Chapter 16: EX 16. Family Reunion
As the day drew to a close, the buzzing energy of the rankings announcement gradually faded. Students returned to their various homes, chattering in hushed voices, still processing what they had witnessed.
Leon Kael—64th place. No one had seen that coming.
But as surprising as it was, none of them would lose sleep over it. After all, it was his life, not theirs. The world kept moving.
Outside the trial center, the evening breeze carried the scent of warm pavement and fading tension.
Leon walked beside Elizabeth, their fingers laced together in a quiet show of intimacy. Neither of them spoke as they approached the main gate. The silence between them was comfortable and familiar.
A sleek black car pulled up in front of them, its glossy surface reflecting the orange hue of the setting sun.
The driver stepped out and rounded the vehicle before opening the rear door without a word.
Elizabeth glanced at Leon. "My ride's here."
"I can see that," Leon replied with a faint smirk.
She turned to him, her expression shifting—serious now. "Don't listen to what others say about you," she said softly. "Their opinions don't matter."
Leon's smirk curled into something calmer. "You should know me by now," he said. "It takes more than that to make me react."