Luca opened the door to their dorm room, only to find Derrick, Ashley, Giulia, Tiana, Seo-yeon, Iker, Mads, and Nora flooding into the small space like it was a public café.
He stared.
"Seriously?" he asked, without raising his voice. Just enough weight in the tone for Ashley to glance over sheepishly.
"Study group," she said, brushing past him with a confident little smile. "It'll be quick."
"There's eight of you."
"So? You've got chairs."
Kai threw himself onto the couch. "This is gonna be chaos. I love it already."
"You would," Luca muttered.
Alexei, curled on his bed, didn't even blink. Just popped a candy into his mouth and scrolled calmly through his tablet. Iker and Mads immediately sat on either side of him.
"Hey, Little Ghost," Iker grinned. "You got more of those gummies or what?"
"You're too old to be cute," Mads added. "Let us have the spotlight."
Alexei didn't react. He simply turned up the brightness on his screen.
"Cold," Kai whispered. "He's learning from Luca."
Ashley clapped her hands. "Okay, change of plans. We're not staying here."
"Finally," Luca said.
She smiled innocently. "We're using the Starclass meeting room. Zihan said we could."
The room went quiet. Even Alexei stopped chewing.
"Wait," Derrick said. "You mean Zihan Chen? That Zihan?"
Ashley nodded like it was normal. "Yep."
Giulia blinked. "You casually asked a Genesis legend for a favor?"
"We talk sometimes. He's nice."
Luca raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He already felt a headache blooming.
---
10:12 AM — Starclass territory
The group walked through the upper corridors of Genesis, where the air seemed to get colder, more refined. Hallways were spotless, the tiles silent under their feet.
"I feel like we're breaking into a sacred temple," Mads whispered.
"Dude, if we get kicked out, I'm blaming you," Iker replied.
Luca was in the middle of the group, walking next to Alexei.
Alexei tilted his head toward him. "The games begin."
Luca didn't look at him, but the corner of his mouth twitched. "They already did."
As they turned a corner, a girl with a silver bracelet stepped into view.
Lyn Ounari.
She stopped for a moment, saw them, and immediately merged into the group—naturally, like she'd always been there. She moved beside Ashley and Giulia, inserting herself into their pace like it was rehearsed.
Ashley blinked, surprised. "Hey, Lyn."
"Morning," Lyn replied, smiling.
Giulia gave a small wave. Lyn responded with a slight nod but her gaze flicked briefly to Luca.
He didn't notice.
Or pretended not to.
---
10:24 AM — Starclass Meeting Room
They entered.
The room was a cathedral of silence and design. Polished black table. Frosted glass panels. Hidden screens. One long window overlooking the central garden.
And at the end of the room stood Zihan Chen.
The energy in the room shifted.
He turned.
Flawless posture. Eyes dark as obsidian. A calm, unreadable smile.
"Welcome," he said. "Let me know what topics you're covering. I'll help where I can."
No one breathed.
Derrick looked like he wanted to ask for an autograph. Iker muttered, "Bro, we just entered the final level."
Kai whispered, "He looks like he doesn't blink."
Ashley stepped forward confidently. "Thanks again, Zihan. Everyone—this is your one chance to ask questions. Don't waste it."
They got to work.
Zihan didn't dominate the room. He simply sat, listened, and answered. But every time he spoke, everyone understood instantly. No over-explaining. No wasted words.
Luca found himself watching. The way he navigated silence. How he only smiled when someone grasped something difficult.
Ashley kept throwing glances at Luca. Sometimes her shoulder brushed his. He didn't move.
---
12:02 PM — End of Study Session
They left the Starclass wing together, murmuring to each other about how surreal the whole thing felt.
"We just studied with a Genesis god," Tiana said.
"We're blessed," Seo-yeon added softly.
That's when they saw them.
Zion Drayden.
Standing in the hall with four of his lackeys from Class B. He leaned casually against the wall, dreadlocks tied back, his eyes sharp and mocking.
The group froze.
Zion's gaze scanned them.
"F Class," he said slowly, like a curse. "So this is what happens when you let the trash inside."
Mads clenched his jaw. Iker looked away. Even Kai's expression shifted.
"You people don't belong here," Zion continued. "Borrowed rooms. Borrowed pride. Acting like this school was made for you."
Ashley stepped forward. "That's enough."
Zion smiled. "Oh, little influencer thinks she has power. Let me guess—you flirted your way into the room. Who's next?"
SLAP.
The sound echoed.
Ashley's hand still hovered in the air. Zion's face slowly turned back toward her, rage blooming in his eyes.
He raised his arm.
Faster than anyone could react, his fist was already halfway through the air—
Stopped.
One hand held his wrist, effortlessly.
Zihan.
Silent. Calm.
"Not here," Zihan said.
He didn't yell. He didn't need to.
He lowered Zion's arm, gently.
Then bowed his head slightly.
"Walk away."
Zion held the stare.
Then smirked. "Enjoy your moment. The next time we meet, the real king of Genesis will be me."
He laughed. Hands in his pockets. And walked away.
---
12:47 PM — Outside the Building
The group stood silently. Processing.
"That was insane," Derrick muttered.
"We were this close to seeing a war," Kai said.
"He meant every word," Nora added.
Zihan looked at them all. "I'll walk you back to the dorms. Safer that way."
Everyone nodded.
Except Alexei.
"I'll catch up," he said. "Need something from the vending machine."
Luca gave him a brief look. "Don't be long."
---
12:59 PM — Vending Area, West Wing
Alexei inserted a few coins, selected a candy pack, and waited.
That's when he heard it.
Screaming.
He turned the corner and froze.
Lyn Ounari, eyes wide, hair disheveled, was shouting violently into empty space. Her hands clawed at her scalp.
"Those bitches! Ashley! Giulia! Sluts! All of them! I see what they're doing—getting close to him—he's mine. He doesn't even know it yet but he's MINE!"
She kicked a bench, then spun wildly.
"The next girl who touches Luca—I swear—she's going to pay. She's going to bleed for it. I'll make sure of it."
Alexei backed away.
Quiet. Careful. Fast.
He didn't stop to buy his candy.
He ran.
Not just to avoid her.
But to find Luca.