The classroom fell into an unexpected hush. Everyone had braced themselves for some good dramatic clash of pride or power. But instead... what came from Rina's mouth silenced all of them.
The silence deepened. A few students blinked. One guy almost choked on his gum.
Seraphine, seated with an air of quiet detachment, had been paying little mind to the murmurs flitting through the classroom. But at the sound of Rina's unexpected question, her gaze finally lifted.
Their eyes met, Seraphine's ocean-blue irises calm and discerning, as if peering straight through Rina's intentions.
She scanned for the usual signs: hidden envy, shallow flattery, the kind of plastic warmth people wore when they wanted something. But… there was none of that. Just earnest curiosity. And maybe a flicker of nervousness.
A faint smile tugged at Seraphine's lips, subtle, fleeting, the kind you might miss if you blinked. Then, with a quiet grace, she rose from her seat and extended her hand.
"Sure," she said, her voice cool but not cold. "I'll be in your care, then."
To be honest, Rina genuinely wanted to be friends with her. Sure, there was a flicker of jealousy, just a tiny bit but she pushed it aside. She wasn't some petty little girl who'd get hung up over things like that.
Seeing Seraphine actually talk and even smile, if only a little, sent a wave of surprise through the classroom. The class collectively realized she might actually be... approachable. But that illusion didn't last long as a few brave (or foolishly optimistic) students took that as a green light to try and charm her.
They gave it their best shot... and failed spectacularly.
Rina flashed a playful grin and grabbed Seraphine's hand without warning, and tugged her toward her seat. "As your brand-new friend, I officially claim the right to show you off!" she declared, dragging her toward a group of curious classmates.
Seraphine raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the sudden movement but she didn't resist.
Internally, she made a note: Rina was... a bit much. But not in a bad way.
Seated beside Rina were Aria and Sylvia.
Aria exuded poise and grace. Though she didn't rival the school's most celebrated beauties, there was an understated charm in her elegance, reflected especially in her music. Within the arts department, she reigned supreme as a gifted singer.
Sylvia, on the other hand, had a more classic charm. Her aura could shift depending on her mood, sometimes sweet, sometimes sharp, occasionally even a little icy.
As Seraphine approached, the two girls introduced themselves with ease. The four of them found their rhythm quickly--chatting, laughing, and settling into a natural group dynamic.
Seraphine blended in smoothly, her replies calm and composed. Still, a subtle distance lingered in her demeanor, a quiet sign that she hadn't fully let her guard down.
Their conversation was gently interrupted by a voice from behind.
"Excuse me."
Seraphine turned, her gaze settling on the trio now standing before her.
At the forefront was Julian Crest--tall, athletic, and undeniably self-assured. His well-defined frame and The smug look on his face practically screamed, "Yeah, I know I'm hot."
To his left stood Rayne, quieter and more reserved, with a calm, almost aloof.
And on the right was Kael, who didn't particularly stand out, no flashy looks or dominant presence. But hey every squad needs the normal guy, right?
What truly distinguished these boys, beyond their appearances or attitudes, was their background, each of them hailed from families of substantial wealth and influence. Julian, in particular, was no stranger to attention. He was the same guy who had smirked at Rix from his sleek car this morning.
The three boys came to a stop before Seraphine, Naturally, it was Julian who broke the silence.
"Nice to meet you, Seraphine. I've heard quite a bit about you back when I was in Central City," he said with a confident smile. Honestly, I never imagined that you'd transfer here of all places. Any reason for the sudden change?"
Seraphine's gaze lingered on him briefly before she offered a soft, composed response.
"Family matters," she said simply, leaving no room for further inquiry.
Julian's smile faltered, just for a moment. He had hoped for more, but deep down, he knew Seraphine wasn't the type to spill anything without a damn good reason.
Lucky for him, the tension didn't have to linger. A sudden outburst from across the room stole everyone's attention.
Yep. The usual drama.
A bullying scene.
though the victim wasn't Rix.
"YOU FUCKER!! Where the hell is my assignment?! You promised you'd finish it today!"
The voice exploded through the classroom like a thunderclap, making every head snap toward the commotion.
it was Bryan the college popular gym addict, and also he was a typical bully from the bully faction.
He belonged to the so-called "Bully Faction," a small but dangerous group of muscleheads who made it their mission to pick on the weaker students.
The faction wasn't big, nor was it respected… but they had power. Real power. In fact, some of the faction's top members were actual fighters, real ones. The kind you didn't want to mess with.
The victim in this mess was Noel--the classic class topper. Lean, quiet, and always buried in his books.
Bryan, on the other hand, wasn't even from this class. He belonged to another department, which explained why he only appeared during breaks to stir up trouble. He strolled in during breaks like it was his turf, bringing chaos with him like it was just part of the schedule.
The roar echoed through the classroom, causing most of the weaker students, boys and girls alike to flinch slightly, though not everyone was completely frozen.
Noel stood frozen in place, struggling to speak. "S-sorry… I--I got back late from tuition. I was so tired I couldn't even finish my own work…"
His voice barely carried, and his shoulders subtly shook, betraying the fear he tried to hide.
"MOTHERFUCKER! I'm not talkin' about your damn assignment! I don't give a shit what happened to you, I asked, where the hell is my assignment, you little shit?!"
Of course, the assignment didn't matter. It never did. Bryan just needed a reason to start something, and weaklings like Noel made easy targets.
"I… I'm sorry… just give me a little more time…"Noel's voice trembled, barely louder than a whisper. His shoulders hunched under Bryan's glare,
"Time? What time!?" Bryan roared. "It's the last freakin' day!"
The next moment was a blur. His hand shot out like a whip, yanking Noel by the hair and slamming his face into the desk.
The crack echoed. The room fell deathly silent.
A collective gasp spread through the classroom. Eyes widened. Jaws dropped.
Blood seeped from Noel's nose, staining the desk, his scream ringing through the stunned silence.
"Gah--! Ah… nghhh--!"
His voice cracked as he tried to breathe through the pain.
"S-stop… it h-hurts… please-----"
A heavy silence fell across the classroom, thick as fog.
Everyone froze. No one had expected things to go this far.
Sure, they'd heard rumors of bullying, some even witnessed it in whispers and corners, but this? This was raw, brutal, and out in the open.
Several students recoiled instinctively. A few girls covered their mouths in shock, eyes wide and shimmering. Even the boys those who usually laughed it off looked rattled, unsure where to look.
The classroom didn't feel like a classroom anymore.
Seraphine's eyes narrowed, a flicker of cold light passing through her ocean-blue gaze as she watched the scene unfold.
She wasn't the type to meddle in others' affairs, especially not over trivial matters. But this wasn't trivial.
Bullying the weak without reason? That was something she never tolerated.
But She didn't stand up immediately. Instead, she leaned slightly toward Rina, who sat frozen, one hand clasped over her mouth in shock.
Seraphine whispered, her voice low.
"Who is that guy?"
"H-Huh?" Rina stammered, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to gather herself.
"He… he's Bryan. He's part of the bully council. He's not really considered that strong, but I've heard he's ranked somewhere in the top fifteen fighters…"
"I… didn't think he'd go that far," Aria said, her voice laced with surprise as she stood beside Seraphine.
Julian, who had been standing near the back, suddenly stepped forward, voice sharp.
"That's enough, Bryan! You're crossing the line. I'm reporting this to the management!"
Bryan paused, grin widening.
"Oh?"
With a violent jerk, he flung Noel toward the wall like he weighed nothing.
Noel's body hit it hard.
"A-AHHH!!" he cried out in pain, slumping to the floor, clutching his side.
"Oh yeah? Go ahead. Run to the old farts, Scream. See if they care." Bryan's words were laced with mockery as he approached, hands deep in his pockets like he owned the room.
Stopping in front of Julian, He stood nose-to-nose with Julian. "Stay out of shit that doesn't concern you."
Then, louder now, just enough for the entire class to hear, Bryan leaned forward slightly, eyes locked on Julian.
"You still remember what happened the last time you tried to play hero, right?" he said, his voice dipped in mock sympathy.
"The council don't hand out mercy twice. Especially not the top ranks"
He patted his shoulder firmly.
"You think I'm scary? Try crossing someone like Seth or Cain. You won't even get a warning."
Julian slightly shivered under Bryan's threatening tone, his fists clenched tightly in silent frustration.
He still remembered the bruises, the blood, the sterile white walls of the hospital room. A full week he'd spent there, broken, humiliated.
And the worst part? His family's wealth, their influence, the formal complaints... none of it made a difference. The council walked out free.
and the managements? they pretended it never happened.
The management had smiled and said, "We'll look into it."
But They never did.
Julian might've had a well-defined body and the physique of an athlete, but that didn't make him a good fighter.
He said nothing, just stood there, silent, his head bowed in shame.
Seeing Julian remain silent, Bryan smirked. "Good," he muttered, then turned back around.
"Now, let me finish my job."
He glared at Noel, voice rising. "You piece of shit. We've got other business to tal--"
A calm voice cut through the chaos.
"Stop it."
It was Seraphine this time.
She stepped forward, striding calmly with her hands clasped behind her back.
"I won't allow something like this to happen here," she said firmly. "Not in my class."
Bryan turned around, eyes widening as they landed on the stunning girl standing before him.
As Seraphine stood tall, a second figure broke from the crowd.
Rina.
Her steps weren't as steady, but her eyes held resolve, Rina marched forward, brushing past the frozen crowd.
"Hey!" she called out, standing beside Seraphine. "Don't think your little meathead council runs the whole damn college, Bryan."
She crossed her arms, voice rising. "Terrorizing people weaker than you doesn't make you strong, it just makes you a coward."
Two figures now stood at the front of the room. unshaken.
"Whoa… where did you girls get this courage from?" Bryan sneered, tilting his head mockingly. "Is it 'cause you think the bully council spares girls? Then you're terribly mistaken. We actually enjoy toying with girls more than the boys."
He slurped crudely, eyes lingering on Seraphine and Rina, making several girls in the room visibly squirm.
"How about the two of you beauties come over to my place? I'm pretty strong, y'know, maybe we could--"
SLAP!
A thunderous crack silenced the room. Bryan's head snapped to the side, a burning red imprint glowing on his cheek.
Seraphine stood tall, elegant yet firm, one hand behind her back as if nothing had happened.
"That," she said coolly, "is not how you speak to a woman."
Bryan staggered slightly, shocked by the slap. His head slowly turned back, a dark shadow cast over his eyes.
His cheek stung, a vivid red imprint marking where Seraphine had struck. But it wasn't the pain that burned, it was the humiliation.
his face flushed in fury.
"HOW DARE YOU... you SLUTTY--"
He exploded forward, hand raised, But Seraphine was quicker.
"Too slow," she said, She moved like a phantom sidestepping his charge, dropping him with a single, clinical sweep of her leg.
He hit the floor with a thud.
Before he could rise, her hand caught his wrist.
CRACK!
His wrist fractured under her grip like porcelain.
"AHHH! YOU--BITCH!"
He twisted in agony. She pressed further.
CRACK!
"AHHHHH!!! YOU...YOU PSYCHO!"
Still she held on. Her grip tightened, unmoved by his screams.
CRUNCH.
"AAAAHHHHH!! PLEASE!!"
The class gasped.
"B-Bryan's arm…?!"
"No way… she actually broke it?!"
Bryan writhed.
"LET GO!! I SWEAR--"
CRUNCH.
"AAGGHHHHHHH!!!"
As his screams echoed, a few students looked at each other in disbelief.
Then, another crack.
Another scream.
"AAAAHHHHHH!!! STOP! PLEASE, MAKE HER STOP!"
But Seraphine didn't blink.
Bryan gritted his teeth, wincing in pain as Seraphine held his arm at a twisted angle. The class was dead silent, and the weight of humiliation pressed against his chest. His pride was broken, and so was his hand, but it was something else that gnawed at him.
This wasn't the first time he'd felt this kind of burn.
Pain? Sure. He could take that.
Embarrassment? Well, that's just part of being at the top.
It was the feeling.
It felt... familiar.
Yeah. He'd felt this before.
It reminded him of that guy.
The one who never needed to raise his voice. The one who didn't chase titles.
It lingered in the air around him, subtle but suffocating.
Like gravity you didn't see it, but you felt it.
Every. Damn. Time.
He'd show up, hands in pockets,
but somehow the energy would flip like someone dimmed the lights.
Even the loudest guy in class would suddenly remember he had nothing to say.
Now, pinned on the classroom floor, Bryan couldn't help but laugh inside, bitter and hollow. The shame, the helplessness, the weight pressing on his chest...
It was close.
Seraphine reminded him of it. Of him.
But it still wasn't the same.
He wasn't feared because he fought.
He was feared because no one ever saw him lose or worse, try.
The one people didn't talk about unless they had to.
The one even the council never dared mess with.
Some called him The Untouchable, others The Uncrowned King of Campus.
He didn't need a title. He never asked for one.
But everyone gave him the same one anyway:
The Strongest.