Chapter 168 Alchemy King [5]

Katrina hurriedly followed Nathan.

He was leaving?

Yes, finally!

She was more than happy that he was leaving her alone.

But that wasn't the problem.

Yes, the problem was food!

How dare he leave without paying the rent?

He trespassed in her territory and didn't leave for a week! He had to pay the rent!

"Wait!"

Katrina ran after him.

Opening the door, she found Nathan's fast receding back. He was already far away, talking with someone wearing a Student Council prospect badge.

She was about to follow him, but her body stiffened.

Cadets, professors, staff, and dozens of people were going to and fro. She could hear everyone talking.

'She is the one.'

'Isn't she Anna's sister?'

'The failure?'

Her body shook as the words entered her ears.

Lifting her head, she saw everyone glaring at her.

The eyes of disappointment, disapproval, and contempt skewered her alive.

For the past few days, she had forgotten about reality. No, she hadn't forgotten.

...she was trying to ignore reality.

However, the moment she stepped outside everything came rushing back to her.

She hid back in the building and closed the door with a slam.

"Huff... huff..."

With her back against the door, her body slid down.

She covered her eyes. Her body shivered, recalling the scene outside.

Katrina could feel the panic settling in. She needed to calm herself.

"I should... practice... alchemy"

Alchemy was one thing that would always calm her. She could clear her mind of all thoughts when she practiced alchemy. It was one of her sole solaces.

Katrina fumbled on the desk, trying to find ingredients. She didn't have the materials to concoct anything.

She paled.

She had forgotten that she was out of stock and because of Nathan's staying there for the past week; she hadn't yet re-stocked.

"It's afternoon."

It was early. It wasn't the time for re-stocking yet. She needed to wait until midnight.

The wait was going to be short, yet long.

The noises and the gazes from before continued haunting her. Even inside, she didn't feel secure.

Her arms shook. She couldn't bear this till midnight.

She made up her mind.

Taking a mage cadet robe, she disguised herself to the best of her abilities.

In front of the mirror, Katrina looked like any other student walking around the campus.

Her hair was tied up neatly, she wore spectacles to hide her eyes, and the robe hid her face partly.

The only part which gave away her identity was her viridian eyes, but she was wearing contacts beneath the spectacles to hide them.

She went to the back of the building and stood in front of the backdoor.

Gathering her courage, she held the doorknob and turned it.

It felt like forever before she was able to open the door.

A familiar smell hit her nose.

Katrina breathed in deeply as she stepped outside.

Her heart beat faster as she stepped under the sunlight as if she was running towards something, which she was. Looking around to make sure nobody was paying her attention, she moved swiftly.

The sun was shining brightly, telling her that she had no place to hide.

The wind blew across her face.

She heard the sound of crows calling as she walked.

Fifteen minutes later, she stood in front of a warehouse.

There was a sign on the door that read 'Warehouse for Sale'.

It was one of the locations where cadets could buy alchemy materials.

The warehouse, which was located next to the academy's stables, was big enough for her to move around easily.

"It's you, Miss Kenward"

The person behind the counter greeted her with a smile.

Katrina nodded without looking at him twice and moved to look out for ingredients.

The shop owner was a 4th-year cadet. Although he never belittled Katrina whenever she came, she knew that he was only doing this, as she was one of his few patrons.

Two months ago, she also found that the shop owner belonged to the group of cadets that bullied her. It was then she understood how those bullies always came to her after a few days she bought alchemy materials.

Katrina gripped her fist tightly.

"D-don't blame me...."

She picked one 5-year-old ginseng, 3 blue noctal petals, 1 hydrogenic pnenis, and a few other things.

At the same time, she hid a few small materials under her robe. She stole them.

She didn't have a storage ring as she would use what little money she had to buy ingredients. Thus, she could only take small ingredients she could hide under her robe.

Her hands shook and she could hear her blood rushing through her body.

It would have been safer during the night as the darkness would hide her but days like today when there was barely anyone in Warehouse worked too.

This wasn't her first time but, no matter how many times she stole, the nervousness never went away.

She frequently glanced around.

The owner never disturbed her while she chooses materials. He knew of her introverted nature and wanted to let her buy in comfort. He was going to get the materials back in a few days, anyway.

Collecting everything she needed, she went to the counter.

A trace of sadness flashed through her eyes.

If she had a mentor, or even a trainee under her, she would've been able to get free alchemy materials monthly provided by Ward.

It made her recall the cadet that was trying to become her trainee. Accepting Nathan's request, she wouldn't have to resort to stealing.

'What am I even thinking?'

Katrina shook her head and erased those thoughts. Getting a trainee wouldn't change anything. The bullies would 'borrow' all her materials anyway.

"Are you okay?"

The owner's voice brought her out of her thoughts. He was staring at her robes.

Katrina felt her body go rigid at that gaze.

Did he realize she was stealing?

"Uhm... yes, I'm fine."

She tried hard not to panic, but her legs were shaking.

"Here are your ingredients."

The owner took the materials and placed them on a table before her.

Katrina bowed her head and took the items.

After taking care of the payment, Katrina left the shop and walked towards the Academy's stables.

She plopped to the ground behind the buildings.

"Haa..."

She could feel her heart trying to jump through her mouth.

She didn't get caught.

It was a good thing that the shop didn't have security as the owner was poor, though that was to be expected when someone as poor as her was among the patrons of the shop.

"Kat?"

However, she stiffened when she heard a voice from behind.