Raizen's body ached with every step as he walked off the combat platform. The murmurs of the crowd followed him like an unseen tide, their previous scorn now replaced with curiosity, awe, and a hint of fear.
The academy's ranking system had been rigid for years—those born into noble families held dominance, while commoners like Raizen were meant to remain at the bottom. But he had shattered that balance.
A notification appeared before his eyes.
[New Title Earned: Challenger of Elites]
Effect: Your reputation within the academy has shifted. Certain students will now perceive you as a threat, while others will seek to ally with you.
Raizen rubbed the back of his neck, exhaling. A threat, huh? He could already feel the glares of the elite students burning into his back.
"Raizen."
He turned as Selene approached, her gaze unreadable. Unlike before, there was no hint of casual amusement in her expression. She stopped in front of him, arms crossed.
"You keep fighting like that, and you're going to make enemies you're not ready to face."
Raizen smirked, ignoring the dull ache in his ribs. "And here I thought you'd be congratulating me."
Selene studied him for a moment before sighing. "Congratulations, then. But strength alone isn't enough. If you don't learn how to navigate this school's politics, you won't last long."
Raizen frowned. "Politics?"
Before Selene could answer, a group of uniformed students approached. House Valen's entourage.
The leader, a tall blonde student with a noble insignia on his shoulder, stopped just short of them. "Darius's father won't take this lightly. If you think humiliating an elite in public is something you can walk away from, you're more naive than I thought."
Raizen crossed his arms. "And what? I'm supposed to apologize for winning?"
The noble's lips curled into a sneer. "You're supposed to know your place."
Raizen felt his fingers twitch, but before he could speak, Selene stepped in front of him.
"Enough," she said coolly. "Darius challenged him. He lost. If House Valen wants to punish someone, they should start with their own."
The noble hesitated, glancing between Raizen and Selene before scoffing. "This isn't over." With a final glare, he and his lackeys walked away.
Raizen raised a brow at Selene. "You didn't have to do that."
She rolled her eyes. "I wasn't doing it for you. I just don't like cowards who use their families as shields."
Despite her words, Raizen noticed something different—the way she lingered near him, the slight shift in her demeanor. He wasn't the same weakling she once pitied.
And she was starting to see that, too.
The system chimed.
[Quest Progress: Claim Selene Asakura – Affinity Increased]