The following days settled into a surprising routine. Seyana and Raksha walked to class together every morning, and somehow Kairos, Luna, and Velanor always appeared near the same hallway, like coincidence.
Raksha noticed first. "Do you realize those three adjust their walking speed to match ours every single day?"
Seyana tried not to smile. "Maybe they're going the same way."
"Sure," Raksha said, raising an eyebrow, "and maybe the sun rises because it likes the sky."
Training that day focused on close-range combat and mana reinforcement. Students paired up once again. Kairos ended up with Luna, Velanor with another boy, and Seyana predictably with Raksha.
As they practiced blocking spells, Kairos kept glancing and checking on Seyana, not with interference but with quiet attention.
Luna caught it instantly. "You're staring again."
Kairos pretended to focus on his stance. "I'm just checking if she's okay."
"Right," Luna replied. "Because she needs protection from a training ball of water."
Kairos said. "Shut up and fight me."
Luna laughed and launched a spell, forcing Kairos to concentrate. Their duel drew an audience and Kairos's swift footwork and calm precision were unlike any other student.
Seyana watched without meaning to, and Raksha fell on elbow of Seyana.
"You have feelings," she whispered.
"I do not," Seyana shuttered.
"You absolutely do."
Seyana didn't reply, but her eyes betrayed her.
Training ended late, and Seyana stayed behind for a moment, letting the breeze cool her heated cheeks.
Kairos approached without sound, stopping at a polite distance.
"You fought well today," he said.
Seyana blinked. "You were watching?"
He froze. "I mean… I wasn't, I just happened to see.."
Her smile interrupted. "Thank you."
Kairos tried his best to look composed again. "You… improved your mana balance. Your water technique looks more stable."
"Because you taught me that trick with breathing," she reminded him.
"Oh." He went quiet. "Right."
Silence settled between them comfortable, warm.
Then Raksha's shout echoed. "Seyana! Come quick!"
Seyana stepped back instinctively.
"I'll see you later," she said softly.
Kairos nodded once, and she left.
He watched her go. That night, Seyana and Raksha sat at their usual spot when the lights flickered.
Lightning struck nearby, and Raksha jumped in surprise. Water spilled from her cup straight toward Seyana.
Kairos was on the opposite side of the room.
Yet somehow he reached her first.
His hand caught the cup.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
Seyana could only nod. His hand moved away immediately. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."
"No… thank you," she said, voice above whisper.
Raksha watched the whole scene with open mouth. Luna and Velanor joined a moment later.
Velanor leaned back in his chair. "If Kairos could teleport this fast during exams, he'll graduate in a month."
Kairos defended. "It was just reflex."
"It was instinct," Luna corrected. "You reacted before thinking."
Kairos didn't reply. He didn't need to.
Seyana already understood.
He couldn't help protecting her even from small things because his heart says.
Rain continued late into the night. Seyana returned to her room and sat near her window, watching raindrops race down the glass.
She didn't know why she whispered his name softly into the quiet room.
"Kairos…"
She didn't know why her chest felt tight every time sees he smiled.
All she knew was that something had begun, something she couldn't stop even if she tried.
And she didn't want to stop it.
Somewhere across the rooms, Kairos lay awake too, staring at the ceiling and replaying every moment of the day.
He tried to act calm, but his heart had already chosen.
Chapter 3 ends - Is it love?