LUCIEN POV:
Lucien woke before his alarm, the soft morning light slipping through the silk blue curtains. Yet his mind was far from calm. Something in the academy's atmosphere had shifted, and he felt it most clearly in one thing:
Elara no longer sought him out.
For weeks, she always attempted to speak with him. A glance, a question, an effort to approach. Lucien assumed that pattern would continue naturally.
But recently, her presence around him had grown quiet… distant.
And more concerning than the distance itself was the strangest detail:
She did not seem sad about it.
If anything, she appeared lighter.
As if someone else had filled the space he always believed belonged to him.
He got dressed slowly, fixing the Temaki family's golden insignia on his lapel. No matter how much he tried to push away the discomfort, his mind kept returning to the same scenes.
Elara smiling in Arven's direction in the hallway.
Elara speaking to him with a tone Lucien had never received.
Elara looking away from Lucien when she used to look for him.
He let out a long breath. It wasn't jealousy. He told himself that. It was simply… strange. A disruption in the natural order of how things were supposed to work.
He left his dormitory with perfect composure, hiding every emotion. As he walked through the eastern wing, quick steps approached from behind.
It was Gabriella Asumi.
Her long blue hair shimmered softly, and her bright blue eyes reflected an almost irritating clarity. Calm, elegant, and above all, direct.
"You look far too thoughtful for someone who claims not to worry about anything", she said as she caught up to him.
Lucien inhaled.
"I am not worried. I am simply observing changes."
Gabriella studied him more closely than he would have liked.
"This is about Elara, isn't it?"
Lucien didn't answer immediately. He kept walking. Gabriella walked beside him, matching his pace.
"I saw how you looked at her yesterday", she said. "And I saw how she looked at you. Or rather… how she didn't."
Lucien finally lifted his chin.
"It is irrelevant. And I did not come here to discuss Elara with you."
Gabriella gave a small, knowing smile.
"Good, because I came to discuss the tournament."
Lucien glanced toward the courtyard where students were gathering.
"The interclass tournament… yes. I already planned to form a team."
"And you thought of me."
"Naturally. You are the most stable and efficient option here", he said with absolute sincerity. "And I refuse to work with incompetents."
Gabriella let out a soft laugh.
"Then I assume Darius and Freya are included?"
"Yes. Darius can withstand nearly anything, and Freya is excellent in mobility and support. With you, we cover every necessary angle."
She folded her arms proudly.
"Then let's register it."
Lucien nodded, and together they made their way to the central building where the Student Council operated.
As soon as they climbed the stairs, the atmosphere shifted. More rigid. More controlled.
And at the center of that environment stood her.
Ana Pendragon.
The Student Council President. A young woman with immaculate silver hair, firm posture, and crimson eyes that seemed to see through everyone she looked at.
When Lucien and Gabriella approached, she raised her gaze immediately.
"Temaki. Asumi. I assume you're here to register a team."
Lucien stepped to the registration desk, maintaining flawless decorum.
"Yes. Team composed of myself, Gabriella Asumi, Darius Brave, and Freya Huntelaar."
Ana took rapid notes, her crimson eyes reflecting something close to approval.
"A solid composition. Strong. Perhaps too strong for a simple school tournament."
Lucien's expression remained neutral.
"I do not enter competitions to lose."
"I know", Ana replied. "Which is exactly why I'm curious to see how Arven Shisui will deal with you."
Lucien froze for a brief moment.
Gabriella raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing the slight tension in his shoulders.
Ana handed him the registration slip.
"Registration complete. Good luck, Temaki."
Lucien took the paper, turned sharply, and walked out without another word.
Gabriella followed him, a faint amusement in her tone.
"So… Arven, hm?"
Lucien did not reply.
But his golden eyes were narrower now.
More alert.
More bothered, perhaps.
He knew Arven was not just a commoner. He knew something was off. Something growing behind the scenes.
And now, with Elara's distance… her sudden warmth toward Arven… the tournament approaching… everything felt like it was converging.
Back in the hallway, Lucien exhaled and pocketed the registration form.
If Arven wished to compete on any front…
Lucien was more than prepared to respond.