By the time evening came, I knew I had no choice but to go downstairs. My stomach had been empty since morning, and as much as I hated the thought of facing everyone after today, starvation wasn't exactly an appealing alternative.
The humiliation from the martial arts class still clung to me like a second skin.
I had been put up against Zaden and lost. Badly.
It wasn't a fair fight to begin with. Everyone in Astarst Academy was leagues ahead of me in terms of skill, strength, and experience. I was the weakest. The outcast. And my loss today had only cemented that fact in everyone's minds.
Even though my body showed no signs of injury thanks to Kael's vial, my pride had been beaten black and blue.
I sighed, raking a hand through my hair before changing into a green sweatshirt and comfortable pants. This is the only clothing in the Academy that I think every student likes. And then with one last deep breath, I made my way toward the dining hall.
The second I stepped inside, I felt it.
Silence rippled through the space like a wave, brief but suffocating. Then came thewhispers. The smirks.
Eyes turned toward me, filled with amusement.
They were enjoying this.
Of course, they were. The weak getting crushed was entertainment for them. It was how Astarst Academy worked.
I kept my head down, ignoring the looks as I scanned the hall. Dante, Zaden, Nantos, Ashton. They were at their usual table, eating, talking—completely at ease. Like I didn't even exist.
All except Zaden.
He was watching me with a smirk, barely containing his amusement.
Don't worry, Zaden. You won't be happy for too long. I will make sure of that.
I forced my feet to move, heading toward a table where a few students were seated. I wasn't expecting friendly conversation, but at the very least, I thought I could eat in peace.
I was wrong.
The moment I pulled out a chair and sat down, the other students immediately stood up and left.
Every. Single. One.
Like I was a disease they couldn't afford to be near.
My fingers curled into fists against the table. My jaw tightened, but I refused to react. I had already given them enough satisfaction for one day.
Calm down.
I took a slow, controlled breath and closed my eyes, willing the frustration away. This isn't new. This isn't surprising. You knew this would happen.
When I finally reopened my eyes, I almost jolted in surprise.
Someone was sitting across from me.
Not just anyone. Sarina Eldoria.
I stiffened. The female lead.
I hadn't interacted with her much in this world, but I knew her. I created her.
She was the academy's golden girl. Fierce, intelligent, beautiful. And right now, she was sitting in front of me, casually eating, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Why?
Why the hell was she here?
As if sensing my confusion, she looked up, her brown eyes meeting mine. Her expression was unreadable. Calm. But there was something else, too. Curiosity.
My mind raced. This isn't good.
Sarina is nothing but trouble for Elias. For me.
I knew how this world worked. Her sitting with me was as dangerous as a death sentence.
Avoid her. Avoid her at all costs.
I immediately dropped my gaze, pretending to focus on my food. Maybe if I ignored her, she'd lose interest and leave.
And then—a chill ran down my spine.
I made the mistake of glancing up again.
Across the hall, at the far end of the room, Dante Ashbourne was watching.
His expression was unreadable, but the intensity in his eyes sent a clear message.
Not at me.
At her.
My stomach twisted.
Shit.
This girl was going to get me killed.
I needed to leave. Now.
I didn't care if I choked on my food—I shoveled the last bites into my mouth and swallowed hastily, barely tasting anything. My chair scraped loudly against the floor as I stood, but I barely noticed. The only thought in my mind was getting out of here before Dante's gaze burned a hole through my skull.
But then—the quest.
Right.
I clenched my fists. My escape would have to wait.
I couldn't afford to fail.
Dante was already dangerous enough. If I failed this quest, he would gain a personal reason to watch me closely, and I couldn't let that happen. Not when I was already walking on a razor's edge.
I have to spread those rumors.
Without getting caught.
I glanced around the hall, searching for an opening. Who? Who could I start with? I needed someone who wouldn't question it. Someone who loved gossip. Someone who wouldn't trace it back to me.
My eyes flickered back to Sarina.
She was still watching me, her brown eyes calm but sharp, like she was analyzing my every move.
No. Absolutely not.
If I started with her, I was as good as dead. She was perceptive, calculating—and worse, she had Dante's attention. The moment I opened my mouth about him in front of her, she'd know.
And she wouldn't keep it to herself.
I forced myself to look away, my mind racing. Think. Think.
Sarina wasn't an option. The high-ranking students wouldn't take me seriously. The weaker students avoided me like the plague. But there was one thing I knew about AstarstAcademy—people loved rumors. And they traveled fast in a place like this.
I needed to plant the seed.
Not loudly. Not directly. Just enough for it to grow on its own.
Whispers. A casual slip of the tongue.
I scanned the room again, then spotted the perfect target—the gossip circle.
A group of second-years sat near the middle of the hall, chatting animatedly. They weren't the strongest in the academy, but they had power in a different way. They were the ones who always seemed to know things first—who got expelled, who got punished, who was secretly meeting in the back corridors after curfew.
They were the academy's unofficial information network.
And if I wanted a rumor to spread, I had to make sure it reached them.
I straightened my posture, forcing myself to walk casually as I passed by their table, my ears subtly tuning in.
"…Zaden was brutal today. I swear, if I were Elias, I'd just leave the academy at this point."
"I heard he didn't even land a single hit."
"Not surprising. He's pathetic."
My fingers twitched, but I kept walking, pretending not to hear them. Let them talk. Let them underestimate me.
I took a slow breath, then carefully timed my next step.
Just as I passed by, I muttered under my breath—low enough to seem unintentional, loud enough to be heard.
"Surprising, though. I always thought Zaden would've won if he and Dante ever fought. Guess that's not happening ever."
I kept walking.
But I heard the shift.
The subtle pause.
"…What?"
Hook, line, and sinker.
I didn't stop. I didn't turn around. I let them make of it what they wanted.
Let them assume I meant Zaden was stronger than Dante. Let them question it.
Because in a place like this, a simple question could turn into an avalanche.
And once doubt started?
It never stopped.
I hadn't forgotten about the quest. I knew spreading the real rumor outright was too dangerous. If I got caught planting the idea that Dante wasn't actually from a rich family, I'd be dead before the week ended. No, I needed a shield—someone else to take the fall if things spiraled.
AndZaden? He was perfect guy for this.
People feared Dante, but Zaden? He was just as arrogant, just as strong. If I nudged things the right way, if people started questioning Dante's strength first, then when the real rumor about his background spread… the blame would shift.
It wouldn't be my fault.
It would be Zaden's.
I allowed myself a small, satisfied smile as I walked away. The seed had been planted. Now, all I had to do was wait and watch as it took root.
And as for Zaden? Well, if he thought today was a victory, he hadn't seen anything yet. And Dante? He'd think he was still in control, but the real game was just beginning.
The quest was never about winning a fight—it was about breaking them.