Several days passed since that incident, and Rafka's life changed drastically. The most impossible thing, something he had never even imagined before, had finally happened, becoming close to a girl like Ayu.
Now they were often seen together at school. Walking side by side through the hallways, sitting and chatting during break time, or going home together after school.
And of course, it caused absolute chaos.
Rafka could feel people's stares every single day.
Piercing stares, jealous stares, confused stares. Especially from the male students.
"Hey, that's Rafka with Ayu again!"
"Seriously, I still can't believe it."
"Who even is he, anyway?"
"Wasn't he just that antisocial guy?"
"I heard he never even hangs out with his classmates."
"So why's he suddenly so close to Ayu now?"
Those whispers could be heard everywhere, through the hallways, the cafeteria, the library, even at the school gate the moment he arrived.
Rafka heard them almost every day.
And honestly, it hurt. He felt like he had suddenly become the public enemy of every guy in school.
Their stares felt like thousands of tiny needles stabbing into his back whenever he walked with Ayu.
Even though he himself was still confused about how any of this had happened, it was especially surprising since Ayu was known as the "it-girl" because she was beautiful, intelligent, athletic, calm, and mysterious.
Her popularity was leagues above Rafka, who had always been more like a background character who just happened to exist in the corner of school life.
***
Right now, the two of them were casually walking through the school hallway after class. Sunlight poured through the long windows along the corridor, casting soft golden reflections across the glossy white floor.
Several students immediately turned their heads the moment they saw them pass. Some whispered to each other, some openly glared at Rafka, and a few girls nudged one another while trying to hide curious smiles.
"Ayu," Rafka called softly.
The girl turned her head. Her brown hair swayed slightly with the movement. "Hmm?"
"So you're actually pretty famous at school, huh?" Rafka laughed awkwardly while scratching the back of his neck.
He glanced at several male students who immediately looked away the moment their eyes met his. "Doesn't it … bother you? Being gossiped about because you've been hanging out with me so much lately?"
Ayu did not answer immediately. Instead, she stared at him in silence.
"Not in a bad way! I mean …," Rafka quickly waved his hands in panic. "you're super popular at this school. Usually popular people care a lot about their image, right?"
Ayu looked into Rafka's eyes for several seconds. Her gaze was calm, but strangely focused. Then she casually replied, "Why would it bother me? I like being with you."
Rafka instantly froze for a split second, along with his heartbeat, which seemed to stop entirely.
Meanwhile, Ayu continued in her usual tone. "Honestly, I don't really care about any of them at all."
She then placed her hands on her hips. Her normally blank expression shifted slightly into something smug, a faint grin appearing at the corner of her lips. "Popular at school?" she said casually, lifting her chin slightly. "Just so you know, I'm more than that."
Rafka blinked in confusion. "Huh?"
Ayu pointed at herself with her thumb. "Back then was the first time I actually fought inside the city, so no one knew who I was yet."
She glanced around the hallway. "But if you've ever heard about the White Knight …," she said quietly, "that's me."
Rafka stopped walking instantly. His eyes widened. "Wait, that was you, Ayu?!" he blurted out.
Several nearby students immediately turned to look at them.
Ayu gently tugged on the sleeve of Rafka's uniform. "A little quieter."
"I know about the White Knight!" Rafka said, now far too excited. "People say she's a Knight who's completed tons of secret missions, right?"
His eyes sparkled like a child meeting an idol. "That's ... so cool! " he muttered sincerely.
Ayu turned her face slightly away, faint redness appearing on her cheeks.
Rafka clenched his fist. "That's basically like the Dragon Knight!"
Ayu instantly fell silent. Her shoulders stiffened slightly without her realizing it.
Rafka, still excited, didn't notice anything. "Could the Dragon Knight actually be you too, Ayu?" he continued.
Ayu flinched faintly. "The Dragon Knight?" she repeated, her voice slightly unsteady. "Me?" She let out a small laugh. "That's … a bit of a stretch."
She quickly turned away while keeping her hands on her hips. "Hahaha …." Her laugh sounded dry and forced.
For some reason, her usually blank face now looked slightly panicked. "Yeah," she added quickly. "Way too far."
***
That day, the two of them were spending break time at a small garden inside the school grounds.
The garden was located far from the crowded cafeteria, making it much calmer than the rest of the school.
A white stone path split the garden in two, surrounded by neatly trimmed grass and shady trees planted to reduce the heat from the Twin Suns.
Even so, the midday air still felt warm. Light filtered through the leaves, forming scattered patterns across the ground and benches.
From a distance came faint school sounds, laughter, footsteps, clinking utensils, and the soft hum of food delivery drones flying between buildings.
Rafka sat on a wooden bench, uniform slightly messy from his habit of slouching. He stared at the sky with his arms resting along the backrest.
He looked relaxed, but his mind was anything but calm.
"So it's true after all …," he muttered. "my life really took a sharp turn."
His gaze slowly dropped to his left hand, to Agni's red ring.
That tiny object was both his greatest dream and greatest source of anxiety.
"Am I really worthy of using this?" he whispered unconsciously.
Beside him, Ayu sat quietly, occasionally stealing glances at Rafka when he wasn't looking.
The wind gently moved her brown hair.
Ayu observed his profile, the way he stared at the sky, the way he tried to act relaxed, and how he always seemed slightly lost in thought.
She quickly looked away when she noticed herself staring, but glanced again a few seconds later anyway.
"Hey, Rafka," Ayu finally said softly. "I got some information."
Rafka immediately turned toward her. "Information?"
Ayu lowered her voice. "Several Lamia have appeared nearby."
Rafka's body stiffened instinctively. His heart began to beat faster.
This was the first time they had talked about Lamia during school.
Even so, just hearing the word made his body react. He could almost feel a faint warmth from Agni's ring.
Without thinking, he looked down at it.
Every time he heard "Lamia" his body instinctively prepared itself for battle.
He cleared his throat. "Do we need to deal with them?"
Ayu shook her head. "No." She looked into the distance. "Papa said there are already other Knights there."
Rafka felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment.
He leaned back. "Ah … I see."
Part of him wanted to fight again, to prove himself, to confirm that his first victory wasn't luck.
Ever since using Agni, a part of him had begun to crave that sensation.
The burning flames, the flight, the overwhelming power.
But he also knew he was still a beginner. And Captain Rangga had ordered them not to act without permission.
Ayu glanced at him. "Are you disappointed?"
"Huh?" Rafka blinked.
"You look like you want to fight," she said.
Rafka laughed awkwardly. "Was it that obvious?"
Ayu nodded. "You're easy to read."
"Am I?" he scratched his cheek. "Yeah … I guess I'm just curious."
"Curious?" Ayu tilted her head in confusion.
"It feels weird," Rafka admitted. "Ever since I became Agni, I feel like I have to do something whenever I hear about Lamia."
Ayu listened quietly.
"Before, when I only saw it on the news, I just thought, 'Wow, that's cool!' But now… it feels different. It feels more real."
The wind passed through the garden again.
Ayu looked at him for a moment, then smiled faintly. "I'm glad."
"What?" Rafka turned. "Why?"
"Because you're taking it seriously," she said.
Rafka chuckled. "Of course I have to. Becoming a Knight is my dream. I'm still confused, but I can't run away from it."
Ayu stared at him for a moment, then quietly laughed.
Rafka immediately pointed at her, eyes wide. "You just laughed!"
Ayu instantly returned to a blank expression, as if nothing had happened. "No, I didn't."
"You did!" Rafka insisted, leaning forward slightly.
"You imagined it," Ayu replied flatly.
"No way!" Rafka shot back, still pointing at her in disbelief.
Ayu turned slightly away to hide her faint smile. Then she said, "There's a chance we'll get official assignments soon. Maybe another Walpurgis-level mission."
Rafka stiffened. "Already? Me too?"
"Because you're a Mythical Armor user like me," Ayu replied casually.
"I feel like an intern …," Rafka muttered.
Ayu looked at him. "But Agni chose you."
Rafka fell silent for a second. "I still don't know why …," he said quietly. "I didn't do anything special."
He looked at his hands. "There are probably more deserving people than me."
Ayu stared at him. "Maybe Agni knows you're a good person."
Rafka panicked. "Don't say things like that!"
Ayu continued calmly, "You are kind."
"Stop it." He turned away, embarrassed. But his smile slowly faded. "You think I'm kind?"
He clenched his hands. "Sometimes I feel like there's a side of me that isn't exactly good."
Ayu stayed silent.
"When I fought that Lamia …," he said, "I was scared, but also … excited."
His voice dropped, "I know very well that Lamia are cruel creatures and enemies of humanity. But still … the feeling of killing a living being … it felt insane."
He exhaled heavily, letting out a slow sigh. "And that scares me. It makes me wonder … what humanity really is?"
For a few seconds, silence filled the air.
Only the sound of the wind and the faint noise of the school in the distance could be heard.
Then Ayu slowly looked forward again. "That's what humans are like, Rafka."
She lowered her head slightly as she continued softly, "Humans aren't purely good. Sometimes we're afraid, sometimes we're selfish, and sometimes we even enjoy things that should scare us."
She paused for a moment, then glanced at Rafka from the corner of her eye. "But I think … people who are still afraid of the darker side of themselves haven't truly become bad people yet."
Ayu gave a faint smile while still looking straight ahead. "I think that's what humanity means." Then Ayu turned to him and smiled softly. "Did that ease your worries?"
Rafka fell silent, captivated by Ayu's smile and beautiful face. Then he gave a small nod. "Thank you."