The reeling of the projector.The drone of the professor.Dust in the beams of light.
Aiden sat motionless, one leg crossed over the other, like this was a boardroom instead of a classroom. His eyes stayed half-lidded, watching. Calculating.
Then came the tap.
Faint. Hesitant.
He turned.
A guy had just sat next to him — glasses, hoodie two sizes too big, backpack hugged like a life jacket.
"Uh… hey," the guy mumbled, voice barely above a whisper.
Aiden raised a brow.
"...You lost?"
The guy flushed. "No, I just—uh, it's the only empty seat left."
"Bad luck, then."
A beat passed.
Then the guy chuckled — nervous, broken. "I'm Jacob, by the way."
Aiden didn't respond.
Instead, he looked back toward the projector.
Jacob shifted awkwardly. He didn't speak again. But he didn't leave either.
[New Celestial Reactions Detected]
▸ An Observer Who Listens Too Closely perks up.▸ A Collector of Small Braveries smiles faintly.
At the Ending of the lecture, Aiden's body stiffened. It was lunch after this-in just....2 mins.
Not from the professor's slideshow on "Societal Paradigms and Pre-Digital Theory."No.
From the click of heels outside the door.
And then — it opened.
Aiden didn't have to look.
He knew that voice.
"You forgot your damn lunch."
His sister. Sophia.
Tall. Poised. Hair tied in a quick ponytail like she ran this place — and honestly, judging by the way people stared, she might as well have.
Aiden didn't say a word. He just accepted the brown bag like she was handing over evidence in court.
"I swear," she muttered, "your brain's still marinating in bullets."
Murmurs rose. People recognized her.
Queen of second-years. Senior-level social gravity.
And she just walked into a freshman class.
For him.
Jacob blinked, stunned. "Wait… that's your—?"
Aiden nodded once. "Unfortunately."
She turned to leave, stopped, glanced back.
"Eat it. Or I'm feeding it to a dog."
Door closed.
[Smile Points +12]The God Draped in Veils is pleased by sibling tension.A Blade-Born Goddess frowns at weakness shown.
Jacob whispered, "Dude… that was your sister? She's like… famous."
Aiden shrugged. "And loud."
He reached into the bag and pulled out a sandwich. Then stopped mid-bite.
Because something ugly entered the air.
A thud.
Then another.
Three figures walked over like they owned the oxygen.
The one in front — all fake swagger and too much hair gel — slapped Jacob hard on the back. Too hard.
"Yo, nerd boy," he grinned. "Hiding behind new muscle?"
The class didn't react.
They never did.
The guy was called Darren. Big mouth. Bigger ego. Behind him, Tyce — the meathead — and Reyn, who never said much but always had a blade on him.
And none of them were the real threat.
That honor went to Marcus, their so-called 'boss'. Sophomore. Local legend for getting expelled twice and somehow coming back angrier.
Today, Marcus wasn't here.
But the fleas were.
Jacob flinched but didn't speak.
Darren looked at Aiden next.
And smirked.
"You're the new guy, huh? Heard you turned a few heads. Must be fun looking like a dropout ex-military guy on your first day."
He leaned closer, throwing an arm casually over Aiden's shoulder like they were old friends.
"Let's be buddies, yeah? I could use a bodyguard."
Aiden didn't respond.
His hand slowly reached up.
And gently grabbed Darren's wrist.
[Star Stream is shifting…]▸ A God of Quiet Judgement leans forward.▸ The Dagger in the Fog smiles coldly.▸ A Flame-Cloaked Beast snarls at posturing mortals.
[New Celestial Quest: Initiated]▸ Break the silence. Break their pride. Reward: 16,000 Smile Points. Optional: Deliver pain proportional to arrogance.
Aiden tightened his grip.
The sound was sickening.
A slow, wet pop, followed by the crack-crack-crack of joints no longer aligned.
Darren's grin twisted into something raw.
Then he screamed.
It echoed.
People looked up.Some stood.Phones rose.The professor turned white.
Darren fell to his knees, clutching his hand. Fingers bent in wrong directions. Snot and spit flew from his mouth as he screamed at the floor.
Tyce and Reyn froze.
They hadn't even seen him move.
Jacob sat wide-eyed, sandwich halfway to his mouth.
Aiden stood slowly, brushing invisible dust from his sleeve.
He looked down at Darren.
Then calmly said,
"You ever touch me again, I'll remove the rest. Don't worry—slowly."
[Smile Points +18,000]A Watcher of Vengeance is clapping.The Dagger in the Fog has favorited your channel.The Whispering Voice of Old Chains is satisfied… for now.
Reyn pulled Darren away. Tyce followed, still blinking like his brain hadn't caught up.
The classroom was silent.
Aiden sat down again.
Took another bite of his sandwich.
"...Could've at least waited till I finished lunch," he muttered.
[System Message:]Quest Complete.Rewards delivered. Title Progress updated.New Passive Skill: Fear Aura (Level 1) – You now leave an impression.—No shit, the system added dryly.