After Rax and his group finally disappeared down the corridor, their presence lingering like a stain in the air, Ashan and the others stepped out of the cafeteria as well.
The noise inside had already begun to rise again; whispers, low murmurs, chairs scraping against the floor, but the atmosphere had changed. Eyes followed them. Conversations paused for a fraction too long.
Zevi let out a low whistle as they walked.
"We made quite the spectacle in there," he muttered, glancing over his shoulder. "Give it an hour. The news of the three of us dueling will spread through the entire badge. First official duels of the batch? People will eat that up."
Nevil exhaled slowly, but he didn't deny it. His hand remained intertwined with Elara's, as though he feared she might slip away if he loosened his grip even slightly.
Ashan walked beside them in silence, posture straight, expression calm, yet observant.
"They'll be watching us from now on," Zevi continued, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Every move. Every mistake."
Elara's fingers tightened around Nevil's hand.
And then the tears came.
They gathered at the corners of her eyes before falling silently down her cheeks, catching the light. She tried to wipe them away quickly, but more followed.
"Nevil… everyone…" Her voice trembled. "I'm so sorry. I dragged all of you into my mess. I should've never… I should've never met you."
Nevil stopped walking immediately.
Without hesitation, he pulled her into his arms and wrapped them around her shoulders, holding her firmly but gently. His hand moved in slow circles across her back, grounding her.
"Don't say that," he said quietly, his voice steady. "We know what happened. They weren't just teasing you. They were trying to corner you, to humiliate you. If we weren't there, it would've been worse."
"But you challenged him because of me," she insisted, burying her face into his chest. "If I wasn't with you, you would never have stepped forward like that. You wouldn't have to fight that heartless person."
Nevil leaned back just enough to look at her properly. His expression softened.
"I stepped forward because I wanted to. Because I care about you. That's not something to regret."
Before the moment could grow heavier, Zevi clapped his hands lightly.
"Exactly," he said, stepping closer with a crooked smile. "If a man says he loves someone, he better have the spine to prove it when it matters. You don't ignore a problem that keeps coming back to bite you. If a pest keeps circling, you don't wait for it to grow fangs, you cut it down while you still can."
Elara blinked at him, startled by the bluntness, but there was no malice in his tone, only conviction.
Ashan finally spoke, his voice calm and measured.
"The problem isn't whether Nevil had the courage," he said evenly. "It's whether the situation favors him."
Nevil looked at him.
"I'm not underestimating you," Ashan continued. "But Tyron is definitely stronger than you. Not just in raw strength; his stance, his balance… that wasn't sloppy confidence. That was discipline. You won't be able to overwhelm him easily. And if he's as composed in an actual duel as he looked back there, he won't hand you openings out of impatience."
The words didn't carry cruelty. They carried weight.
Elara bit her lower lip and nodded slowly, confirming the assessment.
Zevi scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah… that's the tricky part," he admitted. "First time I've seen that guy. Hard to read someone you've never fought before."
Ashan turned slightly toward Zevi.
"And what about you? Do you think you can handle Rax?"
Zevi's grin widened.
"Of course. I just need to shake off the rust. Once I get moving, I'll manage."
He rolled his shoulders as if already warming up for the fight, eyes gleaming with anticipation rather than worry.
Then he pointed at Ashan, smirk tugging at his lips.
"Then you," he said bluntly, "you can manage that bitch, right?"
Nevil smirked faintly.
"Is there even a reason to worry? Ashan will crush her."
Zevi barked out a laugh.
"I was thinking the same thing. If he can keep up with me, that wench doesn't stand much of a chance."
His gaze shifted suddenly, narrowing.
"Speaking of which… your eyes. Back there. They turned white. I saw it clearly. That wasn't normal."
Ashan paused for a moment.
'I don't know whether revealing it like that was wise,' he thought. Anger clouded judgment. But hiding it forever isn't realistic either.'
He exhaled quietly.
"I don't fully understand it yet," he said aloud. "After my second awakening, it started happening. My vision sharpens. I can perceive structural weaknesses, gaps in defense, shifts in muscle tension, subtle imbalances. It's enhanced perception."
Zevi's eyes widened.
"That's insane. You looked terrifying when it activated. For a second I thought you were about to dissect someone alive. Doesn't our instructor have something similar? If she hears about this, she might feel competitive."
He pointed back toward the cafeteria.
"And I'll admit something else. When it comes to embarrassing people, you went further than I ever would. You didn't even raise your voice. You just dismantled her."
He jabbed a finger at Ashan, then looked at Nevil.
"Is he always like that?"
Nevil chuckled.
"Not really. This is new. He used to be terrible at comebacks. Maybe that awakening sharpened more than just his eyes."
Ashan simply smiled faintly and continued walking.
Narasha, who had remained quiet beside him the entire time, noticed the subtle shift in his expression. It wasn't pride. It wasn't arrogance. It was something deeper; controlled, deliberate.
Zevi suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Hey, I've got an idea." He turned to Nevil. "Why don't we train together? We're busy during the day anyway. Nights are empty. We already have permission to use the grounds after hours."
Nevil looked surprised.
"You've been training at night?"
Zevi nodded enthusiastically.
"Since there's no one around, we can go all out. Time flies. Join us. We'll sharpen you up before the duel."
Nevil hesitated only briefly before nodding.
"That would help. I'll ask for permission."
"Good," Zevi said, clapping once. "I'll inform the higher-ups about the duels and handle the situation. Meet at night."
Before leaving, he turned toward Elara and offered her a reassuring grin.
"Don't carry guilt. I'm grateful. I get another chance to fight that idiot. Stay positive, alright?"
Elara managed a small smile and nodded.
Zevi waved and headed off.
Nevil and Elara slowly went in another direction, hands still joined.
That left Ashan and Narasha alone.
They began walking toward the garden nearby, where trimmed hedges and stone paths offered a quiet contrast to the tension of the day.
Narasha finally spoke.
"Why did you accept her challenge? It wasn't worth your time."
Ashan didn't answer immediately.
"I know it wasn't strategically necessary," he said after a moment.
"But refusing would've validated her behavior. She humiliated someone in public. Ignoring it would send the message that she can repeat it without consequence."
Narasha crossed her arms.
"She's not your responsibility. That girl is your friend's partner. You could've let him handle it."
Ashan shook his head calmly.
"You saw what happened. They were stronger. And there were more of them. That's not a fair fight, it's pressure designed to break someone. Friendship isn't passive observation."
"But Zevi was there. He would've handled it."
Ashan let out a quiet, almost amused breath.
"Nevil is my closest friend. Zevi, who barely knows him, stepped forward first. If I had stayed silent, what would that say about me? Loyalty isn't convenience. It's action when it costs something."
They stopped walking as a cool breeze swept through the garden, rustling leaves and brushing strands of hair across their faces.
Narasha turned to face him fully, her gaze sharp.
"What if I were in her position?" she asked quietly. "Would you act the same? Recklessly?"
Ashan held her gaze steadily.
He stepped closer; not abruptly, not forcefully, just enough to close the distance between them. He lifted his hand and gently tilted her chin upward so their eyes met properly.
"I know you," he said, voice low but composed. "You wouldn't put yourself in that situation carelessly. But if someone forced it upon you…"
His expression hardened, not with blind rage, but with cold certainty.
"I wouldn't treat it as a minor dispute. I wouldn't escalate without reason either. I would gather facts, understand their intent, and act proportionally. But if someone deliberately tried to damage your dignity…"
For a moment, his eyes shifted, red patterns flickering into existence before settling.
"…I wouldn't settle for symbolic retaliation. I would ensure they understood the cost of crossing that line. Not out of anger. Out of principle."
Narasha's breath caught slightly.
"You sound scary when you say it like that."
"I'm not interested in being scary," Ashan replied calmly. "I'm interested in being effective."
Her cheeks flushed faintly. She turned her head away, flustered by the intensity in his gaze.
"I-I have an assignment to finish," she muttered quickly. "It's due tomorrow."
Ashan stepped back, giving her space.
"Then don't let me delay you."
She hesitated for a second longer before walking off, her pace a little faster than usual.
Ashan remained where he was, watching the leaves sway overhead.