Path of the Extra

Multiple round tables were spread across the massive room, each draped with a white cloth and adorned with a variety of food.

On one side of the room stood a podium with a microphone resting on its stand.

Students of all years began to trickle in.

The tables were reserved for faction representatives. Some factions were large enough that not all their members could sit, so only the key representatives were given seats at the round tables. Of course, there were still plenty of students who hadn’t joined a faction yet—whether because they were still undecided or uninterested.

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Even those unaffiliated students were allowed to attend the meeting, though they weren’t permitted to sit at the tables. Instead, they had to stand in the open space at the back of the room, far from where the representatives gathered.

No one was obligated to be here, but the faction meeting was intriguing enough to entice most students to skip lunch and watch the proceedings, even if it meant standing.

The room was already filling quickly. The tables were being claimed, and the open space at the back was steadily growing crowded.

Eventually, Celestina and Azriel arrived together, pausing briefly at the entrance to take it all in.

Students brushed past them without noticing, too preoccupied with securing a good spot.

“Looks like they’re all excited,” Azriel remarked.

“Excited enough to bump into us without even realizing,” Celestina replied with a sigh, a helpless smile forming on her lips as she watched the chaos.

“Then again, we’re the privileged ones. I suppose it’s hard to be impressed by all this after attending much grander events.”

Azriel gave her a crooked smile.

“That’s still no excuse to bump into a princess. Maybe I should put their heads on spikes.”

Celestina rolled her eyes.

“Now you’re just trying too hard to sound like that.”

They exchanged a glance before breaking into quiet chuckles. Without another word, they moved toward one of the tables and sat down.

The moment they did, Azriel could feel the weight of countless eyes on them.

Not long after, the entire room was packed. All the tables were occupied, the open space at the back now completely full.

And yet…

All eyes were subtly—or not so subtly—drawn to them.

Whispers began to spread through the room.

Azriel sighed.

“I don’t know how I feel about my face becoming more recognizable by the day.”

Celestina regarded him for a moment before asking, “Your family always went to great lengths to keep your face out of the public eye. Why is that?”

Azriel scratched the back of his head, pondering her question.

“There wasn’t really a big reason for it, I guess. Life was just easier when fewer people knew what I looked like.”

“I see. Well, with how much your name has spread this year, it was bound to happen. Right now, with all the talk surrounding you, no one really knows what to expect yet.”

Azriel scoffed.

“There’s always something to expect from someone, even if it’s unclear what that is. That’s just how the world works.”

“I suppose you do have a point.”

Letting the topic drop, Azriel glanced at the drinks in front of them.

Leaning back in his chair, he rested his cheek on his fist, looking visibly disappointed.

Celestina giggled suddenly, covering her mouth with her hand.

“It seems you share Jasmine’s love for proper drinks. You really are her little brother—reminding me in the strangest ways.”

Azriel furrowed his brows and turned to her.

“What do you mean by that? There’s nothing strange about me. And I never said I wanted a proper drink—I was just disappointed by the lack of variety in juices. Why is there only grape juice and orange juice? Where’s the apple juice?”

“Khh!” Celestina stifled another laugh, turning her head away as her shoulders shook.

“S-sure, I believe you. Truly.”

Azriel leaned forward, scowling as her laughter slipped through.

“You… I’m serious about my love for apple juice. I’m no alcoholic like Jasmine!”

His expression darkened further as Celestina kept her gaze averted, her smile trembling.

‘This girl… She hasn’t taken me seriously since that duel!’

As Azriel kept staring at her, his mood sinking lower with each second, Celestina’s expression suddenly shifted. Her eyes flickered toward a direction, surprise flashing across her face.

“Oh,” she muttered, blinking.

Following her gaze, Azriel frowned and blinked as well, just as surprised.

“Well, that’s… unexpected.”

Both of them turned their attention to a particular table. There, a group sat, completely ignoring the stares around them and the growing whispers. They were simply enjoying their food and drinks, seemingly indifferent to everything else.

Vergil, Lumine, Yelena, and Anastasia.

Though Anastasia sat slightly apart from the other three, all four shared the same table.

‘In the book, Lumine and Yelena formed their own faction. Anastasia and Vergil had theirs as well, each leading their own. But… never did I expect these four to team up.’

Azriel couldn’t help but wonder how it had even happened.

Turning to Celestina, he broke the silence.

“Even though they’re all first-years like us, they’re definitely going to be one of the most formidable factions. Four of the top ten first-years in one group? If they manage to recruit a few second and third-years, they’ll be hard to ignore. What an unexpected competition.”

Celestina nodded in agreement, her gaze lingering on the group.

“Yeah, I didn’t see this coming either,” she admitted.

“Anastasia would normally never team up with anyone. It’s strange…”

“Mm. By the way, is there anyone else left in the Frost Faction?”

She shook her head and reached for a bottle of grape juice, pouring herself a glass. Taking a sip, she replied, “There were, but I cut them loose yesterday. They were useless and incompetent.”

Azriel nodded, leaning back slightly.

“I suppose it’s more appealing to join a faction with two children of the great clans in it.”

“Exactly,” Celestina said with a small smile.

Azriel’s attention shifted to a bowl of fries sitting on the table. His eyes lit up as he eagerly reached for them, munching away without a care for the stares and whispers directed their way.

But before he could savor them further, the lights in the room dimmed, plunging it into an almost eerie darkness. The sudden change drew everyone’s attention.

The podium at the front of the room lit up, the beams of light focusing sharply on it. All conversations died down as the figures walking toward the stage came into view.

Two people emerged, their presence commanding immediate attention.

The first was Jasmine. Her posture was perfect—straight-backed, her steps measured and dignified. The indifferent air she carried made her stand out, effortlessly drawing the cadets’ eyes.

On her right, trailing a step behind, was someone Azriel hadn’t seen in quite some time.

Caleus.

The student council president and vice president had finally arrived.

Azriel watched their entrance without a change in expression, though his hand never left the fries he was steadily devouring.

‘She looks so cold, so indifferent to everything…’