William's body hit the floor hard as his consciousness fled.
Elion didn't waste a second.
Time seemed to snap back into place as he crouched beside Mira, slipping one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her shoulders, lifting her effortlessly into his arms.
Her body trembled against his chest.
Every pair of eyes in the corridor went wide.
"What—?"
"Did anyone see—?"
"What just happened?"
They had seen nothing but a blur of motion.
Now William lay unconscious on the floor.
Jared stood frozen, shaking, his hand still half-extended as if he couldn't comprehend that she was gone.
The rest of William's friends didn't hesitate as soon as they recognised their handsome classmate.
They bolted.
Every single one.
Elion straightened slowly, Mira held securely against him, his expression unreadable.
And the corridor remained deathly silent.
"Mira," he said sharply, then softer, "I've got you."
Her body trembled in his arms, breath coming in short, uneven pulls.
One side of her head throbbed where it had struck the wall, but she was conscious, eyes glassy, lips parted in shock rather than pain.
"E-Elion?" His hand slid behind her head, steady and careful, keeping it from lolling.
William lay sprawled on the floor a few steps away, unmoving, his limbs twisted at an awkward angle.
Jared still stood rooted where he was, face drained of color, fingers still.
The rest of William's friends had already scattered, footsteps pounding away down the hall.
Someone whispered, "What… just happened?"
No one answered.
Elion rose slowly with Mira cradled against his chest.
The cold in the corridor felt sharper now, heavier, like the air itself had taken a step back from him.
He looked at Jared, just once. Not with rage. With something worse: calm.
Jared swallowed hard, took a step back, then another. "I—I didn't—"
"Leave," Elion said.
It wasn't loud. It didn't need to be.
Jared pulled William along, turned, and fled.
Elion didn't spare him another glance. His focus was on the girl in his arms, on the way her fingers had twisted into his shirt, on the shallow hitch in her breathing.
"It's okay," he murmured, low and steady. "You're safe. I'm here."
Mira blinked up at him, recognition finally breaking through the haze. "Elion…?" Her voice shook. "I—I thought—"
"I know." He adjusted his hold, careful not to jostle her head. "Don't talk." No one approached him.
They just watched with wide eyes.
He carried her to her door, shouldering it open with a controlled push.
Inside, the room was dim and quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos outside.
He laid her gently on the bed, easing her back against the pillows, checking her head with care. No blood, just a forming bruise.
Relief loosened something tight in his chest.
"I'll get help," he said. "I'm not going far."
Mira caught his sleeve weakly. "Don't… leave."
He covered her hand with his own. "I won't."
Elion stepped out just far enough to pull the door closed behind him, positioning himself between Mira and the world.
He walked back toward her.
His calm cracked, just a little.
He was angry.
Mostly at himself.
He wanted nothing more than to end William, but he couldn't. Still.
They crossed the line, he thought, eyes hardening.
And this time, there would be consequences.
Maybe not now, but in the near future, definitely. William was only piling up his list of punishable offenses.
What he had experienced just now was only the tip pf the iceberg.
"I can smell her scent on you," Mira said suddenly.
Elion looked down at her. She was stretched out on the bed, one arm tucked beneath her head, lips curved into a lazy, knowing grin.
"I take it you had your fun with Aria already?"
He exhaled slowly, surprised at first by the sudden change, and then he shook his head with a dry chuckle.
Of course, he thought she was totally fine. It wasn't as bad as he had thought. He was starting to question if she was in any pain at all, or she was faking it.
"You look fine?"
"Well, I will admit, my reaction was a bit over exaggerated, but I had to play possum, you know, just in case."
But her head did take a brutal hit.
He had seen it, the loud thud; maybe she was trying to act strong and downplay.
He sighed, I don't know.
It wasn't easy to gauge her intentions.
"So, you were with Aria?" She asked.
"Yes...." Elion kept his expression blank.
"I see...."
"You're… surprisingly calm about it," he said.
She laughed softly. "Should I be throwing pillows? Crying? Pulling your hair?" Her eyes glittered. "Relax. I don't mind that you went to her first."
She really was fine.
Her posture was loose, unguarded. No visible pain anymore. No hurt. Just that same dangerous confidence she always carried.
"So," she went on lightly, rolling onto her side, "have you come to have fun with me as well?"
Her hand slipped beneath his shirt, warm against his skin, fingertips tracing over his chest with deliberate slowness.
Elion caught her wrist gently, not stopping her, just grounding the moment. "Mira," he said quietly. "You sure you are fine?" He had to ask again, just to be sure.
She scoffed. "That?" Her grin softened just a fraction. "I've had worse bruises. And, I heal fast."
She tugged him closer by the fabric of his shirt, her voice lowering. "Besides… I knew you'd come to save me."
That made him pause.
"You did?"
She nodded, eyes steady on his. "Just a feeling, you know. Prince charming saves the damsel in distress kind of thing. Hehe." She chuckled.
Elion chuckled lightly. The room felt quieter after that.
Mira straightened herself and patted the mattress beside her. "Sit closer. "
He hesitated, then sat.
She leaned into him easily, her head resting against his chest, listening to his heartbeat like it belonged there.
"For the record," she murmured, eyes half-closed, "I don't mind being second to Aria. I understand how you feel. I come across as the girl who used to take advantage of your weakness, and now, suddenly, I want to be with you."
He stiffened slightly.
"But," she added, smirking as she tilted her head up to look at him, "I do mind being ignored. Even if you may still carry even a hint of resentment toward me in your heart, please, don't ever ignore me."