The campus had never felt this loud.
And yet—
Aeris heard none of it.
Her steps were steady.
Measured.
But her mind—
wasn't.
"Morien val threx…"
The words lingered.
Not understood—
but felt.
She turned a corner.
Empty hallway.
Quiet.
Finally—
silence.
"…You follow people often?"
Her voice broke it.
Calm.
Unbothered.
A pause.
Then—
"Only the ones worth following."
She didn't turn immediately.
Didn't need to.
"…Kael Virex."
His name felt unfamiliar.
And yet—
not.
He stepped closer.
No rush.
No hesitation.
"Say it again."
Now she turned.
Slowly.
Eyes meeting his.
"…Why?"
Something flickered in his gaze.
Dark. Brief.
Gone.
"Because it sounds better when you say it."
Aeris stared at him.
Not impressed.
Not affected.
"…You're strange."
A quiet exhale left him.
Almost… amused.
"And you're not afraid."
Not a question.
A statement.
"Should I be?" she asked.
He stepped closer.
Closing the distance again.
Like it belonged to him.
"You will be."
A beat.
"…Of you?"
And for the first time—
his expression shifted.
Just slightly.
"No."
His voice dropped.
Lower.
Sharper.
"Of what follows me."
Silence.
For a moment—
Aeris said nothing.
Because something about that—
wasn't a threat.
It was a warning.
"…Then stay away from me."
Simple.
Direct.
Wrong.
Because Kael didn't step back.
Didn't move.
Didn't even blink.
"No."
One word.
Final.
Aeris's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You don't get to decide that."
A pause.
Then—
quietly.
"Watch me."
The air tightened.
And for the first time—
this wasn't just tension.
It was a clash.
Two people—
who didn't bend.
"Then vael....."
Literal:
("Break for me")
Real meaning:
" Stop pretending you are strong . I want to see the real you "
His voice softened.
Almost—
dangerously gentle.
"…What does that mean?" she asked again.
He looked at her—
like the answer wasn't meant to be understood.
"You'll learn."
And then—
he walked past her.
But this time—
it didn't feel like an end.
It felt like—
the beginning of something far worse.