The morning after I woke up, the Academy felt different.
Eyes followed me everywhere in the hallways, across the courtyard, even in the library's reflection of silver glass.
Whispers bloomed like poison ivy: "He defeated a Starbeast."
"No one's ever done that before."
"Did he cheat? Or…"
"…is he even human?"
I clenched my fists, ignoring them as best as I could.
But the weight of their gazes burned through my back like cold fire.
At the edge of the training grounds, Calen leaned against the stone wall. His perfect golden hair caught the morning light, and his smirk was sharper than ever.
"Well, well. The miracle boy lives," he said. "Tell me, Erian how does it feel being everyone's favorite monster?"
I stopped, meeting his eyes. "Better than being everyone's coward."
His smile froze. For a moment, silence. Then he laughed soft, dangerous.
"Oh, this will be fun."
Before I could walk away, a shadow fell between us.
Aster Caelum.
His expression was unreadable, but his presence was enough to make Calen stiffen slightly.
"Both of you, enough," he said coldly. "There will be an announcement at noon. Be there."
Calen gave a mock bow and walked away, his laughter echoing down the corridor.
Aster turned to me. His eyes lingered a moment longer than they should have.
"You shouldn't let him provoke you."
"I didn't start it."
"I know," he said. "But you'll end up finishing it."
There was something strange in his tone not warning, not pity something else. A quiet understanding, almost too intimate.
I wanted to ask him why he cared, but before I could speak, a voice called from behind us:
"Lord Aster, the Council awaits."
He nodded once, gave me one last unreadable look, and walked away.
As his silhouette vanished around the corner, I realized something chilling:
The whispering hadn't stopped. It had only grown quieter as if the shadows themselves were listening.