Chapter 71: Do I look like I follow rules?
Bastian’s chuckle rolled through the air, low and infectious, the kind of laugh that made it impossible not to smile along. His piercing blue eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned closer to Alex, like he was about to let him in on some inside joke.
His ruffled brown hair flopped messily over his forehead, giving him a look of easygoing chaos, like he couldn’t quite be bothered to tame it, and honestly, didn’t care to.
"Oh, yeah, man, the Council’s got you under a microscope," he said, his voice smooth and teasing, laced with a dramatic flair that made the words sound like a dare. "They’ll be monitoring you super closely, might even be watching you right now."
He paused, his lopsided grin widening, his charcoal tunic creasing as he shifted, one hand gesturing vaguely at the corridor around them.
"Especially Lucian, that old man’s so cynical, he probably thinks you’re hiding a dragon in your cloak. Doesn’t trust anyone, that guy."
Alex’s heart lurched hard against his ribs, a sudden, jarring thud that sent a cold wave of fear crashing through his chest and washing the breath right out of him.
His hazel eyes snapped from side to side, wide and frantic, trying to make sense of the chaos unfolding around him.
The corridor, usually just noisy and crowded, now felt suffocating, every shout and hurried footstep blending into a deafening roar in his ears.
The walls shimmered with iridescent light, their soft glow weaving through the crowd of students streaming toward the cafeteria, their crests glinting like tiny beacons.