Chapter 25 : Talk [ 3 ]

Eleanor stood up and enthusiastically gestured her hands as she greets Mica, "Hi! Nice to meet you! My name is Eleanor. This here is Lena," as she spoke Lena's name she gestured toward Lena, "We're classmates of Lo and here to study, however it seems like we can't find an available room so we decided to enter Lo's room instead to study together." she finished with a bright smile.

Mica's lifeless eyes suddenly lit up at the word 'classmate'. Her smile remained as she replied to Eleanor, "It's a pleasure to meet you and Lena as well, I'm Mica, Lo's friend." She spoke softly as she shook their hands.

The tense atmosphere dissipated as the two girls conversed, leaving Lena observing their blossoming friendship.

Eleanor's gaze was fixed on Mica as she asked, "What rank are you, Mica?"

Mica's lips curved into a smirk as she replied, "I'm at the intermediate 2nd star rank."

Eleanor's face lit up with excitement as she asked, "Are you a 2nd-year student here?!"

Mica nodded, impressed by Eleanor's enthusiasm. "Yes, I am. And how about you two? What rank are the two of you currently on?" she asked, curious about her new acquaintances.

Lena spoke in a monotone voice, "Peak 1st Star."

While Eleanor declared proudly, "I reached peak 1st star rank now," she declared with her chest leaning forward.

Lo's eyes widened in disbelief upon hearing Eleanor's rank. When he met Eleanor inside the Public Gate, she had only been at intermediate 1st star rank. Now, she had somehow managed to reach the peak 1st star rank.

Eleanor noticed Lo's gaze and raised her brows, she glanced at him and inquire, "What's the matter?"

She smirked before continuing with a hint of amusement coming through. "Did you think I was lower than intermediate 1st Star rank?"

Mica, who also noticed Lo's gaze towards Eleanor, flashed a 'bright' smile. While she silently ponder, 'Is he interested in Eleanor? why is he interest in her rank? her rank isn't higher compared to mine, or...' Her thoughts trailed off as her expression gradually turned lifeless while still maintaining the 'bright' smile she wears.

Lo instantly took notice of Mica's lifeless smile and felt a shiver run down his spine. He had momentarily forgotten that Mica was a yandere and that any action he took could potentially trigger her obsessive behavior.

'I should've just left Mica before so that I won't have a yandere coming after me.' Lo cried inwardly.

Little did he know, the day Mica first met him in the slums, is when Lo could no longer escape Mica than a fly on its web. The shadows of obsession and madness would forever stalk him, binding him in eternal gloom.

For Mica, Lo was everything for her. He was her savior, her light in her darkest time. She had clung to the hope that she would remain by his side forever, just as she once had vowed to do.

Lo turned his head towards Mica and carefully explains, he spoke as though he was confessing to cheating on a girlfriend, wanting to reassure Mica that his attention was not directed towards anyone else in a romantic way.

"Mica, I was just surprised on Eleanor's rank that's all there is to it." Lo softly speaks, hoping to reassure Mica and calm her down. He felt a mix of fear and anxiety as he waited for her response, unsure of how she would react.

...

Eleanor and Lena felt the tension simmering between them as they watch the interaction between the two. They glanced at each other anxiously and whispered.

"Lena, do you think they're actually together?"

"I don't know," Lena replied grimly. "But that girl is trouble. Anything involving her is dangerous. You saw how lifeless her eyes looked. Who knows what she might do?"

Eleanor smirked, "Are you just saying that to ruin her reputation?" She knew Lena well, and suspicion of Mica seemed to stem more from jealousy than actual concern.

"No!" Lena snapped irritably. "Women's intuition, Eleanor. I'm telling you, it's unhealthy how obsessed she is with him. Before we know it, she'll probably try to eliminate us once we're out of the picture."

Eleanor shook her head, looking at Lo reassuring Mica. "Judging by how they're acting, I'd guess they're just friends. What if we helped her win Lo over?"

Lena stared at Eleanor uncomfortably. "Why on earth would we do that? As long as we steer clear, she'll have no reason to come after us."

"Because I want to get to know him better," Eleanor spoke eagerly as her eyes shine in bright green light.

"Why?" Lena asked in annoyance and confusion mounting by the second. "Do you have feelings for him? Why are you so interested in the first place?"

"Well, aren't you interested in him why is he able to hide his rank from us even though he is just intermediate mortal rank? why he is able to do that attack before when he was fighting against Bryan? why is his battle instincts and movements are much refined than a average elite student? why..."

"Ok. stop stop, I get it, you have a stack of questions.." Lena sighed wearily and snapped, "There are simpler ways to get acquainted, surely?!? Like pulling him aside for a chat, for heaven's sake!"

However, recalling Mica instantly, she realize her approach might endanger the two of them " Oh.. there is also that bitch, I guess using her as a means to answer our questions is a good idea."

"He also trust that bitch more than us anyway." Lena grumbled.

Eleanor glanced at Lena while showing a sinister grin "Is that jealousy I hear? you don't usually call out someone a bitch. It seems like someone is jealous."

"Shut it! Bitch!" Lena snapped irritably, before Eleanor could continue teasing.

Eleanor giggled at the annoyed scowl that darkened Lena's face. "I'm just joking, don't be like that," she said. "You know my teasing is all in good fun."

Lena sighed, attempting to push past irritability that still lingered. She was accustomed to Eleanor's jests by now, yet mentioning Lo always seemed to stoke annoyance anew for strange reasons she could not name. "I know, but every time it's some things related to him, I feel annoyed for some odd reason," she said wearily.

"Since when did this annoyance begin?" Eleanor asked curiously

"The first day of class, I believe. When he looked at me and spoke as if I looked like someone he knew well. The familiarity in his eyes stirred something unpleasant, though I cannot say why. And irritation has lingered ever since. each time I hear his name, I always felt irritated and my heart felt itchy as well." Lena momentarily replied while deep in her thoughts.

Lena's eyes widened as realization struck, and she spoke slowly, "The story from before, I don't know why but it felt as though I had experienced it before! not just once but countless, in fact."

Eleanor stared at her, bewildered and unsure of Lena's meaning. She opened her mouth to ask for clarification, but was abruptly cut off by Mica.

"So what are you two chatting about?" Mica questioned like a curious cat, seemingly happy after what had happened with Lo, meanwhile Lo felt exhausted from explaining, as if he had just received an apology from cheating on a girlfriend.