After a few minutes, Cain stood up and threw on the cloak that the teacher had given him before. He was wearing pants but he refused to wear another one of his old shirts that was too small now.
It was 9am and he didn't have any classes until 12 so he had plenty of time to go and find some clothing that he could actually wear.
Opening his door, he was surprised to see someone already waiting for him. Her jade green eyes locked onto him as soon as he stepped out.
Cain could feel cold sweat began to form on his back as the beautiful redheaded woman lightly sniffed the air around him.
Gone was her expressive face, fluffy tail and ears, replaced with her trademarked cold uninterested stare. However, Cain could still sense a faint killing intent lingering in her eyes.
Despite being so close that he could pat her on the head, he did his best to act calm, cool and collected.
"Didn't I tell you that I wouldn't say anything. Why are you here?"
He really didnt want to cause trouble with the Valedictorian and now she knew where he lived.
Jayden reached for her sword and Cain immediately blinked a bit further down the hallway, giving himself some distance so he could respond to any attack she might give him.
But no, what Jayden did was pull out a heavily broken sword and held it up so Cain could see it more clearly.
"You broke my sword. I need another one."
"Oh...." Cain said, rubbing the back of his neck. "That."
Jayden didn't speak. Her expression was cold, unreadable, but the way her fingers clenched the ruined hilt said enough.
Cain offered a half-smile. "Before you say anything, I feel like context is important."
She raised an eyebrow.
"If I didn't break it, you would have taken my head off."
Jayden's eyes narrowed slightly, but her expression didn't change. She said nothing, waiting.
Cain shifted his weight. "I panicked. You were swinging, I didn't have a weapon, and… well. Biting it was my only option."
Her gaze flicked to his mouth, just briefly. Cain didn't know if she was checking for blood or trying to decide if he'd lost his mind.
Jayden finally spoke, voice flat. "You bit an enchanted blade."
"Right. And, uh… turns out that's not great for the sword."
Cain was blatantly ignoring the fact that enchanted blades could cut through steel like butter. He was brazen enough to act like using his teeth to snap a magical weapon like it was a candy cane was not insane.
Her fingers tightened around the hilt. "That was custom-forged. Weight-balanced. I've used it since I was twelve. My father gave it to me. Forged it himself..."
Cain winced. "That makes me feel marginally worse, thank you."
Jayden took a single step forward. Cain didn't back away, but his body tensed like a coiled spring.
"I don't care why you did it," she said. "You broke my sword. So now you owe me."
Cain raised an eyebrow. "You're… seriously trying to collect on that?"
"Yes."
"I saved my own life."
"You still broke it."
Cain threw up his hands. "Okay. Fine. What do you want, then?"
Jayden took a single step forward. Cain didn't back away, but his body tensed like a coiled spring.
"I don't care why you did it," she said. "You broke my sword. So now you owe me."
Cain raised an eyebrow. "You're seriously trying to extort me?"
"I need a new one," Jayden replied flatly. "You're going to buy it."
Cain blinked. "You're not even pretending this is a request."
"It's not."
"And what makes you think I can even afford to buy you a new one?"
"And what makes you think I can even afford to buy you a new one?"
Jayden didn't blink. "Not my problem."
Cain let out a breath, somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. "You're unbelievable."
She tilted her head slightly, eyes still locked on his. "And you're still breathing. I'd say that makes us even."
Cain stared at her, then ran a hand through his hair. "You don't care if I have to beg, borrow, or steal to cover it, do you?"
"I care that it gets replaced."
He studied her for a moment. There was no satisfaction in her voice, no smugness. Just a cold, steady expectation that he was going to do exactly what she said.
He scratched his jaw.
"Fine. I had to go shopping anyways. I may be a prince but my wallet really is gonna be empty after this...." he grumbled mostly to himself.
"You're a prince?" Jayden asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
Cain blinked and turned to her. "Wait… you didn't know that?"
She stared at him, her tone flat. "You're the man who knows my secret and broke my sword."
Cain stared for a beat, then laughed under his breath. "Fair enough."
He stepped back, then gave her a slight, overly formal bow, one hand over his chest. "Cain Sinthorne. Seventh Prince of the Sinthorne Kingdom. At your service."
Jayden's expression shifted just enough to register faint surprise. She regarded him for a second longer, then gave a small nod.
"Jayden Dawn."
That was all. No house, no title, no elaboration.
Cain didn't press. He just nodded in return and tucked his hands in the cloak pockets. "Well, Jayden Dawn. Let's go find you a sword before you decide I still owe you a limb."
She said nothing. Just turned and began walking.
Cain followed. He wasn't sure what kind of weapon she'd pick, but he had a sinking feeling he was going to need a loan before lunch.
They walked side by side, silent and sharp.
Cain wore his borrowed cloak like it belonged on a throne. He didn't try to hide. He didn't need to. Every inch of him, from the way his shoulders moved to the cold focus in his eyes, demanded attention. His transformation had sculpted him into something leaner, stronger, and impossible to ignore.
But it was Jayden who left mouths dry.
She was beautiful in a way that made people stop breathing. Hair like living fire cascaded down her back, red and untamed, catching the light with every step. Her skin was porcelain-smooth, her lips full, her lashes long and dark. But it wasn't just her face. It was the way she moved, the shape of her body, the sharpness in her gaze. She looked like a weapon dressed as royalty, all lethal curves and cold silence.
Men looked at her the way starving wolves looked at raw meat.
Whispers broke out in their wake. Someone nearly dropped their bag. A group of second-years froze mid-step as Jayden passed, their faces stuck somewhere between awe and fear.
She didn't blink. She didn't glance their way. She walked as if they didn't exist.
Cain noticed. Of course he noticed. He noticed everything. He watched people's reactions out of the corner of his eye, but his face gave nothing away.
If Jayden was a ruby, gleaming and untouchable, Cain was obsidian. Smooth. Dark. Dangerous.
They looked nothing alike, but side by side, they matched.
Too cold to be ordinary. Too beautiful to be ignored.
It would only be a matter of time before the rumors started.