010. Tailing

"This task is already harder than I wish it was," he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing slightly as he watched her leave the classroom, unaware of the weight she carried—and the one he now bore in silence.

Class was now over so they were free for the day, though some other classes were still busy because it was the normal curriculum for them to still be learning but their lecturer happened to make it brief.

It seemed he'd rather attend to some other important duty than to lecture the class on the basis of the school and power levels since that was what normal lecturers do even if the kids already know them.

"When should we spar Kael? I'm always ready to go whenever you are!" Joe followed close behind as they moved toward the cafeteria.

Kael had been quietly tailing Seraphina ever since she stepped out of the classroom, his eyes locked onto her every move with a level of focus that bordered on obsession. Unbeknownst to her, he maintained a careful distance, weaving through the crowd with practiced subtlety.

Meanwhile, Joe had been tagging along behind Kael the entire time, completely unaware of Kael's true intent. He kept pestering him about the sparring match they were supposed to have, throwing playful jabs and nudging his shoulder, clueless that Kael's attention was fixed elsewhere.

Kael didn't respond much—just the occasional nod or grunt—his gaze never straying far from Seraphina. Joe hadn't put the pieces together yet, too distracted by his own excitement to notice Kael's sharpened focus.

"We can start any day but today Joe, go do something else with your time other than following me everywhere" Kael said softly, trying to keep his voice calm and composed though he was boiling with anger deep down.

"Oww man!, I really want to spar with someone already"

'Judging by the way he talks, I'm guessing he's just some average guy—an 'average Joe' who puts on an act, pretending to be weaker than he really is.'

'He probably goes around sparring with people not for the thrill of it, but to study them—to observe their habits, their flaws, their openings—so he can quietly file that information away and use it to his advantage when it matters most.'

'I have to be careful around him, especially now that the duel is coming up soon. Don't want him studying me enough to realise I'm weak'

"Then go find someone else to spar with then, I have other things to do besides exchanging blows to determine our strength levels"

He kept moving forward, his pace unhurried, but his awareness sharp. Every so often, he cast subtle glances over his shoulder, just enough to track Joe's movements without drawing attention.

It wasn't obvious, but Kael was watching, making sure Joe didn't stray too far or do anything unexpected.

"What are you doing anyway, you've been moving almost everywhere in the school like you're following someone. Is something the matter?"

Kael came to a brief halt, his gaze steady and unbothered. He already knew where Seraphina would be heading next—he had mapped out her movements with quiet precision.

Without even a hint of hesitation or concern, he turned slightly and responded to Joe in a calm, almost dismissive tone, as if everything was unfolding exactly as he expected.

"I don't see how answering that question helps you, just know I have something important doing. I'll talk to you later, I'll even spar with you but for now just let me be, alright?!"

Joe's expressioned softened slightly as he stared down at the ground before answering.

"Alright, I get it. I'll stop disturbing you now"

Kael watched him walk away, eyes narrowing slightly with quiet understanding. He knew exactly what that last gesture was—an emotional card, played deliberately in hopes of swaying him.

A silent appeal, designed to pull at his conscience and make him reconsider. But Kael wasn't moved. He'd seen tactics like that before—been through too many situations where emotion was used as leverage. It didn't work on him anymore.

He turned on his heel and headed toward the cafeteria, his steps steady but his mind anything but. Thoughts churned relentlessly in his head, crashing into one another like waves in a storm.

Every word, every look, every moment from earlier played on repeat, looping through his mind with suffocating intensity.

Though his body moved on instinct, his thoughts were miles away—lost in a spiral of questions, doubts, and things left unsaid.

'I can't possibly keep following her around like this, I have to prepare for the upcoming duels. I'm sure she can protect herself till the duels begin'

He took the tray of steaming dishes from the cook with a quiet nod, the faint aroma of spices wafting up as he turned away. His eyes, however, never strayed far from Seraphina.

With deliberate steps, he made his way toward an empty row of seats near the edge of the dining hall, choosing a spot that gave him a clear line of sight.

Even as he moved, his gaze lingered on her, watchful and intent, as if he were trying to read something hidden in the way she carried herself.

His fingers tightened around the fork, the metal cool against his skin as he absentmindedly spun it through the food on his plate—food that had already begun to lose its warmth by the minute. He hadn't taken a single bite, his thoughts elsewhere.

It wasn't until Seraphina cast him a subtle glance from across the room that he stirred, though even then, he didn't react right away.

Instead, he met her gaze with quiet steadiness, holding it just long enough to make it clear he wasn't flustered—and more importantly, to assure her he wasn't some suspicious shadow lurking behind her steps.

After a beat, she turned away, her attention shifting back to her friend group. Laughter erupted among them—light and carefree—though Kael couldn't make out what was said from where he sat. Still, the sound reached him, sharp against the quiet simmer of his thoughts.

"I wish there was a system skill that could help me tag her without having to stay here like this"

He finally took a bite of the delicacy he'd been served, and the moment the flavors hit his tongue, his eyes widened slightly in surprise.

His gaze dropped to the plate, and for a second, all thoughts of Seraphina and subtle glances faded from his mind.

His face lit up, the tension easing from his expression as he realized—this food was actually incredible. Rich, savory, and perfectly balanced.

He hadn't expected much, but now he found himself genuinely impressed, almost tempted to forget his surroundings entirely for another bite.

"I didn't know food from outside was this good!"

He hadn't eaten anything but home-cooked meals since everything fell apart. The thought of food prepared by others—by strangers—had always felt foreign to him, like a luxury reserved for a life he no longer belonged to.

Not once had he even tried to taste it. Part of it was pride, maybe, but most of it came down to the simple truth: he couldn't afford it.

Not financially, and not emotionally. So this moment—this bite—was more than just surprising. It was a quiet, unfamiliar warmth creeping into a space that had long been cold.

After a long moment lost in his thoughts—and the quiet comfort of the meal—he finally lifted his head.

To his surprise, Seraphina was gone. Somehow, in the brief span of time his gaze had been lowered, she had slipped away unnoticed.

He let out a slow breath and leaned back in his chair, easing into the seat with deliberate care. The tension in his shoulders loosened, just slightly, as he allowed himself a rare moment of stillness.

"She'll be fine"