Chapter 28 – First Public Scandal
"Everyone sees… but no one dares stop me."
The forest exploded.
The impact between Aira and the apex monster didn't sound like a clash—
It sounded like something breaking.
Not bone.
Not stone.
But balance.
Magic surged violently outward, tearing through trees, ripping roots from the ground, and sending shockwaves deep into the academy's outer barrier.
Inside the forest—
Aira didn't move back.
She stood her ground.
Her hand pressed against the monster's claw—
Devour fully activated.
For the first time—
She felt resistance.
Not rejection.
Not immunity.
But… resistance.
The monster's magic didn't collapse instantly.
It fought her.
Pushed back.
Like it understood what she was trying to do.
Aira's eyes sharpened.
"…good."
Because this—
This was what she needed.
Devour vs Apex
The monster roared.
Not mindlessly.
Angrily.
It twisted its body, trying to tear away from her grip—
but Aira didn't let go.
Her Devour core pulsed violently.
Energy surged between them—
dark.
raw.
unstable.
The ground beneath her feet cracked.
Her veins burned.
But she smiled.
Because this was different.
This wasn't controlled magic.
This wasn't academy energy.
This was something closer to her.
Something… original.
"I'll take it," she whispered.
And pulled harder.
Above – Ren Moves
High above—
Ren Kael stepped forward.
His restraint snapped.
"…that thing—"
His gaze locked onto the monster.
"…it's not normal."
For the first time since Aira entered the forest—
Ren moved.
Not openly.
Not recklessly.
But closer.
Ready.
If it crossed a line—
If it hurt her—
He would intervene.
No hesitation.
No mercy.
Back to Aira – The Turning Point
The monster adapted.
Its body shifted.
The magic inside it twisted violently—
trying to destabilize Aira's Devour.
For a split second—
Aira felt it.
Pain.
Not physical.
Internal.
Like something inside her—
was being pulled apart.
Her Devour core flickered.
Unstable.
Dangerous.
Lucien's voice echoed faintly in her memory.
"Push too far… and you won't stay human."
Aira's lips curved.
"…then I won't hold back."
Devour Evolution – Breakthrough
Instead of resisting—
Aira let it in.
All of it.
The chaos.
The instability.
The resistance.
Her Devour core didn't suppress it.
It adapted.
Rewrote itself.
For the first time—
She didn't just absorb magic.
She assimilated it.
Perfectly.
Instantly.
Her eyes glowed brighter.
Her aura flared outward—
sharp.
predatory.
overwhelming.
The monster froze.
Because now—
It wasn't fighting prey.
It was facing something worse.
The Kill
Aira stepped forward.
One movement.
Clean.
Precise.
Her hand pierced through the monster's core—
not physically—
but magically.
And devoured everything.
The resistance.
The power.
The will.
Gone.
The monster let out a final, distorted sound—
before collapsing into nothing.
Absorbed.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
Aira stood still.
Breathing steady.
Eyes glowing faintly.
"…so that's the limit," she murmured.
But deep down—
She knew.
That wasn't a limit.
It was a beginning.
The Scandal Begins
The barrier around the academy flickered.
And then—
It broke.
Not fully.
Just enough—
for what happened in the forest—
to be seen.
Students.
Upperclassmen.
Even teachers.
They saw it.
Aira.
Standing in the middle of destruction.
Magic still radiating from her body.
The remains of something powerful—
gone.
Consumed.
And behind her—
Ren stepped into view.
Not hidden anymore.
Not subtle.
Standing close.
Too close.
Whispers Explode
"…is that—Ren Kael?"
"Why is he there?"
"With her?"
"Were they… together out there?"
"Alone?"
"At night?"
The rumors ignited instantly.
Faster than fire.
More dangerous than truth.
Liora froze.
"…no way."
Seris narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…interesting."
Back to the Forest – The Moment
Aira turned slightly.
She felt it.
The shift.
The attention.
The eyes.
Watching.
Judging.
Whispering.
And behind her—
Ren stepped closer.
Close enough—
that she could feel him.
His presence.
His control.
His restraint—
barely holding.
"You pushed too far," he said quietly.
Not angry.
Not soft.
Possessive.
Aira didn't move away.
Didn't step back.
"…and?" she replied calmly.
Ren's eyes darkened.
"And you didn't call me."
A pause.
Then—
his hand closed around her wrist.
Firm.
Unyielding.
"…don't do that again."
Public Taboo Moment
From the academy—
They saw it.
Clear.
Unmistakable.
His hand on her.
The proximity.
The tension.
The silence between them.
"…that's not normal."
"They're too close."
"He's S-rank… she's first-year…"
"…is that allowed?"
"…or are they—"
No one finished the sentence.
But everyone thought it.
Aira's Response
Aira looked down at his hand.
Then back at him.
Her expression didn't change.
But her voice softened—
just slightly.
"Then don't follow me."
A pause.
Ren didn't let go.
"…not happening."
Their eyes locked.
Tension.
Heat.
Something unspoken—
but undeniable.
Then—
Aira turned away.
Not rejecting.
Not accepting.
But allowing.
And somehow—
That was worse.
Teacher Intervention
A presence appeared behind them.
Cold.
Sharp.
Controlled.
A teacher.
Watching.
Calculating.
"…that was quite the display," the voice said calmly.
Aira didn't turn.
Ren did.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
"You shouldn't be here," Ren said.
The teacher smiled faintly.
"And yet… neither should she."
A pause.
Then—
his gaze shifted to Aira.
"…Devour, isn't it?"
Aira's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…what about it?"
The teacher stepped closer.
Not too close.
But enough.
"To devour something like that…" he murmured.
"…you're either a miracle."
A beat.
"Or a disaster waiting to happen."
Tension Escalates
Ren stepped forward.
Blocking.
Subtle.
But clear.
"Back off."
The teacher chuckled softly.
"Relax."
"I'm not interfering."
A pause.
"…yet."
Then—
he turned.
And left.
Like he had seen enough.
Or learned enough.
Aftermath – Rumors Spread
By morning—
The academy exploded.
"She devoured something in the forest—"
"Ren Kael was with her—"
"They were alone—"
"Did you see how he touched her—"
Rumors twisted.
Changed.
Evolved.
From fear—
To fascination.
From admiration—
To scandal.
Aira walked through the halls—
unbothered.
Unstoppable.
But now—
Everyone was watching.
Not just because she was strong.
But because—
She was dangerous.
In more ways than one.
Later that day—
A letter appeared on her desk.
No sender.
No seal.
Just one line inside:
"You've been noticed."
Below it—
A symbol.
One she had never seen before.
But somehow—
Her Devour core reacted.
Not with hunger.
Not with fear.
But with recognition.
Aira's smile returned.
Sharp.
Excited.
"Good."
"The entire academy saw me with him… but the real danger isn't the scandal—it's the ones who finally noticed what I am."