CHAPTER 104: LENNON AND A MYSTERY WOMAN

{Elira}

~**^**~

Rennon leaned back slightly, his voice gentler now.

"Zenon isn’t the easiest person to read. He struggles to communicate and express himself. Think of him as... a game you have to figure out. A puzzle to solve — and win."

As I walked back toward the dorm, Rennon’s voice kept looping in my head.

"Zenon likes your company."

The words felt almost unreal, like something plucked from a completely different story.

I adjusted the strap of my backpack higher on my shoulder. Maybe Rennon had been teasing me—he had that kind of smile sometimes. But he had also seemed sincere also.

My lips pressed together as my mind replayed small moments I’d brushed off before in Zenon’s office: the way he had told me to help myself to snacks or water without being prompted, him never rushing me when I sat flipping through the yearbook.

He had even answered my calls almost instantly—twice. The subtle shift in his tone when speaking to me compared to other times. That wasn’t nothing.

Could that really be his way of... liking my company?

I shook my head.

’No. That doesn’t mean he likes my company. It just means he’s... polite. Or maybe he has nothing better to do when I’m there.’

Except... Zenon didn’t seem like the type to entertain anyone without a reason.

By the time I reached the courtyard in front of the dorm building, my thoughts had tied themselves into a neat knot of confusion.

I couldn’t decide if Rennon had been giving me some sort of warning, encouragement, or both.

Either way, I wasn’t about to go chasing after Zenon to test the theory. If there were a puzzle to solve, as Rennon said, I’d figure it out slowly, and on my terms.

Still, I couldn’t stop the faint, ridiculous smile tugging at my lips.

The cold, quiet man liking my company? That was... something I’d never imagined hearing.

As soon as I rounded the path toward my dorm, I froze.

Up ahead, near the edge of the garden wall, Lennon stood with a woman I didn’t recognize. Her long, black hair fluttered in the wind, but her face was tight and strained.

Lennon’s posture was calm, too calm, like someone holding themselves in check.

They were speaking in low voices, but whatever was being said made the woman’s eyes glisten.

Then all of a sudden, she turned abruptly, brushing at her cheek with the back of her hand before striding away with stiff shoulders and quick steps.

Tears were streaming from her eyes.

I lingered for just a second, my mind racing with questions I didn’t think I had the right to ask.

Who was that woman? And what had Lennon said to make her leave like that?

But before Lennon could notice me watching, I shifted my gaze and walked on without daring even to glance back.

Whatever that moment had been, it wasn’t mine to interrupt.

But still, the image of her tearful face lingered as I climbed the steps to my dorm.

---

By the time I pushed open our dorm door, the familiar warmth of our little shared space wrapped around me like a blanket.

My roommates were sprawled across their bunks and desks, mid-chat.

"Did you bring anything?" Juniper asked immediately, her eyes lighting with mischief.

I smiled, shaking my head. "No."

And then, traitorously, the thought hit me—I should have packed some of the goodies from Zenon’s office.

There had been enough left on that tray to keep us snacking for hours. I bit back a sigh. What a lost opportunity.

Before I could even drop my bag, Nari jumped to her feet, clutching her tablet like it was the crown jewels.

"My blog is live!" she announced, her eyes practically glowing.

The room erupted. Cheers, claps, and a few playful whistles filled the air.

"This calls for champagne," Cambria declared dramatically, tossing her hair.

"In my dreams," Nari shot back with a grin. "If only the cafeteria would serve champagne for dinner tonight."

We all laughed, the sound bouncing off the walls, and then Nari got to work. She made every one of us follow her blog page immediately. She left no room for excuses.

Then she leaned over to make sure we each liked and commented on the first post.

When I tapped the thumbnail, the image filled my screen, and my jaw dropped.

It was that picture — the one Nari had taken at the cafeteria when we clinked our wine glasses together.

The lighting had been warm and golden, the table brimming with food. It looked... almost like a group from a luxury magazine spread.

A chorus of reactions followed.

"This shot is still as beautiful," Juniper said with mock seriousness.

"Of course it is," Tamryn replied.

Nari’s grin could have lit the whole room. "Now, read the post below."

And we did. Nari’s words flowed with charm and detail, painting ESA’s cafeteria as a place of elegance, flavor, and prestige.

"This is a good PR write-up for ESA," I told her honestly.

Cambria nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly. If people outside ESA read this, they will think we are living in some five-star resort. The food section alone will make them jealous."

"Especially that seasoned cooked steak description," Juniper said, licking her lips.

One after the other, Cambria, Tamryn, and Juniper volunteered to share the blog link with their classmates.

Nari’s smile softened into something warmer, almost shy. "Thanks, guys."

I shifted, feeling a tiny pang of guilt. "Sorry," I told her. "I don’t have anyone in my classroom to share the link with."

"It’s fine," she said, and her tone made me believe she meant it. "You’re still part of the team."

Nari’s words made me feel exactly like that—part of something good.

***

~Friday~

The cafeteria buzzed with the usual weekend chatter, the air thick with the smell of maple syrup and sizzling sausage. I was halfway through my fried eggs when the overhead speakers crackled to life.

"Attention, students," the familiar woman’s voice announced, crisp and commanding. "All students are to gather at the arena immediately after breakfast."

A hush swept across the room for the briefest moment before conversation exploded again — louder, more excited.

My stomach, however, twisted into knots. The eggs on my plate suddenly looked like they’d betray me if I took another bite. I pushed my fork away, my appetite was completely gone.

Across from me, Cambria, Nari, and Juniper were practically glowing with anticipation, their words tumbling over one another.

"...I heard the fastest time last year was under five minutes—"

"—yeah, but the combat match after is going to be insane—"

"I heard one of the third-years nearly dislocated his opponent’s shoulder last term—"

While their voices rose, I felt Tamryn’s steady gaze on me. It was the kind that could peel away all kinds of pretences.

But I forced a smile, hoping it would be enough to deflect her concern. However, her brows drew together instantly.

"Don’t," she said softly.

The smile slipped from my lips almost immediately. She was right. My smile had felt strained. I bet it wasn’t pleasant.

As if my awkwardness had reminded them, the others’ chatter faltered. One by one, their eyes shifted to me. Cambria leaned forward, her tone gentler than before.

"You gonna be okay?"

I nodded quickly, willing my voice to sound steady. "Yeah." A small smile followed, though it felt more like a defense than reassurance.

Nari leaned in, lowering her voice. "You could pretend to be sick, you know. That way you don’t have to... you know, go through it."

Juniper shot her a look. "And the doctor will catch her lying in two seconds."

"So what?" Nari waved a hand. "She can still act like she’s in pain. At worst, they will give her bed rest if they can’t figure out what’s wrong."

I bit the inside of my cheek. The idea was tempting—embarrass myself in front of everyone, or fake an illness and skip the humiliation?

Nari kept going, her voice taking on that stubborn, protective edge she got when she thought someone she cared about was being treated unfairly.

"It’s better than standing there in front of all those prideful lunatics who think showing weakness is a crime."

My chest warmed, just a little. It wasn’t the suggestion itself — it was that they cared enough to scheme for me.

I let out a slow breath. "I will stay for the race."

The table went silent for a brief moment before Tamryn’s eyes narrowed slightly. "And if you can’t shift before it starts?"

I met her gaze, the weight of everyone else’s attention settling on me. "Then so be it. I will accept my fate."

The words hung in the air, strange even to my own ears — but they felt right.

Scheming wasn’t my thing. It didn’t feel like me, so I thought getting embarrassed and mocked by a larger crowd, more than that day at the practical Power Channelling class, suited me more.

At least, I was used to shame. I barely had any pride left.