Chapter 81: Leia, beat him up

She gazed at her reflection in the mirror, at the well-maintained face that now showed deep confusion.

Saelis’s words from earlier were like a thorn, stuck in her heart.

“You have no idea who she really is.”

Who was she?

Vanessa closed her eyes, searching through her memories.

Freya Christo Dale.

The granddaughter of the Duke of Dale.

Her mother was an old acquaintance—

A woman equally stubborn, equally beautiful.

She had seen the child a few times when she was young, quiet, aloof, not fond of talking.

Later, the child grew up, becoming even more silent, more distant, more unfathomable.

But—

That was all.

What more could there be?

Vanessa opened her eyes.

She looked into her own eyes in the mirror; those blue eyes were now filled with a complex light.

“Saelis—”

She whispered to herself.

“What exactly are you afraid of?”

No one answered her.

Only the rustling of leaves outside the window in the wind, and the faint, lingering scent from the open bottle of nail polish.

The morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the plane tree leaves, casting scattered spots of light on the stone steps in front of the dormitory building.

Freya and Lyra had finished washing up and had just stepped out of the building when they saw someone who shouldn’t have been there.

Serar stood at the bottom of the steps. His ice-blue hair shimmered softly in the morning light, his deep blue eyes curved into two pleasant arcs, and a harmless smile played on his lips.

About three steps behind him, a group of three or five girls huddled together, their faces flushed, eyes sparkling, occasionally letting out suppressed gasps.

“So handsome…”

“It’s that exchange student!”

“Why is he here…”

“Is he looking for Freya…”

Those whispers drifted over faintly.

Serar seemed completely oblivious to those gazes. He just focused on Freya, his smile growing even brighter.

“Good morning, Freya.”

His voice was clear and pleasant, like a mountain stream.

“I came to invite you both to breakfast.”

He paused, his gaze shifting to Lyra, his smile unchanged.

“And Lyra.”

Lyra’s brow instantly furrowed.

She looked at that smiling face, her red eyes filled with wariness and disgust.

“No.”

She grabbed Freya’s arm.

“Boss, let’s go.”

Freya didn’t speak.

She just glanced at Serar, then stepped forward, walking around him, heading towards the Academy Canteen.

Lyra followed closely behind, not forgetting to glare back at him over her shoulder.

Serar stood in place, watching their retreating figures, his smile not changing in the slightest.

He stepped forward and followed.

The Academy Canteen was bustling with noise and activity.

Freya and Lyra got their food, carried their trays, and walked towards their usual corner.

Anke was already sitting there, waving at them.

“Freya! Over here!”

Freya walked over and sat down opposite Anke.

Lyra sat down next to her, arranged the steak on her tray, and prepared to start eating.

Then—

A tray was placed on the table.

Right opposite Freya.

Serar sat down with a smile, holding a cup of steaming tea.

“Is this seat taken?

If not, I’ll sit here.”

He said it so naturally, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Anke’s mouth formed an ‘O’.

She looked at Serar, then at Freya, then at Serar again, and finally at Lyra.

Lyra’s face was already as dark as a pot.

“Yes.”

She pointed at Anke.

“She sits here.”

Anke was stunned for a second, then hurriedly nodded.

“Yes, yes, yes! I sit here!”

Serar looked at Anke, his smile unchanged.

“But you’re already sitting.”

He paused.

“And aren’t you sitting next to Freya?

I’m sitting opposite, it doesn’t interfere.”

Anke opened her mouth, wanting to argue, but found she couldn’t actually refute it.

She looked at Freya.

Freya’s expression hadn’t changed at all.

She picked up her chopsticks, picked up a piece of food, and put it in her mouth.

Chewed.

Swallowed.

Her movements were as elegant as ever.

As if the person sitting opposite wasn’t a person, but a puff of air.

Serar didn’t mind either. He picked up his teacup and took a slow sip.

“This tea is good.”

He said.

“Freya, what kind of tea do you like? I’ll brew some for you to try next time.”

No one paid him any attention.

He wasn’t embarrassed. He put down his teacup and started eating his own breakfast.

While eating, he would occasionally look up at Freya.

There was no malice in that gaze, only something incomprehensible—

Satisfaction.

Like a large dog that had finally found its owner, eagerly waiting for a pat on the head.

The veins on Lyra’s hand holding the chopsticks bulged.

She took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the urge to throw someone out.

No.

The boss said no fighting in the canteen.

No.

But this person is really annoying!

—

After finishing breakfast, Freya stood up and picked up her tray.

“Let’s go.”

Lyra immediately followed.

Anke also quickly stood up and followed alongside.

The three walked towards the dish return area.

Serar also stood up and followed.

He walked beside Freya, not too close, not too far, just a step away.

Not intrusive, but not disappearing either.

Like a shadow that couldn’t be shaken off.

At the classroom door, Freya stopped.

She looked at Lyra and Anke.

“You two go in first.”

Anke nodded, pulling Lyra into the classroom.

Lyra looked back worriedly, just meeting Serar’s smiling face.

Her fist hardened again.

Freya didn’t look at Serar.

She just stood at the door, waiting.

She waited until the moment just before the class bell rang, then stepped into the classroom.

And then she saw—

On the seat next to hers, where another classmate should have been sitting, someone was sitting now.

Ice-blue hair, deep blue eyes, a smiling expression.

Serar.

He sat there, his posture as natural as if he belonged there.

The classmate whose seat had been taken stood in the aisle, looking bewildered and at a loss.

Seeing Freya enter, Serar’s eyes lit up.

He reached out and gently patted the seat next to him.

That gesture, that expression, clearly said—

“Come sit here.”

Freya stood in place.

Her expression didn’t change, but her fingers tightened slightly for a moment.

Lyra had already stood up from her seat, little flames burning in her red eyes.

She walked towards Serar.

That stride, that aura, was clearly meant for a fight.

Just then, footsteps sounded at the door.

Professor Mabel walked in.

She stood at the lectern, her gaze habitually sweeping over the classroom.

Then, her eyes stopped at a place where someone shouldn’t have been.

“Serar.”

Her voice was flat, but carried an undeniable authority.

Serar looked up, his smile unchanged.

“Good morning, Professor.”

“Your seat is not here.”

Serar blinked.

“But the view is good here.”

Professor Mabel looked at him.

Looked for two seconds.

“Go back.”

Just two words.

Simple.

Direct.

Not open to argument.

The smile on Serar’s face stiffened for a moment.

Then he stood up and obediently walked towards his own seat.

Why did his expression look so dejected, like a big dog that had lost favor?

As he passed by Freya, he stopped.

“I’ll sit next to you next time.”

He lowered his voice and said with a smile.

Then he left.

Freya stood in place, expressionless.

Lyra had already rolled up her sleeves, ready to charge over, but was held back tightly by Anke.

“Calm down! Calm down! The professor is here!”

Lyra took a deep breath and glared fiercely at Serar’s retreating back.

After class, Freya walked out of the classroom.

Serar stood at the door, smiling as he waited there.

“Freya, what’s the next class?”

Freya ignored him, walking past him.

Serar followed.

“Can I attend class with you?

I just arrived, I’m not very familiar…”

Freya kept walking.

Serar kept following.

“What do you usually like to eat?

I saw you had something light this morning, do you not like greasy food?

I know a shop…”

Freya quickened her pace.

Serar also quickened his pace.

“Do you like reading?

I do too.

I’ve pretty much gone through the entire library at the Winter Magic Academy. If there’s any book you want to read, I can help you…”

Lyra walked beside Freya, her face growing darker and darker.

But she couldn’t lose her temper.

So she had to endure.

She endured.

She endured.

She endured the whole way.

She had thought that if she ignored Serar, Serar would find it boring and leave on his own, and she could have some peace.

But the result was—

From the classroom building to the Training Ground, from the Training Ground to the Academy Canteen, from the Academy Canteen to the Library, from the Library to—

The foot of the Dormitory building.

The sun was setting in the west, dusk enveloping everything.

Serar stood downstairs, smiling as he looked at Freya.

“I had a very pleasant time with you today.”

He said.

“Well then, Freya, good night. I’ll come find you again tomorrow.”

Lyra’s fists were clenched so tight they creaked.

Freya stopped.

She turned around and looked at Serar.

Looked for a long time.

Then she took a deep breath.

And slowly let it out.

She turned to Lyra.

With a smile on her face.

A smile Lyra had never seen before.

Gentle.

Brilliant.

Making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

But the moment Lyra saw that smile, all the hairs on her body stood on end.

“Lyra.”

Freya’s voice was very soft, very gentle.

“Beat him up.”

Lyra’s eyes instantly lit up.

That light was brighter than ever before.

“Got it!”

She turned around and looked at Serar.

Cracked her knuckles.

Bared her little fang.

That smile was completely different from Freya’s gentleness.

It was the smile of a hunter locking onto its prey.

For the first time, Serar’s smile froze on his face.

He watched Lyra approach step by step. In those red eyes now, there was no trace of foolishness, only something that sent a chill down one’s spine—

Excitement.

“You… you wait…

No, no, no, no, no!”

He took a step back.

Lyra didn’t wait.

She pounced.

In the dusk, a series of clattering sounds rose from the foot of the dormitory building.

Mixed with Serar’s cries of surprise and Lyra’s excited panting.

A few fallen leaves were blown up by the wind, swirling around the two.

Freya stood on the steps, quietly watching this scene.

The corner of her mouth lifted slightly.

That curve was faint.

But it was indeed there.