By the next morning—
the entire campus knew.
"Kael Virex stopped Ethan."
"In front of everyone…"
"For Aeris Valen."
Whispers weren't whispers anymore.
They were attention.
And attention—
was dangerous.
Aeris walked through the campus like she always did.
Calm. Untouched.
But this time—
eyes followed her differently.
Not admiration.
Not curiosity.
Judgment.
Jealousy.
Interest.
"Wow… so that's her."
A voice cut through.
Smooth. Polished. Sharp.
A girl stepped forward.
Perfect posture. Perfect smile.
Perfectly fake.
Lira Monet.
"I was wondering what kind of girl could catch his attention."
Her gaze dragged slowly over Aeris.
Evaluating.
Measuring.
"…You're prettier than I expected."
Aeris didn't react.
"…And you talk more than necessary," she replied calmly.
Silence.
A few students choked back reactions.
Lira's smile didn't fade.
But something behind it did.
"I like you," she said softly.
Then—
leaning closer—
"Let's see how long that lasts."
And just like that—
she stepped back.
Aeris didn't watch her leave.
Because something else—
had already taken her attention.
That presence again.
She didn't need to turn.
"…You enjoy creating problems?"
A pause.
Then—
"Only the interesting ones."
Kael.
He stood behind her.
Close enough to be felt.
Not seen.
"…You're predictable," Aeris said.
A quiet exhale.
Almost like a laugh.
"And you're already involved."
She turned this time.
Facing him fully.
"…I didn't ask for this."
A step closer.
"It wasn't a request."
The words were quiet.
But absolute.
Aeris held his gaze.
Unmoving.
"…Then what is it?"
A beat.
And then—
"Serath mbilu…"
Literal meaning:
"I will destroy anyone who touches you."
Real meaning:
"No one gets close to you unless I allow it."
Silence dropped.
Heavy.
Aeris's expression didn't change.
But her voice—
lowered.
"…You don't own me."
And for a moment—
something dangerous flickered in his eyes.
Not anger.
Not irritation.
Something darker.
"No."
A step closer.
"But I will."
The air tightened.
And suddenly—
"KAEL!"
Ethan's voice.
Sharp. Frustrated.
He walked toward them quickly.
"This has gone far enough."
Kael didn't turn.
Didn't move.
"…Walk away, Ethan."
"Not this time."
A pause.
Then—
Ethan stepped between them.
Protective.
Firm.
"She said she doesn't need you."
That—
was the wrong move.
Because for the first time—
Kael's patience snapped.
Not loudly.
Not violently.
But completely.
His hand caught Ethan's collar.
Pulling him forward—
just enough.
Not a fight.
A warning.
"You talk too much."
Low.
Controlled.
Deadly.
Students had gathered now.
Watching.
Frozen.
Ethan didn't back down.
"Or what?"
A beat.
Kael leaned closer.
"Vaelor en neth…"
Literal meaning:
"You were never meant to stand in my way."
Real meaning:
"You don't exist in the world I've chosen for her."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"…You're insane."
Kael released him.
Slowly.
Like he was no longer worth holding.
And then—
finally—
his gaze shifted.
Back to Aeris.
"Velmora en thrae…"
Literal meaning:
"Even your darkness belongs to me…"
Real meaning:
"No matter how much you resist… you're already part of me."
This time—
it didn't feel like a statement.
It felt like a promise.
Aeris didn't respond.
Didn't react.
But her silence—
was no longer untouched.
Because something inside her—
was starting to move.
And she didn't like it.
Kael stepped back.
Turned.
Walked away.
Again.
But this time—
he didn't leave confusion behind.
He left tension.
Pressure.
Awareness.
Because now—
everyone understood.
This wasn't interest.
This wasn't curiosity.
This was something else.
Something that doesn't stop.