When Leo pick up the phone to call the headmistress, he had no idea that this conversation would turn out to be quite the emotional rollercoaster.
As soon as the line connected, her voice was laced with sarcasm, "Oh my dear Leo, are you finally accepting my offer?" It was a cheeky remark, one that carried the weight of their previous encounter where she, impressed by Leo's remarkable talents, had reached out to him privately to become her disciple. At the time, Leo had responded nonchalantly, "I'll think about it," and now, a week later, that lingering question still hung in the air between them.
"No, but I'd like to use my privilege," Leo said, his tone flat and devoid of any real emotion. The headmistress, a prominent figure among the twelve most powerful individuals in their world, found Leo's indifference frustrating, especially because this was the first time she had ever sought a disciple. And, to top it off, she was eager to recruit none other than the most talented individual in the entire universe.
"Why? Why don't you want to be my disciple?" she shrieked through the phone, her voice a mix of disbelief and frustration. It was clear that she was a woman used to getting what she wanted and was baffled that Leo was so uninterested.
"I'll accept your offer if you agree to do what I ask," Leo replied.
"Deal, you emotionless freak," she shot back, exasperation evident in her tone. Leo's lack of expression was something she was quite familiar with by now, and it didn't deter her from continuing their conversation.
"So, I want someone to stay in my dorm," Leo stated matter-of-factly.
"What? That's it? Why are you asking for permission for that?" she retorted, skepticism creeping into her voice.
"Because it's a girl," he replied, his voice unwavering.
"Okay, I'll allow it if the girl agrees, but why would you do that for a girl?" she questioned, her thoughts racing. She had always seen Leo as someone who didn't fall for romantic entanglements, so this request caught her off guard.
"Because—" he began, but his voice trailed off, leaving her to wonder what else he might be thinking.
Meanwhile, on a nearby bench, Lia was lost in a flurry of emotions, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one racing past faster than the last. 'How did this all happen?' she screamed internally, her heart pounding. To her, the idea of living with Leo felt like entering a slice of heaven, a scenario she had daydreamed about even before this moment.
'Can I even handle this? I don't think I can survive living with him!' she thought as her already rosy complexion deepened. But then, the idea of being with him, of sharing everyday moments, made her heart flutter with joy. 'He even mentioned that he likes me! Could this mean I'm already his girlfriend?' The memory of his words brought a smile to her face, shifting her thoughts into a realm filled with possibilities.
As she was adrift in her thoughts, Leo's voice broke her reverie. "The headmistress agrees. Let's get your things," he said, a hint of warmth behind his otherwise emotionless facade. Little did she know, he was completely invested in this arrangement.
"Yes!" Lia exclaimed, her heart racing even faster, her face still tinged with red.
Once they arrived at Lia's dorm, Leo looked at her and asked, "Do you want revenge on them? I could take care of it for you if you wish." His voice carried the same flatness as before, but beneath that calm exterior was a promise of protection.
"No, no, I don't want to escalate things," she quickly replied, instinctively reaching for his hand, hoping it would somehow diffuse the tension.
"Alright, but just let me know if you need anything," he replied, his sincerity peeking through his usual emotional barriers.
"Sure," Lia said, but inside her thoughts swirled around like a tornado. 'He's really into me!' she beamed, imagining all the wonderful things they could do together.
As they stepped into the dorm, they were greeted by two girls who weren't expecting a showdown at that hour. "Oh, look who finally decided to come back!" one of them sneered, pointing an accusatory finger.
"Get over here and clean this place up," she snapped, her voice harsh, as the room was a complete disaster.
But the moment the second girl, Delta, looked up and saw Leo, her jaw dropped. His striking features—a handsome face framed by flowing white hair and mesmerizing white eyes—had the immediate effect of making her cheeks burn red with embarrassment. In a split second, she remembered the rumors about the rank one student at the academy, and her gaze darted back to her friend.
"Liza, stop it," she whispered, her voice barely audible, as she tried to get her friend to tone down the hostility.
"Why should I stop? That bitch just came back, and you're defending her?" Liza shot back, dismissing Delta's words.
"Just look up," Delta urged in a voice meant only for Liza's ears.
As Liza looked up, she found herself mesmerized by Leo's presence, but the recognition quickly dawned on her. "Huh? Why is the rank one here?" Liza asked, blinking in shock.
"I'm just helping Lia move out," Leo said, his voice still monotone, giving nothing away about the thoughts racing through his mind.
"Why is that bitch moving out?" Liza spat, but as she met Leo's piercing glare, an icy chill ran down her spine.
"If you call her a 'bitch' one more time, I will do everything in my power to ensure you're expelled from this academy," Leo warned in a chillingly calm tone.
Both girls froze in stunned silence as Lia quickly interjected, "Leo, let's just focus on getting my things." She squeezed his hand tighter, an attempt to defuse the situation.
"Okay," he said, maintaining his emotionless expression, but the protective nature coursing through him was evident.
As Leo and Lia busied themselves with packing her belongings, the two girls could hardly process what was happening. 'How did this girl snag the attention of someone so devastatingly handsome?' they thought, enviously glancing at each other. 'This is going to be all over the academy. Can you imagine the chaos when everyone finds out Leo is involved with someone and, shockingly, showing emotions over a girl?' Delta mused, already picturing the uproar that would ensue at school.
Finally, after gathering all of Lia's things, she turned to Liza and Delta, trying to maintain composure despite the tumbling emotions swirling within her. "I'm getting my revenge just wait but I'll do it with my own hands" she said.
"we're going now," she declared, her voice steady, but her heart fluttering with anger for them and excitement about what lay ahead with Leo.