MTLNOVEL Chapter 13: The Choice to Walk Away
When the first bell rang, the chatter in the classroom slowly died down. Students shuffled to their seats, but the buzz about Elric and Ernestina's entrance still hummed under their breaths like a low current.
Elric sat at his desk, pretending to focus on unpacking his books, but his mind felt like a shaken snow globe. He could still feel Ernestina's gentle presence beside him, her soft breathing, the light brush of her hand against his. It was like a memory he didn't want to lose, even for a second.
Ernestina sat just a few seats away, quietly arranging her notebooks. She looked up now and then, catching curious eyes and quickly looking back down. She kept a small, calm smile on her face, but inside her heart was pounding.
At the back of the room, Mabel slouched in her seat, her eyes fixed on Elric. Her fingers drummed lightly against her desk as she tried to make sense of what she had seen. Elric, the boy who used to be everywhere and nowhere all at once, was suddenly here, walking in with Ernestina as though they shared a secret world.
The teacher entered and started the morning announcements, her voice sharp but fading into the background for Elric. He stared at the blackboard without seeing it, lost in his thoughts.
He thought of how different everything felt now. Just yesterday, he was sinking deeper into that endless pit of parties and empty laughs. But then came Ernestina, like a soft sunrise cutting through the heavy fog.
A small part of him still wanted to run away from it all, to hide behind his old habits and not feel anything. But now, there was this warmth he couldn't deny, like a gentle push urging him to stand up straighter, to breathe deeper.
When the teacher called his name for attendance, Elric snapped out of his daze and answered quickly. His voice sounded stronger than he expected, and a few heads turned in surprise.
Beside him, Ernestina glanced over, her eyes meeting his for a brief second. She gave a tiny, encouraging nod that no one else noticed. In that moment, he felt an unfamiliar surge of determination rise in his chest.
Class continued with math exercises and group activities. Normally, Elric would find ways to slack off or make jokes with the other boys at the back, but today he kept his head down and followed along.
During break, some of the boys approached his desk, laughing and nudging each other.
"Yo, Elric! We saw you stepping out of that fancy car this morning," one of them teased. "Since when did you start rolling with Ernestina, huh?"
Elric looked up at them, his expression calm but unreadable. For the first time, he didn't join in their laughter or fire back a sarcastic comment.
"We're just friends," he said simply, closing his notebook. "Good friends."
The boys exchanged confused looks. One of them opened his mouth to say more, but Elric stood up, picking up his things.
"I'll catch you guys later," he said, walking out into the hallway.
The boys watched him go, stunned into silence.
Outside, Elric found a quiet spot near the stairwell. He leaned against the wall, taking in deep breaths. He knew he wasn't fully changed yet, but he felt something shift inside him — something steady and real.
He checked his Sin Slayer System screen in his mind again.
Sin Points:[ 10,600]
Virtue Points:[ -5]
Temptations Record: [Stabilizing]
Seeing the numbers still made his stomach twist, but he felt a small spark of hope all the same.
"One step at a time," he whispered to himself. "I can do this."
At that moment, a soft breeze drifted through the open window beside him, carrying the faint smell of rain from the morning storm. It felt like a quiet blessing, a promise that the sky would eventually clear.
And as the lunch bell rang in the distance, Elric pushed himself off the wall and took a deep breath.
Today, he had made a different choice. And maybe, just maybe, tomorrow he could make another.
As Elric pushed himself off the wall, he turned the corner and almost bumped into Mabel. She stood there waiting, leaning against the lockers with her arms folded, a sly smile playing on her lips.
Her hair was perfectly curled, her lips glossed and shining under the hallway lights. She looked him up and down slowly, her eyes sharp and playful.
"Wow… you've been hard to find today," she purred, stepping closer. "What's up, Elric? You don't hang out with us anymore? You forgot your old friends… or maybe you found something better?"
Elric shifted uncomfortably, his fingers curling slightly at his sides. He tried to move past her, but she stepped in his way again.
"Come on, don't act so shy," she teased, tilting her head. "Why don't you skip class with me today? We can go up to the rooftop, like the good old times. Just you and me. You know you want to."
Her voice dripped with confidence, the same voice that used to pull him so easily into trouble. Once upon a time, he would have followed her without a second thought, his heart racing at the idea of breaking another rule.
But today, something inside him felt different.
Elric glanced down at her hand when she reached out to touch his arm. He stepped back quickly, shaking his head.
"I can't," he said firmly, his voice low but steady. "I… I don't want that anymore."
For a moment, Mabel's smile faltered. Her eyes widened slightly, a mix of surprise and hurt flashing across her face. But she quickly masked it with a smirk.
"Really? You're serious?" she scoffed, tossing her hair. "Wow… I guess you really have changed."
She gave a small, mocking laugh, then turned and strutted away, hips swaying as if she hadn't been affected at all.
Elric watched her go, feeling his chest tighten. A part of him still felt that old pull, that reckless excitement… but he stood firm, breathing slowly.
As he took a deep breath and started walking back toward his classroom, the Sin Slayer System screen flickered faintly in his mind.
Sin Points: [10,680 ]
Virtue Points: [-5]
Temptations Record: [Stabilizing ]
He stared at the numbers, a quiet shock settling over him. The Sin Points had dropped again, and for the first time in so long, the Temptations Record didn't show "Overloaded" anymore. Instead, it looked steady, like a calm heartbeat.
A warmth spread through his chest, a feeling almost like relief, or maybe pride. He had chosen to step away. He had chosen not to fall.
He kept walking down the hallway, head held a little higher.
Maybe this wouldn't be easy. Maybe he would slip again. But today, he had proved to himself that he could stand up and say no.
And that was enough for now...