Reed and I walked out of class together, and I couldn’t help but give him a long, unimpressed stare.
"Do you have a class related to thieves?" I asked, keeping my tone flat.
Reed gasped dramatically, clutching his chest like I had just insulted his entire bloodline. "Did you just label this Ancient One Heir as a thief? How preposterous!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the hallway.
"Hey, chunni! What are you even talking about?" I snapped back, trying to keep my cool but failing.
Before I could press further, we heard footsteps behind us. Turning around, we saw Roderick approaching with his usual grin plastered across his face. Without hesitation, he slung an arm around Reed, poking him playfully.
"What was that nonsense you were spouting just now?" Roderick asked, clearly enjoying himself.
"I’m speaking the truth!" Reed replied, puffing out his chest like he was defending some ancient prophecy.
I rolled my eyes at their banter, ready to tune them out, when Ashton walked past, ignoring their antics. He was about to greet me, but then his gaze shifted to the book I was holding.
The book seems to be shining with a radiant light as if beckoning him.
He froze mid-step, his brows furrowing as he stared at it.
Curious, I raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"
"What is that book, Lukas?" he asked, his voice calm but with a hint of curiosity.
I glanced down at the book in my hands, then held it up for him to see. "This? It’s Celestial Guidance by the Great Arcanist Marcus Maloni. I learned a lot about mana theory from this," I said simply, keeping my tone even.
Ashton stepped closer, rubbing his temples like he was trying to make sense of something. "This book… it looks quite shiny," he said hesitantly.
"Shiny?" I tilted my head, confused. Reed and Roderick, finally stopping their argument, turned their attention to the conversation.
"Uh... I mean the cover has an extraordinary shine. Like, it’s reflecting light," Ashton added, clearly trying to explain himself.
Reed was the first to laugh, his voice loud and obnoxious. "Did you hit your head somewhere, dude?"
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freёwebnovel.com.
"For once, I actually agree with this guy," Roderick chimed in, snickering. "The book cover is so bland and dull. Where do you see any shine?"
Ashton’s eyes widened as he looked between the book in my hands and the rest of us. He seemed genuinely confused, like he was seeing something we couldn’t. "It’s not shining to you guys?" he asked, his voice quieter this time.
I let out a small sigh and placed a hand on his shoulder, my expression as blank as ever. "Ashton."
"Yeah?"
"You should go and check your eyes," I said, my tone as serious as I could manage.
He blinked at me, his mouth opening slightly like he wanted to argue, but no words came out.
Behind me, Reed and Roderick burst out laughing again, and I shook my head, already regretting entertaining this nonsense.
Ashton, on the other hand, just stood there, staring at the book like it held some kind of secret only he could see.
...….
Today was the day when clubs opened their doors to freshmen. There was a wide variety to choose from, ranging from combat training to art and music. I was deep in thought, trying to decide which one to join.
Reed, as usual, had already made up his mind. He planned to join the Spear Legacy Club and the Adventure Explorers Club. Ava, always curious and adventurous, would naturally follow, dragging Leila along with her. And, of course, Selena would tag along too. That meant four of the main group would end up in the same club, drawing attention like moths to a flame.
Thinking about it, I hadn’t interacted much with them yet. But instead of pushing myself into their circle and coming across as desperate or, worse, a creep, I decided to let things unfold naturally. Besides, I had the perfect person to help with that. My eyes drifted to Ashton, who was walking beside me, nose buried in the book I had lent him. Behind us, Reed and Roderick were locked in a heated argument over something trivial.
"What club are you joining?" Roderick’s sudden question jolted me out of my thoughts.
I blinked at him, startled. Roderick wasn’t the kind to talk to me much, so his question caught me off guard.
"What’s with that look?" he asked, clicking his tongue. "Yes, I’m asking you. Why are you looking at me like I’m some kind of ghost?"
Before I could answer, a loud shriek erupted from the direction of the main stage. Calling it a shriek felt like an understatement—the crowd had gone wild.
"What happened? What’s going on?" Reed asked, trying to peer through the chaos.
I turned toward the stage, and my breath caught as I saw her.
"She’s here," Roderick muttered, his voice low.
A group of cadets walked across the path, each one more striking than the last. Leading them was a girl with snow-white hair that shimmered as it flowed down her back, ending in bluish curls that seemed to catch the light.
As she moved, a trail of soft, cooling snowflakes followed her, melting just as quickly as they appeared. Her presence was mesmerizing, commanding, and utterly untouchable.
She was Princess Celeste of the Huntington Empire, also the reigning Queen and President of the Student Council.
In this academy, the strongest third-year was crowned as the King or Queen, leading the entire student body. Celeste had been absent recently, tied up in diplomatic meetings with foreign nations, but now, she was back.
Her beauty was otherworldly. Her sculpted features were so flawless they seemed almost unfair. Her long, flowing white hair framed her face perfectly, and her red eyes glowed faintly, like embers in the snow. She had an icy elegance that made it hard to look away. Her exposed calves and long legs moved with a confidence that left the entire crowd speechless.
She didn’t wear any makeup or accessories—not that she needed to. Every part of her radiated perfection. She was the kind of person who made you forget how to breathe.
Behind her followed the rest of the Student Council. Two boys walked first, one tall and confident, smiling as the girls screamed his name, and the other more playful, waving to the crowd.
Two girls came next, both stunning in their own right, their elegance causing the boys in the audience to cheer loudly. Finally, a young man with a princely face brought up the rear. His looks were striking. He carried himself with the dignity of someone used to admiration, his mature features setting him apart.
The place, which had been buzzing with noise moments ago, fell completely silent as Celeste stepped forward. Her mana-enhanced voice carried through the air like a sharp winter breeze.
"Stop hovering and get to your work, or do you all have too much time on your hands?" she commanded, her tone sharp and cold.
Her piercing red eyes scanned the crowd, and everyone quickly scattered like leaves in a storm. Without another word, she led the Student Council toward their quarters, leaving an awed silence behind.
Reed finally broke the spell. He let out a long breath. "Wow! She looks… she looks…"
"Like a snow goddess, right?" Roderick shouted, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Yes! That’s exactly what I was about to say!" Reed yelled back, clapping his hands in agreement. The two of them started clapping together, looking utterly ridiculous.
I didn’t say anything but silently agreed with them. Gorgeous wasn’t a strong enough word to describe her. Being part of the Huntington royal bloodline and carrying the heritage of the snow elves, her beauty was nothing short of legendary.
"Lukas?" Ashton’s hesitant voice brought me back to reality.
"Yeah?" I asked, turning to him.
"Can I borrow this book? I think I should give it a look," he said, holding up the one I’d lent him earlier.
"Sure," I replied, tossing it to him without hesitation. Ashton fumbled a bit but managed to catch it.
"Just make sure to return it as soon as possible," I added with a wink, feeling a small smile tug at my lips despite the overwhelming day.
’Gotcha!’