Guided by a Glow (71)

As they strolled towards Professor Shadows' class, an unexpected event unfolded when Becka suddenly approached Danial and gave him an unexpected hug. Aeron and Starfania exchanged startled glances, as they noticed Daniel was a bit uncomfortable with her actions. So both Starfania and Aeron decided to help him out a bit, pretending to cough. However, this only seemed to draw Becka's attention towards them. Finally, noticing their presence as she looked at them with disgust, especially towards Starfania. 

"You two are such losers, " Becka huffed, rolling her eyes. Danial shifted his weight, unsure how to respond. He offered a weak smile, hoping to diffuse the tension. Starfania shrugged, her expression unbothered by Becka's disdain. Aeron raised an eyebrow, contemplating how best to intervene without making things worse. 

"Maybe we should just go to class," he suggested quietly, motioning for Danial to move ahead. But Becka stepped closer, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why do you fear I might bite? " 

Starfania folded her arms defiantly. 

"Just trying to give Danial some space, " she replied. The tension thickened, hanging in the air like an unwelcome guest. Danial coughed again, this time more to break the silence than to signal for help. Becka's eyes narrowed, but a smirk appeared on her lips. 

"Space? Or are you just jealous? " she taunted, glancing at Starfania. With a dismissive wave, Aeron took a step forward. 

 Yet, Starfania put her hand in front of Aeron, stopping him from saying anything that could get them in trouble. She remembered what her father had told her. " Remember, you must choose your battles wisely. Sometimes, simply walking away is the best strategy. " 

Aeron looked at her, confusion apparent on his face. He had just wanted to defend their honor, to make a point. But Starfania's grip was firm, her eyes steady and calm. She could see the tension in the air, the way the other group was glaring at them, ready for a fight. 

"Trust me, " she whispered, her voice low. "If we engage now, it will only escalate. " 

He took a deep breath, weighing her words. The anger inside him simmered, but he knew she was right. Sometimes, silence spoke louder than words. As they began to walk away, Starfania felt a mix of relief and frustration. It wasn't easy to turn the other cheek, but she hoped this decision would serve them better in the long run. 

 Right before Starfania fully walked away from the conversation, Becka's next words stopped her dead in her tracks.

" You know, I always wonder why people avoid you, " she said with a coy smile. " I thought it was because of your belief that dragons are good, or that you were Cesar's only heir. Turns out that everyone you ever cared about just ends up leaving you. " 

Starfania turned slowly, her heart pounding. The weight of Becka's words hung heavy in the air. 

"What did you just say? " she asked, trying to mask the tremor in her voice. Becka raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence, but her smirk gave her away. 

"It's just an observation, " she replied lightly. Starfania felt a mix of anger and hurt as memories flooded back—friends who drifted away, allies who turned to enemies. It was a pattern she couldn't ignore, a shadow that loomed over her. 

"You don't know anything about me," she shot back, her voice sharper than intended. 

"Oh, I think I do," Becka replied, stepping closer. "You're driven by your father's approval. Look around, Starfania. Your own father doesn't even care about you anymore."