After class ended, all students moved out of their classroom with bright and excited faces.

  Some walked in groups, laughing and comparing their results, while others stood outside the classroom.

  Calum and John were together like always, and almost immediately, a small crowd surrounded both.

  Voices filled with eagerness. "How did you both get to the top?" one girl asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

  John responded freely, the words just poured out from his mouth. "Calum helped me."

  He paused.

  "Calum is the best. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't even be close to tenth place." He laughed at himself, completely unaware of how much attention he was drawing to his friend.

  Now they all placed their eyes to Calum, and started praising him, asking questions. To which he simply nodded, accepting their praises and sometimes answering.

  As the group made their way toward the tower entrance, four students stood off to the side.

  Nolan was also among them, and his eyes stared at Calum with an intense hostility. A mixture of anger and envy flashed on his face.

  The student standing right next to him, James, noticed Nolan's expression and with a thought passing through his mind he smirked. "Humph, look at that jerk," James spat on the floor, "And these fools around him"

  Then he turned to Nolan, his smirk widening. "Nolan, are you just going to stand here and watch?”

  But Nolan didn't reply. His eyes remained fixed on Calum.Right then, another boy in their group, Dale, looked between them with confusion. "James, what are you even talking about?”

  James leaned in slightly, lowering his voice a little."Hehe, you weren't there, Dale, in the cafeteria. Jena actually likes Calum. I saw it with my own eyes. The way she looked at him—"

  "Shut up," Nolan cut him off. "She doesn't.”

  "Okay, okay. But if you want to just stand here and do nothing, until you see them together one day, what can I say?" He said it as if the matter was entirely out of Nolan’s hands.

  Nolan's face darkened. Without another word, he turned and walked away from the group.

  Dale stared at James with disappointment. "Why are you doing this?”

  James replied casually. "Oh, come on, Dale. We're both from nobility. I'm just looking out for Nolan. Someone has to tell him the truth, right?"

  Dale, giving him a last look, turned and walked away, leaving James standing there alone.

  Phoenix Tower - Common Room

  All students were present sitting on couches and chairs, chatting with each other. And in one corner, a small group had formed around Calum and John.

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  “Wow, you're reading books from the first day.”

  “ Yes, yes.”John, talked non-stop, like a fool telling everything as he liked the attention, the pride of coming second in the class still burned brightly in his chest.

  Calum, sitting beside John, sighed to himself. He could see John's immaturity on full display, but he didn't interrupt.

  A girl then said turning to calum. “ calum, give us tips too, why are staying quit. Mmm.”

  Calum smiled at her, “ Aah, what can I say, just work hard.”

  Another boy snorted. “ Yeah, yeah, like we don't.”

  And they all laughed.

  On another couch, Jena sat with her friends, chatting with eachother. But her eyes weren't focused on the conversation. Instead, they ocationaly glanced toward the group surrounding Calum.

  The girls beside her had already noticed it, exchanging knowing glances with eachother. One of them nudged Jena gently, and she blushed, pulling her gaze away quickly.

  And all of this was being watched by two figures sitting together in the far corner—Nolan and James.

  "Haah, that's quite a sight, isn't it, Nolan?" James said, taunting. "Oh, come on, Nolan. Talk to me, at least.”

  Nolan, however didn't answer him. His eyes fixed on Jena, watching the her shy expression whenever her gaze fell on another person.

  His chest tightened even more and he just couldn't take it anymore. Without saying anything to James, he stood up from his seat, his face straight. He walked across the room toward the couch where Jena sat with her friends.

  The girls noticed Nolan's approach. So, one of them quickly pinched on Jena's arm.

  "Ouch!" Jena cried, rubbing her arm. "What is it?”

  They pointed silently toward Nolan, who was now standing right in front of them. But she didn't knew that. Jena turned and saw him.

  "Oh, Nolan. Congratulations to you too, for passing.”

  But Nolan didn't respond. His face remained straight, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her uncomfortable.

  And then—

  Before anyone could react, Nolan dropped to one knee in front of her.

  The room fell silent.

  Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attention towards Nolan, some of the girls placed their hands over their mouths, “haah.”

  Nolan tilted his head, looking directly into Jena's shocked eyes. “Jena.” His voice came out, mixed with emotions. “when you helped me…. , when your smile pierced my heart, on that day I fell in love with you.”

  …..

  “ Jena.” He said again, softly. “ This name of yours, whenever I hear it, something moves in me.I know sometimes I act like a fool. But I want to be your fool…”

  He paused

  “I love you.”

  SILENCE.

  All eyes now turned toward Jena, who's face had gone pale, her eyes wide with shock. While all waiting for her response.

  Regaining her composure. "I... I helped you with cultivation, Nolan," she finally managed to say, "But it wasn't just you. I helped others too. Look, Nolan, it's—"

  She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes pulled toward the crowd across the room, locked on one person, unable to look away, as if they didn't want to let go off his image.

  Calum.

  He sat leaning back against the couch with his eyes closed, as if completely ignoring, what was even happening.

  However, she wasn't the only one looking at him.

  Nolan had followed her eyes which stopped at calum, his jaw tightened. Veins bulged on his forehead.

  He wanted to control his anger, trying to push it down but what about the jealousy of his. What about the envy in him.

  [One can control the anger, but jealousy and envy are the kind of Sins that even god fears.]

  “JENA, LOOK AT ME…”

  But she didn't.

  “ JENAAAAAA,” he roared and before anyone could move, he sprang to his feet and charged across the room straight at Calum.

  Every one froze,

  Nolan threw his first which directly connected with Calum's face. Everyone gasped.

  BAM.

  Calum's head jerked to the side from the force, but he didn't fall nor did he even reacted.

  Nolan didn't stop. He threw another punch. Then another.

  BAM. BAM.

  John immediately jumped from his seat,

  shouting, "Stop! What are you doing?!" He tried to push Nolan away, but Nolan was completely lost in his rage.

  He threw another punch but this time it was blocked by calum as he caught it before it hit him.

  He looked at Nolan. And with a small laugh, he stood up from his seat, still holding Nolan's fist in his grip.

  Calum didn’t say anything.

  He tightened his grip before he twisted the wrist of Nolan's and kicked him in the chest.

  BAM.

  Nolan flew backward, hitting the floor.

  But before he could react, Calum was already on top of him, one knee pressing his chest, like pinning him down completely.

  Then—

  BAM.

  Nolan's nose broke and blood poured from his nostrils.

  BAM.

  Now a tooth broke.

  John and other male students rushed forward, grabbing Calum's arms, pulling him back. "Stop! That's enough!”

  But calum had already stopped on his own.

  He stood up, shaking off their hands, and walked back to his seat. He then wiped the blood from his knuckles with a cloth.

  Shortly after, the students rushed to Nolan's side. They helping him to his feet and hurried him toward the infirmary. His face was a bloody mess, and his breathing was heavy and uneven.

  John and a few other students turned to Calum."Are you alright, Calum? We should go to the infirmary too.”

  Jena also rushed over, pushing through other students, her face went with tears. "I'm sorry, Calum. I don't... I don't know why he hit you." She sobbed and covered her face with her hands.

  Calum reached out and wiped her tears, his expression changed as if he were in pain due to the punches but still forcing a smile.“ Don't cry, Jena, I am alright.”

  “ Huum,”

  Suddenly, the common room door swung open with a loud bang. A professor stepped inside, his expression stern. He scanned the room before his eyes landing on Calum.

  "Calum Warden," the professor shouted. "You need to report to the Headmaster immediately.”

  The room went silent. And without waiting any kind of answers the professor turned and walked out.

  Calum stood up slowly. John and Jena both moved to follow him, but he raised a hand, stopping them."I'll go alone."

  Before leaving, Calum paused at the doorway, he saw James standing there, a faint smirk on his face…….