he never went to sleep before him.

Samuel had never seen Khan sleeping in an entire week. That behavior was unnatural for a sixteen years old boy who had just arrived in an environment filled with girls of a similar age. He often held back his curiosity due to the awkwardness of the situation, but that feeling ended up exploding on the night before the beginning of the lessons.

”Why do you work so hard?” Samuel asked when he saw Khan interrupting his meditation and opening his eyes.

Khan's eyes widened at that sudden question. He didn't mind the silent awkwardness that filled the room, so he had respected Samuel's behavior.

Bullying Samuel would have also been easy in that situation, but Khan didn't want to become like the scum that filled the Slums. Moreover, the regulations harshly punished theft and similar activities, so Khan preferred to stay out of trouble.

”Have you finally stopped fearing me?” Khan laughed while bending to pick one of the food cans obtained in the canteen.

”I'm not afraid of you!” Samuel promptly shouted.

”Sure, sure,” Khan said while opening the can and slurping the cold soup contained inside it.

”Why do you never heat it?” Samuel asked. ”We have a microwave in the laundry area.”

Khan simply shrugged his shoulders and continued to eat.

”You are a strange one,” Samuel sighed before climbing on the bunk bed on the other side of the room.

Khan finished the can and glanced at the boy. He also had a few doubts about Samuel's behavior, but he hesitated to establish a peaceful relationship with someone who bullied the citizens of the Slums.

'I should probably give him a chance to atone,' Khan thought. 'He is just a kid. He has never experienced my desperation.'

”I have the same question for you,” Khan said while crossing his legs and placing his back on the wall. ”I'm quite sure that you don't train outside. Your friends don't seem the type to care about that stuff. Do you plan to remain on Earth?”

Samuel raised his head and revealed a confused expression. He straightened his position to sit on the bed and give a plain answer. ”My father would kill me if I remained on Earth. I need to become a second-level warrior at least.”

”Why don't you train then?” Khan asked. ”I bet your family has taught you something before coming here. How can you become a second-level warrior if you spend time bullying lone kids?”

Samuel lowered his eyes in shame at that remark. It was easy to feel proud about bullying others among his friends, but the reality of his behavior became evident in front of his victims.

”Our families are close,” Samuel explained. ”Hanging out with them is a political necessity. I don't enjoy what we do to kill time.”