Episode 3: Campus Royalty
938 Words
By lunchtime, I'd learned three things about Eclipse University.
First, the coffee was terrible.
Second, the campus was so big that getting lost was practically a tradition.
And third...
Everyone knew Kael Draven Vale.
"You seriously don't know who he is?" Lily asked as we joined the queue at the student café.
I shook my head.
"I've been here for less than twenty-four hours."
"Fair point."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice as though she was about to share a state secret.
"His family owns Vale Group."
"The Vale Group?"
"The Vale Group."
Even I recognized the name.
The multinational company had investments in banking, technology, real estate, healthcare, and renewable energy. Their founder was featured on magazine covers almost every year.
"So he's rich."
Lily laughed.
"Rich doesn't even begin to describe it."
"Then why is he here?"
"Because he actually studies."
"And because he's annoyingly good at everything."
She began counting on her fingers.
"Top of his class."
"Student Council President."
"Captain of the university combat team."
"Volunteers every semester."
"And rumor has it, he's turned down every girl who's asked him out."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Every girl?"
"Every. Single. One."
"Maybe he already has a girlfriend."
"Nope."
"How do you know?"
"Because if Kael Draven Vale had a girlfriend, the entire university would know within five minutes."
I couldn't help smiling.
"He sounds exhausting."
Lily gasped dramatically.
"Careful. Half the girls on campus would consider that blasphemy."
---
Across campus, Kael wasn't listening to a single word in his economics lecture.
Instead, his gaze drifted toward the window.
He could sense her somewhere nearby.
Not precisely.
Just enough to know she was on campus.
Safe.
For now.
"Mr. Vale."
Professor Harrison's voice cut through the lecture hall.
Kael looked up.
"The answer?"
Without glancing at the board, Kael replied, "Option C. The market adjusts because of information asymmetry."
The professor smiled.
"As expected."
A few students laughed quietly.
Ronan, seated beside him, muttered, "Your body is in class."
"But your mind definitely isn't."
Kael ignored him.
---
The student café was packed.
Every table was full.
Lily scanned the room.
"There!"
She pointed toward a small table near the windows.
"It's the last one."
We hurried over.
Just as I pulled out my chair, another tray landed on the table.
I looked up.
Kael.
"Oh."
He glanced at the only empty chair.
"I didn't realize someone was sitting here."
Lily's eyes grew wide.
"No, no... it's okay."
She grabbed my wrist.
"Amara, let's just share."
"What?"
Before I understood what she was doing, she'd squeezed onto one side of the booth, leaving the empty seat directly across from Kael.
I shot her a look.
She smiled innocently.
Traitor.
Kael remained standing.
"If this makes you uncomfortable, I'll find somewhere else."
The café was overflowing.
There was nowhere else.
"It's fine," I said.
He nodded once and took the seat.
For several awkward seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, Lily clapped her hands together.
"So..."
"Beautiful weather today."
I stared at her.
"That's your conversation starter?"
She shrugged.
"I panicked."
To my surprise, the corner of Kael's mouth lifted ever so slightly.
It was gone in an instant.
But I saw it.
"So..." I said, trying to break the silence.
"Congratulations."
He looked puzzled.
"For what?"
"Apparently you're good at everything."
Lily snorted into her drink.
Kael gave a small shake of his head.
"Campus rumors tend to exaggerate."
"So you're not Student Council President?"
"I am."
"Not top of your class?"
"I've been fortunate."
"Not captain of the combat team?"
"That one's true."
I smiled.
"So the rumors aren't completely wrong."
"They rarely are."
His voice was quieter than I expected.
Calm.
Measured.
Nothing like the arrogant campus celebrity I'd imagined.
Just then, someone stopped beside our table.
"Kael."
A graceful blonde woman rested a hand lightly on the back of his chair.
Serena Blackwood.
"I've been looking for you."
Her eyes shifted to me.
Then to Lily.
Finally, back to Kael.
"I didn't realize you had company."
The air around the table changed.
"I'm having lunch," Kael replied politely.
"I can see that."
Serena smiled.
"But we have a Student Council meeting in fifteen minutes."
"I'll be there."
She didn't move.
Instead, she looked directly at me.
"You must be Amara."
I returned her smile.
"And you must be Serena."
"I've heard quite a bit about you."
I almost laughed.
"I can't imagine why."
"Neither can I."
Her tone remained pleasant.
Her eyes did not.
After a moment, she turned back to Kael.
"Don't be late."
The instant she walked away, Lily let out the breath she'd been holding.
"That..."
"...was tense."
I frowned.
"Was it?"
Lily stared at me.
"You really didn't notice?"
Before I could answer, Kael quietly stood.
"I should go."
He picked up his tray.
Then, almost as an afterthought, he looked at me.
"I hope your first week gets better."
It was such a simple sentence.
Yet something about the way he said it felt... sincere.
Before I could thank him, he'd already disappeared into the crowd.
I watched him leave.
"He's not what I expected."
Lily grinned.
"Oh?"
I quickly looked away.
"I just mean..."
"He seems... nice."
From the balcony above the café, Serena watched the entire exchange.
She had never seen Kael willingly sit with a student he barely knew.
And she definitely had never seen him smile.
Something wasn't right.
She pulled out her phone and sent a short message.
Find out everything about Amara Cole.
Then she slipped the phone back into her handbag.
"If she's hiding something..."
"I'll be the first to uncover it."
- Writer
