Sylvie’s fork paused halfway to her mouth as she heard a voice—calm, firm, and laced with quiet authority.
"Junior."
She turned her head, startled, and her emerald eyes met the cool, collected gaze of Maya. The senior’s presence alone was enough to draw attention, but what truly caught Sylvie off guard was what she felt. Her [Authority] pulsed faintly, brushing against the kaleidoscope of emotions radiating from Maya like waves of color.
A rainbow. That was the only way Sylvie could describe it—a dazzling array of hues, constantly shifting and swirling. Maya’s emotions were complex, layered, and impossible to pin down. But amid the chaos of colors, there were three that stood out sharply, their vibrancy undeniable.
Pink. A deep, steady pink that Sylvie had come to associate with love, layered beneath the surface like an unspoken truth.
Red. A flicker of anger, faint but simmering, crackling at the edges of Maya’s presence.
Purple. The unmistakable shade of jealousy, twisting through the spectrum like a vine.
Sylvie’s chest tightened as she processed the meaning behind the emotions. The love, the anger, the jealousy—they were all unmistakably directed at one person. Her eyes flickered toward Astron briefly, and her stomach dropped.
’She feels it too.’
Sylvie felt the overwhelming flood of emotions pressing against her, as if the weight of Maya’s feelings had seeped into her own heart. Her pulse quickened, and she gripped the edge of the table for grounding. Why is this happening? she thought, her mind racing. Maya…? She’s always so composed, so distant. But now…Maya’s voice brought her back to reality. "May I sit here?"
Sylvie blinked, realizing too late that she hadn’t answered. Astron, ever composed, gave a faint nod. "Of course. You don’t need to ask, Senior."
Maya inclined her head slightly in acknowledgment, her movements deliberate as she pulled out a chair and sat down. Her calm demeanor was flawless, yet Sylvie’s [Authority] told a different story. Beneath the surface, Maya was anything but composed.
’Just what is going on with her?’ Sylvie thought, her gaze lowering to her tray. She couldn’t look directly at Maya without feeling the full weight of her emotions pressing against her, and it was… too much.
As Maya’s friends—Amelia, Evelyn, Kara, and Lila—approached, Sylvie’s attention shifted. She let her [Authority] stretch faintly toward them, bracing herself for what she might sense. But to her surprise, the emotions radiating from the girls were far more straightforward: admiration, curiosity, amusement.
There was no malice, no jealousy, no ill will. Even Evelyn, with her teasing smirk and sharp wit, carried only faint skepticism tempered by genuine interest. The simplicity of their emotions was almost refreshing compared to the tangled web swirling around Maya.
The exception was Amelia. Her emotions were a mess—restless and chaotic, flickering between concern, frustration, and something Sylvie couldn’t quite place. It was like watching a storm struggle to find its course, and it only added to Sylvie’s unease.
Maya’s voice cut through the din as she introduced Astron. "This is Astron. He’s my Junior and a member of the History and Arts Club."
Sylvie’s stomach churned again at the subtle emphasis Maya placed on "my Junior." It wasn’t overt, but her [Authority] caught the flicker of intent behind the words. The faint jealousy, the subtle possessiveness—it all pointed to the same thing.
She feels the same way I do. The thought hit Sylvie like a punch to the gut. But why? How?
Her thoughts spiraled as the conversation at the table grew livelier. Evelyn, Kara, and Lila bombarded Astron with questions, their curiosity and playful admiration filling the air. Astron, as always, handled it with calm precision, offering just enough detail to satisfy without giving too much away.
Sylvie, however, remained silent, her fork idly pushing food around her plate. She could barely keep up with the chatter, her focus fractured by the storm of emotions surrounding her. ꭆáΝо฿ƐS̈
"Cutie, what’s your name?" Lila’s cheerful voice cut through the haze, snapping Sylvie back to the present. She looked up, startled, to find the girls now directing their attention at her.
"I… I’m Sylvie," she said quietly, her voice almost a whisper.
Maya stepped in smoothly before the others could press further. "This is Sylvie," she said, her tone calm but carrying a note of finality. "She’s also a junior and a member of the History and Arts Club."
Sylvie relaxed slightly at Maya’s intervention, grateful for the reprieve. The conversation shifted back to the club, with Amelia eagerly detailing its activities. Sylvie found herself fading into the background again, her thoughts returning to the kaleidoscope of emotions she had felt earlier.
Maya’s love. Her jealousy. Her anger. It all swirled in Sylvie’s mind, intertwining with her own feelings in a way that made her chest ache.
Sylvie sat silently at the table, her thoughts swirling in a chaotic storm. Everything that had happened recently felt like too much, too fast. Her powers, her training with the Headmaster—it had been grueling, yes, but it had also been a lifeline, a way for her to finally feel like she was catching up. For a while, she had believed she was finally closing the gap between herself and the others, particularly him.
But then Astron had returned.
Stronger. Sharper. Unreadable.
Sylvie gripped the edge of her tray, her knuckles whitening. Her [Authority], which had grown so much under the Headmaster’s guidance, allowed her to see through most people with unsettling clarity. Their feelings, their emotions, their intentions—it all painted a picture, clear and vivid. But with Astron, there was always a wall, an impenetrable calm that left her guessing. It was as though he existed in a realm beyond her reach, no matter how far she had come.
And then there was Irina.
Her abrupt change, the fiery emotions Sylvie had sensed swirling around her, had thrown her off balance even further. The jealousy, the protectiveness, the love. It had struck Sylvie in ways she didn’t fully understand. Irina had stepped forward boldly, unafraid to stake her claim in ways Sylvie could only envy. And now… now, there was Maya.
The senior’s presence was overwhelming, her emotions a kaleidoscope of intensity that made Sylvie’s head spin. Love, jealousy, anger—targeted at the same person, unmistakably. The way Maya carried herself, the confidence, the subtle possessiveness—it was a reminder that Sylvie was still so far behind.
Can I keep up? The thought echoed in her mind, a quiet fear she hadn’t dared voice until now. She had come so far, pushed herself so hard, and yet it felt like the world around her was constantly shifting, moving faster than she could.
But even as the fear gnawed at her, another feeling stirred in its depths: challenge.
This wasn’t just about catching up anymore. It wasn’t just about standing beside Astron, Irina, or anyone else. It was about herself, about proving that she could endure, adapt, and rise above. That she could find her place in a world that refused to slow down.
Sylvie took a steadying breath, her gaze flickering up as the seniors’ laughter pulled her from her thoughts.
To her surprise, the attention had turned toward her again.
Sylvie blinked, momentarily thrown off by their sudden interest. But as her [Authority] reached out, brushing against their emotions, she felt something that surprised her even more: sincerity. Amusement, curiosity, even a touch of admiration—but no malice, no condescension, no ulterior motives.
It was really refreshing to see.
*******
Astron placed his utensils neatly on the tray, signaling that he had finished his meal. The lively chatter among the girls continued unabated, but his quiet demeanor stood in stark contrast to their energetic exchanges. Without a word, he stood, catching the attention of the table.
Evelyn was the first to notice, her curiosity piqued. "Ooooh, you’re leaving already?" she asked, tilting her head. "Did we scare you off with all our questions?"
Astron’s calm violet eyes met hers briefly, his expression as composed as ever. "Not at all," he replied, his tone even. "I’ll be going for training."
"Training?" Kara chimed in, leaning forward. "Don’t tell me you’re one of those guys who trains all the time and never relaxes."
Astron didn’t bite at the playful remark, offering only a faint nod. "Discipline requires consistency."
That was all he said before pushing his chair back and preparing to leave. The girls watched him with varying degrees of amusement and intrigue, but their attention quickly shifted when Sylvie also began to gather her things.
"You’re going too, Sylvie?" Lila asked, her tone surprised but friendly. "You don’t have to leave just because he is."
"Ahaha…My friends are also waiting. I promised to meet them soon."
"Is that so? Next time, introduce us to your friends too…..I don’t have many freshmen friends."
Sylvie hesitated for a moment, and that didn’t get missed by the sophomores’ eyes.
Evelyn waved her hands in mock protest, her tone light. "We don’t bite, you know. Well, maybe Kara does." She shot a teasing grin at her friend, earning a playful nudge in return.
Maya, who had been observing quietly, stepped in with her usual composed authority. "It’s fine," she said, her calm tone cutting through the playful teasing. "If Sylvie wants to go, let her. We’ll have plenty of time to catch up later."
Sylvie offered a small, grateful smile toward Maya before quickly following Astron, her steps almost instinctive as she matched his pace. The two juniors made their way out of the cafeteria, leaving the table behind.
Evelyn watched them go with a curious hum. "Well, that’s an interesting pair."
"..."
Though seeing Maya’s glare, Evelyn retracted her eyes. "Joking, just joking."
Maya didn’t respond immediately, her attention lingering on the door through which the two had exited. She knew Sylvie well enough to understand her hesitation to remain, and Astron’s solitary habits were no surprise. There was no need to intervene—she could speak to Astron about the matters she had in mind when the time was right. For now, the company of her chatty peers was a fine distraction.
Leaning back slightly in her chair, Maya allowed herself to relax.
*******
As they walked through the hallway, the silence between Astron and Sylvie felt heavy, though it wasn’t oppressive. It was Astron’s usual calm, quiet demeanor, but Sylvie found herself acutely aware of it now. Her thoughts raced as she replayed the events of the cafeteria: Maya’s composed presence, the sophomores’ teasing warmth, and the swirling, conflicting emotions she had picked up through her [Authority].
It was all too much.
Her steps faltered slightly, though she quickly corrected herself to keep pace with Astron. He didn’t seem to notice—or perhaps he simply didn’t comment, his focus ahead as if nothing had happened. For a moment, Sylvie considered saying something, anything, to break the silence, but her thoughts were too jumbled. She felt like a tangled thread, caught up in relationships and emotions she didn’t fully understand.
"Astron," she began softly, her voice slightly hesitant. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"Meeting your friends, wasn’t it?"
"Y-yes."
Astron slowed his pace, turning slightly to face her. His gaze met hers, steady and calm, and for a moment, Sylvie felt a faint flicker of something she couldn’t quite place—understanding, perhaps, or maybe curiosity.
"Bye then. Take care?"
She nodded quickly, grateful for his lack of questions or commentary. "You too," she replied, her voice a bit higher-pitched than she intended. She stepped back, putting a little distance between them as he continued walking, his figure disappearing down the hallway.
Once he was out of sight, Sylvie exhaled sharply, her shoulders sagging as the tension she hadn’t realized she was holding finally eased. She leaned against the cool stone wall for a moment, letting her thoughts settle.
What am I even doing? she wondered, running a hand through her hair. Everything felt so tangled—her growing [Authority], the emotions she kept sensing from others, her interactions with Astron, Irina, and now Maya. It was like being swept into a current she hadn’t seen coming, and no matter how hard she tried to keep up, the pace kept quickening.
The pink, the red, the purple. The emotions she had seen in Maya lingered in her mind, mingling with her own feelings of uncertainty. I’ve worked so hard to grow, to change… but is it enough? Can I really stand alongside them when everything feels so overwhelming?
The hallway remained quiet, her thoughts the only sound echoing in her mind. After a moment, Sylvie straightened, taking a steadying breath. She needed to clear her head, to sort through everything before she got swept up even further. And for now, that meant stepping away—if only for a little while.
-------------------A/N---------------------
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