Absolute Soul
46. Thank You

"It's finally free as well" Haikal said, breathing deeply into the cool air for the first time in a week, haikal spent a week in the hospital room for further treatment.

Thanks to the treatment in addition to the legs that can be moved freely, the right and left arms are declared to have recovered as usual. It is not a problem for Haikal to return to training again but not recommended strenuous exercise, at least that is what the doctor said.

In this day and age the speed of recovery like Haikal is quite reasonable, considering that Blazer and Soul Arc medical types are quite available in various countries, moreover, soul energy had natural healing properties and Haikal's body was more formidable than an ordinary human.

"Haikal, how is Salvia? Will he recover in time?" Tanya Heru opened the main topic, considering that Salvia had a minor injury and it took quite a long time to fully recover.

In response to Heru's question, Haikal explained according to the estimates of the doctor responsible for Salvia's treatment, the girl was able to fully recover within two weeks which would have taken several more days to undergo a short rehabilitation. This is an estimate, not real data.

"It's still ambiguous, huh?" Heru rubbed his chin at the news, feeling worried about whether they could enter the final round of the Welcome Tournament, considering the break time of the next round about a month after the semifinal round ended.

It has been a week since the semifinals ended, which means there are three more weeks left before the final round starts. In the rest of that time Haikal wanted to use it to train, considering he could not do his regular exercises while in the hospital.

"Heru, by the way, you've been practicing at home all this time, right?" Tukas Haikal glanced at his best friend reflexively at the thought of the exercise, while the person glimpsed himself made a flat expression on his face.

"Are you underestimating me or what?" Heru's reply sounded inadmissible with his best friend's question, while Haikal could only smile wryly realizing his stupid question.

After the brief conversation, the two walked to a cafe to celebrate Haikal's exit from the hospital. Heru invited him.

At first Haikal wanted to reject the invitation because he had just come out of the hospital and had no money, but Heru persuaded him to use a legendary persuasion that could not be rejected by anyone, the treaty.

For Haikal who does not belong to a high-class family, this persuasion is impossible to avoid, especially after inhabiting the hospital for a week with a menu of food that is quite boring.

It took some time for the two to arrive at the intended cafe on foot, the refreshing calculations of Haikal's body that had not moved freely enough for a long time.

"You sure this is the cafe? It seems impossible for ordinary people like us" Haikal said, seeing the appearance of the cafe, feeling he did not deserve to set foot even in the yard.

Heru smiled proudly at Haikal's pessimistic reaction, but he did not reply but passed through the cafe door with light steps as if his wallet contained millions of Bold, "Not to worry about the cost, no need to worry about the cost, just follow me."

Watching his best friend enter the luxurious cafe proudly, Haikal followed behind with a slightly hesitant step. For ordinary people it seems difficult to set foot in a luxurious place like this as easy as Heru's attitude.

At first glance the exterior of this cafe does look so luxurious, but once entering it Haikal can find out he is not worthy of being in this place, "My money...." Haikal reflexively opened his wallet checking its contents while grimacing a little at the condition of his wallet which was not up to 100 Bold in value.

Even though Haikal remembered Heru saying that he did not have to worry about the cost, Haikal still could not do it that easily. What an incredible self-awareness for the public.

Ignoring her friend who looked agitated and filled with worry, Heru continued to step up towards the stairs that connected this floor to the second floor. The clueless Haikal could only follow Heru from behind while enduring the cynical gazes from the local customers.

As soon as he reached the second floor, Heru walked towards a table where a white-haired middle-aged man was sitting alone there reading a menu book that Haikal recognized, "Isn't that the principal? What's he doing here?"

Haikal had not had time to look for the allegations on his mind, Veindal realized their arrival first and invited the two with a hand signal that was soon approached by Heru and Haikal.

Haikal was confused to see the actions of Heru who seemed to have known Veindal was about to call the two here, but he did not know what the reason behind this all, making him even more confused.

"Haikal, didn't Heru say anything to you?" Veindal opened the conversation seeing that the young man was the only one who was confused there. Haikal could only shake his head answering Veindal's question.

"Oh, yeah. Indeed Heru once," Veindal said with a small laugh as he glanced at Heru who was busy staring at the menu book in his hand, "Well, whichever is it order something first, let me pay for it."

"Ba-good...." Haikal who did not understand what was happening could only say yes, then began to look through the menu before his eyes glared fiercely at the price on his sky-high menu, "Expensive!"

Haikal's reaction was not excessive in response to the price pegged for the cheapest glass of drink alone reaching 30 Bold, what an inhumane price for ordinary people like him. Though the price of a serving of food and drinks at a roadside stall is simply cheaper than a glass of drink here, but of course Haikal only complains in his heart.

Haikal immediately turned his gaze to Heru who seemed to have decided what to order with a light face, a little aghast at the behavior of his shameless friend.

"Well, once in a while it's okay, right?" Before choosing something to order, Haikal draws and exhales several breaths first to solidify his heart.

It took a long time for Haikal to decide his order, considering his heart was heavy to order something that expensive even if not using the money. In the end Haikal only ordered a glass of black coffee and a portion of the cheapest snack on the menu.

On the other hand, the little smiling Veindal silently noticed Haikal's attitude that was so disinclined to order something, unlike Heru who was blatantly showing his excitement.

"Well, while waiting for his order to come I want to talk about the reason why I called you here, Haikal." Veindal opened the conversation between the silence of the three, making Heru and Haikal's attention centered on this white-haired middle-aged man.

"First, I want to thank you for saving Salvia's life in the previous tournament." Veindal then lowered his head until his forehead touched the table, causing Haikal's eyes to turn wide again.

Haikal was stunned for a moment to see Veindal's actions that lowered his head so deeply before finally regaining his consciousness, "Chief of the school, you don't need to thank him to the extent. It's my duty to protect my group of friends."

"Even if you say that, my gratitude is not enough to represent this feeling." In that sentence could be heard the faint sound of teardrops but could be heard by Haikal, silencing the words he was about to let out.

Veindal raised his head a few seconds later while wiping away some of his dripping tears, "Maybe you think that I'm overdoing it, but for a father who saw his son almost die before his eyes, especially girls, this is not an exaggeration."

Having managed to calm himself a little emotional, Veindal said that if Haikal had not come and destroyed Edward's ice, Salvia might have just remained a memory.

It was true that Veindal smashed Edward's ice giant using lightning from his Soul Arc, yet he did not destroy the ice completely. The remaining ice still leads to Salvia which if Haikal is not there, then Salvia will be hit hard enough.

"But, still...." Haikal wanted to refute Veindal's statement which he felt was too excessive, but it was stopped by Heru who patted him on the shoulder. Heru did not say anything, only from the look in his eyes he was like asking Haikal not to reject Veindal's gratitude.

Heru then whispered the same thing happened to him when Veindal came to his residence alone, even worse because Veindal to prostrate on the floor, "So, just accept."

"Alright, I accept your gratitude, principal." Haikal sighed for a moment hearing Heru's story. He felt that he did not do something that made Veindal thank him so much, but in the end he gave up on the wishes of the principal.

"Okay, the first reason was fulfilled. The second reason I called you both here is because of this." Veindal smiled in relief at Haikal's reception, then picked up a cell phone and opened something there, then showed it to the two young men in front of him, "You've heard of Blackout?"