"Wait."
The moment I heard that voice, a curse escaped my mind, and I mentally braced myself for the inevitable confrontation. Turning around, I saw Charlotte standing there, her expression a mix of surprise and annoyance.
"What?" I asked, feigning indifference.
"What are you doing here?" she shot back, clearly irritated.
"What do you mean?" I asked, keeping my tone casual but with an edge of confusion.
"You shouldn't be here," she snapped, her frustration apparent.
"Why?" I asked, sounding more foolish than I intended.
"Do you really want to hear it?" She took a step closer, her voice dripping with disdain. "Fine. You have no class, no talent. You can't even use mana—you're trash, you—"
Before she could finish, a cold voice echoed through the entire classroom.
"He is not trash."
The sudden interruption made Charlotte freeze. A chill ran down her spine, and as she turned, she saw Scarlett standing behind her. Her crimson eyes were burning with intensity as she glared at Charlotte.
"What did you say?" Charlotte asked, her voice trembling slightly as she sought confirmation.
"He is not trash," Scarlett repeated firmly, not backing down.
Charlotte sneered, looking over her shoulder at Scarlett. "Who are you? And why are you interfering?"
"Because Noah is my friend, and you can't insult him," Scarlett declared, her tone unwavering.
"Friend? You?" Charlotte's laugh was cruel. "He's a high-ranking noble, and you? You're just a commoner girl from the slums... Ah..."
"SHUT UP!" I roared, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
"What do—" Charlotte began, but I didn't let her finish.
"I said, shut up," I repeated, my voice low and fierce. "I don't want to hear another word from you. Who I choose to be friends with is none of your business."
Grabbing Scarlett's hand, I pulled her toward the door, leaving the stunned Charlotte in my wake.
I could almost feel her shock radiating through the room as we walked away. She probably thought I had come here for her, but sorry, Princess—I've got other plans.
What I didn't notice was the figure of a blond prince watching our departure from the corner of the room, a smile playing on his lips as he observed the scene with amusement.
Later, in the cafeteria, the noise of students eating and chatting surrounded us. Scarlett and I sat quietly at a corner table, neither of us speaking as we processed the incident. The tension from the classroom still hung in the air.
"I'm sorry," I finally said, breaking the silence. "Because of me, you had to listen to her nonsense."
"No," Scarlett replied softly, her head hanging. "You don't have to apologize. I'm just a commoner, and my background isn't prestigious. She's not wrong..."
I frowned, leaning in to lift her chin with a finger, making her meet my eyes. "Does it really matter if you're a noble or not? You're my only friend, Scarlett. I don't care what anyone else thinks."
Her eyes softened, and she smiled warmly at me. "Thank you, Noah," she said, the gratitude clear in her voice.
We both smiled, the weight of the earlier exchange lifting slightly as we continued our meal in companionable silence. Once we finished, I walked her to the girls' dorm and watched as she entered before heading back to the boys' dorm.
Inside my dorm room, I couldn't help but grin. The space was luxurious—far more than I had expected. A large bed, a comfortable sofa, a kitchen, a small training area, and even a bathroom.
"This is the power of money," I muttered with a smirk. "Only the top ten students get this kind of treatment... and here I am, already sitting pretty."
The reality of my situation hit me—trouble would inevitably follow the incident with Charlotte, and I couldn't afford to be caught off guard. If I wanted to rise above this and survive, I needed to grow stronger, and fast. The assessment coming up this week would be crucial to my future here.
I needed to perform well.
With that thought in mind, I grabbed my sword and set to work, pushing myself harder than I had in a while. Thanks to mind acceleration, I trained for five hours straight. My Basic Swordsmanship skill leveled up to E, and surprisingly, I didn't feel much strain. The increase in skill was satisfying, but I knew it was just the beginning.
Afterward, I cooked myself a simple dinner and settled into meditation, circulating my mana for two hours. The practice was exhausting but necessary, helping me strengthen my control and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Finally, after all that, I collapsed onto my bed, exhaustion creeping up on me. My eyes fluttered shut, and I drifted off to sleep, knowing the real battle was only just beginning.