The classroom loomed ahead, just around the bend, but Leo remained seated outside in the shade of the east garden, reclining like someone who had nothing in the world to prove.
He didn't even look toward the crowd gathering around the academy halls.
Instead, his attention stayed locked on the glowing blue screen hovering silently in front of his eyes.
[STATUS PANEL – ACTIVE]
→ Innate Ability Acquired: [Mystic Glow]
→ Ability Type: Defensive/Utility
→ Effect: Grants temporary invincibility for 3 minutes. No damage, no interruption, no disruption can affect the user during activation.
→ Cooldown: 24 Hours
Leo tilted his head back, the faintest smirk pulling at the edge of his lips.
He'd tested it already, and not just once. Multiple simulations in training dummies, both physical and chakra-based, had confirmed the same thing—during the window of activation, he was untouchable. Not a scratch, not even a ripple of energy reached him.
He took a slow sip from the half-empty juice box in his hand.
Three minutes of pure dominance, he thought.
The kind of ability that would humiliate someone like Alex, whose confidence was wrapped around perception and public image.
Just imagining the look on his rival's face—the sheer disbelief, the crumbling ego—it sent a pleasant wave of amusement through Leo's chest.
He dismissed the panel with a thought. The translucent interface blinked away, vanishing into nothing, leaving behind the tranquil quiet of rustling leaves and distant footsteps.
His posture shifted, lounging back further on the bench, as if resting on an invisible throne. One leg stretched forward across the warm stone pavement, the other bent loosely. He looked like a man who owned the entire courtyard—and knew it.
Still, in the back of his mind, there was a faint sensation. A pulse of something approaching.
It wasn't pressure. It wasn't threat.
It was… shift.
As if something in the air was quietly rearranging itself.
Leo opened his eyes halfway, looked around once, then shrugged.
If something's coming, it'll reveal itself.
He reached for another sip of juice and let the silence settle again.
---
Not far away, Roxanne Bladecrest was walking through the outer hallway of the academy for the first time.
Her golden-blonde hair swayed with every step, catching flecks of light from the overhead glass windows. Students couldn't help but turn to stare—her features were refined, mature, striking. She wasn't just beautiful; she carried herself with the air of someone above the ordinary. Her red dress fit elegantly against her figure, and the black stockings beneath her skirt added just the right level of formality.
She looked regal—commanding, even. But beneath that polished exterior, she was quietly trying to find her way.
Her eyes drifted from the class plaques to the hallway corners, trying to spot signs or schedules.
Behind her, Rio Bladecrest walked like a shadow. His back was straight, his expression unreadable, his gaze calculating. Every step matched hers, but his posture was that of a soldier, not a student.
Every few seconds, he subtly shifted position to block glances or walk between her and curious onlookers. His presence alone had cleared a six-foot radius around Roxanne, and not a single person dared step closer.
Roxanne sighed lightly.
"You're doing it again," she said under her breath.
Rio glanced at her but said nothing.
Her lips quirked, more amused than annoyed. "You can't guard me like I'm a princess in an enemy court. We're in a school."
"School or not," Rio said quietly, "these kids aren't any less curious."
She rolled her eyes, but didn't argue.
She understood. After everything that had changed in the Bladecrest household—the rise of their father as the new family head, the power that had suddenly shifted into their hands—Rio had become fiercely protective. And if that meant every student in the academy had to keep their distance, so be it.
Still, there was something else on her mind.
Her gaze wandered again. Through the courtyard. Past the corner where the benches were.
Where is he...?
She didn't say the name. She didn't need to.
The image of Leo—calm, confident, detached from the noise—kept surfacing in her thoughts.
And then a voice broke her focus.
"Good morning!"
It was too loud to be polite. Too smooth to be casual.
Roxanne turned her head toward the approaching figure.
Alex.
He strolled forward with a grin plastered across his face, walking like someone about to greet his in-laws for the first time.
His uniform was sharp today—pressed, cleaned, even styled slightly at the collar. His hair had clearly been combed. He had practiced this entrance in his head.
Alex's eyes locked on Roxanne, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. Up close, she was even more stunning than he'd expected.
Mine, he thought instantly.
He didn't need time to think about it. In his mind, she was already his. Not officially, but spiritually. The moment he laid eyes on her, a flag had been planted.
And so, despite Rio's presence, Alex walked up confidently, extending his hand forward.
"I'm Alex," he said warmly. "Welcome to the academy."
The greeting was standard, his tone carefully adjusted to seem welcoming and impressive at once.
Roxanne, however, didn't move.
She looked at the offered hand like it was an insect.
Who is this idiot?
She never shook hands with unfamiliar men. It wasn't even about power dynamics or status—it was her personal line. The only hands she ever touched were her father's and Rio's. Anyone else, especially someone so shamelessly forward, didn't deserve that privilege.
Her frown deepened.
Still, as she was about to turn her head away, a thought slipped in—uninvited, but vivid.
Leo.
The way he had casually grabbed her wrist once. His firm yet indifferent demeanor. The boldness in his eyes when he leaned close without asking. The way he didn't ask for permission—he just did things.
Her heart beat slightly faster.
Her cheeks colored, faint but visible.
A blush.
Alex's eyes widened slightly.
She's blushing.
She must be looking at me.
He grinned internally.
Of course she's affected. Who wouldn't be?
God made me this way. Handsome, smooth, naturally magnetic.
She must already like me.
But then, something unexpected happened.
He felt his hand grasped—but the texture was wrong.
No soft fingers. No gentle grip.
Instead, a firm, calloused grip wrapped around his palm with enough force to subtly dig into his bones.
His brows twitched. His gaze dropped.
And his confidence shattered.
It wasn't Roxanne.
It was Rio.
The taller boy stood before him now, his hand crushing Alex's handshake just enough to send a message without speaking.
"I'm Rio Bladecrest," he said, voice flat. "Her older brother."
Alex blinked.
He wanted to retract his hand immediately, but he didn't. Not with Roxanne watching.
He forced a laugh and smiled through gritted teeth.
"Nice to meet you."
Rio didn't smile back.
He let go, then stepped slightly between Alex and Roxanne, as if reminding him where the line was drawn.
"I'd appreciate it if you could lead us to the class," Rio added.
The tone wasn't hostile. But it wasn't friendly either.
Alex straightened up. For a moment, a flicker of anger crossed his face. But then he turned toward Roxanne, caught her expression—still unreadable but clearly neutral—and told himself to stay calm.
He gave what he believed was his most charming, elegant smile.
"Of course. Right this way."
As they walked, Alex did his best to explain the layout of the academy—the various buildings, the training halls, the schedule system. He tossed in a few jokes here and there, tested the waters with some gentle compliments, and tried to play the part of a gracious guide.
But his eyes kept drifting back to Roxanne.
Every time she showed interest in something—a sign, a notice board, a garden patch—he watched her closely, making a mental note of it.
Easy, he told himself.
She's already opening up.
I've got this.
Rio wasn't blind to it.
Every glance Alex stole. Every time his voice rose when speaking near Roxanne. Every subtle shift in body language.
Rio clenched his jaw.
This guy… how dare he keep looking at her like that…
Wait till we're alone.
By the time they neared the class entrance, the tension was thick.
Alex led them to the classroom door, turned, and gestured toward it with a proud smile.
"Well," he said, "here we are."
He looked at Roxanne again.
She had stepped forward—eyes focused ahead.
She looked eager, maybe even excited.
Alex's heart skipped a beat.
She's coming over…
She's going to thank me…
Is she going to—
He opened his arms slightly.
He didn't even think about it. It felt right.
She's going to hug me.
Alex stood at the classroom entrance, arms ever so slightly open, his chest subtly puffed out, a polished grin on his face. He had played this moment out a dozen times in his mind already.
She's impressed.
She'll thank me.
And maybe, just maybe... she'll hug me.
After all, he'd just guided her through the academy with the elegance of a perfect gentleman. His words had been smooth. His pace confident. He'd even held back his usual cocky remarks.
He had been, in his mind, irresistible.
And now, Roxanne was walking forward, directly toward him.
Her pace quickened.
Here it comes.
Alex widened his arms a little more.
But then—she swerved.
Clean, sharp, like a trained movement.
She didn't stop in front of him.
She walked past him without hesitation.
Before Alex could even process what was happening, Roxanne's entire body pivoted—her gaze locked elsewhere. Toward the person lounging on the bench by the classroom window.
Leo.
He hadn't moved. Still seated, still sipping juice, still radiating that lazy composure that felt more like command than relaxation.
Roxanne's steps didn't falter. If anything, they became lighter, more natural.
And then it happened.
Without a word, she dropped her bag to the side, took the last step forward, and hugged Leo. Both arms wrapped around him tightly, like a clingy koala latching onto a tree. Her face pressed against his chest, her cheeks flushed red—not from embarrassment, but from the rush of emotion she didn't even bother hiding.
It wasn't just a brief polite hug. It was intimate.
It was close.
Leo blinked once, slowly, as if mildly surprised—but not shocked. He didn't react wildly. He didn't flinch. His juice remained in his hand.
He turned his head slightly, looking down at her resting against him.
"Morning," he said casually.
Roxanne looked up. Her lips curved slightly.
"You didn't greet me."
"You hadn't arrived yet."
"Hmph. You knew I was coming."
Leo took another sip from his juice box and rested his free arm behind her back, letting her lean into him more comfortably. He didn't smile, but his eyes had softened, just a little.
It was the kind of exchange that only two people familiar with each other could have. The kind that felt like they'd spoken more in silence than most couples did in conversation.
And across the hallway, Alex stood frozen.
Mouth slightly open. Eyes wide.
It wasn't that he didn't understand what was happening—it was that his brain refused to accept it.
No.
That hug... it was meant for me.
She looked happy… she was enjoying the tour… she blushed when I spoke—
His mind spiraled in confusion. In embarrassment. In disbelief.
Rio, who had quietly followed behind them, watched it all with a straight face. But a tiny twitch at the corner of his lips betrayed him—a suppressed smirk.
So that's who she came for her fiance hah who would have thought he is in the same class with his brother in law …
Interesting.
He stepped beside Alex, leaned down just slightly, and whispered, "Still think you're her man?"
Alex's jaw clenched. His fists balled.
But he didn't say anything.
He couldn't.
The rest of the class, who had just started filing into the room, paused at the doorway—eyes locked on the scene by the bench.
Gasps. Whispers. A few stunned chuckles.
Leo didn't even look at them.
Roxanne didn't seem to care.
She let go slowly, then took a step back, her hands still gently brushing down his sleeves before pulling away completely.
"I'm going to sit beside you," she said, her tone final.
Leo gave the faintest nod. "Sure."
She smiled softly and walked to the desk next to his, setting her bag down. The entire action was so casual, so natural, it was like she'd been doing it for months.
Alex felt a strange twist in his stomach. Not just anger. Not just jealousy.
It was injustice.
He was the one who'd greeted her first.
He was the one who'd introduced her to the academy.
He'd smiled. He'd complimented. He'd kept it respectful.
And she just… ignored all of that?
Like he didn't exist.
Like he wasn't even in the frame.
His mind snapped back to Leo—still seated like a damn king, still sipping his juice like this was all routine.
He didn't even stand up for her...
What did he even do to deserve that reaction?
The rest of the class awkwardly walked around the scene, whispering among themselves as they took their seats. Some tried to sneak glances at Leo. Others looked at Roxanne with wide eyes. A few girls had expressions of pure disbelief, some even with faint jealousy.
But no one dared speak aloud.
Alex remained by the door, unmoving, his pride crushed beneath the weight of reality.
And Rio?
He simply walked past Alex, brushing shoulders with him.
"Next time," Rio muttered low enough only Alex could hear, "try not to overreach."
He left it at that and entered the classroom, casually taking a seat on Roxanne's other side.
Sandwiched between the two Bladecrests, Leo looked perfectly comfortable.
Alex turned slowly and walked to the far back of the room, not out of choice, but out of necessity. His usual confident stride was gone. Every step felt heavy.
He slumped into his chair, fists clenched beneath the desk.
His mind burned with one thought.
This isn't over.
She may have hugged him now... but I'll turn the tables.
I always do.
---
End of Chapter 62
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