Reo's gaze stayed steady as he looked directly at Prince Cassian. Memories of the old Leonhardrt flashed through his mind like broken pieces of glass.
Cassian Vael Duskbane, the eldest son of Emperor Regulus Varian Duskbane and Empress Lysara Evadne Duskbane, was known for his charm and strength.
But royal family's relationship with the Caulem Dukedom was not friendly. He saw Leonhardrt as an easy target—someone to mock and humiliate for fun.
The teasing, the insults, the endless torment—it all came rushing back, but this time, it didn't control Reo. He wasn't that Leonhardrt anymore.
Cassian's smug smile grew wider as he spoke, his tone full of fake concern but dripping with mockery. "I heard you were attacked by bandits on your way back. Must've been hard for you out in the forest." He placed a hand over his chest like he truly cared.
"So, naturally, I thought I'd come and check on you, my dear friend."
The students nearby giggled quietly, glancing between the prince and Leonhardrt with amused looks.
Cassian's grin stretched further as he waited for fear to show on Leonhardrt's face. He loved watching Leonhardrt cower, avoiding his gaze.
But Reo didn't flinch. Instead, he smiled—a calm, quiet smile—and stepped forward. His posture was tall, his bow polite and precise.
"Your Highness," Reo said, his voice steady. "It's truly an honor for the first prince of Elaris to personally check on me."
Cassian's grin faltered for a moment, his eyes widening slightly at the unexpected response. The students whispered.
"What's this?"
"Did Leonhardrt... talk back?"
"He's so calm... what happened?"
Reo straightened and met Cassian's gaze, his smile sharp, his crimson eyes steady and bold. "As for the forest," Reo continued lightly, "there's no need for concern, Your Highness. To call it difficult would be an exaggeration. If anything... it felt like a picnic."
The hallway filled with murmurs as students reacted.
"Did he just say that?"
"He's not the same Leonhardrt."
Cassian's jaw tightened slightly, though he quickly hid his irritation. Darius, silent beside him, frowned, surprised by the change in Leonhardrt.
Cassian chuckled, forcing a grin. "Good to see you're all right, Leonhardrt. I thought we'd lost you."
Reo smiled back faintly, his tone sharp. "Thank you, Your Highness. It's comforting to know you care so much about my recovery."
Cassian's hand curled slightly. He glanced at Darius, who watched quietly, clearly reevaluating Leonhardt.
"It seems it's not just your appearance that's changed, Leonhardrt," Cassian said, his tone measured, though something beneath it hinted at a challenge.
Reo's smile didn't falter. "This past week has taught me more than the last sixteen years of my life ever did," he said simply. His tone was light, but his words carried weight—an unspoken warning to Cassian, Darius, and everyone else. "It's given me clarity. Being different is... freeing."
The words hung in the air, as though they weren't meant just for Cassian but for everyone who dared to watch. The students exchanged uneasy glances, their murmurs growing louder but still just low enough to avoid carrying too far.
Cassian's grin faltered for a fraction of a second before he forced it back, though the flicker of unease didn't go unnoticed. He opened his mouth to respond, perhaps to dig deeper into the change he saw before him, but before he could finish, the heavy doors of Principal's office swung open with a soft creak.
Liana stepped out. But the sight before her made her pause. Her eyes flicked between Reo, Prince Cassian, and Darius, lingering for a moment longer on her young master. She knew their history well. This interaction, in particular, should have been tense, uneven, and one-sided.
But instead, she saw her master standing tall, speaking with casual ease, holding his ground against the prince. It caught her completely off guard.
"Young master Leo," she said softly, stepping closer.
Reo turned slightly, his expression softening. "Liana, is everything all right?"
"Yes," she replied with a small bow. "The principal had a few more questions, but I'm done now."
Reo nodded. "Good." He turned back to Cassian with a polite smile. "If you'll excuse me, Your Highness, I've had a long journey and I'm tired. I'll speak with you later." Without waiting for a reply, he gestured to Liana. "Let's head to the dorms."
The students froze as Reo walked past Cassian and Darius. For someone like Leonhardrt to dismiss the prince so casually was unthinkable. Whispers rippled through the hall.
"Did he just walk away from the prince?"
"That's bold."
Cassian's golden eyes narrowed, his lips twitching faintly as though trying to suppress his irritation. His reputation demanded he hide the humiliation, but the quiet murmurs from the students stung more than he cared to admit.
Just as Reo passed Darius, a strong hand clamped down on his shoulder, halting his steps mid-air. The unexpected force made him pause.
Slowly, deliberately, he turned his head to look at the hand on his shoulder. His crimson eyes traveled upward until they met the amber gaze of Darius, who stood behind him, his expression dark with irritation.
"How dare you disrespect the prince like that," Darius growled, his voice low but brimming with barely-contained anger. His grip on Reo's shoulder tightened.
Reo's crimson eyes narrowed, and for a brief moment, his expression sharpened into something more dangerous. The quiet irritation in his gaze seemed to ripple outward, unsettling the students watching. Slowly, he turned his entire body to face Darius, forcing the taller boy to release his shoulder.
"I dislike many things," Reo said.
"But the thing I despise most is someone placing their hand on me like that."
His words carried weight, and his steady gaze made the students uneasy. Darius hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flashing in his eyes. Then, his amber gaze hardened, and he smirked. "Oh, really?"
Before anyone could react, the air grew heavy. The invisible weight pressed down on the students. Some gritted their teeth, others trembled, sweat forming on their brows.
"Darius's aura," someone whispered. "It's one of the strongest in the Academy."
"No one can handle it."
Cassian, unfazed, smirked as he waited for Reo to crumble. Surely, he'd falter under the pressure like always.
Now that fucker would falter, would crumble beneath the weight of Darius's aura. That's how it had always been.
But Cassian's and Darius's expressions quickly shifted to confusion and disbelief. Reo stood in the center of the pressure, unfazed. His crimson eyes stayed locked on Darius.
"He's not flinching," someone murmured.
"What's going on?"
"It's impossible."
Darius's smirk faltered. In the past, Leonhardrt would've crumbled. Now, he stood steady, unshaken, his eyes never leaving Darius.
Then, he spoke, his voice sharp and cutting. "Is that all you've got? Pathetic."
The words hit like a blow. Darius stiffened, sweat dripping down his face. The whispers in the crowd grew louder.
"Did he just say—"
"Did he call Darius aura pathetic?"
Reo turned his head slightly, his gaze shifting to Liana. She stood nearby, struggling to breathe under the heavy atmosphere. Her usual calm looked shaken as the weight pressed down on her.
"Liana," Reo said, his voice steady. "Step back."
Liana nodded quickly, though her breathing was uneven. "Yes, young master," she replied, taking a few steps back to escape the pressure.
Reo turned back to Darius, his expression unchanged. Inside his mind, he reached out to Elynn.
Can I release my aura?
[It's possible!]
A faint smirk appeared on Reo's face.
The change was immediate. A crushing wave of pressure rolled through the hallway, lasting only three seconds, but its force hit like a storm.
Students collapsed, gasping for air or trembling, unable to bear the weight. Some fainted on the spot, their bodies limp on the floor.
Cassian staggered slightly, his golden eyes wide with surprise. His usual confidence wavered for a moment before he forced himself to steady. Still, the flicker of panic didn't go unnoticed.
Darius froze completely, his smirk wiped away. Sweat poured down his face as he stared at Reo, shaken and unsure. His amber eyes widened as his legs refused to move.
"What... what is this?" Darius whispered, his voice weak.
Just as suddenly as it started, the pressure vanished, leaving behind silence. The students struggled to recover, their breaths uneven. Reo remained calm, standing untouched by the chaos around him.
He turned away from Darius without a word, his steps slow and deliberate. His voice, quiet but clear, cut through the whispers. "You're not worth the effort."
The heavy doors to the principal's office creaked open, and Principal Veymar stepped out with several professors behind him. Their faces showed alarm as they scanned the hallway, taking in the unconscious students and trembling figures.
"Whose aura was that?" Principal Veymar demanded.
Reo didn't stop walking. Without turning, he answered simply, "Mine."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Leonhardrt?"
"No way. It couldn't be him... right?"
Liana stared for a moment before falling into step behind him when he passed. "Let's go," Reo said calmly.
"Yes, young master," she replied, hurrying to follow him.
Miss Isolode, her usually calm demeanor shaken, stammered as she broke the silence among the professors. "I... I didn't know Leonhardt had such an immense aura. This is... beyond anything I could have imagined."
Professor Vaelim adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable. "In all my years, I've never seen a student with that level of power. Not even among the most gifted nobles."
Principal Veymar's sharp gaze followed Reo's retreating figure, his thoughts heavy. He spoke slowly, as though piecing together the puzzle aloud. "Aura is tied to the soul," he said, his voice steady but thoughtful. "The stronger the soul, the stronger the aura. Something must have... changed within his soul."
Beside him, Professor Gidon smirked, his arms crossed as he leaned slightly against the doorframe. His voice carried a rare trace of amusement. "Well, looks like things just got interesting. This mess is going to be fun to sort out."