As soon as Leon stepped through the academy's towering gates, he noticed the shift in atmosphere.
Students stood in small groups, chatting quietly—until their attention turned to him. Conversations paused. Heads turned. Dozens of eyes watched him, their expressions a mix of confusion, curiosity, and silent judgment.
Leon walked forward calmly, though he could feel the weight of their stares. Not one of them looked friendly.
'Why are they staring at me like that ?' Leon thought.
Meowww...
A soft meow broke the tension.
Leon looked down and saw a small black cat padding toward him, her tail raised confidently. She rubbed her head against his pants, purring.
"Well, hello there," Leon said with a faint smile as he crouched down and gently scratched behind her ears.
Meowww~ she purred again, pushing into his hand.
"Excuse me, gentleman?" a voice called out.
Leon looked up.
