Chapter 10

Glacial Sphere Academy's Cafe

Inside the cafe, the atmosphere was a blend of levity and tension. Three students lounged on a plush, C-shaped sofa, laughter ringing out with an almost oblivious confidence. It was the kind of arrogance that made the air feel thicker, as if the very space around them dared not challenge their superiority.

They were the only ones there, having rented the entire cafe, leaving the other seven students feeling like spectators in a performance they hadn't quite signed up for. With nervous glances exchanged, they attempted to blend into the background, unsure of how to navigate the dynamics of the trio before them.

Leading the charge was Whitney Owen, her laughter infectious yet laced with arrogance. Next to her was Rex Harrison, a guy with rugged charm and an aloof smile that could melt ice but chose to freeze them instead. Finally, there sat Edge Killian, whose serious expression contrasted sharply with the lightheartedness of his companions. He was the one who had rented the entire place, but for now, he remained silent, listening to the relentless chatter.

"Hey, Rex," one of the braver students ventured, breaking the awkward atmosphere that had settled over the group. "I heard that a pretty classmate of yours picked a dagger as her main weapon and that you were seated next to her."

The comment was met with a round of giggles, punctuated by Whitney's derisive snort. "Pfft," she stifled another laugh, her expression one of mock disbelief. "You're seriously interested in that kind of gossip?"

Rex shrugged, cocking an eyebrow as he leaned back casually, his gaze drifting to the student who dared to speak up. "So what if she's seated next to me? She's nothing special, and Whitney here"—he grinned at her—"is far more beautiful than she will ever be."

"R-right," piped up one of the girls, chuckling nervously. "Whitney has both beauty and brains, but that girl clearly isn't thinking straight."

At this, the rest of the students joined in to laugh, the sound echoing off around them.

"Right?" Whitney smiled at the girl who had just sided with her, and the boys around her swooned over her apparent beauty as if entranced by a sorceress. "So, answer this question, who's prettier—me or Angela?"

The nervous laughter from the others faded abruptly, replaced by an uncomfortable silence that darkened the room. All eyes shifted to the girl who had just agreed with Whitney.

The girl who had leaned into Whitney's joke gulped and glanced at Edge, searching for some sort of approval or perhaps a way to defuse the tension settling in. "Y-You, of course!" she stammered, as though offering a desperate tribute to the queen bee.

A murmur of agreement rippled through the group, but the atmosphere remained tense. It was an unspoken agreement that nobody wanted to be the one to say Angela's name again unless necessary.

One of the guys, intent on keeping the energy up despite the growing awkwardness, suddenly posed a question: "By the way, where's Angela? I heard she'll come."

The moment the words left his mouth, Edge slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharpening as he locked onto the boy's.The once carefree atmosphere in the cafe morphed sharply; the air around them grew cold, heavy with unspoken tension.

"Why do you need to know?" Edge's voice was steady, but there was an underlying edge to it that sent a ripple of discomfort through the group.

"I-I just thought it'd be cool to see her," the boy stammered, instinctually shrinking under Edge's scrutiny. "I've always been a fan of bow and arrow and I wanted to question her some tips."

Whitney's expression tightened further. She seemed to sense the shift in Edge's mood, and the jealousy that lurked in her eyes was unmistakable. "Chill, Edge. It was just a casual question," she said, her tone dismissive but tinged with a hint of insecurity.

Luckily, Luella, who had remained silent until now, spoke up. Her voice was harsh but filled with genuine curiosity. "That girl you're talking about—what's her name again?"

"I-I think her name is Emily? Emilia? It was a pretty old-fashioned name," one of the other girls chimed in, her uncertainty evident.

"Emilia," Luella mused, her brow furrowing as if she were trying to devise a plan. "She's a nobody, right? She got lucky to manage to enter this prestigious academy." Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she turned to Edge. "Hey, Edge, I can do anything I want with her, right?"

Edge simply looked at her for a moment before closing his eyes again, appearing disinterested in the conversation.

"Wait, do you know her?" Rex asked Luella, eyebrows raised in mild disbelief.

"I'm in the same class as you, dumbass." Luella rolled her eyes, not caring about Rex's feelings. "I can't wait to be the one to destroy her pretty face in our next combat training. She doesn't belong here," she smirked, a cruel excitement bubbling beneath her words.

"Combat Training" was a significant part of their academy curriculum, encompassing mock and real monster hunts, sparring sessions, dungeon raids, and various missions designed to test their combat skills and teamwork in the field. While they all trained hard to improve, there was a clear hierarchy, and anyone perceived as an outsider often became a target.

"Where should I start? Her face or her—" Luella said with a malicious smirk, but she was abruptly cut off.

"She's not worth your time," Edge finally spoke up, his voice low and steady. He wasn't interested in getting involved in Luella's schemes, but he couldn't help himself from weighing in. "You're just gonna embarrass yourself if you continue to fight with a nobody."

Luella opened her mouth to retort, but Edge's words held a weight that stifled her response.

"Then there's no problem if I fight with Angela, right?" Whitney chimed in sweetly, her smile sharp as glass. The subtle challenge in her tone was unmistakable.

Edge narrowed his eyes, leaning forward slightly as he glared at her although she simply ignored him and asked the same question to Rex.. 

"Yeah, how about you, Rex?" Whitney turned her bright gaze on him, her smile all innocence. "Can you handle her?"

"... Huh? O-of course I can defeat her..." Rex stuttered. The prospect of challenging Angela was frightening, especially when he knew that Edge had feelings for her.

"But?" Whitney pressed, noticing that he had hesitated.

He can't say it because he will be the one who'll end up dead if he touches even a strand of Angela's hair. He wanted to sound confident, to impress Whitney but he can't do anything and only swallowed his words. 

Thankfully, before Rex could answer, the doorbell chimed, signifying that someone had entered. The group looked towards the door, and there stood Angela.

"Angela!" In an instant, Edge's face brightened, and a genuine smile spread across his features.

Whitney scoffed softly, her lips curling into a pout. There he goes again, she thought, irritated. Edge only ever smiled like that when Angela was around, and Whitney hated the way it made her feel—like a shadow in the background.

"What took you so long?" Whitney asked, her tone light but her underlying jealousy evident.

"Just went for a bit of training before coming here," Angela replied, sliding into the seat beside Whitney without so much as a glance at Edge.

"The usual training?" Edge asked, leaning forward, eager to hear about her progress. His admiration for Angela was palpable.

"Yeah, I was refining some new techniques," Angela said with a casual shrug. 

Angela stayed only for a little while, sharing brief stories about her training and laughing at their banter. But it was clear to everyone that she had a schedule to keep, and soon enough, she stood up. 

"Alright, guys. I'll see you next class. Bye!" With one last wave, she exited the cafe. 

As the door clicked shut behind her, Edge also stood up. "Bye now," he said, moving towards the door.

Whitney followed closely behind him. "Bye, guys!" she sweetly called back over her shoulder.

Rex, still seated for a moment, stood up and waved simply at the rest of the group.

Once the heirs and heiresses left, the cafe's atmosphere shifted. The remaining students looked at each other with a collective sigh of relief before leaving the cafe.