Aerox had been invited to the birthday party of Sophia, the heir of Crazy Sword and the daughter of the Silverblade federation master.
Sophia had reached Rank-5, a rare achievement for someone her age.
She was considered one of the most talented people in her generation, second only to Layla Costine.
On top of that, her beauty was often compared to Professor Costine's, with some even calling her the most beautiful person.
Aerox attended the party with his friends Lily, Trival, and Silvana.
They were chatting when a sudden commotion broke out.
The crowd's attention shifted to the entrance, and Aerox couldn't help but look to see what was happening.
Everyone at the party was influential and powerful, so it was unusual for something to grab their attention so easily.
"What?"
Aerox muttered, unable to believe his eyes.
Standing at the entrance were two people who looked like a stunning couple.
But Aerox knew better than anyone that they couldn't be a couple.
The man was his classmate, and the woman was his teacher.
He glanced at his friends and saw that they were just as shocked as he was.
Even Siivana, who was usually expressive, looked surprised.
Lily, who rarely showed any emotion, had an astonished look on her face.
Aerox's gaze returned to the pair.
He focused on the man with Professor Layla Costine.
His hair was cut differently, and he looked more handsome than usual.
Yet his green eyes and the aura he gave off were unmistakable.
At first, Aerox thought it might be someone who just looked like Xerox.
But as the man approached them, Aerox was sure.
It was Xerox Zee.
The sky had already turned dark, but the Emerald Banquet Hall was still brightly lit.
Music played loudly, and people were constantly coming and going.
"Isn't it proper etiquette for a man to lead his partner?"
Professor Layla asked, turning gracefully to face Xerox.
She extended her hand toward him.
Xerox sighed and smiled bitterly.
He had no choice but to take her hand and lead her into the hall.
As they entered through the main doors, the noise and bustling crowd made Xerox frown slightly.
Layla Costine's appearance naturally drew attention, especially from men.
The moment people noticed Layla holding hands with Xerox, they were stunned.
Curious, angry, and jealous gazes followed them.
For many young men, being close to Layla Costine was a dream.
However, her cold personality and unmatched strength crushed those hopes.
Most people knew she didn't appreciate unwanted attention and had no problem putting persistent admirers in their place.
Seeing her arrive hand-in-hand with someone as unremarkable as Xerox—a young man with a 2 rank and no fame—only fueled their disbelief.
Many compared themselves to Xerox, feeling superior in looks, status, and power.
"Who is that guy with Layla Costine? Is he her boyfriend?"
one person muttered.
"I've never seen him before. He looks barely twenty,"
another said.
"The Ice Queen prefers younger boys?"
someone sneered.
Others whispered similar remarks.
Xerox's face twitched as he felt the weight of their stares.
Keeping calm, he held Layla's hand and walked further into the hall.
As they moved through the crowd, Layla suddenly stopped.
Xerox glanced ahead and saw a group gathered around a beautiful young woman—Sophia Flores, the birthday girl.
She was smiling warmly, her pink gem-embedded dress enhancing her graceful figure.
Her warm and friendly aura made people naturally gravitate toward her, a stark contrast to Layla's cold elegance.
When Sophia saw Layla, her face lit up.
She quickly moved to hug her.
"Layla! You're finally here. I've been waiting for you,"
Sophia said cheerfully.
After a moment, Sophia noticed Xerox and studied him curiously.
Then she looked back at Layla, grinning.
"I can't believe the cold beauty of Eclipse Academy managed to bring a partner before me. I thought you'd be single forever,"
Sophia teased.
Turning back to Xerox, she added,
"Young man, how did you manage to win her over? She's always been indifferent to everyone else."
"It's not like that,"
Layla interjected.
She then introduced Sophia to Xerox.
"This is Sophia Flores, the birthday girl and the daughter of Crazy Sword."
Xerox nodded politely.
"Happy Birthday, Ms. Sophia. I'm Xerox Zee, Layla's partner for the evening."
Layla soon excused herself, heading off with Sophia to greet others.
She pointed out Aerox and the others to Xerox.
"You can go chat with your friends over there,"
she said.
Xerox walked over to Aero, Lily, Trival, and Silvana, who were already in a group.
Aerox and Trival wore classic black suits, looking sharp for the party.
Silvana's red dress made her look stunning and mature, while Lily's white dress gave her an innocent elegance.
If he hadn't just been with someone like Layla, Xerox might have been captivated by their beauty.
But compared to Layla, Lily and Silvana still had a youthful charm that leaned more toward cuteness than sophistication.
"Good evening! I didn't expect you all to be here already,"
Xerox greeted them with a smile.
Their reactions surprised him.
They stared at him with wide eyes and slightly open mouths, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Before he could repeat himself, Silvana finally spoke, though she stuttered.
"Y-yeah! Um, why were you with Professor Layla?"
Xerox answered calmly,
"Because I'm her partner for the evening."
Rather than making excuses or acting like he had done something wrong, Xerox decided to be direct.
There was no shame in being her partner, and he wasn't about to pretend otherwise.
There was no response.
I stood there awkwardly, occasionally brushing my hand through my hair, unsure of what to say next.
After a few seconds that felt much longer, Silvana finally clapped her hands and exclaimed excitedly,
"Good for you!"
Her sudden cheer broke the silence, but the awkwardness lingered.
"We got here about an hour ago,"
Silvana continued, her tone playful.
"I didn't think I'd see you with Professor Layla."
"Ehhh?"
I blurted out, caught off guard. My mind scrambled for a reply, but before I could come up with anything, I felt a firm hand on my shoulder.
"Huh! Professor Lance?"