"Look at him… isn't that the Rank 1 freshman? The Primus?"
"Why does he look like he just crawled out of a graveyard?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down! He looks like he's about to kill someone. Did something actually happen last night?"
The main corridor of the academy was packed, a heavy sea of uniforms moving toward the morning lecture halls.
But right now, the usual loud chatter had completely died down, replaced by a wave of low whispers. Dozens of students were actively shrinking back against the walls, their eyes locked entirely on a single person walking down the center of the hallway.
Me.
I completely ignored the staring.
I kept my head down, dragging my feet forward in pure misery. My eyes were heavily bloodshot, surrounded by dark circles that made me look like a demonic beast instead of the academy's top freshman.
I should have just slept on the floor of my own room, I thought, rubbing my burning eyes. Staying in that bastard's room was the worst mistake of my life.
