Chapter 102: A surprise attack
Alex’s shock gave way to a burning anger, his hands trembling as they gripped the edge of the table.
Sylra shot to her feet, her chair scraping loudly against the floor, her face a mask of indignation. "Vaelen, you can’t just throw accusations like that without proof!" she snapped, her voice cutting through the murmurs like a whip.
Her hands were planted on her hips, her posture defiant as she glared at Vaelen, who stood a few tables away, his smirk infuriatingly calm. "You’re stirring up trouble for no reason, and it’s not fair!"
Bastian, still standing protectively in front of Alex, nodded vigorously, his usual grin replaced by a scowl. "Yeah, what she said!" he added, his voice loud enough to carry over the crowd. "You can’t just point fingers and expect everyone to believe you. Where’s your evidence, Vaelen? Or are you just trying to look important?"
Vaelen’s smirk didn’t waver, his lean frame relaxed as he leaned slightly forward, his gaze locked on Alex. "Why shouldn’t I speak the truth?" he said, his voice smooth but laced with venom. "Think about it. The moment Alex shows up at Starhaven, Eclipse attacks the market. Quite a coincidence, don’t you think?"
The words landed like a spark in dry grass, igniting a new wave of murmurs among the students.
Heads turned, eyes narrowing as they began to consider Vaelen’s point. "He’s right," one student whispered, her voice hesitant but growing bolder. "It is suspicious."
"I mean, no one even knows where Alex came from," another added, leaning closer to his friend. "He just... appeared."
The murmurs grew louder, a chorus of agreement that made Alex’s stomach twist.
He wanted to shout, to deny it, to demand Vaelen explain himself, but the words caught in his throat, tangled in a knot of anger.
Sylra’s face flushed with frustration, and she slammed her hands on the table, the sound sharp enough to momentarily silence the crowd.