NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17: STARLIGHT Academy IV
As they entered the cafeteria, the aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, enticing their senses. The trio joined the queue, chatting and laughing as they waited for their turn.
Once they had their food, they made their way to a quiet corner table, away from the hustle and bustle of the cafeteria. As they sat down, Eva turned to Noah with a curious expression.
"So, Noah, what really happened back there with Ben?" she asked, her voice low and conspiratorial.
Noah's expression turned thoughtful, and he paused for a moment before responding. "Let's just say that Ben and I have a... complicated history," he said, his voice measured.
Maya's eyes widened with interest. "Complicated history? What do you mean?" she pressed, her curiosity piqued.
Noah's gaze drifted off, his eyes clouding over as he seemed to retreat into his thoughts. "It's just... Ben and I used to be friends, a long time ago," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But then something happened, and everything changed."
Noah's gaze remained fixed on his food as he spoke, his voice laced with a hint of pain. "I missed the day of our awakening and couldn't awaken any talent since that day. He began bullying me and treating me like trash... and even the whole class supported it."
Maya's eyes welled up with tears as she listened to Noah's words. She reached out and placed a comforting hand on his arm. "Oh, Noah... that's so sad," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that."
Eva's expression was somber, her eyes filled with a deep understanding. "We're here for you now, Noah," she said, her voice firm. "And we won't let anyone bully you again."
Noah's chuckle was low and smooth, and it seemed to catch Eva off guard. She suddenly blushed, her eyes widening in realization. She had forgotten that Noah had actually been in control of the situation in the classroom. If the professor hadn't intervened, things might have taken a very different turn.
Eva's face grew hotter as she realized the implications of her words. She had essentially offered to protect Noah, when in reality, he was the one who had been holding the reins. She glanced at Noah, wondering if he would tease her about her mistake.
Noah's eyes sparkled with amusement as he gazed at Eva, but he said nothing, letting her squirm in embarrassment for a moment. Maya, however, jumped in to save her friend.
"Hey, let's just forget about what happened in class, okay?" Maya suggested, shooting Eva a reassuring glance. "We're just glad you're okay, Noah."
Noah's expression softened, and he nodded in appreciation. "Thanks, Maya. Let's just focus on enjoying our lunch, okay?"
The three friends continued eating and chatting, the tension from earlier dissipating. Eva, still slightly embarrassed, tried to steer the conversation towards safer topics.
As they finished their meal, Noah glanced at his watch. "Hey, we should get going. Our next class is about to start."
Maya nodded, gathering her belongings. "Yeah, let's go. I don't want to be late for Professor Llewellyn's class."
Eva stood up, smoothing out her skirt. "I'm just glad we have a break after this class. I'm exhausted already."
Noah smiled, falling into step beside his friends. "Don't worry, Eva. We'll get through this semester together."
As they walked to their next class, the trio couldn't help but notice the curious glances from their fellow students. It seemed that the news of Noah's confrontation with Ben had already spread like wildfire.
Maya leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "Noah, I think you're going to have to get used to being the center of attention from now on."
Noah chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm not sure I'm ready for that kind of attention, Maya."
Eva playfully rolled her eyes. "Come on, Noah. You're a hero. You stood up to Ben and his cronies. You deserve the attention."
Noah's smile faltered for a moment, and he looked away, his eyes clouding over. "I didn't do it to be a hero, Eva. I just did what needed to be done."
The trio fell silent, lost in their own thoughts as they continued on to their next class.
As they walked to their next class, Noah asked curiously, "What's Professor Llewellyn's class about?"
Maya smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's a combat-oriented class, teaching us how to use our talents in battles."
Eva nodded, her expression serious. "We'll be learning how to harness our talents, work together as a team, and develop strategies to take down our opponents."
Noah's eyes widened with interest. "That sounds intense. I'm looking forward to it."
As they entered the classroom, Professor Llewellyn greeted them with a warm smile. "Welcome, students. Today we're going to start learning the basics of combat tactics and strategies. Please take out your notes and let's get started."
Professor Llewellyn began to explain the fundamentals of combat tactics, using diagrams and examples to illustrate her points. Noah listened intently, his pen moving quickly as he took notes.
As the class progressed, Professor Llewellyn introduced the concept of "talent synergy," where individuals with different talents worked together to achieve a common goal.
Professor Llewellyn began to explain the fundamentals of combat tactics, using diagrams and examples to illustrate her points. Noah listened intently, his pen moving quickly as he took notes.
As the class progressed, Professor Llewellyn introduced the concept of "talent synergy," where individuals with different talents worked together to achieve a common goal.
Noah didn't think he would need to work with others since his class was the Tamer class, which meant he could be a one-man army. But he still thought having backup could be useful.
"Okay then, tomorrow we'll be holding mock battles to test everyone's adaptation to their talents," Professor Llewellyn announced, her eyes scanning the room. "This will be a regular thing as we go on, so train hard."
The students nodded, some looking excited, others nervous. Noah felt a thrill of anticipation. He was eager to test his skills in a mock battle, but he couldn't summon Charlotte because she was too powerful.
As the class dismissed, Noah, Maya, and Eva gathered their belongings and headed out of the classroom.
"So, are you guys ready for the mock battle tomorrow?" Eva asked, grinning.
"Yeah, I am," Noah replied, his tone casual.
"I'm a bit nervous since my talent is not attack-based, but I'm sure it'll be okay if I use it wisely," Maya said with a nervous smile.
Eva nodded reassuringly. "You'll do fine, Maya. Just focus on using your talent to your advantage."
Noah nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and don't worry if you don't win. It's just a mock battle to help us improve our skills."
Maya smiled, looking a bit more at ease. "Thanks, guys. I feel a bit better now."
The three friends continued to chat as they walked out of the school building. As they stepped into the bright sunlight, Noah couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the mock battle tomorrow.
"Hey there, smart pants," Ben called, his voice dripping with sarcasm, piquing Noah's interest as he looked towards Ben with disgust.
"What do you want?" Noah questioned, his tone firm and assertive, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at Ben.
He didn't reply, instead, a smug smile spread across his face.
"Nothing... It's just I haven't seen your sister in a while, so I thought I'd inform you," Ben replied after a moment of silence, his smile growing wider.
"You!" Noah immediately yelled, his face twisted in anger as he grabbed Ben's collar. Ben's smile faltered, replaced by a nervous grin.
"I think you'd better go find your sister rather than trying to beat me up," Ben said nervously, trying to reason with Noah.
Noah's grip on Ben's collar tightened, his teeth gritted in anger. Then, with a sudden burst of strength, he threw Ben away, sending him stumbling backward.
Without a word, Noah turned and rushed back into the academy building, his heart racing with worry for his sister.