The next morning, Anos woke up to the faint scent of incense drifting through the small gap under his door. He blinked his eyes open, took in the warmth of the room, and stepped out. Sofia was already at the table, setting breakfast in an almost dreamlike silence.
"You're finally awake," she said softly, glancing up with a slight smirk. "Wash up, then come eat. You've got school to get to."
Anos didn't bother with washing up. Instead, he slid into the chair, his gaze lingering on Sofia as he reached for a poached egg. She looked different this morning—hair loosely falling over her shoulders, cheeks lightly flushed from the kitchen heat.
"Miss Sofia," he said, voice low and almost teasing. "How about I stay here with you from now on? Let's make this our life."
Sofia gave him a sharp look, though a hint of color rose in her cheeks. "How about you stop playing around and clean up? You're not staying here."
Find adventures at empire
Anos shrugged, undeterred. "Why not? I like this kind of life," he said, his voice dropping a notch as he leaned forward. "And eventually, you'll be mine. We both know that."
Sofia crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow. "And what makes you think I'd let you stay?"
Anos met her gaze, his eyes steady. "Because soon, you'll be my girlfriend. It's only a matter of time."
"Oh, so you're that confident about taking first place in the Martial Art Assembly Tournament?" Sofia challenged, though there was a flicker of interest in her eyes as she sipped her porridge.
"Winning for the chance to call you mine? I can't pass that up," he said, his voice rich with conviction.
She shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You don't realize the gap between you and the competition. Reach the Spirit Core Realm first—then we'll see if you're worth the prize."
They locked eyes, tension lingering between them, until Sofia finally turned away, her voice softened. "Now, hurry up and eat."
After breakfast, they headed out together. As they arrived at the academy, Anos stepped out of Sofia's car, drawing stares from the students who happened to be around. Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Is that... Anos? And he's getting out of Miss Sofia's car?"n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Wait, didn't they leave together after school yesterday? And now... they're showing up together?"
The disbelief was evident, and the implications left their minds racing. The sight of the two together was beyond unexpected.
Within hours, rumors had exploded across the academy's forums. Every corner buzzed with speculation, students furiously guessing at what could be going on between Anos and Miss Sofia.
By the time he reached his classroom, the whispers had turned to direct stares. Anos noticed them, his expression unreadable yet confident, as though he didn't mind being the center of attention. One brave classmate finally leaned over, barely able to contain himself.
"Anos, are the rumors... are they true?" he asked, his eyes wide with excitement.
Anos leaned back, letting the question hang in the air before giving a slight smirk. "What do you think?"
His vague response only fueled the speculation, and by lunch, the academy was practically bursting with gossip. Even teachers exchanged knowing glances but dared not approach Sofia directly.
....
Later that day, during his practice session, Anos poured every ounce of energy into his training, fueled by the promise he made to Sofia. Each strike, every calculated movement, radiated purpose, as if he was sculpting not only his body but also his future.
Fatty Tom's face fell, clearly unconvinced. "Right... easy for you to say."
"Alright, how about this? You need to be strong enough for her to look up to you," Anos continued, a teasing grin spreading across his face.
Fatty Tom sighed, his shoulders drooping. "Yeah, I don't have that either. I'm more of a 'gentle giant' type."
Anos rolled his eyes, still amused. "Can you offer her money? That could work in your favor."
"Really? You think that would help?" Fatty Tom's eyes widened in hope.
"Potentially," Anos said, his tone light. "But let's see what kind of girl Isla is first. We'll grab a bite now, and when I have time, I'll help you figure her out."
Fatty Tom beamed, his face lighting up. "Thanks, Big Brother Anos! You're the best! Here, this is just a small token of my appreciation." He slid a card across the table, a wide grin plastered on his face. Anos accepted it with a chuckle.
As they finished their meal, the two friends continued their banter while strolling toward the Sky Martial Court. Suddenly, Anos spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
"Anos!" Emily's voice sliced through the noise, sharp and full of disdain. She glared at him as if he were the last person she wanted to see, her expression a mix of fury and jealousy.
Anos had recently gained a reputation as something of a campus celebrity, and his presence inevitably drew attention.
"Ah, Emily. Still hanging onto a new boyfriend, I see?" Anos called back, smirking as he took in her companion—a man Anos had never seen before. "Wasn't it someone from the advanced class yesterday? You really have a talent for changing boyfriends. Impressive."
Emily's new boyfriend looked uncomfortable, clearly aware of Anos's reputation. He fidgeted, avoiding Anos's gaze as Emily tightened her grip on his arm.
"Don't get too full of yourself, Anos! Just because you've had a few wins doesn't mean you're invincible!" Emily snapped, her finger jabbing in his direction.
Anos leaned in slightly, his voice low and mocking. "And yet you hired someone to attack me. What does that say about you?"
Emily scoffed, her disdain palpable. "Beating you up was a privilege! You're just a glorified nobody!"
Anos felt his irritation rise. "Don't point that finger at me. It's rather distasteful," he said, his patience waning.
"What did you say?" Emily glared at him, her tone icy.
"Just that your attitude is absolutely pathetic," Anos shot back, crossing his arms as he stood his ground.
At that moment, Anos's eyes narrowed, and a wave of murderous intent surged through him. He didn't want to bother with her, but this woman truly disgusted him!
"Get lost!" she hissed, frustration evident in her voice.
Anos turned to leave, but Emily called out after him, her voice dripping with venom. "You're nothing but trash! You think you can walk around here like you own the place just because you defeated a few people in the Sky Martial Court? I can't believe you even dared to confess to Sasha!"
Her words ignited a flash of anger within Anos. He had tried to ignore her, but her relentless taunting was pushing him over the edge. "Enough!" he snapped, spinning around to face her, his expression fierce. "I don't care what you think about me or my feelings for Sasha. You should really find better ways to fill your time than meddling in my life."
He held her gaze for a moment, the tension thick between them.
.....