Chapter 98: Wrong Leader

"What are you doing here?!"

Anna’s shout cut through the hall, drawing the attention of several students nearby. Conversations faltered as heads turned toward the confrontation, and a few students who had been passing by slowed their steps, apparently deciding that whatever was happening was more interesting than their own team assignments.

Caelus looked at the Imperial Princess pointing at him, then glanced at the designated team station behind him.

"I’m standing, apparently."

Anna’s expression tightened.

"Don’t be sarcastic. Do you think I’m joking?"

For a moment, Anna looked as though she might actually strangle him. She lowered her hand, but the anger in her golden eyes remained, sharpened by the fact that Caelus seemed entirely unbothered by her presence.

He behaved as though the people around him were inconveniences to be endured, their opinions worth considering only when they served a purpose.

And somehow, he managed to make that disregard look deliberate.

"Do you always behave like this?" she demanded.

"Like what?"

"Like everyone else is beneath you."

Caelus regarded her for a moment, apparently considering the question.

"Not everyone."

"That doesn’t make it better!"

"It wasn’t meant to."

Her fingers curled at her sides. The fact that he didn’t even seem interested in defending himself was infuriating. He simply stood there, entirely comfortable with allowing her to think whatever she pleased.

Anna drew a slow breath before continuing.

"I hate your guts."

Caelus gave her a measured look.

"That sounds rather personal."

"It is."

"Then we’re both clear on the matter."

He turned slightly toward his assigned station, making it apparent that he considered the conversation finished.

Anna’s jaw tightened.

"There you go again."

Caelus glanced back at her. "Going where?"

"Acting as though what I say doesn’t matter. You don’t even bother pretending to listen."

"I listened. You hate me, and you believe I’m arrogant. Is there anything else I need to know before we begin?"

Her expression darkened.

"You’re unbelievable."

"Thank you. I try."

He genuinely had no intention of continuing the argument. Anna was free to despise him, and he was under no obligation to persuade her otherwise. Their assignment was already decided. Whatever grievances she carried against him wouldn’t disappear because they exchanged a few more insults in the middle of the Academy’s hall.

Unfortunately, Anna didn’t appear interested in letting the matter rest.

She followed him toward the station, her irritation evident in every step.

"Since we’re apparently supposed to work together, you should understand something. I’m not going to let you treat everyone else like they’re just there to follow your orders."

Caelus stopped beside the short-haired girl.

"That’s reassuring," he said. "I wasn’t aware I’d been appointed commander."

"You’re already behaving like one."

"Have I given you an order?"

"You don’t need to. You walk around like you expect everyone to get out of your way."

Caelus regarded her in silence.

There were several responses he could have offered, most of which would have made the argument worse. He decided that none of them was worth the effort.

Instead, he looked at the girl who had been standing near the edge of the station since his arrival.

She had become even smaller during the exchange, her shoulders drawn inward as though she hoped the surrounding noise would somehow swallow her. Her pale hair fell over part of her face, and her gaze remained fixed on the floor.

Caelus considered the situation.

Anna was a powerful candidate. That much was obvious from what he knew of the Imperial Princess. Ruven was a Knight whose capabilities had been demonstrated rather painfully in their recent duel. Caelus himself represented the Mage Department.

On paper, there was nothing particularly wrong with their composition.

The girl was another matter.

Her behavior gave him little reason to believe she would be comfortable under pressure. He knew better than to equate a timid disposition with incompetence, but he was struggling to understand how someone who seemed ready to disappear whenever another person raised their voice had made it into the Academy.

How did she even get in here?

The Special Abilities Department existed precisely because the Academy recognized that not every useful talent followed the same rules. Judging her entire worth from a glance would be premature.

Still, he would have preferred a teammate whose presence didn’t seem to cause her distress.

A familiar voice interrupted his assessment.

"Your Highness."

Ruven had approached with the sort of polished smile he usually reserved for people he considered worth impressing. He bowed to Anna, his posture immaculate despite the lingering stiffness he couldn’t entirely conceal after his duel with Caelus.

"It is an honor to have the opportunity to compete alongside you. I trust that our team will have no difficulty achieving an excellent result."

Anna barely glanced at him.

Ruven’s smile faltered.

He followed her gaze toward Caelus, whose expression suggested that the exchange had provided him with a small amount of amusement.

For once, Ruven seemed wise enough not to turn that observation into a comment.

Ruven retreated to the station with what remained of his dignity, and Caelus decided that the Knight’s first contribution to the team had been sufficiently entertaining.

He would have to be careful not to let that become the standard.

Before Caelus could return to his assessment, an Academy official approached their station. He carried a set of registration records and began confirming the members assigned to their team.

"Team assignment confirmed. Mage Department, Caelus Vespera. Knight Department, Ruven von Stailor. Martial Artist Department, Anna Aurellia Draconis. Special Abilities Department..."

The official glanced at the final name and announced it. But Caelus barely registered it. His attention was on her reaction.

She flinched at the sound of her own name being called, then gave a small, uncertain nod when the official looked in her direction.

Caelus straightened slightly.

An official would draw one name from each team’s registered members. The chosen student would be responsible for directing the team during the evaluation, and the remaining members would have to respect that authority.

The official took the four names assigned to their station and placed them together before drawing one.

Caelus watched without much concern. He was accustomed to making decisions quickly, and if the selection fell to him, he would have no particular objection. Anna might dislike the arrangement, and Ruven might find it beneath him to follow orders, but Caelus could deal with both.

Then the official read the selected name.

"Seren Vale."

This time, Caelus registered it.

For a moment, Seren didn’t seem to understand what had happened.

The official repeated the announcement, and the meaning finally reached her. Her eyes widened. She looked from the paper to the faces around her, then took a small step backward.

"Me?"

"Yes," the official replied. "You have been selected as your team’s leader."

Seren stared at him.

"I... I don’t..."

Her voice grew quieter, until the last words disappeared beneath the noise of the hall.

The official gave her a brief nod and moved on to the next team.

Caelus watched Seren struggle to process the announcement.

That could have gone better.