Alaric let his gaze pierce directly at Edward. A few students who had been casually walking by began to slow their steps, pretending to look for a reason to linger around the area, clearly waiting to see if the tension would explode into something dramatic.
Alaric wasn't in a rush. He knew this wasn't about who would react the fastest, but about who could hold the tension the longest. The thin smile on his face didn't fade. It looked more like a diagonal slash—mocking, cold. He seemed perfectly calm, as if he were savoring every second of this game.
On the other hand, Edward was growing increasingly uneasy, even though his expression remained stiff, trying to appear composed. The stares from people around him made it impossible for him to just back off or walk away. That would be as good as admitting defeat. So he straightened his back further, trying to project strength. But his eyes… were blinking more often than usual.
Alaric finally began to move.
