I follow the old guy, the other boy trailing behind us. No one says anything as we walk, and when we stop in front of an office, he opens the door without knocking.
"Inside."
The counselor's office is quiet. She sits across from us, hands folded neatly on the desk. "Mr. Moore told me you two made a scene in the cafeteria. Can either of you explain what happened?"
The boy speaks first. "She attacked me—"
"I didn't. He was about to hit someone—I was just defending the other guy."
Her gaze shifts between us. "From what I was told, you knocked another student to the ground." She exhales softly. "This would normally result in detention."
Before she can continue, there's a knock. She frowns slightly. "Come in."
The door opens, and a man steps inside. Something shifts almost immediately. The counselor straightens. "...Sir."
"I'll need a moment," he says.
She stands and steps outside with him. The door closes behind them.
Through the glass, I can see them talking. I can't hear anything, but the counselor looks surprised. The man remains calm, saying very little. After a few seconds, they come back in, and the counselor sits down again, her posture slightly different.
She looks at me. "...You can go."
"Oh, that's it?"
"Yes. You're dismissed."
Behind me, the boy scoffs. "What? That's not fair. How come she just gets to walk out?"
No one answers him.
⸻
"Ms. Luna."
Wait? Huh.. Ms?
The man from before stands a few steps away—tall, well-built, dressed in a sharp suit. His dark blue hair leaves no doubt.
His hair alone gives it away—he's from the Land of Truth.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Luna—you had to deal with that," he says. "Don't worry. We'll make sure the boy who caused it receives the punishment he deserves."
Who is this man?
How did he get me out of this mess?
How does he know me... and why is he calling me Ms.?
Does grandma know him?
...Very sus.
"...You seem like someone with a higher status. It's kind of strange for you to call me Ms. I'm just a normal citizen from the Land of Truth."
"Apologies. My name is Juke," he says calmly. "And as you can tell, I'm from the Land of Truth."
Juke...
The name settles for a second.
"...Juke? That sounds familiar. Wait a minute... were you the one who handled my placement—and why I skipped first year?"
"Yes, Ms. Luna."
That again.
"As for your previous question," he continues, "I'm not allowed to explain why I address you that way. But you will understand eventually. Please excuse me."
He steps back, then turns and walks away.
...That was very strange.
I need to talk to Grandma about this.
⸻
By the time I check my schedule again, I'm already late. Third class. Different building.
I step into the hallway, following the flow of students as I check room numbers.
...Nothing looks familiar.
I double back once—then again, stopping to check my schedule.
Right. Third floor.
I let out a quiet breath and head for the stairs. By the time I finally find the room, the door is already closed. I pause briefly before knocking and pushing it open, the room quieting just enough as every eye turns toward me. The attention is noticeable, but it doesn't bother me.
"...Sorry, professor." I say as I step inside.
The professor looks at me over his glasses. "You're late. New student?"
"...Yes."
"Go ahead. Introduce yourself."
I nod once and turn toward the class. "Hey everyone, my name is Luna. I hope to have a fun semester with you all."
A few murmurs pass through the room, voices picking up more quickly this time as people lean toward each other.
"Nice to have you," the professor says. "Please pick an available seat anywhere you want."
I glance around. The classroom is built in tiers, rows rising toward the back. Most of the seats near the front are already taken, so I head upward.
As I walk up the steps, the whispers follow, no longer subtle.
"Wait... isn't she the girl from earlier? The one in the cafeteria?"
"Yeah, that's her—she kicked him hard."
"Thor? That huge guy?"
"Yeah, that one. He went down instantly."
"Ouch... serves him right."
"No way... seriously?"
"I told you, I saw it—she dropped him."
"Shut up. That's actually kind of crazy."
"Kind of? That was insane."
A quiet laugh spreads through the row.
As I keep walking, the voices shift.
"Wait—look at her hair..."
"Yeah... she's actually really pretty."
"Pretty? She's gorgeous."
"...Damn. She might be even hotter than Mira."
"Hey—don't let Mira hear you say that."
"She's not here."
"...and she's hot."
"No, I'm serious—should I ask for her number?"
"Mm... I don't know man. She looks like she's not easy."
Just before I pass the middle row, I see her again—the same girl from earlier.
She's already looking at me.
Her gaze shifts briefly toward the voices. "Ahem."
It's quiet—but pointed.
The laughter cuts off almost immediately, the conversation dropping without another word.
Then she looks back at me, and our eyes meet. It only lasts a moment, but something in my chest shifts—quick and quiet—and when she looks away first, I find it a little cute, enough to make me smile as I continue up the steps and take my seat.
"Alright," the professor says. "We'll continue."
The marker moves across the board again, the lecture picking up where it left off.
"...Eline." Rin leans closer. "Were you just seriously checking out that new girl?"
"...Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Luna," she says immediately. "You were checking Luna out. It was all over your face."
"...Wait—what? Is it that obvious?"
Ivy leans in from the other side, already smiling. "Yes, girl. You were biting your lip while checking her out, and your eyes started sparkling."
A quiet heat creeps up my face.
"You guys—shh. Okay, this is embarrassing... but this is a first for me, alright? So give me a break."
Rin freezes for a second.
Then—
"...Oh my god."
Ivy covers her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Rin leans back slightly, grinning. "I guess our campus goddess won't be available for long."
Ivy nods quickly, shoulders shaking. "Yeah... looks like it."
They both laugh under their breath.
The professor continues, the marker moving steadily across the board as he works through the lesson.
After a while, he pauses and looks over the class.
"For tomorrow, you will need to pick a partner. Pick carefully—they will be your partner for the rest of the semester."
—
A shift moves through the room as conversations begin. Chairs creak as people turn toward one another.
One guy turns toward me. "Do you want to be my partner, Luna?"
Another leans in. "You can pair up with me if you want. I'm good at this subject—I'll make the semester a breeze."
"And me," someone else adds, "Luna, let's partner up?"
I glance between them, caught off guard. "...Uhm..."
Across the room, a voice cuts through. "Listen, I already have a partner. So stop asking."
...Ah...
She already has a partner...
I glance back at the guy in front of me. "...I'll think about it."
—
"Ivy, partner up with Rin."
"What?!?" Ivy says, surprised.
Rin leans forward slightly. "Wait—what about you?"
"Don't worry about me," I say, lifting my gaze. "I already have a partner."
They look at me. "Who?"
"My future wifey."
So her name is Luna, huh? Like the moon.
Rin squints. "Your what?"
"You'll find out tomorrow."
Before they can ask anything else, someone else steps in.
"Eline, do you want to—"
"No."
"Maybe we could—"
"I'm not interested."
Another voice tries again, but I cut it off. "Listen," I say, my tone calm but firm. "I already have a partner. So stop asking."
I look toward Luna. She's already surrounded, a few people leaning in, talking, trying. She doesn't push them away.
Is she... entertaining them?
There's no reason for it to bother me, and yet something in my chest tightens, sharp—unfamiliar.
Did she just say she'll think about it?
That's fine.
The thought settles in, quiet but certain.
Tomorrow—
she'll be mine.
—
By the time I return to my dorm, the noise from the day has faded, leaving everything still. The lights outside the window glow faintly against the dark.
I set my things down, the motion automatic. Nothing about today should have stood out. It was routine—classes, people, conversations that usually pass without leaving anything behind.
But she doesn't.
Luna.
Even her name stays.
I rest my arm lightly against the desk and look out the window, not really focusing on anything beyond the glass. This isn't something I usually do. I don't dwell on people. I don't go back to moments once they're over.
But this doesn't move on.
Her smile. The way she looked at me.
Like it meant nothing.
But I felt it.
Clearly.
Enough that it hasn't left.
It doesn't throw me off. It doesn't make me lose focus. If anything, it sharpens everything around it, like something has shifted.
I want to see her again.
Not out of curiosity.
Not by chance.
Something more certain than that.
Is this the Mark?
The one they spoke of in our clan—something inevitable. Like an imprint. The moment you see that person, everything changes. You choose them without thinking. You build around them without being asked.
Is this why it feels like I'm already bound to her in a way I can't explain?
I don't even know who she is.
And yet—
I know I won't be able to stop this from consuming me.
That's fine.
It doesn't change anything.
Tomorrow, I'll sit next to her.
This time, I won't look away.