Episode 2 : Seraphina I love you

**Arcane Haven Academy**

Rowan walked into the bustling lunch hall, his posture straight and proud. He scanned the room for an empty table, preferring solitude over company. As his gaze wandered, he was taken aback to see the same girl he had encountered in the hallway—the girl who had inadvertently inspired his decision to attend the academy. Despite the flicker of happiness he felt, his expression remained cold and stoic.

He approached the table where the girl sat, casually eating an apple. She was flanked by two other girls, all laughing and chatting. Rowan couldn't help himself; he walked over and stood before her. The girl, mid-conversation, turned and looked up at him with a dismissive glare.

"Who the hell are you?" she asked rudely, still chewing her apple.

Rowan stood firm, his confidence unwavering. He lowered his head slightly in a show of respect. "Rowan Scorch," he replied.

She laughed mockingly. "And why are you here?"

"I wanted to ask you something," Rowan said seriously. "Are you the same girl who said 'I love you' to me in the hallway of Scorch State yesterday?"

The girl sighed dramatically and then burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. She turned to the girl on her right. "Did I say anything like that?"

"No, you didn't," her friend replied, smirking.

She then asked the other girl, "Did I say something like this?"

"No, you didn't," the second girl echoed, grinning.

The girl looked back at Rowan, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Then it means you're a liar," she declared loudly, mocking him.

The whole hall erupted in laughter, everyone joining in to make fun of Rowan. His face reddened with embarrassment, but he maintained his composure. A boy stood up from a nearby table and sneered, "If you love her, why didn't you say it clearly? Why lie? Look, I'll teach you how it's done, baby boy. Watch and learn."

"Seraphina, I love you!" he declared sarcastically, earning more laughter and a thumbs-up from the girl.

Rowan's patience snapped. He turned around, his face expressionless, and fixed his gaze on the boy. The boy smirked, "Now what—" he didn't finish his sentence as Rowan summoned his fire magic, lifting the boy into the air.

"What's the meaning of this?" the boy shouted, struggling. Other boys tried to intervene, but Rowan, in a fit of rage, threw anyone who got in his way.

"Stop it, please! It hurts! I'm sorry!" the boy cried out, his bravado gone.

Seraphina, the girl, couldn't watch any longer. She stood up and used her own fire magic, which was much weaker than Rowan's. Her attack struck Rowan's hand, making him turn towards her, anger blazing in his eyes. But as he saw her trembling, his anger subsided. He released the boy and exited the lunch hall, his expression unreadable.

"Are you alright, Carl?" students gathered around, helping the boy to his feet. But Seraphina remained standing, lost in thought.

*Why didn't he...* she wondered, the question lingering in her mind.