—Cafeteria – Midday—
Emilio sat at the table with Serina and Neira, staring at the untouched plate in front of him. The hot spaghetti, topped with a crispy fried fish, smelled amazing. His stomach growled in protest.
At least the food's good, he thought.
They treated commoners decently here, all things considered.But none of that mattered. Not without Kael. Even if he didn't want to admit it, Kael's absence gnawed at him. Maybe he was never a real friend to begin with—but still, sitting here felt wrong.
Emilio forced himself to pick up the fork, but his hand stopped halfway.
He glanced to the side.
Serina hadn't touched her food either. She sat silently, head down, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. Deep in thought. Probably about the same person haunting Emilio's mind.
Damn that guy… he really knows how to mess people up.
He sighed heavily.
"Haaa…"
"Why are you sighing?" a voice cut through.
He looked up. Neira was watching him from across the table, eyes blank as ever—like nothing fazed her. Must be nice not to feel anything, he thought. Especially now.
Ever since Kael's duel with Silvius, the rumors had exploded across the academy. The "traitor's son" had become something worse—a delinquent, a thug, unstable. And by extension, Team 5 became the school's problem child group.
The stares from the other students were constant now. Some whispered. Others looked disgusted.
Emilio was lucky. Being a prince gave him a layer of protection. No one would risk messing with him. Not publicly, anyway.
Snap!
Two fingers clicked right in front of his face.
"You're zoning out," Neira said. "If you're still thinking about Kael, you're a fool."
Emilio gave a weak laugh. "Wha—what? No, I wasn't thinking about him! What are you even saying?"
Neira didn't blink. "Don't lie. You've been sulking since the duel. Everyone sees it."
He tried to speak, but she cut him off.
"Everything's changed. The mood around this academy? The stares? The whispers? And let's be honest—this entire academy's energy has gone off the rails because of that guy."
Emilio sat up straighter. "Look, I told you—it's not his fault."
"Right. Not his fault." Her voice rose, eyes narrowing. "Not his fault he acts like he's the only one in the world who lost someone. Not his fault he lashes out at everyone who tries to care. Not his fault he's dragging this team into his mess?"
The table went quiet. A few students nearby turned their heads.
Serina tried to defuse the tension with a soft, nervous smile. "It's fine, Neira. We shouldn't make a scene. He's just… going through something."
Neira scoffed. "Going through something?" She leaned forward, tone sharpened to a blade. "Should we talk about how you snuck out last night? How you tried to cover him with a blanket while he was still tied to that damn tree—after he kicked your food and humiliated you in front of everyone?"
Serina looked away, face flushed. Emilio blinked, stunned.
Neira exhaled, exasperated. "Seriously… I feel like I'm the only sane one here. You act like Kael's some tragic hero, but you've known him for what—two days? You don't know him. He doesn't want your pity. And he's made it pretty damn clear he doesn't want us."
Emilio and Serina didn't say a word. That silence alone gave Neira a small sense of satisfaction. Maybe now they'd finally come to their senses.
But then Emilio leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
"You say all that… but when we went to check on Kael, you followed us."
He tilted his head. "You're easy to read, Neira."
Neira's cheeks flushed pink.
"I-I only came because you two wouldn't shut up about being a 'team'! You said we should stick together, so I did what any responsible person would do!"
She looked away, fuming.
"B-besides… you're both annoying."
Emilio chuckled, clearly enjoying the rare burst of emotion from her.
"Don't tell me… you've never had friends before?"
Neira's face turned crimson. She stood up so fast her chair screeched against the floor and slammed her hands on the table, nearly jabbing her fork into the tray.
"I'm leaving."
She spun around to walk off—only to stop short when her path was blocked.
A boy stood there, taller than her, blond with ice-blue eyes and a perfect royal smile that didn't reach his eyes. Behind him, across the cafeteria, a small crowd of girls whispered and giggled.
Prince Daranth Althoros. The king's only son.
"Your Highness…" Serina said, voice quiet.
Daranth's smile widened. "My apologies for the interruption. I hope I'm not intruding. May I join you?"
His voice was honeyed, his posture perfect—but Neira's instincts screamed otherwise. She'd seen that look before on the outside he looked kind. Behind that mask was a predator. Nobles like him didn't walk into rooms without a reason.
Emilio glanced up slowly. The usual cheerful spark in his eyes was gone.
"You can't sit here, Daranth."
Everyone at the table turned, stunned. Even Neira blinked.
"Is that so… Emilio Vanquez?" the prince asked, still smiling.
Emilio's voice was calm, royal, but cold.
"I don't like being disturbed while I eat. Maybe try again some other time."
Daranth's smile tightened.
"Are you saying the prince of Eirenthal isn't worth speaking to?"
Emilio leaned forward, gaze hard.
"Didn't the Headmaster say we don't bring politics into the academy? Out there, you're a prince. In here?" He gestured around the cafeteria.
"You're just another student. So take your superiority complex and go sit somewhere else."
Daranth chuckled lowly. "Kuku… I see. Then I'll cut to the point." He looked around the table.
"I just wanted to ask a question about your dear friend… Kael. The traitor's son."
Neira's eyes widened. She knew opening her mouth would only make things worse—this was the prince of the realm. All she could do was watch and let Emilio handle it. But one question kept clawing at her:
Why is he suddenly so interested in Kael?
"Kael, huh…" Emilio's expression darkened as he stood. He stepped toward Daranth until they were face to face. The tension thickened—everyone in the cafeteria could feel it.
"Are they going to fight?"
"That team again…"
"Are they seriously picking a fight with the prince?"
Whispers rippled through the cafeteria.
Emilio could tell immediately—this snake was here to play mind games. But he wasn't going to let that happen.
Serina saw it spiraling. She stood quickly, desperate to stop things before they exploded.
"Your Highness, please—we apologize." She gave a polite bow.
"Let's not turn this into something bigger."
Daranth smiled at her with a look that treated her more like a toy than a person.
Emilio sighed.
"You don't have to apologize, Serina. We didn't do anything wrong." He turned his eyes back to Daranth, sharper now.
"Some rats just like to stick their noses where they don't belong."
Daranth kept smiling, but his eyes said otherwise.
"Oh?"
Emilio turned away. "Let's go, Neira. Serina."
But before he could move, a hand tapped his shoulder.
"You're leaving without giving me what I came for?" Daranth's voice was colder.
"Did Kael manifest anything during the duel? Maybe… a certain ash-colored crow?"
That was the last straw.
A sudden burst of ether surged from Emilio. Killing intent flooded the air, forcing Daranth to step back instinctively. All around them, students shielded their eyes as a golden flare blazed behind Emilio—his Divine Beast.
A radiant hawk of flame hovered above him, eyes burning, wings spreading wide. A mid-tier avian-type, rare for someone his age.
Daranth's eyes narrowed.
"Another bird-type… Now I see. Is it instinct, then? That you're so obsessed with Kael?"
He barely finished the sentence before Emilio's fist flew at his face.
Daranth dodged—just barely.
Emilio didn't miss a beat.
"Watch your mouth."
That punch wasn't just anger—it was speed. Power. Enough to make even the prince blink. Daranth glanced at the watching crowd. The girls. The nobles. He couldn't afford to be humiliated.
Better to retreat.
He straightened his jacket and forced a smirk.
"Very well. I'll leave… for now. But we will meet again."
Emilio turned his back, middle finger raised as he walked off.
"Yeah, let's not. I've seen enough of that smug face to last a lifetime."
He and his team exited, leaving Daranth alone in the center of the cafeteria.
The prince's fake smile faded.
"Then I'll meet Kael myself."