With the new morning, someone had become famous in the whole academy.

Every corridor he walked through buzzed with stifled laughter and mocking glances.

His freshly shaven scalp gleamed under the light, each snicker slicing into him like a blade.

Ugly—that was the word written on every whisper.

He tried to laugh it off and say he wanted to trim his hair, but it didn't go well, and he decided to shave it all off.

It was a silly excuse, but that was his only way to stay safe.

An illusory safety.

No one believed such a lie.

Sitting together at lunch, they ate quietly as whispers filled the place.

If not for the fact that he was with Aramith and Mozrael, the two strongest students in the academy, they would have been bold with their comments.

"I wish I had nice hair like you two," Aris said nervously.

Aramith didn't respond, but Mozrael frowned.

"If you want hair, then why do you cut it?"

Aris hesitated.

"I...didn't do it intentionally," he replied.

"Right..." But it was clear Mozrael didn't believe a single word of it.

They continued to eat in silence until.

Slam!

All heads turned in the direction of the sound.

"You three are too loud, you know that?" Sylvia's voice echoed across the room.

She stood before three boys who were terrified, but too proud to back down.

The one in front gulped.

"But it has nothing to do with you," he said weakly.

Sylvia grabbed him by the collar, frost forming on her hand. "What's so funny that you're laughing about?" She asked. "Do I look like a clown to you?"

The boy, trembling, quickly pointed at Aris. "Look! We're laughing at him, not you. It's because of his shaved head that we're laughing. It has nothing to do with you!"

Sylvia turned to look at Aris's gleaming scalp. She wasn't the least bit amused.

The boy buried his head in his shoulders.

"So that's why you're laughing?" She asked calmly.

"Y—Yes! It's not you, please!"

Sylvia let out a sigh, then let go of the boy.

"Tha—"

Boom!

A deafening crack split the hall. A jagged wall of ice erupted from Sylvia's palm, smashing into the boy's face with brutal force. Frost exploded outward, leaving him crawling across the floor as he collapsed, clutching his nose and gasping in shock.

Gasps filled the place.

The boy's two companions rushed over to help him.

Sylvia was unreadable. And for the reason why she did that...Only Aramith knew.

Aris looked at the three boys, then at Sylvia.

Sylvia's gaze intensified. "Are you stupid?"

Aris was taken aback. He pointed to himself. "Me?"

"These boys were mocking you, and I silenced them. Isn't there something you're supposed to do?"

Aris was afraid. He knew he was in trouble.

What am I supposed to do?

Those three boys were part of Sylas's group. When Sylas finds out, there will be trouble.

He had nothing to do with Sylvia, so why was she suddenly helping him?

"When someone does something good to you, you're supposed to thank the person, right?" Sylvia asked, sitting with her legs crossed and her chin resting on the palm of her hand.

"I—"

"Drag your pathetic self here and lick my boots," Sylvia said.

There was no emotion in those words. She was no doubt serious about it.

Aris was scared, but Aramith didn't miss the fact that Aris's fear was greater when he looked at the three boys who glared at him.

He immediately understood.

"I'm not cheap, so if I've helped you, do what I tell you." She pointed to her foot.

"Come here, and lick my boots. If not, pay me back with five hundred gold coins."

"Five hundred!"

"Is she serious?"

Aris couldn't believe what he was hearing. He'd never seen that much money in his whole life.

How was he supposed to procure that amount? Especially when he didn't even buy her services.

This was ridiculous, but looking at Sylvia's face, he knew he had no choice.

He Stood up.

Mozrael's lips parted, her expression twisting with outrage. Her fingers twitched as if ready to summon her power.

Sylvia knew Aris was with them, so what was she trying to do by forcing this on him?

She wanted to snap at Sylvia, to tear down the humiliation Aris was being forced into.

But when Aramith's hand found hers, she froze. His subtle shake of the head said everything.

"This isn't an issue we should deal with. If we involve ourselves, who knows how things will turn out?" He sounded cruel, but little did they know that he'd planned it all.

She clenched her fists, biting down her protest—not because she agreed, but because she trusted him.

Aris saw that and was disappointed.

For a fleeting second, Aris's eyes flicked toward Aramith.

Deep inside, a small, desperate hope begged the boy to intervene. But when Aramith remained still, that hope withered into bitter resignation.

Perhaps this was karma.

Under everyone's gaze, he shuffled his way to stand before Sylvia.

She wiggled her foot.

"Come on, get on your knees and lick."

Aris looked back at the three boys.

They no longer glared. Their eyes glimmered with cruel delight, lips curling into wicked smirks. They would remember this moment, savor it, and deliver it to Sylas like a treasured gift.

They were itching for it all to happen.

Aris's knees hit the cold floor with a dull thud. His trembling fingers reached toward Sylvia's polished boot, shame burning hotter than fire on his skin.

The room's silence pressed down like a weight. He could feel every pair of eyes on him. Just as his lips hovered inches away—

"I changed my mind. You're not worthy." Sylvia pulled her foot back and uncrossed her legs.

She stood up. "You don't have any money to pay me, so you'll be my dog." Without waiting for a response, she turned and left.

Confusion.

No one understood what had just happened. Aris, still on his knees, stared at Sylvia's disappearing back.

He looked back at the three boys and knew he was going to get in trouble. They didn't utter a word and just left.

Sylas would hear of it. He'd take it as Aris being rebellious or difficult, looking for help from someone stronger than Sylas.

He had to sort this out before Sylas took action.

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