Or money…?

The always scowling department head put on the sweetest smile she could muster.

"The pleasure was all mine. Don't you worry about a thing, Remien. Please let me know if you need anything else." Megaera straightened her hair. She glowered at Alika and continued her walk to her office.

Megaera's glare snapped Alika from her daze back to reality. A few seconds ago, she was but a frightened little girl. Now Alika had regained her ability to think clearly and analyze the situation. She identified the cause of that uncomfortable feeling in her gut.

Alika had never planned to speak to this person but was talking to him anyway. This man was so familiar for one reason, and one reason only. But of course! She had seen his face before in the picture Bellissma showed her yesterday. It was him! Alika hadn't made it out of the academy in time. With an even colder expression, the mage glared back at Megaera. The department head was the one to blame for her catastrophic delay.

In the meantime, Remien was studying Alika's face but was interrupted before he had the chance to speak. A loud bang could be heard coming from the direction of the stairs. It was the sound of a heavy door slamming open.

"Please, my sweet Remien, it must be a mistake! I know deep in my heart that we will make the best couple ever! Oh, where have you gone?!" a fan shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Do you know of a more private place to talk?" Remien asked Alika. He eyed the approaching crowd with a tinge of amusement, which put little crinkles in the corner of his eyes.

Alika could almost feel the evil sharp spears of hatred pierce her skin the very second the fans noticed her so close to him. To make matters worse, Belissma, her very best friend, was among the crowd. And they all threatened to tear her to pieces just by staring at her.

"How could you! Alika! You traitor!" Bellissma cried out and slammed her fist against the wall.

"Eh…" Alika took one look at the many people in the hall. They would definitely make mincemeat of her in a matter of seconds! The mage pushed the door open. She had no time to lock it, to begin with. She opted for the best option she had at hand. "Hurry up!"

Remien's lips curved into a smile as he snatched the folder back from Wolfred and strode into the room as if it was his own.

'I'm sorry, Bellissma,' Alika thought. She picked up her bag from the floor and dove into the room right after seeing Remien enter.

The click of the lock marked the final chapter in the girls' attempts to have a conversation with the guest. The key remained in the keyhole. It prevented anyone else from opening the door from the outside, despite the girls' most earnest tries.

Remien eyed the room, regarded the bed with an intense longing, but thought better of it. He seemed to settle for the armchair near the wall. The man moved it away from the window before making himself comfortable. He closed his eyes halfway, letting out a content sigh.

"Ah! What a pleasant sensation. After weeks of sitting and sleeping on the ground, one's body appreciates the bonuses of simple city life," he said and took a slow, deep breath. "Hmmm… Creamy coconut and sweet vanilla? What an interesting combination of cozy and exotic. It's not a very common pairing, but... They seem to complement each other very well. I approve!"

Alika whirled around to look at her unexpected guest.

"You... you!" The force of her outrage was so strong it burned her lungs. It made her drop any politeness she had left. She tossed it to the four winds as the unnecessary mask it was. "Do you even know what you've just done?"

"I believe I complimented you on your perfume," he said.

She persisted, getting in his face. She couldn't care less that the recipient of her righteous rage was considered the worst nightmare come true by most of her fellow academy graduates. So what if he struck fear in many more?!

"You've just destroyed my relationship with my best friend and everyone else left in this academy! Are you even capable of grasping the full extent of the consequences?!"

An awful sound came from behind the door as somebody banged against it with their fist. They kicked it with their feet, showing no mercy, and scratched at the wood. All at the same time. The fans were desperate and persistent, refusing to take no for an answer. Their minds were set on bursting in no matter what. All of it proved just how right Alika's words were.

"If I let them in, they'll kill me on the spot! Can't you see that?! How am I supposed to even leave this room now?!" Alika's voice trembled as a wave of despair washed over her.

Remien raised an eyebrow. His relaxed expression changed to a serious one.

"Your friend? The one that now hates you just because of a little something that I have done? It wasn't even you who did it. Are you sure the term 'friend' was ever the right one?" Remien sat up in the armchair. He opened the folder he had been carrying the whole morning. "Tell me, Alika. What defines a person?"

Alika stared at him. Was he a supernatural being from some divine realm? Maybe he was one of those beings that suddenly tumbled into this world.

"What in Phoenix's name are you talking about? All that matters now is to stay alive. Those people out there will never let it slide! What could you possibly know about my relationships?!" Alika's annoyance was growing at a rapid pace. The crazy idea of inviting this man in to save him from his mad fans now seemed less and less sensible. That spur-of-the-moment decision, that act of compassion, was now leading her down a dangerous path.