Chapter 181: Forging a Partnership
Monica walked over to stand next to Eric. Her movements were stiff. Each step seemed to be a battle against her own immense pride. The other students in the training hall watched her.
Their eyes were wide with a mixture of awe and curiosity. The princess of the Empire the most popular girl in the first year had been forced into a partnership with the most infamous boy. It was a development no one could have predicted.
She stopped a careful foot of space away from him. She did not look at him. She stared straight ahead at the instructor Leon her expression a mask of cold indifference. But inside she was a storm of conflicting emotions. Her cheeks still felt warm from her earlier embarrassment in the classroom.
The humiliation of being called weak by him of being distracted by his mere presence still stung her pride like a fresh wound. And yet here she was standing beside him.
Her partner for an entire year. A part of her was furious. But another part a part she refused to acknowledge was strangely... not displeased. The thought of having a whole year to prove him wrong to defeat him again and again was a powerful motivator.
Eric felt her approach. He could sense the tense hostile energy coming from her. He stood awkwardly trying to seem as small and unnoticeable as possible. This was a nightmare. He had followed the System’s instructions.
He had chosen Monica. And now he was stuck with an angry princess who hated him for reasons he didn’t fully understand. He wanted to say something to her. He wanted to apologize for whatever it was he had done to offend her.
But he didn’t know what to say. An apology would feel hollow because he didn’t know what he was sorry for. He just stayed silent.
The instructor Leon now moved through the rest of the class. He was pairing up the remaining students. His voice was firm and efficient. He called out names. Students moved to find their new partners. Some looked pleased.
They found friends from their own kingdoms or factions. Others looked disappointed. They were stuck with rivals or strangers. The entire vast training hall was filled with the low murmur of students finding their places. Soon everyone was in a team of two. The entire first-year class of Section A was now organized.
Then the instructor looked at all the students. His gaze swept across the newly formed pairs. "Listen up everyone," he said his voice loud and clear cutting through the chatter. "Your partner selections are now final. This team you are in now will stay together for the rest of this entire year. There will be no changes."