Edarea—no, Greshina Emberforge, back when that name still mattered—sat in the third row by the window with her chin resting against her palm as sunlight spilled across the classroom floor in lazy rectangles. It was the first year of high school in early spring. The classroom buzzed with half-awake chatter until the door slid open.
Their homeroom teacher stepped in, clapping his hands once.
"Alright, settle down. We have a transfer student joining us today."
That alone earned a few looks.
"He is from Europe," the teacher added, glancing toward the door. "Come in."
The door opened again. Every conversation died in the same second. Chairs stopped creaking. Pens froze mid-air. He was tall. His skin was tanned from constant heat. Silver piercings glinted faintly on both ears. Long dark hair fell past his shoulders but it was tied neatly. His clear blue eyes darted across the room. Several girls forgot how to breathe, including Greshina.
"Introduce yourself."
"Veneri Clementine. I'm from Greece. Please take care of me."
A few girls actually squealed.
"Did you see his hair?"
"His eyes—"
"Greece? That explains everything."
"Oh my God he's so..."
The teacher cleared his throat.
"You can sit there next to Miss Emberforge."
Every head turned. Greshina slightly groaned with irritation flickering through her chest. Veneri walked down the aisle and stopped beside her desk. He pulled out the chair and sat down smoothly, turning toward her with that same calm smile.
"Hello."
She did not answer. Girls leaned toward each other, whispering behind hands.
"If she doesn't want him, I will take him."
"She could at least say hi."
"She thinks she is too good for him."
"If she pushes him away, I'm definitely moving seats."
Greshina kept her gaze forward without a care in the world.
The lesson began. Numbers blurred together as chalk scraped against the board. Normally, boys found excuses to glance her way every few seconds. Veneri did nothing.
Minutes passed. Then, halfway through the lecture, he tapped her shoulder lightly. She turned, already prepared to dismiss whatever excuse he planned to use.
"Excuse me. May I share your textbook?"
The question caught her off guard. She hesitated, then slid the book closer. Her gesture was caused by mild pity rather than interest.
"Thank you."
He leaned in just enough to read. His attention was already on the page. There was no flirting or any attempt to impress her. The realization hit her slowly, then all at once.
For the first time in her life, her beauty failed to command attention. He treated her the same way he treated the textbook, secondary to his own focus. The shock unsettled her more than rejection ever could.
She stole a glance at him. Veneri listened to the lesson with relaxed concentration with one hand supporting his chin and the other resting against the desk. Sunlight traced the edge of his hair. His expression held calm interest rather than awe.
The bell rang, snapping the moment apart, and the room exploded back into noise. Girls swarmed him instantly asking questions. Veneri answered politely in a way that never felt rude. Greshina watched him from the corner of her eye.
------
Lunchtime came and with it the quiet shuffle of students leaving their classrooms and moving toward the cafeteria. As a private school, food was provided to everyone without exception and served with the same efficiency every day. Greshina Emberforge sat at one of the benches with her lunch box already in front of her, eating the homemade food packed for her that morning.
Veneri Clementine did not join the serving line. He arrived carrying his own lunch. Bringing personal meals was not unheard of, yet the moment he opened it, several heads turned without intention. The food was noticeably more appetizing than what filled the trays around him. He walked over and stopped beside the bench where Greshina was seated.
"May I sit here?"
She looked up and noticed the sudden attention gathering again.
"Sure."
He sat across from her and began eating without another word. Greshina continued with her own food, keenly aware of the glances being thrown in her direction. The silence lingered longer than she expected, enough for her to notice that he seemed entirely unfazed by the attention.
"Why here? You could've sat anywhere. Half the cafeteria practically offered you their seats."
"I'm not one for attention."
She scoffed lightly.
"If you think sitting next to me is a way to get it, it won't work."
He chuckled under his breath, more amused than offended, and continued eating before responding.
"You assume a lot."
"Excuse me?"
"Are you a spoiled rich kid?"
"What? Why would you even ask that and why do you care? Is that a problem for you?"
He swallowed, wiped his hands casually, and answered without malice.
"The world doesn't revolve around you. And if you're thinking I'm here to pursue you romantically, you don't need to worry. I couldn't care less. Not all boys are the same."
She stared at him, stunned by the bluntness. She was not used to being dismissed so casually.
"Good. That's... good."
He nodded once and returned to his food as if the matter had already ended. The silence returned, heavier this time, until Greshina's eyes drifted back to his meal.
"What is that?"
"Lunch."
"I mean," she corrected, annoyed by his answer, "did you make it?"
"Yes."
"You cooked that yourself?"
"Obviously. And I'm guessing yours was made by a home chef."
"Do you have something against rich people?"
He paused for the first time, then answered honestly.
"Actually, yes. I do."
That was enough.
From that moment on, as far as she was concerned, Veneri Clementine had just earned himself a place on her list of people she disliked.
------
Classes finally ended. This was where the difference between schools truly showed. There were no buses, no crowds pushing past one another or shouting. Instead, glossy black SUVs lined the stone path one by one as chauffeurs and butlers stepped out, waiting for their respective heirs. The school was a rich private one after all. Some walked home but most were escorted by rich cars.
Greshina Emberforge stood among them. This part of the day bored her. Her eyes drifted away from the line of vehicles without much interest and that was when she saw him.
Veneri Clementine walked alone toward the outer gate with his hands in his pockets. A few girls walked behind him close enough to be obvious yet far enough to pretend coincidence as they tossed questions his way. To her, they were laughing too loudly and trying far too hard. Greshina watched the scene unfold and felt irritation once again.
"So much for not liking attention," she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes.
Veneri's foot caught awkwardly on an uneven stone near the edge of the path. He fell forward onto the ground with a thud. The girls gasped immediately, rushing toward him in alarm.
"Are you okay?"
"Did you hurt yourself?"
He pushed himself up slightly, grimacing. One hand clutched his arm where the fall had scraped it against the stone. Blood was visible enough for her to see. The blood stopped... no, vanished.
Before her eyes, the torn skin knit itself back together as though it had never existed, leaving behind nothing more than smooth, unmarked flesh. The process was finished in the span of a breath. The girls did not react. They were still fussing and asking if he needed help, already distracted by his reassurances and embarrassed smiles.
Greshina did not blink. Her heart skipped, then slammed harder against her ribs as realization hit her.
He possessed the ability of regeneration.
Her fingers curled slowly at her side as she stared. How had the others missed it? Had they been too focused on him to see it clearly or had their minds simply refused to accept it?
Did he have powers like her—
"Miss Emberforge."
The voice cut through her thoughts, snapping her back into the present. She turned sharply to see her butler standing beside the SUV.
"It is time to go."
Her eyes flicked back toward Veneri one last time. He was standing now, brushing dust from his uniform, laughing lightly as the girls hovered around him once more. They were completely unaware of what had just happened. Greshina said nothing as she stepped into the car. The door closed with a soft, final sound that shut the courtyard out entirely. The vehicle drove away smoothly.
During the ride home, she barely noticed the familiar streets passing by. Her reflection stared back at her from the tinted window. Her mind kept replaying the moment again and again.
"What was that?"
For the first time that day, her dislike for Veneri Clementine was overshadowed by something far more dangerous.
Curiosity.