The Grand Cafeteria was bustling with the usual lunch crowd when the tension finally spilled over.
Students moved between tables in their colorful robes, chatting about classes, upcoming duels, and the latest rumors. The air was thick with the aroma of mana-infused bread, glowing fruit tarts, and the faint, comforting scent of herbs coming from Will's station.
Will stood behind the serving counter, the Simple Apron tied around his waist already showing fresh oil stains. He was ladling out bowls of porridge when Lirael Voss approached the counter again.
She looked as elegant as ever, her long golden-blonde hair catching the light, her pointed elf ears twitching slightly. Her icy blue eyes carried that familiar mix of arrogance and reluctant curiosity as she stopped in front of him.
"The same as yesterday," she said, her voice cool but with a hint of expectation. "And make it quick. I have research to return to."
Will nodded politely and began preparing the bowl. He added the usual Focus Herb Salad and a carefully measured amount of spices, making sure the flavor was balanced and comforting.
As he handed it to her, their fingers brushed for a brief moment. Lirael's cheeks gained the faintest touch of pink, but she quickly masked it with a small huff.
"Thank you," she said stiffly, turning to leave.
Before she could take more than a few steps, Einsfel appeared at the counter, returning her own empty bowl. She had clearly seen the entire exchange.
Einsfel's silver-gray hair was tied back neatly, her deep blue and gold-trimmed uniform looking elegant even in the busy cafeteria. Her blue eyes flicked between Will and Lirael, a small, complicated expression crossing her face for a brief moment — a mix of warmth for Will and the very first hint of something else.
A small spark of jealousy.
"Finished already?" Will asked her gently.
Einsfel nodded, her voice soft but steady. "Yes. It helped as always."
She turned her gaze to Lirael, her tone polite but with a subtle edge.
"Lirael Voss, right? I've seen you in the advanced alchemy classes. You have quite the reputation."
Lirael turned to her, her posture straightening with aristocratic grace.
"And you are Einsfel," she replied, her voice cool and measured. "The new genius from the border. I've heard the instructors talking about your mana control. Impressive… for someone without noble blood."
The air between the two girls grew slightly tense.
Will felt the shift and quickly stepped in, trying to ease the moment.
"Would either of you like another bowl?" he asked. "I can adjust the herbs if needed."
Lirael glanced at Einsfel, then back at Will.
"…Perhaps," she said, her tone still傲娇 but with a hint of genuine interest. "Your cooking seems to have an unusual stabilizing effect. I'd like to study it further for my research."
Einsfel's expression remained calm, but Will noticed the faint flicker of magic around her fingers — a sign her power was reacting to the situation.
"I see," Einsfel said softly. "Then I suppose we'll both be visiting the counter more often."
The two girls stood there for a moment, the tension subtle but palpable. Lirael's aristocratic pride clashed with Einsfel's quiet confidence, and Will found himself caught in the middle.
Before the situation could escalate further, a loud voice cut through the cafeteria.
"Well, well. If it isn't the soup boy entertaining two talented ladies at once."
Cyrus Vaughn strolled up to the counter, flanked by his usual group of followers. His golden hair was perfectly styled, and his robe bore the elegant crest of the elite class. He looked at Will with open disdain, then turned his gaze to Einsfel and Lirael.
"Miss Einsfel, Miss Lirael," he said with a mocking smile. "You both have such promising futures. It's a shame to see you wasting your time with kitchen staff. Someone of your talent belongs with proper mages."
Einsfel's expression remained calm, but her blue eyes grew colder.
"Cyrus," she said clearly, "if you have so much free time, perhaps you should spend it improving your own control. I saw your performance in yesterday's training. It was… lacking."
Lirael raised an eyebrow, her voice cool and cutting.
"And you are?" she asked, as if she didn't already know.
Cyrus's smile faltered for a fraction of a second.
"Cyrus Vaughn," he replied, his tone dripping with superiority. "Heir to the Vaughn family and one of the top students in this academy. I suggest you both reconsider who you associate with."
Einsfel met his gaze without flinching.
"I'll associate with whoever I choose," she said quietly but firmly. "And right now, I choose to stand with someone who has proven himself useful in ways you can't seem to match."
Lirael didn't say anything, but she gave Will a quick, almost imperceptible glance — a mix of curiosity and reluctant acknowledgment.
Cyrus's face tightened with barely contained anger. He opened his mouth to retort, but thought better of it when he saw the serious looks in both girls' eyes. He forced a smile and turned away with his group.
"This isn't over," he muttered as he left.
The tension in the cafeteria slowly dissipated.
Einsfel turned to Will, her expression softening.
"Are you alright?" she asked gently.
Will nodded. "I'm fine. Thank you for standing up for me."
Lirael, who had been silent during the exchange, finally spoke.
"…Your cooking really does have an unusual effect," she said, her voice still carrying that傲娇 tone but with a hint of genuine interest. "I'll be back tomorrow to test it again. For research purposes."
She turned and walked away, but not before glancing back at Will once more.
Einsfel watched her leave, then turned to Will with a small, complicated smile.
"She seems… interested," she said softly.
Will scratched the back of his neck. "She just wants to know about the herbs. Nothing more."
Einsfel's smile widened slightly, though there was a hint of playful jealousy in her eyes.
"We'll see," she murmured. "But for now… I still have priority on your cooking."
She leaned closer for a moment, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Tonight. My room. Don't be late."
Will's ears turned red again as she walked away with graceful composure.
He stood there for a moment, looking at the Mother's Worn Pot on the shelf. The silver-gray light along its rim seemed to glow a little brighter, as if sensing the small shift in the air.
Lirael's curiosity had been sparked.
And the first small crack in the academy's rigid social order had begun to form.