The usual hubbub that marked the end of classes began to fill the room, chairs scraping, notebooks closing, cadets sighing.
But before the dispersal became complete, the instructor's firm voice cut through the incipient noise, anchoring everyone back to reality for one more moment.
"Class dismissed."
She announced, standing before the class, her erect posture contrasting with the slight fatigue that shadowed her eyes. She was a middle-aged woman whose years of service as a High-Intermediate Hero and, subsequently, as an instructor at Cube, had left subtle marks on her face, small expression lines around her eyes and an almost permanent seriousness about her mouth.
Her uniform was impeccable, as always, but it was her penetrating gaze, which seemed to sweep over each cadet individually, that truly held their attention.
The instructor paused, allowing her words to settle, her eyes scanning the young, eager faces before her. Some were already standing, others still scribbling hasty notes.
She sighed internally; her lectures on defensive tactics and World history could be considered "boring" by many there, who focused only on the flash of offensive skills and the glory of direct combat.
But she knew the knowledge she tried to instill was often the difference between life and death, or worse, between honor and disgrace.
"First of all."
She continued, her tone slightly lower, laden with a gravity that went beyond simple academic formality.
"Don't forget, the end of semester exams are coming up..."
The mention of exams was protocol, a necessary reminder. But there was something else in her voice, an undercurrent of genuine concern that perhaps few there perceived.
She worried about these young people. More than they imagined. Her rigidity in the classroom, her insistence on details, all stemmed from bitter experience. She had seen the brilliant potential of promising cadets diverted and corrupted.
She had witnessed, with a pain that time did not erase, young people like these being swallowed by dangerous shortcuts, seduced by easy power or desperate for recognition, ending up treading the dark path of villainy or, worse still, becoming prey or pawns in the hands of demons.
Her gaze lingered for a moment on a specific group at the back of the room, boys and girls whose ambitions were almost palpable, but whose recklessness was also evident.
"Study."
She added, the word sounding almost like a plea disguised as an order.
"But more importantly, keep your heads straight. The real test isn't just in the books or practical classes."
With a final sweeping glance that carried the weight of unspoken warnings, she finally gave a nod.
"..."
The instructor thought about saying something more, but as her eyes fell upon three cadets in the front row, she fell silent.
A peculiar trio occupied the front seats, and the sight of them silenced some of the room's hubbub. Glances of shock, disbelief, and, in many cases, poorly disguised envy were cast in their direction.
In the center, the white-haired boy, Theo Sagan, the name that echoed through Cube's corridors and in Korea's headlines, was leaning back in his chair with an almost insolent calm.
And on each of his shoulders, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, rested the heads of two young women. To his right, Yoo Yeonha, the heiress of Essence of the Strait and guild vice-leader, had her face partially hidden against his shoulder, though the instructor could note the faint blush coloring her visible ear.
To his left, Chae Nayun, granddaughter of an industrial titan, seemed almost asleep, nestled against him with possessive familiarity. The scene was one of disconcerting intimacy for the formal environment of Cube, and clearly a spectacle for the other cadets.
'Hah! Kids these days.'
The instructor shook her head internally, a mixture of disapproval and resignation washing over her. The world had changed drastically since the Outcall. Public displays of affection, especially in a military-like environment such as Cube, were unthinkable.
But there they were, a boy with two of the academy's most influential young women, in a dynamic that defied any norm.
Could she intervene? Reprimand them for their lack of decorum? Technically, yes. But the reality was more complex. What would she, a mere instructor, say to the future leader of a colossal guild or the granddaughter of a man called the immortal? Social hierarchy and raw power were undeniable factors, even here.
Her lips pressed together. It wasn't fear, but a bitter pragmatism. Choosing her battles was a lesson she had learned the hard way. And confronting that trio seemed like a battle lost before it even began.
'That kid has guts... Even dating that man's granddaughter, he doesn't seem to care much about it.'
The thought arose, tinged with reluctant admiration. Guts, or perhaps monumental arrogance. Getting involved with two figures of that caliber, at that age. It required a special kind of audacity, or madness.
With a final, almost imperceptible sigh, she decided to let it go. There were greater dangers lurking for these cadets than a complicated romance in the front row. She just hoped the 'keeping their heads straight' she preached so much also applied to that boy and his powerful companions.
"Dismissed."
She repeated, this time with finality, turning and walking towards her desk. After gathering her things, she walked out the door.
Theo, who until now seemed to be simply sitting in silence, impassive under the comfortable weight of the two girls, was actually waging an internal battle of silent complaints.
The instructor's final look, the one that seemed to dissect his soul and judge his choices, had not gone unnoticed.
'...I think she must have judged my entire lineage.'
He thought, a mental sigh escaping. With that penetrating gaze, that was the only conclusion Theo could draw.
It was almost comical, if not slightly amusing.
But what could he do? He hadn't exactly orchestrated this situation. It was them, more precisely Nayun, who, overcome by drowsiness or perhaps just seeking comfort, had leaned against his shoulder halfway through the last class.
And Yoo Yeonha, perhaps out of a slight touch of competitive jealousy or genuinely seeking the same sleepy support, had taken the cue and done the same on the other side.
He was stuck in the middle, an involuntary support for the two sleeping (or nearly sleeping) heiresses.
Complaining or pushing them away seemed more complicated than simply accepting the situation and enduring the stares, both from the instructor and his peers.
"Mnh!"
A soft, slightly sleepy sound escaped Yeonha's lips as she stirred against Theo's shoulder.
She blinked a few times, heavy eyelids slowly opening to reveal eyes still clouded with sleep.
A small yawn was stifled by her hand before she stretched delicately, muscles protesting the inactivity.
"Sleep well?"
Theo asked, his voice low and amused, watching the heiress's gradual awakening.
"Humph! A little."
She murmured, her voice still husky. She straightened up slightly, blinking to clear the last vestiges of fog.
"I feel much better now."
"I see..."
Theo tilted his head, a smile playing on his lips.
"There's even a little drool coming out there."
Yeonha's reaction was instantaneous. She froze, eyes wide in silent panic, and her hands flew to the side of her mouth, rubbing frantically as if trying to erase an invisible stain.
The blush that had previously colored her ear now spread across her entire face.
Theo chuckled softly.
"Kidding... Kidding..."
Theo's low laughter and the indignant blush on Yeonha's face were interrupted by a sleepy murmur from his other shoulder.
"Hmm...? What... what's funny?"
Nayun mumbled, her voice thick with sleep, as she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.
She slowly pulled away from Theo's shoulder, blinking to focus on her surroundings and the two faces now looking at her.
Her gaze shifted from Theo's amused smile to Yeonha's flushed and slightly pouting face.
She yawned widely, not bothering to cover her mouth.
"Were you guys laughing at me?"
She asked, a slight pout forming on her lips as she tried to understand the situation.
While the small interaction unfolded in the front row, the rest of the class was not completely oblivious. The general murmur had subsided, replaced by fixed stares and discreet whispers.
The scene of the trio, Theo serving as a support for his girlfriend and the cold princess, was a spectacle few could ignore.
Sitting a few rows back, Kim Hajin watched with an amused look behind his neutral facade.
'Heh! That guy's lucky he isn't coming to Cube.'
Hajin thought. It was common knowledge now that Chae Nayun was Theo's official girlfriend, a fact that still sent waves of shock and envy.
But Hajin was sure that if Shin Jonghak saw not only Nayun but also Yeonha leaning on Theo like that, he would want to die right there.
'...But what's Yoo Yeonha's relationship with him?'
It couldn't be that, could it?
Not far from him, Rachel Elizabeth Louise, the princess of England, glanced at the scene with no apparent interest. Her blue eyes swept over the trio for an instant, her expression remaining impassive. To her, perhaps, they were just more cadets breaking the rules of decorum. Or perhaps her indifference was a mask for other feelings. It was hard to tell what she felt.
On the other side, however, the same couldn't be said for the green-haired girl, Hazuki. She had felt a slight but distinct unease this morning when the rumors about Theo and Nayun's official relationship were confirmed. And now, seeing not only Nayun but also Yoo Yeonha acting so close to Theo, that unease intensified.
...