The alarm goes off, cutting through the silence of my room. I open my eyes slowly, feeling the weight of yesterday's training in every muscle of my body. The pain is real, but it's not a reason to give up. On the contrary, it's a reminder that I'm alive, that I'm fighting. I sit up in bed, take a deep breath, and remind myself why I'm here: not to be a victim, not to be protected, but to become strong enough to never have to depend on anyone again.
I look at the uniform hanging on the chair—a skin-tight suit that looks more like a piece of tech armor than regular clothing. I put it on carefully, adjust every detail, twist my hair into a tight bun, and leave my room with the posture of someone who knows exactly what she wants. Today, no one is going to diminish me.
In the cafeteria, the smell of fresh coffee and warm bread gives me a brief sense of comfort. Clara is already there, sitting at a table by the window, distracted with her tablet. When she sees me, she smiles, but her eyes hold a worry I can't ignore.
"Morning, survivor," she jokes, sliding a steaming mug my way.
"Morning, stranger. You disappeared yesterday," I reply bluntly, sitting down beside her.
She hesitates for a second, like she's choosing her words.
"Had some things to take care of. But I heard you caused a scene yesterday."
I shrug, trying not to let any pride show.
"I didn't do anything special. Just tried to keep things in order. Professor Lucian tried to throw his weight around, but Dante didn't like it. Things got tense, that's all."
Clara's eyes go wide, surprised.
"You mean Dante? He argued with Lucian because of you?"
"It wasn't really a fight, but yeah, it was tense. And of course, everyone started looking at me like I was the problem."
She sighs, half worried, half impressed.
"Now it makes sense. Luna, do you know who Dante is?"
"All I know is he doesn't understand boundaries."
"He's one of the Apocalypse Knights. They report directly to Magnus. And not just anyone gets their attention. And to make things worse, I've even heard people saying Theo was watching, too. Now everyone's making up stories that the two of them fought over you."
I take a deep breath, trying to keep calm. I didn't come to Cetus to become gossip fodder. Much less to feed rumors about romance. After what happened with Mike, my fiancé, I don't have space for that kind of thing. I just want peace and to stay far away from drama.
"Great. Now I'm the star of a soap opera," I say with irony, but keep my posture strong. "All I wanted was to go unnoticed."
"Around here, that's impossible," Clara says honestly. "Especially after yesterday. Just be careful, Luna. People here love a scandal."
As she talks, I feel the weight of her words. I know I can't afford to let my guard down, even when all I want is to disappear.
Classes go on, and even with all the stares and whispers, I stay focused. I'm not one to run from a challenge, but I'm not giving anyone an opening either. Every move, every answer, I make sure it's clear I'm here to learn, not to become the target of speculation.
During the break, I look for Clara, but she's vanished again. I don't let it get to me. I grab my things and head down the hallway. The silence is broken by steady footsteps behind me. Theo appears, blocking my way.
He's imposing, but he doesn't intimidate me. Not now. Not after everything I've been through.
"Luna," he says, his voice low and controlled.
"Hey," I reply, cool and steady, not breaking eye contact.
Before he can say anything else, Clara appears, almost like she was waiting for this.
"Theo, go away. The last thing Luna needs is more people talking about her."
Theo looks surprised, almost offended.
"Seriously? You're telling me to leave?" He laughs, but there's no humor in it. "No one's ever said that to me before."
He steps closer, raising his hand as if to touch my arm. I don't hesitate: I push his hand away, firm.
"You don't need to touch me to talk, Theo. Respect my space."
The silence is heavy. Theo stares at me, clearly thrown off. For the first time, someone isn't falling for his charm.
"You really aren't like the others," he says, almost in awe.
"I'm not here to be like anyone," I reply, steady.
I walk away without looking back, feeling his gaze on me. It's not pride. It's self-preservation. I didn't come to Cetus to repeat old mistakes—much less to open up to feelings that haven't healed yet.
Later, Clara calls me to her room, her face serious.
"Luna, look at this."
On her tablet, Sentinel in Focus shows a photo of me and Theo in the hallway. The angle makes it look like he's touching me, and the caption is blunt: "New couple on campus? Has Theo finally met his match?"
My stomach twists. This is the last thing I wanted. Not now.
"This has to be a joke," I mutter, tired.
Clara sighs.
"Tomorrow, everyone's going to want to know everything about your life. Including them."
I look at the photo, feeling the weight of being the center of attention—but honestly, I don't have the energy to care about gossip. I just want to be left alone. But I know, in Cetus, that's asking too much.
The next morning, Sentinel in Focus is blowing up with comments. My name is everywhere, right alongside Theo's. And among the notifications, a private message pops up:
"Can we talk? – Theo"
My heart tightens—not with excitement, but with caution. I'm not letting anyone break through my defenses again.