After having his moment stolen so effortlessly by Damien earlier at the gate, Stanley had gone back to his room seething with quiet anger and humiliation.
He had replayed the entire event over and over in his mind, the way everyone's eyes had turned from awe of him to curiosity toward that commoner-looking boy.
Even though he had arrived at the elite dormitory minutes after Damien, his frustration had driven him to immediately head for the classroom instead of wasting time looking around.
So, when Damien walked into the class now, guided personally by Rena, the head instructor of the first years, the embers of irritation within him flared instantly into flame.
'Of course he's late… and he comes in with the head instructor herself?' Stanley thought bitterly.
His jaw tightened as his fingers dug into the fabric of his pants.
He could already feel the stares shifting again—from him to Damien.
That familiar, crawling sense of jealousy twisted in his chest.
