Chapter 134: The Gilmors [2]
Alaric’s gaze went from her to Elina. Without thinking, he moved toward her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"You good—"
But Elina swatted his hand away violently, shooting him a glare sharp enough to cut through steel. Without a word, she grabbed Lily’s arm and pushed through the crowd, disappearing into the throng of students.
Alaric stood there for a moment, watching them leave.
Then, slowly, his attention shifted back to the honey-blonde girl.
Suddenly, a familiar cyan panel popped before his eyes.
[Do host want to use Scanner on the target?]
Yes.
He said inwardly, without waiting a second.
[Target Status]
Name: Aurelia Glimor
Race: Human
Age: 21
Essence Path: ...Error – (Upgrade system level for full information.)
Rank: B
Stats:
STR: 197
AGI: 196
END: 185
WIL: 190
CHA: 202
INT: 210
Alaric’s eyes narrowed as the information flickered before him. His attention locked on the line that stood out most.
Error? What the hell...
Aurelia tilted her head slightly, strands of golden hair catching the light. Her lips curved in a half-smile, amused yet assessing.
"So... you’re Alaric Glimor," she said smoothly, her voice carrying easily even over the low hum of the gathered students.
Alaric dismissed the panel with a thought and met her gaze steadily.
"I am." His face betrayed nothing, his tone calm and even.
She stepped closer. Her perfume, jasmine mixed with something sharper, cut through the air.
The crowd pressed in, their breathing audible now, waiting.
"Ah, the mysterious heir." Her fingers traced the edge of her Gold Eagle pin, light glinting off manicured nails.
A pause.
Her head tilted, honey-blonde hair sliding over one shoulder.
"The one engaged to the Rithvale girl."
She began circling him. Her heels clicked against stone, deliberate, measured. The sound echoed off the courtyard walls.
Behind him, Oliver’s breathing had gone shallow. Someone in the crowd whispered, quickly hushed by their friend.
She stopped directly in front of him. Close enough that he could see gold flecks in her eyes.
Then she smirked.
"Not gonna lie, you’re rather good-looking for someone from that trash lineage."
She leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper that meant only for him.
"What do you say, Alaric? Leave that gutter-born house behind, join me instead." Her breath was warm against his ear.
"We could use someone with your... talents. Father’s always looking for capable men. You’d have real power, real influence. Not just scraps from the likes of them."
She pulled back slightly, studying his face.
"Think about it. They are finished anyway, everyone knows it. But with us? You could be someone who matters."
The courtyard had gone tomb-silent. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Alaric hadn’t moved, hadn’t even blinked. Just watched her with those crimson eyes.
"Well?" she prompted, one eyebrow arching.
"It’s a generous offer. More than someone like you usually gets."
"No thanks," Alaric said flatly.
For a beat, Aurelia simply looked at him.
Her expression didn’t change, but something flickered behind her eyes.
Then her lips curved in something that wasn’t quite a smile.
"You know who I am, right?"
"I know."
She studied him for a heartbeat longer, then shrugged.
"Then it’s your loss."
She moved past him, close enough that her shoulder brushed his. At the last second, she paused, lips barely moving as she whispered.
"You’re forgiven since this was your first time crossing me. But let me be clear. I won’t be lenient next time."
Without waiting for a reply, she strode away. Her heels resumed their measured clicking against stone.
The three boy who’d been flanking Elina earlier, gave Alaric looks that ranged from hostile to speculative. Then they followed after her.
The crowd began to disperse immediately, whispers rippling outward like disturbed water.
Oliver, who’d gone corpse-pale during the exchange, finally showed signs of blood returning to his face. He grabbed Alaric’s arm, fingers digging in.
"Let’s go. Now. Before someone else decides to start something."
He practically hauled Alaric toward the nearest building. Alaric didn’t resist, letting himself be dragged along.
Once they slipped into the corridor, leaving the stares and whispers behind, Oliver exhaled hard.
"Enough drama for the day," he muttered, pushing open the classroom door. "Let’s get insi—"
Alaric stopped short, sliding his arm free of Oliver’s grip.
"You go. I’ll be back."
Oliver’s head whipped around. "Wait! Where are you going now?"
Alaric’s crimson gaze had already shifted down the hall, unreadable.
"Just need some time alone."
Oliver gawked. "Are you insane? After what just happened?"
"Especially after what just happened."
Oliver rubbed his temples, groaning. "Don’t tell me you’re going to pick a fight with those Glimor guys?"
"What if I am?"
Oliver went pale all over again.
"Are you insane? Do you even know who they are? You know the conse—"
"I don’t give a fuck."
"But—"
Alaric turned, crimson eyes narrowing into slits.
"They bullied my sister. You think I’ll just let that slide?"
Oliver faltered, mouth half-open, then shut it again. He could see there was no swaying him.
"But the next lecture—"
"I already skipped Voss’s. What’s one more?"
Oliver threw his hands up. "You’re impossible, you know that?"
"So I’ve been told." Alaric was already walking away.
"Take notes for me?" he added over his shoulder.
"I’m not your damn secretary!" Oliver shouted after him.
But Alaric had already vanished around the corner, leaving Oliver alone in the corridor, muttering about self-destructive nobles and their death wishes.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Alaric’s footsteps echoed off stone as he made his way through the Academy grounds.
The main courtyard had emptied, leaving only scattered groups of students whispering about what they’d witnessed.
He checked the obvious places first, the smaller eastern courtyard where students often studied, the covered walkway near the dormitories. Nothing.
Then he remembered something Lily had said in passing as they’d walked away, something about "the usual spot."
The gardens. Behind the library.
Sure enough, he found them on a stone bench tucked between two flowering hedges, hidden from the main path.
Lily sat with an arm around Elina’s shoulders, murmuring softly. Elina didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the ground, hands balled tight in her lap.
"...doesn’t matter what she says," Lily whispered, voice low but steady. "You know that, right?"
Elina’s jaw tightened, but she said nothing. A petal drifted down from the hedge and landed on her knee. She brushed it off almost violently.
Alaric walked toward them. At the sound of his footsteps, both girls turned.
Elina’s eyes narrowed instantly.
"What do you want now?" she hissed, voice sharp enough to cut.
But he barely heard her. His mind was elsewhere, replaying the confrontation. Aurelia’s fingers gripping Elina’s chin. The humiliation on his sister’s face. The crowd watching, doing nothing.
Something twisted in his chest. Dark. Raw. Unfamiliar.
He stopped beside the bench, and before he could know, thought formed in his mind.
How the fuck did they touch my girl.
The words settled in his mind like stones dropped in water.
He blinked.
Wait.
"My... girl?"
The words came out aloud, confused.
Despite everything what had happened earlier, Elina’s cheeks flared red.
Lily’s mouth fell open.
"W-what are you saying, idiot?!" Elina shot to her feet, fists clenched.
Alaric’s brain caught up with his mouth a second late.
"I meant... that’s not what... I was thinking about—"
"About what exactly?" Lily asked, a grin already tugging at her lips.
"About... family. My family. Sister. My sister." He ran a hand through his hair. "They bullied my sister."
"That’s not what you said," Lily sang softly.
"That’s what I meant."
"But not what you said."
Elina’s face had gone from red to crimson. "Both of you shut up!"
She grabbed a handful of fallen leaves and threw them at Alaric. They fluttered pathetically to the ground between them.
"I don’t need you getting weird protective feelings or whatever this is! I can handle myself!"
"I know you can—"
"No! You don’t get to come charging in like some confused knight who can’t even decide if I’m your sister or your..."
She broke off, choking on the word.
Lily was now openly giggling despite the situation.
"This isn’t funny!" Elina snapped, rounding on her.
"It’s a little funny."
"It’s not!"
Alaric stood there, still trying to piece together his own mental slip.
Where the hell had that come from?
She was Selene’s daughter. His sister in every way that mattered. Yet for just a moment, seeing someone hurt her had triggered something else entirely.
"Look," he said finally, voice steadying, "whatever I said or didn’t say—"
"Oh, you definitely said it," Lily cut in.
"The point is, they got out of the line. Nobody gets to treat you like that."
Elina stared at him, emotions warring across her face. Then, with a frustrated huff, she sat heavily back onto the bench.
"Just... go away, Alaric. You’re making everything worse."
Alaric didn’t move.
"Did you not hear me?" Elina snapped. "Go. Away."
"I heard you." His tone was calm, almost too calm. "I’m just not listening."
Elina’s head jerked up. "What?"
"I won’t go, not until you actually talk to me instead of just yelling."
"I don’t want to talk."
"Too bad."
She hissed. "You’re insufferable."
Lily, biting her lip to hold back another laugh, raised her hands.
"Okay, okay, how about everyone stops snapping before the entire garden hears?"
Elina folded her arms, cheeks still burning. "He started it."
Alaric arched a brow. "By existing?"
"Yes!" she shot back, too quickly.
The silence that followed was awkward and heavy.
Elina realized what she’d said, clamped her mouth shut, and turned her face away.
Alaric watched her for a moment longer, then exhaled.
"Fine. I’ll give you space. But don’t expect me to ignore it next time."
Elina didn’t answer, just tugged her knees up and rested her chin on them.