"You did that on purpose..."
Elijah shrugged nonchalantly looking past the tall scion.
"Did I?"
A flicker of annoyance passed over one of the others, his face twisting into a dark scowl.
"We should just—"
Simon silently lifted a hand, stopping him in his tracks.
His gaze remained fixed on Elijah.
His eyes ran over the lanky youth in front of him, slowly, narrowing slightly.
Then, unexpectedly—
He chuckled.
The chuckle turned into fullblown laughter until eve tuslly he shook his head.
Wiping away a tear, he fixed his gaze on Elijah.
"Interesting," Simon murmured. "Very interesting."
Elijah said nothing.
Up close, he could feel it now—the difference between the two of them.
The subtle intangible pressure that was invisible yet all too real.
"Damn..."
These weren't just rich spoiled noble brats.
They were trained and dangerous quite looks of things.
Elijah could see it from the way they carried themselves, the familiar glint in their eyes.
The measuring look almost though they were deciding on how to dissecting him.
Of course, not all of them carried the same lethal air but regardless it was still a fickle situation.
His mind feverishly churned swiftly going over all the possible exits and calculating the best possible time to move.
Around him, the there was a subtle shift in the atmosphere. He could instinctively feel the rest of the brats shifting and positioning themselves around him.
His pulse ticked up slightly, his darting sideways for the briefest of moments.
"Not good, this is definitely not good. "
Simon stepped closer, closing the distance between them slightly.
Elijah didn't.
He continued staring at him nonchalantly mantaining his poker face.
"…You're either very brave," Simon said softly, "or very stupid."
Elijah looked beyond him, at the two boys standing behind him.
After a few moments he met his gaze.
Simon's lips curled into a wolfish smile.
"Probably both."
A beat.
Then—Simon moved.
Elijah's eyes widened slightly.
"He's fast."
He instantlyfelt his heart spike a surge of adrenaline roaring through him.
"Too fast."
Elijah had barely seen it—the shift in weight, the sudden motion.
Everything was happening too fast.
In the end, instinct took over and he ducked.
Just barely, at the last possible second.
A hand sliced through the air where his face had been a fraction of a second ago, whipping through the air with blistering force.
"This damned lunatic, what the hell..."
Elijah spun then staggered back a step, breath catching in his throat.
He could feel the blood rushing throuh his veins, his heart beating frantically with every pasing second.
The two boys locked eyes once more.
Elijah slowly swallowed, taking in a slow breath to calm his trembling hands.
"Move..."
Simon didn't press immediately.
He calmly watched him, his gaze bordering on predatory.
The wolfish smile was still in place, his eyes observing him, dissecting him.
For a few moments, the tension in the air rose,
Elijah steadied himself, forcing his breathing to slow.
His hands—he noticed distantly— they were still trembling.
"Damn it...damn it...damn it"
Simon had noticed too.
His predatory smile sharpened.
"Ah," he said. "So not brave, then. Just stupid."
Elijah exhaled through his nose, then took a casual step back.
He forced a smile.
"Didn't say I was."
He took another step back
"This should put some distance between us...."
He didn't stand a chance here.
At least not in a fight.
Not against five of them.
"What a joke..."
Even one would be a problem. That was simply how it was.
Simon tilted his head, his smile growing wider.
After a few moments, the smile vanished replaced by a slight frown.
Elijah watched him with rapt attention.
"What is he doing...what is he even thinking..."
Letting out a sigh, Simon nonchalantly waved a hand, dismissively.
"Run," he said, almost kindly. "I won't stop you."
Elijah's eyes narrowed, smallbeads of sweat running diwn his forehead. Despite the heat, his habd felt clammy and clumsy.
"Is this some kind of elaborate trap?"
Or maybe not.
He quietly cursed, gritting his teeth.
Either way, staying was likely to turn out worse.
Elijah didn't hesitate this time.
He turned—then swiftly ran in the direction with least resistance.
His footsteps pounded against stone. The courtyard blurred slightly at the edges as adrenaline coursed through him.
Behind him, there was no immediate pursuit, there were no footsteps chasing him down.
Just—silence utter, silence.
He didn't slow until he'd put two buildings between himself and the courtyard.
Then a third
Then he finally stopped, bracing a hand against the wall.
His breathing was rapid and uneven
"…Damn it."
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying desperately to calm himself.
His hands were still shaking.
A mixture of conflicting emotions fought for dominance in his mind.
Fear, regret, excitement and exhaustion.
He wasn't sure which one had taken cebtre stage.
He slid down the wall slightly, exhaling hard.
That was stupid.
Completely, utterly stupid.
He'd risked everything and for what?
A toal complete stranger? Someone he'd never even met...
Someone he didn't even know.
Elijah let out a quiet, humorless laugh.
"…Yeah," he muttered. "Definitely stupid."
But—it was definitely worth it.
Elijah tilted his head back, staring up at the sliver of sky visible between the buildings.
It was still clear.
"…Tch."
He pushed himself upright.
His hands had long stopped shaking.
He flexed his fingers once, then let out a weary sigh.
Tomorrow was the Selection.
Everything would change then.
But still—
For a brief moment, standing there in the quiet aftermath of his own bad decision…
Elijah Crowe felt something strange settle in his chest.
A faint, stubborn refusal. He didn't have the words for it but then again he didn't need them.
He pushed off the wall and started walking again, slower this time and much more deliberately.
*****
Behind him, far across the academy grounds, a group of nobles stood in silence.
And at their center, Simon Voss watched the direction Elijah had fled.
The smile on his face had long since faded.
"…Elijah, huh..." he murmured.
The name lingered in his mind, the image of the lanky youth firmly imprinted in his memory.
Then, softly—
"Interesting."