"So, have you already registered for the Warrior test?" Matty asked casually.
"No, not yet; I plan to do that today," replied Luke. Matty tilted his head, his eyes glinting with curiosity.
"So, which dojo have you decided to join?"
"The Extreme Dojo,"
Matty let out a knowing chuckle. "No surprise there. I figured you'd aim for that one—it's the best dojo in the city, after all."
"Exactly," Luke said with a nod. "They provide both training and housing for their students. That's exactly what I need to focus entirely on my training without any distractions."
"True," Matty agreed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "If you can get in, you'll be living in the Extreme Housing Area in the middle district. Pretty prime spot."
"That's the plan," Luke said, adjusting his bag on his shoulder.
Matty gave him a playful shove. "Well, good luck, buddy. You're going to need it—they're brutal with the newbies."
"Good luck to you too," Luke replied, a faint smile softening his features.
Matty's grin faltered briefly.
"After today, I'll be focusing on my family's restaurant," he said. His tone turned more serious as he continued, "It's time I step up and start helping my folks properly."
Luke nodded.
He had been to Matty's family restaurant before—a warm, bustling place known for its mouthwatering noodles. Unlike Luke's family, who struggled to get by in the lower district, Matty's family lived comfortably in the middle district, a testament to their hard work and modest success.
"Wow~~"
The two friends were interrupted by the low hum of whispers around them.
"Hey, it's her," someone muttered, awe thick in their voice.
"Her?" Matty whispered, his brow furrowing as he followed the murmuring crowd's gaze.
A girl walked through the courtyard, her presence commanding attention like a flame in the dark.
Her golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, cascading in soft waves over her shoulders.
She wore an ivory blouse with flowing sleeves, its delicate fabric accentuating her graceful figure. A fitted brown skirt and a simple leather belt completed her attire, lending her an air of understated elegance.
Her eyes—vivid green and brimming with quiet confidence—swept over the courtyard, as if she were taking in every detail without missing a beat. She moved with effortless poise, her steps light but assured, like someone accustomed to admiration but untouched by vanity.
"Celeste…"
Thump! Thump!
Luke's heart betrayed him, hammering in his chest the moment his gaze landed on her. He clenched his fists, trying to steady himself. No, it's not the same, he thought, even as a familiar warmth spread through his chest.
"Celeste, huh?" Matty muttered, a sly grin creeping onto his face. "Seems like she's got the whole courtyard under her spell."
Luke tore his eyes away, feigning indifference. "She does seem to have a way of turning heads," he said evenly.
Matty shot him a knowing look. "Turning your head too, huh? That was quite the intense stare, my friend."
"Shut up, Matty," Luke said, his voice sharper than intended.
Matty shrugged, unbothered. "No shame in it. She's Celeste—top student, second only to your sister in grades, and, well… let's just say she's easy on the eyes. But women like that? They're out of reach for guys like us."
Luke frowned, Matty's words hitting uncomfortably close to home. He didn't need another reminder of the gap between his reality and the seemingly unattainable.
In his previous life, seeing Elara with someone else had been bad enough. He didn't need another person stirring up the same feelings he'd been trying to bury.
"Whatever," Luke muttered, brushing the conversation aside. "Let's just focus on what we need to do."
Matty smirked. "Fine, fine. Let's make the most of today—one last hurrah before we enter the real world!"
As they walked into the building, Luke glanced back, unable to resist a final look. Celeste had disappeared into the crowd, but her presence lingered in the air, like the faint scent of rain before a storm.
Luke shook his head, forcing himself to refocus. Get it together, Luke. You've got bigger things to worry about.
But unbeknownst to him, Celeste's striking green eyes flicked briefly in his direction, her gaze lingering just a moment too long.
"He's here… He certainly seems...different today. Did something happen?" she murmured, her voice barely audible.
A flicker of emotion softened her expression before it vanished, leaving only her calm, composed facade.
She continued her steady stride, seamlessly blending back into the flow of students.
-
-
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the graduation ceremony came to a close. The courtyard buzzed with laughter and cheers as students celebrated their achievements. Proud parents mingled with their children, capturing the moment in photographs and hugs.
Luke stood apart, scanning the crowd. He wasn't upset—his mother couldn't attend because of work, and he understood.
Leila appeared by his side, her usual calm demeanor softened by a smile. "Mom sends her congratulations," she said gently.
Luke nodded. "Thanks, sis."
Nearby, Matty's parents approached, their warm smiles lighting up the space. Mr. and Mrs. Hollis greeted them with their characteristic warmth, their pride in Matty evident.
"Luke, Leila!" Mrs. Hollis beamed. "Congratulations to you both. Leila, I hear you're heading to one of the best colleges in the district. That's wonderful!"
Leila inclined her head politely. "Thank you, Mrs. Hollis. I'm excited to start."
"And you, Luke?" Mr. Hollis asked, his curiosity genuine. "What's next for you?"
Luke hesitated, then straightened his posture. "I'm planning to become a warrior," he said, his voice steady.
The Hollises exchanged surprised glances, the weight of his words sinking in.
"A… warrior?" Mrs. Hollis repeated, concern flashing across her face.
Matty let out a low whistle, shaking his head with a mix of admiration and disbelief. "Man, you're really going for it, huh?"
"What!! Luke, are you really going to become a warrior?"
Another voice called in next to them.
Luke and the other turned to look at a student from Luke's class, his name Ray, with his well-dressed father in tow, overheard the conversation. His lips curled into a smirk, the kind that always seemed to accompany a well-crafted insult.
His father, a tall man with sharp features and an air of superiority, stood silently behind him, watching with cold eyes.
Ray's eyes gleamed with disdain as he sized Luke up and then casually crossed his arms. "A warrior?" he scoffed, his voice dripping with mockery. "Is that what you really want to do, Luke? With your... talents?" He gestured to Luke with a dismissive wave, his tone loud enough for those around to hear.
Luke's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond immediately. Ray was the kind of person who Luke didn't wish to associate with.
Ray's father chuckled darkly, his voice low and cold. "You should be careful with such dreams, boy. Warriors are not made from those with a poor family background. You may have the heart, but that's not enough."
Luke could feel the sting of his words, but he held his ground.
"Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouth," Luke said quietly, his voice carrying a hint of steel.
He refused to let Ray's father's words affect him.
"I can prove myself without the need for a prestigious background."
Ray let out a loud laugh, shaking his head as though Luke's words were nothing but a joke.
"Prove it? You?" He looked around at the other students who were looking at them, as if expecting them to join him in the ridicule.
"Don't make me laugh. Maybe you should just stick to being a construction worker, Luke. The warriors you dream of being are for those with real potential, like me.
You may try going to a well-known college and earning a degree, oh! I forgot your grades were miserable; I'm shocked you finished school."
His father placed a hand on his shoulder, the gesture a clear statement of support. "Remember your place, boy," his father said, voice like ice. "People like you are always destined to fail when they don't know their limits."
Leila, who had been standing quietly by Luke's side, couldn't hold her tongue any longer. Her usually composed demeanor cracked as she stepped forward, her voice calm but filled with the sharpness of someone who had heard enough.
"Ray, who are you to speak to my brother like that? Do you even have the talent to become a warrior yourself?
You're just that bastard Victor lapdog."
Ray's smug expression darkened, and for a moment, he was taken aback by Leila's response.
But it was fleeting. "Hmph," he scoffed, looking away. "We'll see, won't we? We'll see how your trash brother can become a warrior."
"Forget Leila; no need to waste your breath on him," interjected Luke, stepping between Leila and Ray.
"He is nothing but a coward hiding behind his father's name. Let's go, Leila; we have better things to do than listen to his empty threats."
"Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Hollis," Luke added, nodding curtly at Matty's parents, who were watching the confrontation with concern.
"See you guys later!!" Matty shouted, waving his hand dismissively as he stayed with his parents.
With a final glare at Ray, Leila turned on her heel and walked away.