Just as he was about to move away, Abigail lunged at him.
"He did something! This weak thing can’t have bested me. It’s impossible!" she wailed, more like a rabid dog barking at anything that moved. Noah stared at her in annoyance. He hadn’t done anything. She was the one who had clearly attempted something and failed miserably, so how was it his fault that her so-called iconic powers had turned out to be useless?
"Bitch, please back off."
That single sentence made Abigail freeze. She looked at Noah in complete shock.
Did she hear that right?
Did this useless thing really just call her a bitch?
Slyvia quickly decided to save the day. Acting as though she was more important than everyone else, she stepped forward and gently held Abigail’s hands.
"It’s okay. Something must have malfunctioned. He didn’t beat you and he never could. You’re the Dragon Princess."
The words worked like magic. Abigail gradually calmed down before shooting Noah one last venomous glare.
"This isn’t over. It isn’t! I’ll make you pay for the embarrassment you caused me today. Just wait and see."
The two girls returned to their seats while Noah was finally dismissed.
Somehow, he had managed to escape the wrath of an angry woman he had apparently offended by doing absolutely nothing.
What a surprise.
Returning to the chair that gave his butt a permanent migraine, Noah slumped into it and silently prayed for class to end. Every passing second made him want to leave the academy even more.
He had never liked school.
The only reason he’d gone to one in his previous life was because his parents insisted he earn a degree. Now fate had somehow thrown him back into another school... inside the body of an idiot, no less.
How cruel could fate possibly be?
"You did amazingly well. How did you counter her spell? That’s never happened before."
Noah had only been half-listening to the omega beside him—the same one who had warned him earlier—but those last words instantly caught his attention.
Shit.
It had never happened before?
That could only mean more unwanted attention had just landed on him.
He was standing under another spotlight now, which also explained why Mr. Warwold kept staring at him throughout the lecture. Even while teaching, the man constantly glanced his way, almost as if trying to figure out what had gone wrong. Yet no matter how much he observed Noah, he couldn’t seem to find an explanation.
"I’m sure I’m not the first, so let’s not talk about it anymore. By the way... what’s your name? I wanted to thank you for warning me earlier."
The simple thank you made the young omega shrink back slightly in his already cramped seat. He stared at Noah as though trying to determine whether this was really the same Ashton he knew.
"What is it?" Noah frowned. "Did I say something weird?"
The boy slowly shook his head.
"I’m just shocked that you thanked me. You never associated with me before. The only time you acknowledged me, you burned all my books. I had to replace every single one of them, and it cost me my entire year’s feeding allowance."
As he whispered those words, Noah visibly paled.
Damn...
Was that really Ashton’s handiwork?
That was brutal.
"I... did all of that?"
He genuinely looked speechless.
No judgment though.
He actually felt bad for the poor guy, but seriously... who would’ve thought Ashton had the brains to pull off something that devious? As cruel as it was, it was oddly impressive. At least it was something interesting compared to all the other complaints Noah had been hearing about the body’s previous owner.
"Have you forgotten already? Well... I wasn’t planning on forgiving you anytime soon. But something about you has changed. You don’t feel like the Ashton I used to know."
Noah let out an awkward laugh.
Before he could come up with a response, he noticed Mr. Warwold walking directly toward them.
"Well," the teacher said dryly, "you two seem awfully passionate about each other. Why don’t you continue your conversation outside my classroom?"
Noah blinked.
The omega beside him blinked as well.
Without wasting another second, the two quietly left the classroom.
As though the gods themselves had taken pity on them, the dismissal bell rang the moment they stepped outside. Before Mr. Warwold could finish whatever lecture he had planned, the students poured out of the classroom like water escaping a broken dam.
Standing alone, Mr. Warwold slowly looked back at the arena where the two students had been meant to duel with magic.
His brows furrowed.
"This isn’t right," he muttered quietly. "I’ve never witnessed anything like this before. It shouldn’t even be possible... something is definitely wrong."
His gaze lingered on the scorched ground for another moment.
Then his body dissolved into thick black smoke and drifted silently out through the open window, disappearing into the evening air.
Outside the classroom, students streamed out in large numbers, making their way across the field toward their respective dormitories. Among them walked three figures together—Rose, Noah, and the young omega Noah had spoken to during class.
"Just tell me your name already. I’m tired of referring to you as the young shivering omega."
The omega stopped mid-step and stared at him in disbelief.
"Is... is that seriously how you see me? Am I really shivering all the time?"
Noah blinked at the question before looking at Rose.
She simply shrugged.
"Well... you’re doing it right now."
The omega immediately looked down at himself, only to realize he really was trembling again.
That made Noah groan.
"Just keep walking. It’s not a bad thing. Now, your name. After that, I have a few questions to ask, but let’s start with the basics."
The omega hesitated for a moment, seemingly debating whether or not he should trust him.
"I’m Noah Evernight... and you?"
The moment those words left Noah’s mouth, both of them looked at him strangely.
It took him a full second to realize his mistake.
He hadn’t introduced himself as Ashton.
"Oh... that’s my name from my father’s side." He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. "I don’t really like answering to Ashton. The name makes me want to puke."
It was a weak excuse.
Not entirely false... but definitely not the whole truth either.
The omega nodded slowly before introducing himself.
"I’m Lamia Alexandria."
He then gestured toward the girl beside them.
"And as you already know, this is Rose Bennett."
Perfect.
Now that introductions were finally out of the way, Noah could move on to what he actually wanted.
His goal was simple.
He needed information.
Everything that had happened before he woke up in Ashton’s body...
The enemies Ashton had made...
The reason he had fallen from such a terrifying height...
Every missing piece mattered.
"Cool. Now that we’re on the same page, can someone fill me in on everything I’m supposed to know? My head feels completely blank... like someone wiped it clean."
By then, they had arrived in front of the girls’ dormitory.
Rose slowed to a stop before turning toward him.
"Are you really having memory problems?" she asked worriedly. "If it’s that serious, we should report it. Someone might have done this to you on purpose."
Anger slowly crept onto her face, almost as though she had been the victim instead.
Noah couldn’t help smiling a little.
It was nice knowing someone genuinely cared.
Unfortunately...
That wasn’t what he needed right now.
"I am... but I don’t want this getting out. Even though you mentioned it in front of Mr. Warwold earlier, I don’t want anyone else knowing how bad it really is."
Lamia’s jaw practically dropped.
"Wait... it’s severe?" he exclaimed. "Oh my gosh! We have to take you to the Special Center right now, Ashton."
He immediately reached for Noah’s arm.
Noah quickly pulled it away.
Goodness...
Would they at least let him finish talking?
"Listen to me, both of you." He sighed. "I’m fine. I only lost a few memories. What I need right now is for someone to help fill in the blanks."
His expression softened.
"I know I haven’t exactly been the nicest person to either of you... especially you, Lamia. But I really need your help."
The two exchanged a glance before silently nodding.
Rose stepped closer and gave him a gentle hug.
"I’ll gladly help you, Ashton."
Lamia nodded as well.
"I’ll help too..." he admitted. "But don’t think I’ve forgiven you yet."
Noah chuckled.
"I wouldn’t expect you to."
Information was power.
Right now, information was exactly what he needed.
"I’ll explain everything to him," Lamia said.
He turned toward Rose.
"You should head back to your dorm. Ashton and I will go to ours."
Rose nodded before waving goodbye.
"Take care, both of you."
She paused for a second before adding more seriously,
"And remember... don’t leave your dorm after lights out. It’s one of the strictest rules in this academy. The punishment isn’t worth it."
Her warning lingered in Noah’s mind long after she disappeared inside the dormitory.
As he and Lamia continued walking toward the boys’ dorm, Noah finally voiced the question that had been bothering him.
"Why aren’t students allowed outside after lights out?"
He lowered his voice.
"It almost feels like the school is trying to hide something."
Lamia glanced around carefully before leaning closer.
"It’s only a rumor," he whispered, "but people say a flesh-eating creature was spotted wandering around the academy."
Noah frowned.
"No one has been able to catch or kill it. After that, the school tightened the rules to keep everyone inside at night."
A chill slowly crawled down Noah’s spine.
A flesh-eating creature?
He sincerely hoped it was nothing more than gossip.
He had already been thrown into another world, trapped inside someone else’s body, and nearly forced into a magical duel.
The last thing he needed was some monster trying to make him dinner.
Still...
Judging from how seriously everyone treated the curfew, perhaps the rumor wasn’t entirely made up.
"Maybe you heard wrong," Noah muttered, more to reassure himself than Lamia. "Either way, let’s continue this tomorrow."
He stretched tiredly.
"I’m exhausted."
Which honestly wasn’t surprising.
He had entered this strange world only a few hours ago.
His brain had barely had enough time to process everything that had happened.
His body was practically begging for sleep.
The two eventually reached the boys’ dormitory.
"I’ll see you tomorrow," Lamia said.
"Yeah."
Noah gave a lazy wave before walking toward his room.
The moment he stepped inside, he noticed someone already sleeping peacefully on the other bed.
His roommate.
Noah didn’t bother taking a proper look.
He was far too exhausted to care.
Without even changing out of his uniform, he collapsed onto the mattress.
Sleep claimed him almost instantly.
Several minutes later, the dormitory window beside Noah’s bed slid open without making a sound.
A hooded figure slipped inside with practiced ease.
Not a single creak.
Not a single footstep.
The stranger’s attention immediately settled on Noah’s sleeping form. For a long moment, he simply stood there, staring at the boy’s back as if trying to confirm something.
Then, barely above a whisper, he muttered,
"Ashton Lane... I’ve known your scent for years."
His voice was calm, almost thoughtful.
"But it’s gone."
He slowly stepped closer to the bed.
"In its place... there’s a new one."
He leaned down slightly, allowing himself another careful breath.
"Chamomile tea..."
His brows furrowed beneath the hood.
"It suits you... but it isn’t Ashton."
His eyes narrowed.
"And you’ve been acting differently ever since you woke up."
Silence filled the room.
"I know you’re not Ashton."
The stranger tilted his head, studying Noah’s peaceful face.
"So... who are you?"
Receiving no answer from the sleeping boy, he quietly walked around the bed.
Only then did he remove his shoes before placing them neatly beside the wall.
He looked back at Noah again.
The blanket had slipped halfway down, leaving his shoulders exposed.
With surprising gentleness, the hooded figure pulled it back over Noah’s chest, carefully tucking it around him as though afraid the night air might wake him.
For a brief moment, he simply stood there.
His gaze lingered on Noah’s face.
The soft red lips...
The relaxed expression...
The sleepy silver eyes hidden beneath closed lids...
His features were so delicate that, asleep, he looked less like the troublesome Ashton Lane everyone knew and more like an angel who had accidentally wandered into the wrong world.
The stranger remained frozen.
Almost mesmerized.
Then Noah shifted in his sleep.
His body rolled slightly toward the edge of the bed.
The sudden movement snapped the hooded figure out of his thoughts.
In the blink of an eye...
He vanished.
Not a sound.
Not a trace.
Only the faint scent of freshly picked lemons lingered in the room.
A few seconds later, Noah’s eyes slowly fluttered open.
He frowned.
"Lemons..."
The fragrance surrounded him.
Fresh.
Clean.
Almost as though someone had just sliced open dozens of them inside the room.
His heart skipped a beat.
He immediately pushed himself upright and looked around.
The room was empty.
His roommate was still asleep.
Nothing seemed out of place...
Except for one thing.
The window beside his bed stood wide open, allowing the cool night breeze to drift inside.
Noah stared at it for several long seconds.
A chill slowly crept down his spine.
"Holy hell..."