Seeing his food paused, White unconsciously stuck out his tongue to scoop a bit, but even that failed him, as the finger on the spoon yanked it back, just enough to make his tongue miss.
CLANK!
The sound of his teeth clanking together, biting nothing but air, echoed, and an exasperated expression appeared on White's face.
He couldn't even get himself a proper supper anymore.
He raised his head, watching as someone came to sit just opposite him.
"Oh. It's you."
White called out in surprise, looking at the young man who grinned evilly.
A staff member approached from the side, placing a dish tray before him.
He took his spoon, scooping a mouthful.
White watched as his throat wriggled from the force before coming to a stop. He exhaled in satisfaction, opening his eyes to look at White.
"So you gonna pass me my spoon now?"
White asked.
The boy's grin widened even more before he shifted the spoon back to him.
"You know, back where I came from, the strong must eat first. Only when they're done will the rest eat from the same table."
"Seems awfully similar to a pack of hyenas."
White replied, taking his spoon back and finally eating.
The boy chuckled evilly.
He had long crimson hair falling over his purple coat, his pitch, blood-like eyes fixed on White with interest.
Of course, it was none other than that malevolent boy he had met during the entrance test.
"You don't seem much surprised to see me?" Rukun asked, watching as White quietly ate.
"Well, I'd be stupid to think a predator wouldn't come looking for revenge after having his 'prey' stolen."
White replied.
"So you think I'm a predator?"
"You didn't seem much different from the last time I saw you. Though... I have to say, you look surprisingly good in that purple coat."
He added.
And it was the truth.
The last time he had seen him, Rukun had been bare-chested, a wild aura surrounding him, covered in crimson blades and blood.
But now, with his hair neatly combed, donning the well-made academy uniform along with that properly buttoned coat.
He looked like a distinguished gentleman.
The compliment made Rukun pause in quiet surprise, before he grinned again.
"Exactly seven souls have told me that today, and only yours sounded genuine."
"I hope the other six are still alive?"
White said, as Rukun shrugged.
"Oh, don't mind it."
"The rules are annoying, but I admit, they do what they're meant to do: Constrain the strong and temporarily protect the weak."
"It'd be too much of a hassle dealing with punishment after killing all six of them. So I just left them with a warning instead."
"Except that six isn't enough for me."
He added, and White grinned.
"So you came looking for me, to satiate your bloodlust."
"Actually, wrong."
White raised an eyebrow.
"I came for you because you destroyed my slowly booming business with your hero act last night."
Rukun said.
White's memory drifted back to the skirmish with those four boys in the alleyway.
"So you've gone into the business of recruiting students to bully points out of other students?"
White asked amusedly.
"I'm guessing your little heroic heart has a problem with that."
"I actually don't."
White replied.
"Oh really? Then why stop my boys?"
"I needed someone to test a new ability on. They just happened to be the perfect targets."
"Without my permission."
Rukun added, and White shrugged slightly.
"Didn't know they were yours. And even if I did, I still wouldn't have asked."
"Now that—"
Rukun pointed at him.
"That right there is the spirit I like. The wild warrior spirit. For a moment, I thought you'd turned into one of these bootlicking idiots."
He gestured around at the other students.
Funny enough, none of them tried to challenge him. They simply kept eating in silence.
"I asked you a question last time."
White said.
Rukun's eyes gleamed.
"Where are my manners?"
"Rukun Malevolent."
He said, stretching out his hand.
"White Sinclaw."
White replied, reaching out to meet it.
He could feel the gazes around them, some students even holding their breath.
As their palms drew close, Rukun's fingers shifted into glowing red blades, snapping forward to pierce his hands, only to slow down drastically.
He pushed harder, forcing them forward, until both hands hovered just inches apart.
Close enough to resemble a handshake…Yet never quite touching.
White pulled his hand back in that moment, and Rukun smiled as the blades retreated.
"That reminded me. They truly mentioned something about an invisible barrier. The Limitless Interval, right?"
White paused in quiet shock.
'How did he know the name?'
"Oh, don't be surprised. It's a common, annoying skill of the Limitless Clan. Everyone knows it."
Rukun said with a shrug.
"Surprised you learned it so quickly. Your little girlfriend doesn't seem to have it yet."
He added in an almost disappointed tone, though his grin never faded.
"Maybe she could've stopped both her limbs from getting severed if she did."
"Hope it wasn't too serious. Wouldn't want you getting expelled for murder on the first day."
White replied calmly.
"Oh, it's fine. Just the right leg from the knee down, and the left hand from the shoulder."
"I left her alive on the street. I'm sure someone must have been kind enough to take her to the hospital."
"Maybe she even attended class this morning. Who knows?"
"She's a strong girl, isn't she?"
Rukun asked, studying White's face closely, but then he noticed the unbelievable:
Nothing changed.
White still wore the same amused expression as he had from the start.
"I can't deny that she is indeed strong. Maybe not as strong as you right now… but her will is admirable."
"Give her time, and she'll catch up."
White said.
By now, they had both finished their meals.
And all of a sudden,
...