Eli leaned back, letting Emris's words settle in his chest. A cage. Keys in the hands of three strangers whose shadows reached farther than he could imagine.
He adjusted his glasses, eyes narrowing slightly. "What about you?" he asked. "Where do you fall in this… hierarchy?"
Emris smirked, as though he'd been waiting for the question. "Me? I'm a common."
Eli blinked. "Common?"
"Yeah." Emris propped his elbow on the table, chin resting in his palm, his wolf-cut blue hair spilling forward. "My dad owns a popular clothing company one of those trendy lines everyone wears but pretends they don't care about. Impressive to outsiders, but here?" He shrugged. "It's nothing compared to politicians and CEOs. I don't have the bloodline to rank higher." His grin curved into something playful, almost daring. "But don't let that fool you. Status isn't always about your family. Sometimes, you build your own."
Before Eli could ask how, a group of girls passed their table, their chatter cutting off the moment they noticed Emris.
"Emris!" one of them squealed, her face lighting up.
"Hi, Emris!" another chimed in.
"You were amazing at rehearsal yesterday!"
"When's your next performance?"
The girls giggled, voices tumbling over each other, excitement bubbling until a few of them even let out small screams. Their eyes sparkled as they looked at him and only him. Eli sat there, unseen, as if invisible beside the glow.
Emris leaned back in his chair, lips curling into that effortless smile that seemed designed to steal breaths. "Thanks, girls," he said smoothly, his tone carrying just enough warmth to make their knees wobble. "Rehearsal was tough, but it's always worth it if you're waiting to hear us."
The girls melted at his words, covering their mouths, whispering and giggling to each other. "He noticed us!" one whispered as they passed, their steps light, their gazes lingering on him until the very last second.
Not one of them looked Eli's way.
Eli kept his face neutral, but he felt the weight of it the sharp divide between being recognized and being unseen. His fork dragged across his plate as he shifted his gaze downward.
Emris caught it, of course. He chuckled under his breath, voice dropping low enough for Eli alone. "See? Told you. Common or not, I'm popular here."
"Why?" Eli asked quietly.
"Simple." Emris tapped a finger on the table. "I'm a singer. My group's starting to rise got fans, buzz, the whole deal. Around here, students worship that almost as much as power. Mix that with my dad's clothing line, and I get enough spotlight to stay above most."
Eli studied him closer now. The piercing confidence, the stage-worthy look it wasn't an act. Emris carried himself like someone who already belonged to something bigger.
But still, the divide was sharp.
Emris leaned forward, blue eyes steady. "Don't take it personally. You're new. Right now, you're invisible. But Kingston?" His voice lowered, sharp and certain. "It won't let you stay that way."
A chill slid down Eli's spine.