Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Caught Staring
Zaeryn dropped onto the bench, sliding into the space Jyn made for him between herself and Yuna. The warmth of their bodies pressed in from either side, a casual, comfortable closeness that felt surprisingly grounding. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she turned toward him.
"Hey," she began, her voice low and playful, "did you dream of me last night? After that little... educational session in the cafeteria?"
Yuna’s cheeks immediately flushed a deep pink, and she elbowed Jyn sharply. "Jyn! It’s too early for that."
Zaeryn laughed, the sound easy and genuine. He leaned back, letting the smart-foam cushion mold to his back. "Can’t say I did. I was a little busy, you know, recovering from getting my ass kicked by Leia."
"You did not get your ass kicked," Jyn protested, her playful nudge carrying more force than she probably intended. Her eyes searched his face with something between concern and admiration. "You held your own against Leia. That’s like a legendary feat for a first-day student. Everyone’s talking about it."
"Is that true?" came a calmer voice from beside Yuna. Morticia’s gaze was analytical, assessing. She hadn’t been there, but the stories circulating were so varied she wished she had seen it herself. Some said Leia lost, some said she won. "I heard you used two different nascent abilities instinctively. Kinetic Acceleration and super strength. That’s... unusual."
Zaeryn shrugged, playing it cooler than he felt. "Something like that."
"I watched the fight and it was incredible," Yuna said softly, genuine awe threading through her voice. There was no jealousy in it, just pure wonder. "Most of us struggle for weeks to even manifest one. You’re using multiple on your first day of real combat?"
"Well," Zaeryn said, repeating his go-to line with a wink, "I’m just built differently."
Jyn smirked, her eyes tracing the line of his jaw with an intensity that made him acutely aware of his own face. "We know that already. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t. So, ready for round two with Leia today? I bet she’s been plotting her revenge all night."
Zaeryn’s grin didn’t waver. The confidence backing it was earned, not borrowed. "Let her plot. I had my first real training session this morning. I think I’ve got a few new surprises for her."
He did. The breakthrough with Mireille had been more than just a physical victory; it was a fundamental shift. The passive skill he’d unlocked ’Combat Instincts’ had rewired something crucial.
The fear of overexertion, the debilitating weakness that used to follow every surge of Vitae, was gone. He wasn’t just stronger; he was more efficient. His body could now channel power without tearing itself apart. He was still processing what that meant.
The moment shattered when two girls walked past, locked in conversation. He caught fragments: the new student, the male, how he fought Leia. One of them laughed a bright, cutting sound.
"He’s literally the embodiment of that saying," she said to her friend. "You have some balls. Like, the actual balls to be stupid enough to challenge Leia."
They walked closer. Then one of them noticed him. Her eyes widened that unmistakable moment of recognition and mild mortification.
"Oh, my," she breathed. "We were just talking about you."
Zaeryn turned toward her fully, and his smile shifted into something deliberately charming. He let his gaze linger just a fraction too long, let the corner of his mouth curve upward. "Good things, I hope?"
The girl’s friend didn’t appreciate being ignored. Her expression hardened, and she stepped forward with the kind of hostility that came from wounded pride.
"I’m surprised you’re still okay after Leia beat your ass," she said coldly. Then she turned and walked away, her friend hurrying after her with an apologetic glance over her shoulder.
Jyn frowned, her hand finding his arm. "Don’t listen to them. You didn’t get your ass kicked. That was a draw."
"She’s right," Yuna added firmly. "I watched the whole thing. That was not what an ass-kicking looked like."
"But he did get his ass kicked."
The voice came from behind them, playful, friendly, but carrying an undercurrent of absolute certainty. Everyone turned.
A girl stood there, an early senior by the look of her, with the kind of easy confidence that came from years at the academy. She had sharp features and sharper eyes, and she was smiling like she’d just delivered a punchline no one else understood.
"No, he did not," Jyn said immediately, defensive.
The senior girl held up a hand. "Relax, I’m not saying he’s bad at fighting. That’s okay, fine, that’s exactly what I’m saying, but still." She turned toward Zaeryn directly, and her expression softened into something more genuine. "The point is, he was still impressive. Leia’s another league entirely, but he made it difficult for her. That counts for something." She finally sat down next to Morticia, settling in like she belonged. "I’m Genevieve, by the way."
"Zaeryn," he replied.
"Yeah, I know. Everyone knows who you are." There was no malice in the observation, just fact. "You’re the only male at the Vitae academy. It’s kind of hard to miss."
"So, since you said he lost, would you like to see me fight Leia again?" Zaeryn asked. He was going to try and get that fight anyway.
Genevieve’s laugh was genuine. "Hell yes. I would love to watch that again." Her gaze slid back to Zaeryn, and something heated flickered across her expression. "Matter of fact, I’ll even pay you if you can win. Hell, I’ll pay you just to watch you fight and lose. You going up against her with those moves..." She shook her head, a small smile playing at her lips. "It was kind of hot."
"Although," Morticia interjected, her tone matter-of-fact, "it’s impossible. Leia wouldn’t agree to fight you again. She’s got no reason to."
Zaeryn leaned back, feeling the pieces click together. This was a game he could play. "How much are we talking about? I can convince her. Or at least annoy her to a point where she’ll want to beat me up again."
Genevieve laughed a real, delighted sound. "I like your strategy. I think if you annoy her, you’re guaranteed a fight." She named a figure that made Zaeryn’s eyebrows rise. "I’ll add a thousand credits, and another thousand to the pot, if you manage to make it interesting."
"That’s a lot of credits," Zaeryn said, a genuine thrill running through him. He’d never had so much money in this life, and the thought of it was a powerful motivator. "I’ll take it."
He settled back into the moment, feeling the buzz of conversation. In all his time in this world, this was the first time he’d had people who weren’t Aeris, Sage, or Ysmeine show interest in just hanging out with him. It was a good feeling.
Then his eyes caught movement across the common area, their presence shifting the atmosphere. Their uniforms were a darker charcoal, accented with the intricate silver embroidery that marked them as seniors, an untouchable ruling class.
"Who are those people?" he asked, his voice a low murmur. His gaze automatically followed the sway of their hips. The pleated skirts stopped near the knee but high enough to showcase the thick, powerful thighs with every confident stride.
"Seniors. They’re in their last year," Genevieve said.
"More like the untouchables," Morticia added with a scoff. "They barely acknowledge anyone below fourth year."
Jyn stood. "Let’s move inside. Classes are going to start soon."
They gathered their things and made their way toward the class building. Zaeryn found himself at the center of their orbit, girls gravitating toward him naturally. A few students in the hallway stopped to stare the male student,
surrounded by admiring faces, moving through their world like he belonged there. Whispers followed them, voices pitching up.
"What is that? The male didn’t waste time... seems like he already has a little roster."
"The new guy. He fought Leia and actually held his own."
"No way. Leia let him win."
"That’s not what I heard..."
Inside, they found a quiet spot near the stairs and claimed one of the long benches. The hallway was filled with students now, a living, breathing ecosystem of power and politics. As they settled, Zaeryn’s eyes snapped toward the far end of the hall as Leia appeared.
She moved through the crowd with a presence that made space appear around her. She was beautiful in a different way, sharper, more dangerous. When she opened her locker, the motion was economical, precise.
"Look who’s here," Genevieve commented.
"Now’s your chance," Morticia urged, nudging him. "Go on. Challenge her."
Zaeryn shook his head. "Later. During combat class." He watched Leia for a moment longer. She really was stunning. "More witnesses. Better crowd."
Morticia nodded approvingly. Zaeryn kept watching. Leia was objectively stunning, high cheekbones, sharp eyes that missed nothing.
Leia happened to turn her head, and their eyes met. Her expression shifted, a slight hint of annoyance. Zaeryn gave her a friendly smile. She looked away.
Zaeryn also took his attention off her. Although he wasn’t really bothered by her reaction to making eye contact with her. She was still on his list of potential Vitae donors. Her and Dusk.
Just then, a girl with bright yellow hair approached Leia at her locker, and their conversation started
immediately-easy and familiar, like they’d
had it a hundred times before. The girl
gestured animatedly, talking fast about
something, and Leia listened with that
characteristic stillness.
Then the girl said something that made Leia’s expression shift,her mouth curving into something that might have been amusement. She leaned against the locker beside her friend, relaxed.
Zaeryn’s attention drifted to them without
really meaning to. He was thinking about Sage, and her new job in the Aegis division. He hated that this might create some distance between them in their relationship, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t happy for her. She was brilliant.
Lost in thought, Zaeryn’s eyes drifted across the hallway, landing on the lockers where Leia was still standing a few feet away with the girl, her back to him.
Zaeryn wasn’t really looking. He was just... present. Existing in the moment, letting his mind wander. But just as his mind drifted, his eyes didn’t. They were locked on one place, and they just happened to be locked on someone’s ass, unintentionally.
Just then, Leia’s head turned. Her gaze found his, and she noticed he was staring at someone. She looked at her friend and realized he was looking directly at her ass. Her expression shifted, her frown immediate, sharp with something between annoyance and accusation.
She turned to her friend and said something low.
The friend’s immediate reaction was a frown, her body going stiff, her eyes narrowing as she looked over at him.
Sharing one last look with Leia, she started moving toward him, cutting across the hallway with purpose.
"Something catch your eye?" she asked.