Chapter 100: Shifting Perspectives

Starlight’s jaw tightened at the last words. We coexist. The phrase left a bitter taste in her mouth. Coexistence was not the way she saw it at all. From everything she had known and experienced, it was the werewolves who had forced themselves into human lives and then dressed it up as some generous act of mercy, as though humans should be grateful that they had been allowed to exist beside them. They had the power, the influence, and the authority, while humans were expected to accept their presence and call it coexistence.

She lowered her gaze, swallowing down the sharp response that immediately rose in her throat. Elle clearly believed what she was saying. Starlight could see it in the earnestness of her expression and the way she spoke about the werewolf who had saved her. She wasn’t trying to provoke her or dismiss whatever had happened to her. She genuinely wanted Starlight to see werewolves differently, and that somehow made it harder to argue with her. But Starlight wasn’t ready to accept that version of the world. One kind werewolf saving a drowning child could not erase everything she had learned about the rest of them. She understood why Elle believed in coexistence. She simply wasn’t sure she could believe in it herself.

Elle shifted closer as she saw the resistance in Starlight’s expression, her tone laced with deep empathy. "Starlight, the same way there are horrible werewolves, there are horrible humans too. Humans have hurt, betrayed, tortured, exploited, and killed other humans for centuries. Werewolves can be cruel too, but you hardly ever see them hurt their own kind. I’m not saying they’re better than humans, but I think it’s important to remember that both races are capable of terrible things, and both are capable of kindness. Some humans have done things that are far worse than anything most werewolves have ever done. And I’m not trying to minimize whatever happened to you either, or tell you that your hurt isn’t valid. I just don’t want you to close yourself off completely. Just give them a chance. You can tell someone to back off if they’re making you uncomfortable without being afraid to stand up for yourself."

Starlight stood frozen, the words settling in the quiet room.

"You don’t have to throw yourself into their arms," Elle added, offering a soft nudge of encouragement. "And I’m not saying you shouldn’t be careful. Keep your guard up, be cautious, protect yourself. But don’t transfer whatever painful experience you had with one werewolf onto every single one you meet. Don’t push people away unless they actually give you a real reason to."

Starlight stared at her, her voice locked in her throat as she sat in the center of the vast, white-and-crimson room.

"Especially not the Imperial Twins," Elle added, that part accompanied by a mischievous grin. "I’m not telling you to fall in love with any of them immediately. I’m just saying that you shouldn’t throw away an opportunity to get to know people simply because they’re werewolves. You’re living right next to two of the most powerful and influential students in the academy now. At least give them the chance to show you who they actually are."

She pointed lightly at Starlight. "Don’t assume they’re going to hurt you before they’ve even given you a reason to think they will. And don’t treat them like they’re guilty of something simply because someone else hurt you."

Starlight said nothing. Instead, she just stared at Elle, allowing her words to settle as she recalled her behavior over the past week and, more importantly, the way she had been living even before she arrived at Asterion. She had been on edge around almost every werewolf she encountered, often assuming the worst before they had even spoken to her properly, as though she were at war with every werewolf who crossed her path.

It was true that werewolves like Beatrice would always exist. That arrogant, instigating nightmare had fully deserved the slap Starlight had delivered to her face.

But what about the others who hadn’t done anything to her?

Even Princess Sera had apologized to her, even when she had every reason to be furious. Starlight had literally smashed a tray into her face, yet Sera hadn’t even bothered fighting back. She had simply forfeited the Ranking Duel as though she were giving Starlight the opportunity to settle the matter without a fight. She had even transferred three months of her accumulated Apex points to Starlight.

And the Imperial Twins? As much as their sudden, overwhelming attention unnerved her, neither Mikhail nor Nikolai had ever actually harmed her. Mikhail had even carried her to the infirmary when she collapsed. They had repeatedly tried to make sure she was safe, even when she had made it abundantly clear that she wanted them to stay away. They were persistent, annoying, and overbearing, yes, but they hadn’t given her a genuine reason to treat them like monsters.

A small, quiet breath escaped Starlight’s lips as she suddenly became uncomfortable with the realization. Her shoulders slowly dropped out of their rigid defensive stance.

"Okay," Starlight said softly, looking down at her hands. "Thanks. I—I’ve heard you. I’ll... I will think about it and consider what you said."

Elle’s eyes lit up, a soft wave of relief washing over her features. "Thank you. I really appreciate that. I just want you to have a peaceful, normal academy life, Star. You deserve to enjoy being here without feeling like you’re under siege every second of the day."

Starlight swallowed hard, feeling a genuine warmth loosen the tight knot in her chest. "Thank you, Elle. Really. I mean it. I will consider it." She paused, her eyes darting away briefly before returning to her friend. "And... I’m sorry if the way I’ve been acting has made things difficult for you in any way. I know I’ve probably made things difficult for you too, especially since you’re trying to manage me and everything surrounding me."

"Oh, stop it! It’s okay, totally okay," Elle declared, waving her hand dismissively before pushing herself up from the table. "I understand. But I really hope that one day—even though we’ve only known each other for a short time—we can become really close friends. Not just manager and roommate. Actual friends. I really, really like you, Starlight. And maybe, once you’re comfortable enough with me, you’ll be able to tell me whatever happened, or you can keep it to yourself. It’s your choice. I just want you to know that when you’re ready, I’ll listen."

Starlight tilted her head, a faint smirk returning to her lips as she caught the dramatic rise in Elle’s voice. "Okay, I understand. But please stop making it sound like you are making a formal love confession to me."

Elle gasped, her eyes snapping wide with sudden, exaggerated mischief. "Who says I’m not?!"

Before Starlight could react, Elle lunged forward, throwing her arms around Starlight’s neck in a tight, dramatic embrace.

"I love you so much, Starlight!" Elle squealed dramatically, leaning her head against Starlight’s shoulder. "I am confessing my eternal devotion to you right now! I am madly in love with you! Will you be my girlfriend?! Can I court you? Can I—"

"Ew! Elle, get off me!" Starlight laughed, shoving against Elle’s shoulders as she tried to peel her hyperactive roommate away. "Get off me! Get off me!"

Elle burst out laughing, finally letting go and taking a quick step back with a triumphant grin. "Ha! See? Your first genuine smile."

Starlight straightened her uniform, shaking her head as she tried to suppress her own laughter.

"You’re ridiculous."

She finally pushed herself to her feet, fully intending to go and check out the kitchen. She had barely taken a step when her phone chirped from inside the side pocket of her skirt.

Starlight groaned, reaching into the pocket and pulling out her phone. It was like the universe was doing everything possible to stop her from exploring the kitchen.

"Hmm?" She glanced at the screen, expecting it to be another notification from AsterBuzz. With everything that had happened since arriving at the academy and now becoming Rank One in Apex, she had already gotten used to her phone constantly lighting up with alerts.

"Oh," she muttered when she saw it was a notification from Asterion Academy Bank. It must be the Apex ranking transfer Liora mentioned.

She opened the message and froze.

Elle immediately picked up on the sudden stillness and trotted over, leaning heavily over Starlight’s shoulder to peer at the screen.

"What’s going—"

Her jaw dropped as she took in the deposit transaction alert showing Starlight’s earnings from her Apex voting points.

"Oh my freaking God!" Elle shrieked, clutching her cheeks. "Starlight, are you seeing this right now?! You’re freaking rich! You’re actually rich!"

Starlight stared at the numbers on the screen, her fingers trembling slightly against the glass casing. Her mind simply refused to process the absurd string of digits glowing back at her.

"Elle... you’re seeing what I’m seeing, right?" she asked slowly, her voice filled with disbelief.

Elle beamed at her. "Oh, I’m seeing it," she said emphatically. "Trust me, I’m definitely seeing it. In fact, if this is some kind of hallucination, we’re both having the exact same one."