The next few days at Lunaris Academy were unlike anything Sam had ever experienced. Overnight, it seemed as though his victory in the tournament had made him the most popular student in the entire school. He couldn't walk down a hallway without being stopped by someone—whether it was a fellow student, a teacher, or even the janitor—everyone wanted to talk to him.
"Sam! Can I get your autograph?" a first-year student squealed, thrusting a notebook towards him.
"Sam, my little brother is a huge fan! Could you sign this for him?" another girl asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Sam blinked, bewildered by the sudden attention. "Uh, sure... no problem," he muttered, scribbling his name on anything handed to him. He couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Was this what being famous was like?
But the real challenge came not from the students, but from the faculty. Offers from different academies and even various countries started pouring in. Every day, he was called into the principal's office to discuss another opportunity.
"You have a bright future ahead of you, Sam," the principal said one afternoon, his eyes gleaming with pride. "Just think of the possibilities! Scholarships, elite training programs, international competitions—you could be the next big thing!"
Sam nodded politely, but in his heart, he felt a growing sense of unease. He hadn't sought fame or recognition; all he wanted was to protect those he cared about. But now, it seemed like everyone wanted a piece of him.
As if the pressure from the offers wasn't enough, Sam found himself dealing with another, more personal issue: girls.
They seemed to appear out of nowhere, flocking around him like moths to a flame. Everywhere he turned, there was someone trying to get his attention.
"Hey, Sam," a girl from his class said, batting her eyelashes. "I heard you're really into swords. Maybe you could teach me a few moves sometime?"
"Sam, you were amazing in the tournament!" another girl chimed in, linking her arm with his. "You know, I've always admired guys who are strong and mysterious."
Sam felt his face flush with embarrassment as he tried to extricate himself from the situation. "Uh, thanks, but I really have to—"
"Oh, come on, Sam! Don't be shy!" a third girl giggled, blocking his path.
Sam found himself in a predicament he couldn't escape. Despite Sara's warnings and his best efforts to avoid the attention, the persistent group of girls managed to corner him after class.
"Come on, Sam!" one of the girls, a petite brunette with bright eyes, insisted as she latched onto his arm. "You never hang out with us! Just this once?"
"Yeah, Sam," another chimed in, her curly hair bouncing as she nodded eagerly. "It'll be fun! We promise we won't bite."
Sam looked around, searching for any possible escape route, but the hallway was crowded with students, and there was no easy way out. He sighed in resignation, realizing there was no avoiding this.
"Alright, alright," he finally relented, hoping to get this over with as quickly as possible. "But just for a little while."
The girls squealed in delight, each grabbing onto one of his arms as they led him down the hallway. Sam cast a helpless glance back at Sara and Raven, who were watching the scene unfold with very different reactions.
Sara's eyes narrowed dangerously, a scowl forming on her face as she crossed her arms. She looked like she was about to storm over and drag Sam away by force, but Raven held her back with a smirk.
"Let him go, Sara," Raven said teasingly. "It's just a bit of harmless fun. Besides, it might be good for him to experience what it's like to be the center of attention."
Sara huffed, clearly unhappy with the situation. "This is ridiculous. They're only interested in him because he won the tournament. They don't even know the real Sam."
Raven shrugged, still smiling. "Maybe not, but it's not like Sam's going to fall for any of them. He's too smart for that."
Sara bit her lip, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes. "I hope you're right."
The training room was buzzing with activity as students practiced their spells, techniques, and combat skills. The clang of swords, the crackle of magic, and the occasional burst of laughter filled the air. It was a place where everyone came to improve, to prove themselves, and to push their limits.
But today, the usual hum of the training room was suddenly interrupted by an unexpected sight.
Sam Carter, the academy's newest sensation, had just walked in—but he wasn't alone. Flanked by a group of giggling girls, he made his way through the room, trying to ignore the curious stares and whispers that followed him.
The instructor, a seasoned warrior with a stern expression, raised an eyebrow as he noticed the unusual entourage. He had seen many things in his time, but this was certainly a first. Sam Carter, the prodigy who had defeated some of the strongest opponents in the tournament, being paraded around like some kind of trophy?
"What's going on here?" the instructor finally asked, his voice cutting through the murmurs.
One of the girls, a bubbly blonde with a confident smile, stepped forward. "We brought Sam here to show us his skills! We heard he's the best, and we want to see it for ourselves."
The instructor glanced at Sam, who looked slightly embarrassed but resigned. "Is that so? And what makes you think that the training room is a place for… entertainment?"
The blonde girl blinked, her smile faltering. "We just thought it would be fun…"
The instructor sighed, shaking his head. "This is a place for serious training, not a sideshow."
Sam cleared his throat, finally finding his voice. "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to cause any disruption. They just… insisted on coming along."
The instructor gave Sam a long look before nodding slowly. "Alright then. If you're here to train, show us what you've got. But make no mistake—this isn't for fun. This is to remind everyone what real skill looks like."
The girls' excitement returned as they nudged Sam forward, eager to see him in action. Sam took a deep breath, stepping into the center of the room. He wasn't used to performing under these kinds of circumstances, but he wasn't about to back down either.
The instructor gestured to a series of training dummies lined up at the far end of the room. "Let's see how you handle those."
Sam nodded, drawing his sword with a smooth motion. The room fell silent as everyone watched, their attention fully focused on the young prodigy.
Without warning, Sam dashed forward, his speed blurring as he moved. In a flash, he slashed through the first dummy, then spun around to strike the second one. His movements were fluid, precise, and devastatingly effective.
The dummies crumbled under his attacks, falling to pieces as he continued his assault. In a matter of moments, all that remained were scattered fragments on the floor.
The girls gasped in awe, their hands covering their mouths as they watched Sam's display of skill. Even the other students couldn't help but be impressed, their earlier amusement replaced by respect.
The instructor, however, remained stoic. "Not bad. But let's see how you handle something more challenging."
He waved his hand, and several advanced training golems stepped forward. These golems were designed to be fast, durable, and capable of fighting back. They were a true test of any student's abilities.
Sam didn't hesitate. He shifted his stance, his expression serious as he prepared for the next challenge. The golems charged at him, their heavy footsteps echoing through the room.
But Sam was ready. With a quick sidestep, he dodged the first golem's attack, countering with a powerful upward slash that sent it reeling. He immediately followed up with a spinning kick, knocking another golem off balance.
The girls cheered, clapping their hands in excitement. "Go, Sam! Show them who's boss!"
Sam barely heard them as he focused on the fight. The golems were relentless, but so was he. His sword flashed in the air as he parried, dodged, and struck with deadly precision. The golems tried to overwhelm him, but they couldn't land a single hit.
Finally, with a final, decisive blow, Sam destroyed the last golem, its shattered pieces clattering to the floor. He stood in the center of the wreckage, breathing heavily but victorious.
The room erupted in applause, the girls practically swooning as they rushed to congratulate him. "You were amazing, Sam! I knew you'd be incredible!"
Sam gave them a polite smile, but his eyes were on the instructor, waiting for his assessment.
The instructor walked over, his expression unreadable. He looked at the destroyed golems, then at Sam. Finally, he nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. "Well done, Sam. You've got talent—no doubt about it. But remember, talent needs discipline. Don't let this attention distract you from what's important."
Sam nodded seriously. "I understand, sir. Thank you."
The instructor clapped him on the shoulder before turning to address the rest of the students. "Alright, back to your training! There's no time to waste!"
As the students resumed their practice, the girls continued to crowd around Sam, chattering excitedly about his performance.
One of them, a tall girl with dark hair, smiled slyly. "So, Sam, do you think you could teach us some of those moves? Maybe after class?"
Sam chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Uh, maybe… we'll see."
Just then, the door to the training room burst open, and Sara stormed in, her eyes flashing with barely concealed irritation. "Sam! What are you doing in here?"
The girls immediately quieted down, sensing the tension. Sam turned to Sara, relieved to see her but also a bit worried about her mood. "Hey, Sara… I was just… uh, training?"
Sara glared at him, then at the girls surrounding him. "Training, huh? With an audience?"
The girls shuffled awkwardly, exchanging glances as Sara's presence became increasingly intimidating.
One of them, trying to lighten the mood, spoke up. "We were just watching! Sam was amazing, wasn't he?"
Sara didn't respond, her gaze fixed on Sam. "Come on, we're leaving."
Sam opened his mouth to protest, but the look on Sara's face told him it wasn't worth arguing. With a sigh, he nodded and started to follow her out of the room.
The girls looked disappointed, but they didn't dare say anything as Sara led Sam away, her grip on his arm firm.
As they left the training room, Sara finally spoke, her voice low but laced with annoyance. "What were you thinking, letting them drag you around like that?"
Sam sighed, knowing he was in for a lecture. "I didn't really have a choice, Sara. They kind of ambushed me."
Sara rolled her eyes, her frustration evident. "Sam, you're too nice for your own good. You need to learn how to say no. You can't just let everyone pull you in different directions like some puppet."
"I know, I know," Sam muttered, feeling a little sheepish. "I just didn't want to be rude. And besides, they were just excited to see what I could do."
Sara stopped walking and turned to face him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "There's a difference between being polite and being a pushover. You're not obligated to please everyone, Sam."
Sam met her gaze, a playful smirk forming on his lips. "You sound a little jealous, Sara. Should I be flattered?"
Sara huffed, clearly taken aback. "Jealous? Don't flatter yourself."
Sam chuckled, leaning in a bit closer. "Come on, you're worried about me, aren't you? Afraid some other girl might steal me away?"
Sara's cheeks flushed, but she held her ground. "I'm just saying, you need to be careful. Not everyone who's interested in you has good intentions."
Sam straightened up, still smiling. "You know, I kind of like it when you're protective of me. It's cute."
Sara's face turned a deeper shade of red, and she quickly looked away, her arms still crossed tightly over her chest. "I'm not being protective. I'm just looking out for you."
"Mm-hmm," Sam teased, tilting his head to the side. "If that's what you want to call it."
She turned back to him, clearly flustered but trying to keep her composure. "Well, if they keep bothering you, just tell them you're taken."
Sam blinked, his eyes widening in surprise. He hadn't expected that. "Taken?"
Sara's face turned even redder, and she quickly looked away, her arms still crossed tightly over her chest. "You heard me. Taken. As in, you're not available."
A slow grin spread across Sam's face as he watched her trying to act nonchalant. "And… who exactly would I be taken by?"
Sara huffed again, refusing to meet his gaze. "I don't know. Maybe someone who's been by your side through thick and thin. Someone who actually cares about you, not just your powers or your fame."
Sam chuckled softly, stepping even closer until he was right in front of her. "Sara… are you saying you want me to tell people that you're the one I'm taken by?"
She finally looked up at him, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of determination and vulnerability. "I'm just saying… it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, would it? If people thought you were off-limits?"
Sam's heart skipped a beat at the sincerity in her voice. He reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "You know, Sara, I never thought about it like that. But… if it means keeping you close and making sure no one else gets the wrong idea, I think I can manage that."
Sara's tough exterior cracked just a bit, and she smiled, though she tried to hide it. "Good. Because I'm not going to let anyone take you away that easily."
Sam leaned in, his voice low and teasing. "You know, Sara, I wouldn't mind if people thought we were more than just friends."
She blinked, her breath catching slightly. "More than friends?"
"Yeah," Sam said, his smile turning a bit more serious. "Maybe something a little more special."
Sara's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, trying to hide the growing smile on her face. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"Only for you," Sam replied, a wink accompanying his words.
As they continued walking, Sara's hand brushed against his, and this time, neither of them pulled away. The world around them felt a little bit smaller, a little bit quieter, as if it was just the two of them, and that was perfectly fine by Sam.