The elder swept his gaze over the room, his expression a blend of approval and hard-earned patience as he observed the students, many of whom were just beginning to emerge from their meditative breakthroughs, their energies heightened but their expressions weary. "That will be enough for today," he intoned, his voice carrying a weight of authority that made every pair of eyes in the room snap to attention. "Stand and prepare yourselves to leave. I trust that what you've learned here will be valuable in your journey forward."
A collective murmur of gratitude and quiet relief echoed through the room as the students slowly rose, some steady on their feet, others visibly struggling to shake off the intensity of the session. Many had pushed themselves in attempts to break through after witnessing Caelum and Finn's successes, but most had fallen short. Only one other girl had managed to breach her limits, her expression proud yet subdued as she caught her breath. She didn't wait around, disappearing into the dispersing crowd as the robed elder exited the chamber.
Caelum, too, was ready to slip away, craving solitude after the intensity of his own breakthrough. The pulsing energy within him had calmed, but it left a restless ache, a reminder of how much he had yet to achieve. He moved toward the door, hoping to lose himself in the throng, but a small cluster of voices halted his escape.
A group of girls had gathered around him, their faces glowing with admiration and curiosity. "Caelum, that was incredible!" one said, her eyes wide. "How did you manage it so quickly?"
Another chimed in, "Do you practice on your own, or was it something the elder taught you?"
Questions tumbled over each other, and he found himself smiling politely, offering vague answers as they pressed closer, eager to catch his attention. But one girl, a petite blonde with wide green eyes, had fixed her gaze on his face, clearly mesmerized. Suddenly, she blurted out, "Can I kiss you?" Her hand flew to her mouth in shock, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson as she realized what she'd just said out loud. The other girls gasped softly, some laughing, others clearly envious of her boldness.
Caelum's smile didn't falter, though his eyes held a glint of amusement. He inclined his head slightly, excusing himself with a calm, "I appreciate the offer, but I should be going." Stepping back from the crowd, he turned and slipped through the doorway, leaving a mix of sighs and whispers in his wake.
Outside, Finn was waiting, leaning against a stone pillar with an easy grin as Caelum approached. "Thought they'd never let you go," Finn said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Guess it's the price of breaking through in front of a crowd."
Caelum chuckled, shaking his head. "I didn't think I'd attract this much attention," he replied, glancing back toward the doorway where the girls had begun to drift out, still casting glances his way.
As they started walking, Caelum noticed that they were moving away from the direction of the hostel. After a few moments, he frowned, glancing sideways at Finn. "Where are we headed? This isn't the way to our rooms."
Finn flashed him a sly grin. "The group planned to have a meal together after classes. Figured I'd bring you along."
Caelum considered it briefly, then nodded, finding no reason to refuse. It might be good to unwind a bit after everything that had happened, especially if the others would be there.
They rounded a corner and reached the academy's modest but welcoming dining hall, where a large table had been set aside. To his surprise, Caelum spotted familiar faces already gathered around it. Liana, her dark hair framing her face like a shadowed halo, sat beside Sera, who was laughing quietly at something Rune had said. Elara and Mira, sitting across from them, waved as they saw Finn and Caelum approach.
As Finn and Caelum joined the table, a friendly warmth spread through the group. Conversations buzzed with laughter, the group unwinding after a long day. Caelum noted Jax, seated close to Liana, clearly intent on her attention. Jax's gaze flickered with irritation as he noticed Liana's focus on Caelum, her eyes drifting toward him as if unconsciously drawn.
Trying to lighten the mood, Jax launched into a story about his own training session earlier that day, exaggerating the quirks of the instructor and the mishaps of his classmates. His voice was animated, and his hands gestured wildly as he spoke. The group chuckled, with even Liana, usually more reserved, breaking into a soft smile. Jax, catching her reaction, seemed to momentarily brighten, though his irritation lingered each time her gaze strayed back toward Caelum.
Suddenly, Finn dropped his fork with a soft clang. He settled down beside Caelum, and Caelum arched an eyebrow, silently wondering what had gotten into him. With a playful glint in his eye, Finn reached over and pushed back the strand of hair that habitually fell over Caelum's face, revealing his sharp features and ethereal, almost otherworldly gaze. "Look at this face," Finn teased, making sure everyone's attention was on Caelum. "This guy here breaks through today, and you should have seen it. I swear, half the girls in the room were ready to fight each other for a chance to talk to him!"
Caelum shook his head, a faint grin forming as Finn continued. "They had him cornered! And—this is the best part—one of them was so smitten, she just asked him, right there in front of everyone, if she could kiss him!" The table erupted into laughter, the group unable to contain their amusement at Finn's exaggerated storytelling. Liana's laughter rang out, melodic and warm, her reserved exterior momentarily forgotten as she covered her mouth, her eyes dancing with mirth.
Caelum found himself joining in, but as he ran his fingers through his hair to mess it up again, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Liana. She was laughing openly, her usually calm, steady expression replaced with a warmth that caught the light in her eyes. Her laughter softened her features, her dark hair framing her face as her cheeks flushed from the shared amusement. For a brief moment, Caelum was captivated, lost in the sight of her.
It was then that she looked up, her eyes meeting his. Her laughter quieted as she noticed his gaze, a subtle blush rising on her cheeks as she quickly looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Finn nudged him playfully, but Caelum hardly noticed, his mind lingering on the image of Liana's smile and the unexpected spark that had leapt between them.
Across the table, Jax's expression darkened as he watched the exchange, his hand clenching tightly around his fork. He couldn't deny the beauty of Liana's laughter, but the fact that Caelum was the cause filled him with a gnawing resentment that he couldn't shake.