The atmosphere around Cain crystalized into thin ice upon the appearance of the crimson-haired boy. Cain looked up at the boy, whose blue eyes were fixed on Luna as if nothing else in the room existed.
"Senior Oliver."
For a brief mont, senior Luna’s expression cracked when she locked eyes with him.
That mont caught Cain’s attention. His gaze shifted between them, sensing the invisible wall Luna was trying to erect between herself and Oliver.
The grey-haired boy glanced at Chloe, who stood by senior Luna’s side. Her blue eyes sharpened with clear intent, telling the man not to get closer to Luna.
Cain swept his eyes around the still room. He watched the other seniors and also looked at the place he was currently staying. The boy brought his palms together and clapped sharply, producing a crisp sound that broke the tension around the group.
Without minding Oliver, Cain stepped forward and stood before senior Luna. He nodded, promptly opened his mouth.
"Okay, let’s et again, later."
Senior Luna’s expression shone. She flashed a bright smile that lted everyone who saw it. The girl snapped her eyes wide open, realizing she was still in the middle of the crowd. Her cheeks stained pink, embarrassed to show an improper side to the public.
"A-Alright. I’ll wait at the cafeteria with Chloe."
"Fine by ."
Cain raised his brows as he witnessed the silver-haired girl stare at his face for several seconds. A mont later, she gasped as blood started to gather in her face. The girl then grabbed her best friend’s hand to pull her away from the scene.
All eyes, including his, watched their retreating figures. The two walked past the entrance door, bringing their visit to an end by leaving a bittersweet mont lingering in the arena.
As soon as they were gone, the attention shifted toward the grey-haired boy. The cadets, who were in the sa year as him, noticed a long ti ago the close relationship between Cain and senior Luna.
At first, they thought it was just a fluke because Cain also joined the shooting training, which was also where senior Luna joined. However, their assumption proved wrong after they saw the two talking to each other.
They were so close that even the girl nicknad ’Winter Lady ’showed her flustered expression after staring at Cain’s face.
The two must have a close relationship that they couldn’t imagine.
That alone made several boys who adored Luna bite their lips in frustration; so felt like crying tears of blood. They know how powerful Cain was, and it was hard to see themselves at the sa level as him. As proof of that, Cain even appointed a leader of that anomaly, such as Abel.
As everyone around him wallowed in their despair, Cain peeked over his shoulder. His vision shone ominously, and a glimpse of curiosity flashed in the crimson-haired boy.
’Hmm, why does Luna take an interest in a boy as dull as him?’
’Oh, now you are interested in .’
Cain stepped backwards, trying to stay away from the boy’s gaze. But a word coming from Oliver’s mouth halted his step midway.
"Wait!"
His voice was deep, laced with authority that didn’t take no for an answer. Yet the grey-haired boy left the area as he intended to approach his other comrades. Finding it too botherso even to glance back.
That action obviously sharpened Oliver’s gaze. The crimson-haired boy lifted his feet and was about to reach out to Cain’s shoulder. But faster than anyone could react, Cain’s hand shot up, slapping Oliver’s reaching hand away with a crisp ’pak.’
The sound seed to drop the room’s temperature below freezing.
"...What do you want, senior?"
Cain’s voice was sharp, teeming with rebellious attitude. It was fitting for his position as a leader, who didn’t easily bow down under pressure, especially to his target.
He glared at the towering boy before him. The two locked gaze for a brief second, but it felt like ti stretched into hours. Oliver blinked, his hardened expression loose. He raised a hand, indicating no harm.
"No, no, I’m just curious about what it is the two of you wanted to talk about, for Luna to ask so random boy."
The crimson-haired boy’s words turned into a thorn that stabbed Cain’s ears to bleed.
"Whatever it is, why are you so hung up on it? This is my matter with her, so buzz off!"
The world was silent in the wake of his remarks.
Cain gulped, almost showing off his slowed breath, tension coiled around his neck, choking him to death. The words that left his mouth were too offensive; he was afraid things might escalate further down to a real blade.
Not that he minds it, though.
Because if things go south for him, he could escape into the outside world and live the rest of his life searching for a ans to survive in a crimson land, devoid of life.
However, things were not so easy as he claid. Behind him stood four comrades who trusted him and were willing to follow his words, even if they were absurd.
For him, they would traverse a mountain of blades and plunge themselves into the flaming river. Cain took a shallow breath, his nails dug into his palm skin as he muttered under his breath.
’Well, no use crying over spilt milk.’
The slowed ti began to move again when the crimson-haired boy glared at Cain. A burst of crimson aura leaked out from his body; his domineering aura projected the silhouette of a bloody lion roaring behind him.
Cain’s brow twitched; he inhaled and felt the heart in his chest pulse into life. It spawned a warm sensation, twisting like a vortex before dispersing into his veins.
The warm power flowed, nourishing his flesh and bones, strengthening his physique. From his black eyes, a tiny serpent of dark aura burst forth, conjuring itself into the form of a dragon that roared soundlessly at the heavens.
Both auras clashed for a brief mont before it dispersed into nothingness by the appearance of the general. The man’s feral aura pushed back Cain and Oliver’s intent away, causing them to take a step back involuntarily.
"You guys got so nerves! Do you forget that I’m here?"
Dosh’s voice rumbled across the room like a thunderclap. His eagle-like eyes glared at the two troublemakers before him.
Cain exhaled the breath he was holding. Oliver also did the sa; he withdrew the tension in his body and looked toward the man on his side.
The general alternated his gaze between the two and let out an exaggerated breath that drew everyone’s attention.
"If you two have qualms against each other, why not settle it over a spar. They say moving your body would make your thoughts clearer."
"!?"
The grey-haired boy widened his eyes upon hearing the sudden, ssed-up logic coming out of Dosh’s mouth. He gazed at the man’s side profile; his stern expression would make a baby bawl in tears.
However, the man’s word roused Cain’s battle spirit once more. He glanced at the crimson-haired boy before him. Oliver seed to share the sentint as he didn’t bother to hide the sharp glint that flashed in his blue pupils.
"Well, that was what I’m about to ask in the first place."
Cain spoke his mind, turning the entire field mute. His daring words hamred against the stunned silence.
"Hmm, you seem interesting enough. Okay, I will follow General Dosh’s suggestion."
Oliver nodded, then turned his back around as he walked, approaching one of his subordinates. The senior, who wields a longsword.
The grey-haired boy took one last stare at General Dosh. They seed to understand each other’s thoughts. Dosh jerked his chin sideways, pointing toward the boy holding a dummy katana.
Cain lifted his feet, leaving his other four comrades behind, their gaze contorted in worry. He strode forward, approaching the familiar boy he had trained under Master Kenji’s tutelage.
Without exchanging words, the male cadet threw the katana in his hand, which Cain snatched midair. The two looked at each other, then bowed their heads slightly.
Cain gazed into the weapon in his left hand, its silver blade reflected the shift in his atmosphere.
’One step away from completing this play!’
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