Class had ended, the faint scent of burnt mana and alchemical dust still lingering in the air as students slowly cleared out of the lab.
Kael didn't waste time.
He adjusted his coat, brushed his white hair behind his ear, and calmly made his way toward the table where the girl with cat ears sat Phoebe Elixmore, though he still didn't know her name yet.
She was alone now, scribbling down notes with swift, calculated strokes. Her tail flicked lazily behind her, ears focused forward. This is it, Kael thought. Time to ask.
But just as he reached her table.
"Kael Vernier!"
He blinked, turning slightly as a small group of students three girls and two boys rushed in front of him like a mini paparazzi squad.
> "You're Kael, right?"
"I'm a huge fan like, massive!"
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"When's your sister coming back to the Academy?"
"Wait did you really fight and beat Jin Eldraven?!"
Kael raised both hands, sweat trailing down the side of his face.
> "Uh—wait, I—there's been a misunderstanding—Jin and I didn't actually fight—I mean technically I did win second place but—"
The noise grew louder as others started noticing. Cameras flicked on for some reason. Questions piled.
He glanced back.
The seat was empty.
Phoebe had already picked up her notes and moved to another table across the lab, far away from the chaos.
"Dammit."
After a few minutes of trying to politely answer the barrage of questions and dodging a few awkward relationship ones Kael finally managed to calm the crowd. One student lingered, the only one who wasn't shouting.
"Hey," Kael asked, "do you… know the name of the girl who was sitting at that table?"
The student followed his gaze. "Oh. That's Phoebe Elixmore. Smartest person in this school. Like, by miles."
Kael nodded, committing the name to memory.
"Thanks."
When the last of the crowd cleared out, Kael finally walked up to Phoebe's new table. She didn't even look up, still scribbling into her alchemy journal.
"Hey," he said, trying to sound casual. "I..."
"No."
She cut him off coldly, eyes never leaving her notes.
Kael blinked. "…I didn't even ask anything yet."
She finally looked up. Her eyes were like twin blades sharp, analytical, and completely unimpressed.
"Whatever you want. The answer is no."
Kael stood there for a second, hands in his pockets, mouth half-open.
Well... that could've gone better.