Chapter 15 Look Into My Eyes

As the dinner wound down, laughter and conversation mellowed into a calm hush. One by one, the group began to part ways, heading back to their dorms for the night. Caelum exchanged a nod with Finn, and the two turned toward their dorm, walking side-by-side as the evening mist settled over the academy grounds.

Days bled into weeks, the structured rhythm of academy life becoming familiar to the students. Over the next month, they immersed themselves in cultivation sessions and rigorous lectures. The elders' lessons on elemental mastery, paired with intense training exercises, pushed each student to new limits. Almost all of the students had successfully broken through to the level of intermediate novice mage, yet the elusive step into advanced novice remained a distant goal.

Jax's resentment of Caelum simmered steadily, fed by the growing connection between Caelum and Liana. Mealtimes, initially just a friendly gathering, had become a quiet battleground in Jax's mind. Each moment Liana spent laughing or talking with Caelum only deepened his frustration, the warmth he once felt at the sight of her now twisted by jealousy. He took every opportunity to speak with her himself, but her responses always drifted back to Caelum, making it clear where her thoughts lay.

Meanwhile, Sera had grown distant from Caelum. Since that fleeting, heated kiss between them, she felt something unfamiliar stirring in her heart—something she knew would only deepen if she stayed too close. She kept herself at arm's length, exchanging little more than polite words with him. It hurt her more than she cared to admit, but she convinced herself it was the right thing to do.

One month later, after a usual dinner together, Liana suddenly rose to her feet. Her voice, clear and confident, silenced the group.

"Well, Caelum," she said with a challenging smile, "how about that duel we talked about?"

Her words hung in the air, and the group exchanged looks of surprise. Caelum blinked, momentarily taken aback. He remembered the wager—they had playfully bet on a duel just a few days before, with Liana claiming that if she won, he'd have to let her cut his hair. Confident in his skills, Caelum had agreed, not giving it much thought.

Caelum grinned as he stood, meeting her gaze. "Alright, let's do this," he replied, his eyes glinting with amusement. He gestured to the others, signaling them to clear the table and make space for their impromptu duel.

With anticipation thick in the air, Caelum and Liana took seats across from each other, locking eyes as the tension grew. While everyone had expected a duel, the two of them surprised the crowd by placing their arms on the table, readying themselves for an arm-wrestling match instead. The unexpected choice caught their friends off guard, drawing curious murmurs from the group.

Jax looked at Liana with a raised eyebrow, shaking his head in disbelief. "Really, Liana?" he said, his voice loud enough to catch everyone's attention. "You shouldn't have agreed to arm-wrestle with him. It's hardly a fair match—Caelum's got the upper hand in physical strength."

At Jax's words, Caelum frowned, his gaze flickering over to him. "Just so you know," he replied evenly, "Liana was the one who proposed it."

The statement hung in the air as Caelum returned his attention to Liana, whose eyes sparkled with quiet determination. Despite Jax's comment, she was undeterred, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Without another word, they clasped hands. The room grew quiet as everyone leaned in, caught up in the intensity of the moment. Rune stepped forward to officiate, glancing between them with a grin.

"All right, ready… begin!"

Caelum's eyes narrowed as he focused on Liana's arm, his mind already strategizing. But just as he was about to initiate his first move, Liana snapped her fingers in front of his face, breaking his concentration. Caelum blinked in surprise, momentarily thrown off.

"Hey!" she teased, her voice laced with playful confidence. "Looking away from your opponent's eyes is an act of cowardice, little brother."

Caught off guard, Caelum felt a smirk tug at his lips. He locked eyes with her, and for a brief moment, it felt as though they were in a world of their own, silently daring each other to give it everything they had. The energy between them was palpable, both challenge and camaraderie woven together in their shared gaze.

Rune called the match to start, and suddenly Caelum felt an unexpected surge of strength pushing down on his hand. Liana's grip was iron-clad, her expression focused and unyielding. Caelum's initial confidence faltered as he realized she wasn't going to make this easy. He had underestimated her strength, and it threw him off balance.

Gritting his teeth, Caelum leaned forward, his muscles straining as he pushed back with greater force. Liana met his pressure head-on, refusing to back down. Their hands trembled with the intensity of the struggle, neither willing to yield an inch. The room was filled with the sounds of their grunts and the squeak of the table under their weight as they fought for dominance.

The group watched in awe, captivated by the sight of two of the academy's most promising students locked in a fierce battle of wills. Rune and Mira exchanged glances, barely containing their excitement, while Elara leaned forward, her hands clasped tightly, unable to look away.

As the minutes passed, beads of sweat began to form on Caelum's brow. He was surprised by Liana's resilience; she hadn't backed down or shown any sign of faltering. But he could sense her strength slowly waning. He could feel the subtle tremor in her arm as her muscles began to tire, and it gave him a renewed surge of confidence.

A slow grin crept across Caelum's face as he realized he had the upper hand. With a glint of mischief, he winked at Liana, his expression full of playful confidence. The gesture was met with a fiery glint in Liana's eyes, and Caelum could see she was far from giving up.

Liana took a deep breath, her face resolute. She looked him straight in the eyes, her gaze intense and unwavering. And then, just for a fleeting moment, Caelum saw it—her eyes flickered with an eerie, otherworldly red. The sight of it sent a chill down his spine, and he felt his focus waver as he was drawn into her gaze.

It was as if time slowed, and in that instant, Caelum found himself caught in a trance, unable to look away from the strange, captivating glow in her eyes. The world around him faded, leaving only the pull of that strange light.

The moment passed as quickly as it had come, but it was enough. Lost in that split-second daze, Caelum's grip weakened, and he felt his strength falter. Before he could fully regain control, Liana seized the opportunity, her hand slamming his to the table with a resounding bang.

The sound echoed through the room, and a cheer erupted from their friends. Liana jumped up from her seat, her face flushed with exhilaration as she pumped her fist in victory. Her eyes sparkled with pride as her friends gathered around her, clapping and congratulating her on her unexpected win.

Rune laughed, patting her on the back, while Mira and Elara grinned in approval. Even Finn joined in, his eyes wide with admiration. Their laughter and shouts of encouragement filled the room, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere.

Caelum blinked, finally snapping out of his daze. As the reality of his defeat settled in, he let out a low chuckle, unable to resist the humor of the situation. He had lost, and to Liana of all people—something he hadn't anticipated.

He ruffled his own hair, deliberately messing it up as he muttered, "Guess I underestimated you, Liana. Your cheating technique was nicely executed."

Liana smiled, a triumphant gleam in her eye. "Don't look away, haha"

The group continued to celebrate, their laughter filling the room as they shared in Liana's victory. Even Caelum found himself laughing along, though he was still puzzled by that brief moment when he had felt so completely captivated by her gaze. It lingered in his mind, a strange feeling he couldn't quite shake off.

Jax, however, stood at the edge of the group, his expression a mixture of frustration and envy. He forced a smile, watching as Liana reveled in her victory, but he couldn't ignore the pang of irritation that stirred within him. Seeing her so focused on Caelum, so immersed in that moment with him, filled him with an uncomfortable sense of rivalry.

But for Caelum and Liana, the match had been more than just a game. In that brief encounter, they had forged an unspoken understanding, a connection that went beyond words. And as the night wore on, both of them knew that this small, shared moment would stay with them, a reminder of the bond they were slowly building.

As the group's laughter and cheers filled the room, Caelum and Liana exchanged one last look, a silent acknowledgment of mutual respect—and perhaps something more.