Chapter 93: A sudden shift
Bastian paused, his blue eyes flickering with a thoughtful glint as he walked beside Alex through the sunlit corridor of Starhaven Academy, the earlier confrontation with Vaelen fading into the bustling hum of students.
The marble floor gleamed under crystal panels, prismatic light dancing across their path, the air warm with the scent of parchment and faint herbs.
"In fact," Bastian said, his voice quieter, more reflective, "Vaelen’s probably not an ass. He’s just misguided, ’cause he’s got a father who’s an ass."
His words carried a weight, a hint of empathy beneath his usual mischief, his blonde hair catching the sunlight as he glanced at Alex, the corridor’s lively chatter a soft backdrop.
Alex nodded, his red eyes fixed ahead, his frustration from the tutoring session and Vaelen’s hostility easing into curiosity, his confidence steady as he processed Bastian’s insight.
"Oh, that makes sense," he said, his voice casual, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Fathers are usually good indications of what the son will turn out to be."
The comment slipped out, a simple observation, his mind still turning over Vaelen’s behavior, the assembly’s bad blood a distant echo, the corridor’s vibrancy a lift to his mood.
Bastian’s smile dropped, his face tightening, his blue eyes clouding as if Alex’s words had struck a nerve.
The shift was sudden, his usual grin replaced by a tense line, his steps slowing as they walked, the corridor’s light casting faint shadows across his expression.