The hallways of Aurelian Academy buzzed with a strange energy the next morning. Whispers followed Aiden wherever he went, a mixture of awe and suspicion in every tone.
"Did you see him in PE yesterday?" a girl whispered to her friend. "He… he pushed the werewolf. That shouldn't even be possible."
"They say Selene was there too," another added. "No wonder he's acting different. Her scent…"
Aiden moved quietly, head down, pretending not to hear. His chest still burned faintly from the surge of strength he felt on the court, but he told himself it was nothing — just a lucky push.
Selene, walking beside him in the cafeteria, noticed the stares. Her crimson eyes flicked to those whispering, and she subtly positioned herself closer to Aiden. She didn't speak, but her presence sent a clear warning to anyone thinking of approaching him.
Some of the supernatural heirs, however, weren't deterred. In the courtyard, a pair of witches and a young elf exchanged glances, smirking as they watched him from a distance.
"Interesting," the elf murmured, his keen eyes noting every movement. "That boy… he's hiding something."
"I'd say he's dangerous," the witch replied, her voice low. "But he doesn't even know it yet."
Meanwhile, the tall werewolf boy, still smarting from the push, gritted his teeth. His pride had been wounded in front of the entire school. He began whispering among his friends, plotting subtle ways to test Aiden's limits — small challenges, taunts, anything to see if he truly was as weak as he seemed.
Aiden noticed the lingering stares, the hushed conversations, but he remained silent. He didn't confront anyone. He didn't retaliate. He just moved forward, focusing on his classes and keeping his distance from the chaos he had unintentionally caused.
Selene, ever close yet careful not to push him too far, finally whispered as they entered class, "Don't let them get to you. I'll handle the rest."
Aiden nodded slightly, grateful but embarrassed. He still didn't understand why she cared so much for him, why she risked drawing attention to herself just to stay near him.
By the time the final bell rang, one thing was certain: the PE incident had changed everything. Students who once ignored him now watched with curiosity. Some envied him. Some feared him.
And Aiden, still unaware of his true strength, had become the center of attention at Aurelian Academy — for better or worse.