WebNovels

Chapter 13 - The serpent encounter

Eli

The bell rang, its sharp sound breaking the quiet moment between Eli and Emris. Students shuffled out of the room, chatter filling the air, until only the two of them remained.

Eli exhaled, almost forgetting that he still had a dorm room waiting for him. Pulling the folded guide paper from his pocket, he glanced at his dorm assignment before showing it to Emris. "Dorm 302" he said casually.

Emris leaned in to read the number—and then froze, blinking in surprise. "You've got to be kidding me. That's my room." His lips spread into a grin, excitement flashing in his bright eyes. "We're roommates!"

Eli blinked, startled. "Seriously?" He hadn't expected that. For a fleeting second, a thought whispered in his mind: Is this fate? Are we meant to be? The idea was ridiculous, yet it left his chest oddly warm.

Emris, however, didn't hesitate to show his joy. He sprang from his desk, wrapping Eli in a sudden hug, pressing a quick kiss to the top of his blonde hair. Eli stiffened, heat rushing to his cheeks, and quickly gave him a playful jab to the ribs not hard enough to hurt, just enough to make a point.

"Too much?" Emris teased, smirking as he stepped back.

"You think?" Eli muttered, flustered, though there was no real bite in his tone.But Emris's expression softened. He looked at Eli with unusual seriousness. "We're meant to meet. I know it. So… want to be best friends?"

Eli stared at him, his heart unexpectedly heavy. Best friend. He had never had one. He had acquaintances, classmates, people to talk to but no one he could truly call a best friend. And yet here Emris was, asking him so simply.

"…Sure" Eli said softly. "I'll be loyal to you. I'll never break our friendship." The words carried a weight Eli didn't even realize until they were spoken.

Emris was momentarily stunned, his chest tightening at the sincerity. Then he nodded firmly, his tone protective as he vowed back, "And I'll always be there for you. Loyal. Your shield."

They both broke into laughter at how cheesy their vows sounded, but the warmth lingered between them, stronger than either expected.

By the time they packed up their bags, the classroom was completely empty. Emris slipped an arm casually around Eli's waist as they headed toward the door, grinning.

"Well then, best friend" he said lightly. "Let's go find our dorm."

Eli shook his head at the playful gesture, but a small smile tugged at his lips. Together, they stepped out of the silent classroom into the hall.

.

.

.

The classroom door clicked shut behind them, and Eli found himself laughing softly at something Emris said. The two of them walked side by side, their conversation so easy, so natural, that the hallway around them faded into background noise. For once, Eli felt light like maybe coming to Kingston Academy wasn't going to be as lonely as he'd feared.

What Eli didn't notice, however, was the pair of sharp eyes fixed on him from a few paces down the hall. Kael stood surrounded by a small cluster of students, their chatter orbiting him like planets around a sun. He appeared calm, composed, every bit the student body president he was known to be. But inside, irritation simmered.

His gaze had locked onto Eli the moment those golden strands of hair caught the light. Straight, fine locks that brushed his face softly, the kind of detail Kael never overlooked. He had seen him before, faintly, fleetingly but this was the first time Kael had truly noticed.

And yet Eli hadn't noticed him back. He had walked right past, his brown eyes turned toward Emris, his laughter aimed at someone else.

Kael's lips curved into the faintest of smiles, but it didn't reach his eyes. A plan formed in the quiet precision of his mind, one born of annoyance, curiosity, and something darker. If Eli would not notice him naturally... then Kael would make sure he did.

As Eli and Emris moved closer, Kael shifted slightly, his calm expression never faltering. He brushed his hand against his second-in-command's shoulder a small, almost invisible gesture. In an instant, the boy was shoved forward with brutal precision, directly into Eli's path.

Eli gasped, his balance lost as his body pitched forward toward the polished marble floor.

But before he could crash against it, an arm wrapped tightly around his waist, stopping him mid-fall. Emris grip was firm, his reflexes sharp, holding Eli against him in one swift, protective movement.

The hallway fell silent for a beat, the tension heavy in the air.

.

.

.

The hallway fell into an uneasy silence. Emris tightened his grip around Eli, lifting him carefully so that he could stand steadily on his own two feet.

"You okay?" Emris asked softly, his voice low but firm. His eyes scanned Eli quickly, making sure he wasn't seriously hurt, though the protective edge in his tone was unmistakable.

Eli didn't answer. His shoulder throbbed from the impact, and his face twisted slightly in pain. His eyes were dazed, confusion and shock written across his features as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.

Emris's gaze shifted sharply to Kael, who stood a few paces away, his tall frame calm and composed. But Emris didn't need to see the rest of him Kael's eyes told the story. Dark, heated, and tinged with irritation, they bore into Eli like a serpent coiled to strike.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵... Emris thought, the image flashing in his mind as he studied Kael more closely. Even in this brief moment, Kael's controlled exterior hid something sharp, dangerous, and calculating.

Kael's eyes flicked briefly to Emris, but the calm, unreadable expression never faltered. Even though Emris wasn't afraid of the three elites, he knew better than to challenge them openly. Kael wasn't smiling, wasn't joking he was measuring, assessing, and making it clear he didn't like what he saw.

Emris didn't meet Kael's gaze. Instead, he did what any student in his position would do he lowered his head in a careful, respectful bow. At the same time, he kept a firm hand on Eli's shoulder, holding him steady, a silent promise that he would not let him be harmed.

Kael's gaze lingered for a heartbeat longer before he finally stepped back slightly, still silent, still imposing. The message was clear Eli had been noticed, and Kael had taken mental note.

Eli shifted slightly under Emris's grip, still dazed, still silent. His confusion and pain were evident, but Emris's steady hand on his shoulder offered some reassurance.

The hallway seemed to hold its breath, tension thick in the air. Kael remained where he was, tall, silent, and composed, while Emris kept a careful watch, letting Eli regain his balance without breaking his protective hold.

It was a subtle but unmistakable reminder: at Kingston Academy, power had many faces, and even the calmest exterior could hide a dangerous core.

.

.

.

The hallway stayed silent, the tension thick enough to make every breath feel heavy. Kael's dark gaze didn't waver from Eli for long. Slowly, he turned toward his second-in-command, Allstair, who had been standing nearby, uncertain and rigid.

"Apologize to him" Kael said sharply, his voice cold and precise. "Now."

Allstair froze. His deep blue eyes widened in confusion. 𝘈𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦? he thought. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮... 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨?

Before he could protest, Kael's sharp tone cut through him like ice. "Are you defying me?" Kael continued, his eyes glinting with fury. "Did that push affect you so little that you completely ignored me and challenged me?"

The words fell like a hammer, echoing through the hallway. Everyone stopped moving. Other members of the student body, even those nearby, looked at Allstair with a mixture of disdain and disgust. Some muttered under their breath, shaking their heads.. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘒𝘢𝘦𝘭, 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴?

Allstair, who had never been in a situation like this, felt the weight of every gaze on him. His mouth opened, closed, opened again, but no words came out. His heartbeat raced. The looks from the other students weren't just judgment—they were disgust, disbelief, and something close to fear.

Kael's dark stare remained locked on Allstair, unyielding, unmoving, until finally Allstair's knees went weak. His voice was nothing more than a whisper, barely audible "I... I..."

Kael didn't wait for a proper response. He took a deliberate step back, still calm but radiating authority and a subtle menace that kept the hallway frozen. His message was clear..

𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝.

Allstair, stunned and humiliated, lowered his gaze. He didn't move to apologize further. He didn't have tothe damage was done. The other students slowly diverted their eyes, leaving Allstair in a quiet, shameful silence as Kael's presence loomed over him like a shadow.

Eli, still leaning slightly against Emris, watched silently, confusion and fear lingering in his gaze. He didn't fully understand what had just happened, but he could feel the raw power radiating from Kael the cold, calculated force that could bend everyone in his path without raising a hand.

Emris tightened his grip around Eli's shoulder, protective, steady, and unshaken. But even he knew that Kael was not someone to be trifled with. The student body president's control wasn't just in his words it was in his gaze, his posture, and the quiet threat that seemed to follow him wherever he went.

For a long moment, the hallway remained still, every student frozen in place, until Kael finally turned and walked away, leaving Allstair standing in stunned silence. No one spoke, and the tension lingered like a living thing in the air.𝐄𝐥𝐢

The classroom door clicked shut behind them, and Eli found himself laughing softly at something Emris said. The two of them walked side by side, their conversation so easy, so natural, that the hallway around them faded into background noise. For once, Eli felt light like maybe coming to Kingston Academy wasn't going to be as lonely as he'd feared.

What Eli didn't notice, however, was the pair of sharp eyes fixed on him from a few paces down the hall. Kael stood surrounded by a small cluster of students, their chatter orbiting him like planets around a sun. He appeared calm, composed, every bit the student body president he was known to be. But inside, irritation simmered.

His gaze had locked onto Eli the moment those golden strands of hair caught the light. Straight, fine locks that brushed his face softly, the kind of detail Kael never overlooked. He had seen him before, faintly, fleetingly but this was the first time Kael had truly noticed.

And yet Eli hadn't noticed him back. He had walked right past, his brown eyes turned toward Emris, his laughter aimed at someone else.

Kael's lips curved into the faintest of smiles, but it didn't reach his eyes. A plan formed in the quiet precision of his mind, one born of annoyance, curiosity, and something darker. If Eli would not notice him naturally... then Kael would make sure he did.

As Eli and Emris moved closer, Kael shifted slightly, his calm expression never faltering. He brushed his hand against his second-in-command's shoulder a small, almost invisible gesture. In an instant, the boy was shoved forward with brutal precision, directly into Eli's path.

Eli gasped, his balance lost as his body pitched forward toward the polished marble floor.

But before he could crash against it, an arm wrapped tightly around his waist, stopping him mid-fall. Emris grip was firm, his reflexes sharp, holding Eli against him in one swift, protective movement.

The hallway fell silent for a beat, the tension heavy in the air.

.

.

.

The hallway fell into an uneasy silence. Emris tightened his grip around Eli, lifting him carefully so that he could stand steadily on his own two feet.

"You okay?" Emris asked softly, his voice low but firm. His eyes scanned Eli quickly, making sure he wasn't seriously hurt, though the protective edge in his tone was unmistakable.

Eli didn't answer. His shoulder throbbed from the impact, and his face twisted slightly in pain. His eyes were dazed, confusion and shock written across his features as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.

Emris's gaze shifted sharply to Kael, who stood a few paces away, his tall frame calm and composed. But Emris didn't need to see the rest of him Kael's eyes told the story. Dark, heated, and tinged with irritation, they bore into Eli like a serpent coiled to strike.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵... Emris thought, the image flashing in his mind as he studied Kael more closely. Even in this brief moment, Kael's controlled exterior hid something sharp, dangerous, and calculating.

Kael's eyes flicked briefly to Emris, but the calm, unreadable expression never faltered. Even though Emris wasn't afraid of the three elites, he knew better than to challenge them openly. Kael wasn't smiling, wasn't joking he was measuring, assessing, and making it clear he didn't like what he saw.

Emris didn't meet Kael's gaze. Instead, he did what any student in his position would do he lowered his head in a careful, respectful bow. At the same time, he kept a firm hand on Eli's shoulder, holding him steady, a silent promise that he would not let him be harmed.

Kael's gaze lingered for a heartbeat longer before he finally stepped back slightly, still silent, still imposing. The message was clear Eli had been noticed, and Kael had taken mental note.

Eli shifted slightly under Emris's grip, still dazed, still silent. His confusion and pain were evident, but Emris's steady hand on his shoulder offered some reassurance.

The hallway seemed to hold its breath, tension thick in the air. Kael remained where he was, tall, silent, and composed, while Emris kept a careful watch, letting Eli regain his balance without breaking his protective hold.

It was a subtle but unmistakable reminder: at Kingston Academy, power had many faces, and even the calmest exterior could hide a dangerous core.

.

.

.

The hallway stayed silent, the tension thick enough to make every breath feel heavy. Kael's dark gaze didn't waver from Eli for long. Slowly, he turned toward his second-in-command, Allstair, who had been standing nearby, uncertain and rigid.

"Apologize to him" Kael said sharply, his voice cold and precise. "Now."

Allstair froze. His deep blue eyes widened in confusion. 𝘈𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦? he thought. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮... 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨?

Before he could protest, Kael's sharp tone cut through him like ice. "Are you defying me?" Kael continued, his eyes glinting with fury. "Did that push affect you so little that you completely ignored me and challenged me?"

The words fell like a hammer, echoing through the hallway. Everyone stopped moving. Other members of the student body, even those nearby, looked at Allstair with a mixture of disdain and disgust. Some muttered under their breath, shaking their heads.. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘒𝘢𝘦𝘭, 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴?

Allstair, who had never been in a situation like this, felt the weight of every gaze on him. His mouth opened, closed, opened again, but no words came out. His heartbeat raced. The looks from the other students weren't just judgment—they were disgust, disbelief, and something close to fear.

Kael's dark stare remained locked on Allstair, unyielding, unmoving, until finally Allstair's knees went weak. His voice was nothing more than a whisper, barely audible "I... I..."

Kael didn't wait for a proper response. He took a deliberate step back, still calm but radiating authority and a subtle menace that kept the hallway frozen. His message was clear..

𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝.

Allstair, stunned and humiliated, lowered his gaze. He didn't move to apologize further. He didn't have tothe damage was done. The other students slowly diverted their eyes, leaving Allstair in a quiet, shameful silence as Kael's presence loomed over him like a shadow.

Eli, still leaning slightly against Emris, watched silently, confusion and fear lingering in his gaze. He didn't fully understand what had just happened, but he could feel the raw power radiating from Kael the cold, calculated force that could bend everyone in his path without raising a hand.

Emris tightened his grip around Eli's shoulder, protective, steady, and unshaken. But even he knew that Kael was not someone to be trifled with. The student body president's control wasn't just in his words it was in his gaze, his posture, and the quiet threat that seemed to follow him wherever he went.

For a long moment, the hallway remained still, every student frozen in place, until Kael finally turned and walked away, leaving Allstair standing in stunned silence. No one spoke, and the tension lingered like a living thing in the air.

More Chapters