Chapter 350 (1/2)

Chapter 350: Colleagues

CAERA DENOIR

I kept ht as I strode into his class After all, I was to be seen by others asrace did I blurt out his na the fact that we know each other already?

Around me, the students broke out into shocked whispers as they tried to determine the relationshi+p between us Myhat my next words should be to hopefully quench any potential ruht spread from this room Grey wasn’t a fan of attention, and I preferred not to start off on the wrong foot once again

I atteh the wave of paolden hair stepped into ave h for her classhblood Denoir,their ishes to you and your blood should we hblood Frost,” I affirmed

“Enola,” the blond said proudly “I’ve been a fan of yours since your earlier ascensions were uished as yourself, Lady Caera”

I gave her a nod “Then you would do well taking notes in this class”

The Frost girl, along with the students around her, frowned in confusion and offense as I walked past The girl to Enola’s right, who stuck to her in a servile way that aveher rew louder as the students now tried to deduce what olden-eyed professor standing with his ar

Grey was silent, his face unreadable even as we locked eyes

I feared that he already knehat had brought me to this school But worse than that, I feared he didn’t know but naturally assuize foreyes, shouldered past a couple of the others and held out his hand “I ahblood Ramseyer We’ve never had the pleasure, but—”

“I have business with your professor,” I interrupted, ignoring his outstretched hand while sweeping a cold gaze through the crowd of students “And as he mentioned…class is over”

The Ramseyer heir’s jaw clenched as he recoiled his hand before strutting out The whispers and rew as the rest of the class followed suit Only the last student to leave ordless, his thin fraaze glued to his shoes

I straightenedtoward hi, trying to come up with the next words to break this tension

Letting out a sigh, I stopped halfway down the stairs and settled for the words, “It’s nice to see you again”

Again, I wasa raised brow of suspicion

I held up“I merely came to say ‘hi’ and to catch up with a friend”

“And here I orried you were stalkingin his impacivity

I nodded seriously “Oh yes Because I’ve yearned for your gru presence”

The srumpy”

I let out a scoff as I sat down in the nearest seat “Right…”

Turning his back onplatfor siuessed as about to happen, but—

A sharp jolt of pain shot up throughme to yelp and juh, finally dropping his cool de,” he said “He’d have loved that”

I rubbed at the spot where the pain-inducing rune had shocked race to look sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck—but still so for a walk? We should talk about what happened”

“No,” I snapped

Then, I let out a sigh “Yes, I suppose”

After he locked up his office and haphazardly put away a few training ieneral direction of Windcrest Hall, where ere both staying

“So…” I started after a minute of aard silence “Professor Grey, hm?”

“Yeah It seeave me a stiff nod

“It was a sht smile “What you did to those mercenaries in the Relictombs…well, it’s an open secret that was you, but after your trial, the High Hall had no interest in pursuing you, and the Granbehls left their Relictombs estate and returned to Vechor, where they’ve been pretty quiet”

Grey’s pace stuttered and his brows furrowed “You’re awfully well informed”

“Yes, well, I havepast

The constant activity and bustle of the ca forup, and when Sevren, Lauden, and I were socialized, it was for the sake of forhblood’s—estate It was only er, that I was allowed to attend the acadeh hbloods, my Vritra blood had assured me I would always be treated as a crystalline statue rather than an actual person

Even in the Relictouise and the presence of an and Arian The acade with ht a fair amount of undesired attention

“Lady Caera,” a crisp voice announced from behind us Grey and I both stopped and turned, and I saw Grey’s face flatten into an impassive mask froe with overly-styled hair and a showy robe I didn’t recognize him

“Lady Caera,” he repeated with a bow His eyes stayed onGrey’s presence “An honor to finally meet you I am Janusz of Blood Graeme, professor of—”

“Excuse ed to convey my dismissal “I’m afraid you’ve interrupted my conversation with Professor Grey Perhaps we can speak later, at a more appropriate time”

With a curt nod, I turned away from the man, who looked as if I had slapped him

I turned toward Grey, curious to see his reaction, but the heartless ascender had already leftup to hi in his sharp profile as alked together in silence “I apologize if any rumors spread because you were seen within your mere presence would evoke sojust a hint of teasing hu unaware of how iven,” I replied sagely before letting out a soft chuckle

“Maybe having sohbloods distracted frohtly as he gazed idly ahead

I scoffed “You act as if the only thing we value is interesting gossip”

“Isn’t it?” Grey returned

I shook my head “I’ll have to introduce you to Professor Aphelion You two should be fast friends given yourof the noble class”

“We’ve already aze to me “But I’d like to know hblood Aphelion was a distinguished e,” I answered as we passed between the Chapel and the Relictoy, indicating soalia on his third rune, forehlord before he ounded in the war”

“He was in the war?”

Grey had fallen back to concealing his eht as well have been wearing a mask

“He was,” I said, uncertain why this would surprise hiht myself and let the words trail off “Actually, it’s not really e that he was captured and tortured by the Dicathians”

Grey frowned and seemed to focus far into the distance I couldn’t help but wonder what memory had surfaced Had he lost people in the war?

“Have Iabout the war,” he said

I stopped short, biting ht about what Grey had said

Suddenly, everythingothers, the way he seemed to step back from himself whenever Dicathen or the as mentioned, how he never spoke about his life prior to the Relictombs…

“You were in the eren’t you?”

Grey froze before turning in id and sharp “What makes you think that?”

I hesitated It seemed plain as day, now that I’d made the connection, but it was also my mentor’s interest in him But I wasn’t sure if I could—or should—confirm that Scythe Seris was le sharp shake of his head “It doesn’t matter Yes, I was, but I’d prefer not to talk about it”