Northern settled at his table, carefully unpacking both food trays.
Yet, no matter how much he tried to ignore them, the stares remained—dagger-sharp, unwavering.
The weight of those gazes pressed against him, suffocating.
It was as if the ground beneath his feet had pulled away, leaving him suspended in the air—exposed. Even the floor itself felt like it was watching him.
And then, before he could fully grasp the situation, students in black uniforms began surrounding him.
One after another, they took seats at his table, murmuring in hushed voices, strange lights flickering in their eyes.
Northern sighed and dipped his head slightly.
'What the hell is going on?!'
'Is this some twisted consequence of my damn performance?'
A strong urge to sink into the ground shot through him. Maybe he should just use Shadow Step and vanish—retreat to the comfort of his room where he could eat in peace.