The Breakup, The Tension, and The Queen’s Wrath

Lucian's POV:

As the lively chatter of my friends filled the air, the canteen’s usual buzz was suddenly pierced by a shift in the atmosphere. It was subtle at first, like the air had thickened, but I felt it all the same. My attention was drawn to the entrance. There she was—Celeste.

With every step, her confident stride and perfectly polished appearance seemed to command the room, drawing more than a few curious glances. She exuded that magnetic aura that always seemed to make heads turn.

I couldn’t help but watch her, my gaze following instinctively. I wasn’t alone—Esme, Calen, Zane, and Ryker all looked up, their attention caught as if by an invisible force.

Here we go, I thought, bracing myself for the inevitable. Ms. Drama Queen was about to make her grand entrance at our table, no doubt clinging to Lucian like she always did, flashing that practiced, almost mechanical smile of hers.

But then, something strange happened. She didn’t. Instead of weaving her usual web of theatrics, Celeste walked right past us, not sparing Lucian even a fleeting glance. To my surprise, she chose a table across the room and settled down with her two friends, her demeanor as poised as ever.

I turned to Esme and Calen, my confusion mirrored in their wide-eyed expressions. We all silently exchanged looks, wondering what in the world had just happened.

“What’s going on?” I whispered, still trying to process the oddity.

Esme leaned in, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Why isn’t Celeste buzzing around Lucian like a moth to a flame? She usually can’t resist throwing herself into his orbit.”

The corners of Zane’s mouth tugged into a smirk as he glanced at Lucian. The latter’s face was a study in stoicism, cold and unreadable, as if the entire situation was beneath his notice.

Before anyone else could comment, Ryker suddenly blurted out, “They broke up.”

His words hung in the air like a bombshell, and my jaw nearly hit the floor. “What?!” I exclaimed, louder than I intended.

Calen, who rarely looked surprised, leaned forward, his expression incredulous. “Wait, they what?”

Zane leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms casually. “Yeah, finally. They’ve broken up.”

I blinked, unsure how to respond. My gaze flickered back to Lucian, searching for any sign of emotion, but his icy exterior remained impenetrable. He sat there like a marble statue, utterly indifferent—or so it seemed. His glare, however, was unmistakable as it shifted toward Zane and Ryker, sharp enough to cut through the tension in the room.

Before I could process the revelation, Nico, sitting beside me, tilted his head. “Who’s Celeste?” he asked, breaking the tension with his genuinely curious tone.

Of course. My friends from Aquara kingdom had no idea who she was.

Esme took it upon herself to enlighten them. With a dramatic wave of her hand, she leaned closer to Nico and Dante, her voice dripping with mock disdain. “Celeste is that girl. The one who’s been clinging to Lucian like a second skin for as long as we’ve known her. She’s practically made it her life’s mission to bask in his shadow. Oh, and in case it’s not obvious, she was also his girlfriend.”

Dante raised an eyebrow, glancing at Lucian. “She doesn’t seem like much of a threat now.”

“Exactly!” Esme exclaimed, her tone triumphant. “Which is why this is so weird. She’d normally be here, acting like Lucian’s personal spotlight.”

The explanation might have been brief, but it was enough to spark intrigue among my friends.

My thoughts drifted back to Celeste, and as I glanced at her again, I froze. Her sharp eyes were locked on me, and her glare was nothing short of lethal. If looks could kill, I’d be a goner.

Why? I wondered, unease prickling at the back of my neck. It’s not like their breakup could possibly have anything to do with me... right?

Maybe Lucian had just grown tired of her. He always dismissed relationships and mates as distractions, after all. Still, the question burned at the back of my mind until it slipped out before I could stop myself. “Why did they break up?”

All eyes snapped to me, and I immediately regretted my curiosity. I tried to keep my expression neutral, but my gaze betrayed me, flickering toward Lucian. His cold mask faltered for just a moment, replaced by a smirk that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Looks like you’re very interested in my life,” Lucian drawled, his deep voice dripping with amusement, his smirk growing as his sharp eyes locked onto mine. “And me.”

I blinked, momentarily caught off guard, but quickly composed myself, adopting a casual shrug. “Oh, please,” I replied, my tone deliberately light and dismissive. “I was just asking out of curiosity. It’s not like I actually care.”

I turned my attention back to the sandwich in front of me, though the growing warmth creeping up my neck made it hard to maintain the act. I could feel Lucian’s gaze lingering, and when I dared a glance, his smirk had only deepened. Great. Now he knows I’m lying.

Before the awkwardness could settle, Nico chimed in, his voice loud and teasing. “You know, Aria, you’ve never asked me why I broke up with any of my ex-girlfriends. Or, for that matter, why none of us ever stay in relationships for long.”

He gave a pointed look to Dante and Kai, who were now staring at me with identical expressions of curiosity. Dante’s brows arched slightly, while Kai’s eyes narrowed as if piecing together a puzzle.

And just like that, I felt the air shift. A flicker of doubt danced in Kai’s gaze—a silent question forming that made my chest tighten. They’re starting to suspect.

Lucian is my mate.

The realization made my heart race, but I couldn’t let them know. Not yet.

Forcing myself to appear unbothered, I scoffed and turned to Nico with a sly grin. “Because, Nico, I already know why your breakups happen. It’s always because of your bad jokes.”

A chorus of laughter erupted at the table, and Nico rolled his eyes dramatically. “Bad jokes? Seriously? I prefer to call it next-level wit, Aria. You just don’t have the refined taste to appreciate it.”

“Next-level wit?” I shot back, smirking. “More like next-level cringe.”

The laughter only grew louder, and Dante leaned back in his chair, shaking his head with a grin. “She’s got a point, though. Your jokes do tend to clear rooms, not fill them.”

“Wow,” Nico replied, clutching his chest as if physically wounded. “Betrayed by my own friends. This is what true heartbreak feels like.”

As the table dissolved into playful banter, I tried to blend into the moment, but my focus wavered. My eyes drifted back to Lucian, unbidden, only to find him watching me again.

This time, his smirk had turned into something more dangerous—a full grin.

It wasn’t just amusement. It was knowing.

And it made my stomach flip in the worst—and best—way possible.

He could tell.

He could tell I was interested, no matter how much I tried to act like I wasn’t. And the worst part? Nico’s endless blabbering had only made it more obvious.

I sighed inwardly, knowing full well that hiding this from my friends was going to be even harder than I’d imagined.

I was lost in my thoughts when the buzz of Lucian’s phone snapped me back to reality. He glanced at the screen, his grin fading as his expression shifted into one of seriousness. He seemed to be reading something—probably a message.

“I have to go. Personal matter,” Lucian said abruptly, standing up from his seat.

Zane and Ryker immediately rose to their feet as well, their movements synchronized as if by instinct. Sofia and Lila exchanged puzzled glances, and the rest of us mirrored their confusion.

Lucian turned to Zane and Ryker, his tone firm. “You should stay here with your mates. I can handle this on my own.”

But they were having none of it. Ryker crossed his arms defiantly. “We’re coming with you.”

Zane nodded in agreement, his gaze softening as he turned to Sofia. He leaned down slightly, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Stay safe for me, my love. I’ll be back before you even miss me.”

Ryker turned to Lila, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I’ll meet you in the dorm later, okay? Stay with the group—you’re new here, and I don’t want you getting lost.” His tone was caring but firm, earning a small, appreciative nod from her.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Finally, Lucian’s eyes met mine. There was something in his gaze, something unreadable that made my breath hitch for a moment. “Stay out of trouble,” he said, his voice low but commanding.

I crossed my arms and smirked, trying to mask the way my heart skipped a beat. “I wasn’t planning on it.”

To my surprise, Lucian’s lips curved into a small smile, almost like a nod of acknowledgment, before he turned away.

With that, the three of them left, their steps purposeful and synchronized as they disappeared from the canteen.

After they were gone, all my remaining friends looked at me with expressions that screamed curiosity. It was clear they wanted to ask something, but Sofia was the first to break the silence.

“Looks like he cares for you,” she said, her tone teasing but underlined with a sharp edge. “And this isn’t just normal care, Aria.”

Before I could even formulate a reply, another voice sliced through the moment like a razor-sharp blade. “Because she knows how to wrap people around her little finger.”

My head whipped toward the voice, my heart immediately skipping a beat. My friends’ gazes followed mine, and the atmosphere shifted. It was none other than Celeste. Of course, it had to be her. She was walking toward our table, flanked by two of her friends. They trailed behind her like loyal shadows, their expressions just as smug, their eyes full of disdain.

I braced myself. I knew exactly what was coming—she was about to make a scene.

Stopping at our table, Celeste crossed her arms, her smile venomous. “What’s your secret, Aria? Acting all innocent while stealing someone else’s boyfriend?” Her voice dripped with malice.

Her friends, both tall and with fiery expressions, chimed in almost in unison. The first one, a girl with platinum blonde hair and sharp features, smirked. “Yeah, Aria, who do you think you are? Do you honestly believe Lucian would ever pick someone like you over Celeste?”

The second girl, a brunette with a haughty look in her eyes, sneered. “You’re nothing but a pathetic little nobody, trying to steal what isn’t yours. It’s embarrassing to watch, really.”

Esme, who had been silent up until now, couldn’t hold herself back any longer. “Lucian is no one’s property,” she snapped, her voice cold and sharp. “If he broke up with you, maybe the problem wasn’t Aria—it was you.”

Celeste’s smile faltered for a mere second, but she quickly recovered, her expression sharpening like a blade. “You’d defend her, wouldn’t you?” She sneered, her gaze flicking over each of us. “Let me guess—she’s convinced all of you she’s just some sweet, helpless girl. But let me tell you, she’s not. She’s manipulative, and it’s no coincidence Lucian dumped me right after she showed up. Coincidence? I don’t think so.”

Her words struck me like a slap. The audacity, the venom in her tone, it made my stomach churn. For a brief, fleeting moment, doubt crept in. Did Lucian break up with her because of me? But I couldn’t understand why—what had I done? I hadn’t even done anything.

Before I could gather my thoughts, Sofia stood abruptly, her chair screeching loudly as she rose to her feet. “That’s enough, Celeste,” she said, her voice steady but filled with simmering anger. “You’re embarrassing yourself. Leave.”

But I, for once, didn’t let Sofia escalate it further. I gently tugged on her arm, halting her movement. “Let her say whatever she wants,” I said calmly, even though the rage building inside me threatened to spill over. “She’s not worth it.”

Celeste huffed, her eyes narrowing at me, irritated that my response hadn’t been the one she was hoping for. “You can play the victim all you want, but everyone knows your true colors, Aria,” she hissed, her voice laced with venom.

I stood tall, meeting her glare with unyielding confidence. My voice was calm but sharp enough to slice through the tension. “If you spent half as much time working on yourself as you do trying to tear me down, Celeste, you might actually be worth something.”

Her face twisted with rage, and I knew I’d struck a nerve. “You little—” Celeste’s voice cracked as her fury boiled over. Her eyes burned with pure hatred as she raised her hand.

In a flash, her fire elemental burst to life. Flames shot toward me, their heat searing the air and roaring like a feral beast. The attack was so sudden that I froze. My mind raced, but my body wouldn’t move fast enough. I didn’t even have a chance to call upon my powers.

Before the fire could reach me, a torrent of water surged forward, colliding with the flames and extinguishing them in an instant.

“Enough!” Lila’s voice rang out as she stepped in front of me, her water elemental shimmering like a protective barrier. Her usually calm demeanor was gone, replaced with a fierce determination. “What’s wrong with you, Celeste? Attacking someone out of spite? That’s the only true color I see here.”

Celeste faltered, her expression twisting into a volatile mix of shock and frustration. Her confidence wavered for a split second, but I didn’t dare look away. My heart pounded against my ribs, each beat a reminder of how close I had come to disaster. Still, I stood tall, refusing to let her see the fear threatening to surface.

Before she could recover or make another reckless move, Kai and Dante were already advancing. Their steps were deliberate, their energy simmering with restrained fury. The room seemed to hum with their combined intensity, and the tension was palpable.

Kai halted just a few steps away, his voice low and lethal. “You’ve crossed the line, Celeste. One more step, and I’ll show you just how deep the earth can swallow you.”

Dante’s fire elemental flickered menacingly at his fingertips, casting faint, flickering shadows. His voice carried a dangerous edge as he smirked coldly. “Try that again, and you’ll find out how quickly flames can turn arrogance into ash.”

Celeste’s defiance faltered, her eyes darting between them. For the first time, doubt flickered across her face as she realized she was outmatched.

I quickly stepped forward, my hand pressing against Kai’s arm to halt him. “That’s enough,” I said, my tone firm and commanding. Then I turned to Dante, giving him a pointed look. “Stand down. Both of you.”

Kai hesitated, his gaze flicking to me before he finally stepped back. Dante’s flames receded as he straightened, though the fire in his eyes remained.

Celeste sneered, her eyes flashing with venom as she turned her gaze toward me. “You think this is over, Aria? You can hide behind your friends all you want, but one day, they won’t be there to protect you.”

Her words felt like poison, laced with bitterness and unspoken threats. I met her glare with unwavering calmness, my voice cold and unwavering. “We’ll see about that, Celeste. But for now, leave while you still have some dignity left.”

For a moment, Celeste’s jaw tightened, her fists clenching in frustration, but finally, after a long, charged pause, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the canteen.

As she left with her friends, the tension in the air slowly began to dissipate. My friends looked to me, their concern visible. “Are you okay?” Lila asked, her voice softer now, her hands still faintly glowing with her water elemental.

I nodded, forcing a smile, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “I’m fine.”

But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was far from over. Celeste probably thought she was fighting just an air elemental, someone weak compared to her fire. But she had no idea who she was really messing with. I would be ready next time for whatever she tried.

The atmosphere in the canteen grew heavy. The tension in the air was thick, and the usual chatter from the other students had all but disappeared. My friends stood around me, their expressions a mix of concern, frustration, and protectiveness. It was as if the entire room had shifted into a more serious, almost suffocating mood.

"Don’t worry," I said, trying to push the unease away, though my voice felt like it was struggling to keep steady. "She was all just blabbering. She won’t do anything."

But Calen, who had been standing a little apart from the group, wasn’t so easily convinced. He shook his head, his eyes narrowed with concern. "But she just attacked you in front of all of us," he said, his voice low but urgent. "If Lila didn’t react in time, you could’ve gotten hurt."

I could see the worry in his eyes, and for a split second, doubt flickered in my own mind. But I quickly brushed it aside. I knew what I was capable of.

"I know," I said, nodding in acknowledgment. "Next time, I’ll be more careful."

The seriousness in the air only grew as I turned to face my friends. I looked at Kai, Sofia, Dante, Nico, and Lila. They stood close, their eyes on me with a mixture of concern and quiet strength. I could feel the weight of their unspoken questions, their desire to protect me. But I needed them to understand that I was more than capable of handling whatever came my way.

"You know I can handle these kinds of threats and attacks," I said firmly, my voice growing stronger with each word.

They all nodded. Nico was the first to speak up, his voice full of quiet admiration. "You’re right," he said, his gaze intense. "You’re stronger than her."

I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. They were right, and I knew it. I had five elementals, each one more powerful than anything Celeste could throw at me. Fire, earth, water, air, and nature—no one, not even someone like her, could match that.

In that moment, as I looked around at my friends, I realized just how much they trusted me. They had seen what I could do, and they believed in me. And that belief was something I would never take for granted.

After a brief pause, I said, "We forgot all about it in the chaos. Master Orin asked us to meet him in his office. It’s time."

Sofia spoke up. "Oh, yes! We completely forgot about that."

Esme raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "When did he ask to meet you all, and why?"

I looked at Esme and then Calen. "He asked us to meet him in the arena, right after the match," I replied, keeping my voice steady despite the unease settling in. "But why? Honestly, I’m not sure."

They both just nodded in understanding. Nico and Dante exchanged a quick, silent glance. I caught it in the corner of my eye, but I didn’t say anything. It seemed like they were hiding something, but for now, I chose to stay quiet.

We walked out of the canteen, the atmosphere seemed to change. A quiet tension filled the air, but we moved in sync, each lost in our own thoughts. Kai walked alongside Calen, speaking to him in low tones, while Esme and Nico walked ahead, engaged in a quiet conversation. Dante was chatting with Sofia, their voices soft but full of familiar banter. Lila, as always, stayed close by my side.

The pace of our footsteps was steady, but there was an underlying weight, like we were all thinking about what had just happened.

As we reached the door, I glanced up at the plaque that read "Master Orin." My hand hovered over the door as I knocked lightly, the sound echoing down the hallway. A voice came from inside, calm and inviting. “Permission granted.”

We entered the room together, and I couldn’t help but take in the atmosphere. Master Orin’s office was dimly lit, with a large mahogany desk at the center. Piles of neatly stacked documents filled the corners of the room, a few bookshelves lined with ancient tomes, and there was a soft, almost hidden glow from a fireplace in the far corner. The air smelled faintly of leather and parchment, and there was an overall sense of wisdom and authority hanging in the air.

Master Orin was seated behind the desk, his fingers moving over a set of documents with an expression of deep concentration. When he finally looked up, his eyes briefly scanned over us, a flicker of recognition crossing his features. Then a small smile tugged at his lips.

"Please, have a seat," he gestured to the plush sofas beside the fireplace.

We all settled down on the sofas, and for a moment, the only sound was the rustling of papers as Master Orin finished up with the documents in his hands. I glanced around at my friends. Their faces were unreadable, all of them wearing expressions that made it clear they were hiding something. Their eyes avoided mine, except for Esme and Calen. They didn’t seem as affected, though Calen looked slightly tense, as though he were waiting for something to happen.

Master Orin let out a sigh and finally set the papers down. “I apologize for keeping you waiting,” he said, his voice low. “There’s so much work to be done lately.”

He motioned for us to relax, then sat down in the chair across from me, his eyes locking onto mine. I felt a strange, almost unsettling recognition in his gaze. His expression softened, and he smiled as he spoke again.

"Now, Aria," he began, his voice still calm but carrying a hint of something more, “or should I say Aria Collins? Or perhaps... Princess Arvanya Morisson?”

His words struck like a lightning bolt, and I felt my heart skip a beat. The room seemed to close in around me as the weight of his words hit hard. My breath caught in my throat. How did he know? Was I exposed?

I froze, my thoughts spiraling out of control.

Master Orin’s eyes stayed fixed on me, waiting for my response, a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze.

The silence stretched on, thick and heavy, as my mind raced to find a way out. Would I reveal everything? Or would I hide behind the mask I’d carefully crafted?

The tension was unbearable, and as the moment stretched on, I could feel it in the air. This was no longer just a conversation—it was a turning point.

And I had no idea where it would lead.