The next morning, Aiden was sitting on the edge of the infirmary bed, testing his legs as Miss Seacole approached with her usual calm eanor.
"You’re free to go," she said, looking between him and Ivara. "Both of you. But take it easy, understood?"
Ivara, already up and tying her boots, grinned at Aiden. "We’re not made of glass, Miss Seacole. We’ll be fine."
Aiden smiled faintly, though he still felt the weight of everything that had happened.
"Thanks, Miss Seacole," he muttered as she walked off to tend to other patients.
As they exited the infirmary, the bright morning sun pouring through the hall’s windows, they were greeted by Adrian and Sevan leaning casually against the wall.
"About ti!" Adrian called out, straightening and smirking at Aiden. "Thought you two were planning to move in there permanently."
Sevan glanced at Ivara. "Glad to see you’re alive too. Though I’m not sure if Aiden can say the sa after that duel."
Ivara smirked, crossing her arms. "Don’t forget who gave him that ’win.’"
"Yeah, yeah, let’s go," Aiden said, brushing past them. "I need to shower before breakfast."
The four of them walked back to the dorms, Adrian and Sevan chattering away about the duel and the drama surrounding it.
Back at the dorm, Aiden quickly gathered his things and jumped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the tension that clung to him. By the ti he returned, dressed and ready, Adrian was leaning against his bed, impatiently tapping his foot.
"Finally," Adrian groaned. "Thought you’d drowned in there."
"Maybe next ti," Aiden shot back with a faint smirk, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
The four of them made their way to the dining hall, their footsteps echoing through the corridors. When they pushed open the heavy wooden doors, the usual hum of chatter and clinking cutlery greeted them- except it abruptly faltered the mont Aiden stepped inside.
The air shifted.
Aiden imdiately felt it: the weight of countless eyes on him.
So students turned outright to stare, while others darted quick, nervous glances before pretending to be engrossed in their food. A few whispered to each other, their heads bowed close.
Adrian nudged Aiden’s arm. "Well, looks like you’re famous now."
"Infamous," Sevan corrected.
In the first-year section, the reaction was even more obvious. So students scooted their chairs farther away from where Aiden’s usual group sat, while others fidgeted uncomfortably. A few pretended not to notice, but their stolen glances betrayed their unease.
Aiden swallowed hard, his steps faltering slightly. "They’re all looking at ."
"Of course they are," Adrian said, trying to sound casual but unable to hide the edge of protectiveness in his voice. "You’re the guy who fought Ivara in front of half the school—and apparently, you’re a Chase. That’s bound to turn a few heads."
Amid the awkward silence that seed to follow Aiden’s every move, Amihan waved them over to their usual spot, her warm smile cutting through the tension. "Co on, don’t just stand there. You’ll make it worse."
The group sat down, but the weight of the stares lingered.
Aiden could feel it pressing on him from every angle, and for a mont, he wished he could disappear into the shadows.
"Relax," Sevan said, nudging him gently. "Give it a week, and they’ll find sothing else to gossip about. Probably Adrian."
"Hey!" Adrian protested, but his grin was lighthearted.
Aiden chuckled faintly, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
He glanced around the hall, catching a few lingering stares before focusing on his plate. He wasn’t sure what was worse: the people who looked at him like he was dangerous or the ones who avoided looking at him altogether.
Seated at their usual spot, Ivara was already eating, seemingly unbothered by the tension. She glanced up as they approached and smirked. "Finally. I thought you’d take forever just getting here."
"Had to make sure he didn’t pass out on the way," Adrian said dryly, dropping into his seat with a lazy sprawl.
Sevan sat beside him, rubbing his temples. "You didn’t even help carry anything."
Aiden slid into his usual seat. Across from him, Amihan grinned. "You made it just in ti. Ivara was getting impatient."
Ivara scoffed. "Not my fault. The food’s better when it’s still hot."
Aiden appreciated their normalcy- Amihan and Ivara treating him the sa as before. But the rest of their classmates?
Not a single glance in his direction. The ones who used to casually greet him now focused too hard on their als, their conversations growing quieter when he passed.
Even Morrigan, who had once been so talkative, had chosen a seat farther away. She didn’t look at him, didn’t acknowledge him. Aiden wasn’t surprised. He had seen it coming.
Across the table, Adrian was watching the rest of their classmates with a dark glint in his eye, his fingers tapping idly against the wood. Sevan, ever perceptive, let out a quiet sigh, clearly noticing the way people were tiptoeing around them.
Aiden didn’t need to turn his head to see that Morrigan wasn’t at their usual spot. He didn’t need to hear anything to know she had deliberately chosen to sit farther away. And Emranne… she was simply there, watching, not caring enough to acknowledge nor avoid him.
He pushed down the frustration bubbling inside him and focused on his food. Amihan and Ivara were still talking like normal, but even their voices couldn’t quite drown out the unspoken weight hanging over the room.
So this is what it ant to be a Chase.
Aiden had barely taken a few bites of his breakfast when a familiar presence lood over their table.
"So," Shiloh said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "You’re really a Chase?"
The air around them, already strained, grew even heavier. Conversations at nearby tables halted as people subtly turned their heads, listening in.
Aiden set his fork down, his expression unreadable. "And if I am?"
Shiloh scoffed. "What’s a Chase doing here at Genvah? Last I checked, your family was busy persecuting Magi, not studying alongside them."
Ivara exhaled through her nose, looking more irritated than anything else. Sevan tensed beside Aiden, but before he could say anything, Adrian leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand.
"Shiloh," Adrian said, his voice almost lighthearted. "I’m going to give you five seconds to walk away before I punch you."
Shiloh barely reacted, eyes locked onto Aiden like he was waiting for an answer.
"Five," Adrian started.
Shiloh crossed his arms.
"Four."
Aiden sighed. "Adrian, don’t-"
"Three."
"Answer the question, Chase."
"Two."
Sevan put a hand on Adrian’s arm. "He’s not worth it."
"One."
Shiloh smirked, unfazed. "Go ahead, I dare you."
That was all Adrian needed. He stood up in one smooth motion and swung.
His fist connected with Shiloh’s jaw, the impact loud enough to make several students flinch. Shiloh staggered back, clutching his face, before his head snapped up with a glare that could burn through Adrian.
A few people gasped. Others whispered. Aiden heard soone mutter, "I can’t believe he actually did it."
Shiloh wiped his mouth, checking for blood. "You-"
"Next ti," Adrian interrupted, shaking out his fist, "I won’t give you a countdown."
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