As the chaos began to subside and the situation returned to normal, Balqis glanced at Navies, a faint smile curling on her lips. There was a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Master, shouldn't we remain calm?"
Navies raised an eyebrow, his expression as if weighing her words before responding with a subtle smile.
"Stop copying what I say."
For a moment, silence hung between them. Then, a small chuckle escaped their lips light, brief, as if sharing a secret only they understood.
Before Navies could step towards his classroom, a hand landed on his shoulder.
Rendra.
The figure stood tall before him, his eyes carrying both curiosity and sincere gratitude.
"I saw what happened earlier," he said, his tone casual but full of meaning. "And I also want to thank you for your help yesterday. My name is Rendra."
He extended a hand before adding in a lighter tone, "As a thank-you, let me treat you after school if you have time."
Navies studied him for a moment, his gaze searching for something in Rendra's expression. Then, after a few seconds that felt longer than they should have, he gave a small nod.
"Sure."
No further words were exchanged. They walked side by side, their steps in sync, making their way through the corridor towards their respective classrooms. A quiet beginning in a school filled with intrigue and untold stories.
But as Navies stepped into his classroom, he was met with a sight he had anticipated since yesterday.
A scene that felt almost like déjà vu a moment replaying itself.
And he knew this was going to be a long day.
In the corner of the room, a group of lower-class students who had entered through academic merit were busy serving the children of high-ranking officials, like invisible servants bound by unseen chains. Some scurried back and forth from the cafeteria, trays trembling in their grasp. Others knelt on the floor, their fingers expertly massaging the shoulders of Huang Zicheng, the self-proclaimed ruler of the class, who sat leisurely, relishing the special treatment as if he were a young emperor.
Not far from him, Laura sat in her chair with an air of arrogance, a girl kneeling before her, carefully tending to her nails and adjusting her hair like a personal stylist. The soft laughter of superiority echoed from their group, blending with the sound of shuffling shoes and the lazy flipping of textbook pages.
Navies walked to his desk with an unhurried pace, his expression unreadable. His gaze swept across the room not in judgment, merely observation.
However, his attention was not on the tyranny of Huang Zicheng and his clique. Something else intrigued him more.
On the other side of the classroom, the students from Class A who had not entered through academic merit simply sat in silence. They neither participated in the chaos nor attempted to stop it. They merely observed, expressionless, as if hiding something beneath their quiet demeanor.
And to Navies, those who chose silence were often more dangerous than those who openly displayed arrogance.
Suddenly
Thud!
A stack of books and papers landed heavily on his desk, some sheets sliding to the edge, nearly falling.
Navies looked up.
In front of him, Huang Zicheng stood casually, his hands tucked into his pockets, his expression lazy yet radiating authority.
"Hey, Navies," he said, his voice light, almost friendly. "You're the genius of this school, right? Help me finish my math, English, and German assignments."
Then, with deliberate slowness, Huang Zicheng leaned in, his voice lowering so only the two of them could hear.
"I need them done by tomorrow morning. I don't want to get punished by that old teacher again. Got it?"
A smirk played on his lips. "Or… you already know what happens otherwise."
For a moment, silence stretched between them.
Navies looked at him. Not with fear, not with anger. Just a steady gaze, as if assessing something.
To Navies, Huang Zicheng was nothing more than a spoiled child too accustomed to power. Someone born on a throne polished by others, believing the world would always bow to him.
And dealing with people like him, direct defiance was never the smartest choice.
"Alright," he finally replied, taking the papers without protest.
A satisfied grin spread across Huang Zicheng's face. He patted Navies on the shoulder once a gesture that could be mistaken for camaraderie but felt more like a warning.
Without another word, he turned and strolled back to his seat.
Meanwhile, Navies merely stared at the pile of assignments before him. His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, his expression unreadable.
The day had just begun.
And as he had predicted, it was going to be a long one.
That day's lessons felt like pure torture for Navies. The teacher's monotonous voice was nothing more than a distant hum in his ears, while his eyes remained fixed on the board without truly seeing it.
The material being taught was something he had already mastered by the age of seven—numbers, formulas, and sentences in multiple languages that most students found complex were nothing but a repetitive, unchallenging cycle for him.
Yet, he still pretended to listen. Occasionally, he let his pen move across his notebook, sketching meaningless scribbles—just enough to create the illusion that he was taking notes.
The clock's hands seemed to move slower than usual.
Until finally—
Riiing!
The school bell rang, signaling the end of yet another dull day.
Navies calmly gathered his belongings, unhurried, unlike most of his classmates who rushed out the door in a frenzy. As he stepped outside, the soft afternoon breeze greeted him.
And there, at the school gate, someone was waiting for him.
Balqis.
She stood with a straight posture, her face as expressionless as ever. But there was a glint in her eyes when she saw Navies approaching.
Before she could move any closer, Navies raised a hand, stopping her.
"Go home first."
Balqis stared at him, hesitating for a moment. "Why?"
"Rendra wants to take me somewhere," he replied casually.
She didn't respond, but the sharp look in her eyes spoke volumes.
Navies let out a small sigh before adding, "I'll be home before dinner."
He met her gaze directly, making sure his words were convincing enough before continuing, "And most importantly, call off the guards. I don't want anyone following me."
Balqis remained silent for a few seconds, as if calculating the risks and consequences. Eventually, she nodded.
"Understood, Sir."
Her voice was flat, but there was a faint weight to those two words. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, her figure soon vanishing into the sea of students.
Navies exhaled slowly, allowing his shoulders to relax slightly before making his way toward where Rendra was waiting.
He had no idea what surprise awaited him today.
But one thing was certain—the day was far from over.
As Balqis disappeared into the crowd, Navies felt a subtle weight lift off his shoulders. But that relief barely lasted a moment before an arm casually draped around him.
"Ah, there you are!"
Navies glanced to the side. Rendra stood there, his face bright with excitement, his grin wide—almost like a child who had just discovered something fascinating.
Without warning, Rendra pulled him along, leading him toward the livelier part of the street. His movements were relaxed yet full of intent.
"Come with me for a bit. There's a place you have to check out," he said, his tone brimming with undeniable enthusiasm.
Navies didn't react much. He simply let himself be guided, his steps steady, his gaze observant.
The evening sky was beginning to shift, fading from pale blue to golden orange. The dimming sunlight reflected off the windows of the surrounding shops, casting a soft, warm glow.
People bustled about—some students from their school still lingered by the sidewalk, chatting away, while other pedestrians hurried on with their own affairs. The air carried the enticing aroma of street food—the rich sweetness of caramelized sugar from a cotton candy stall, the warm, buttery scent drifting from a bakery on the corner, and the unmistakable savory smokiness of satay sizzling over an open flame.
Yet, amidst the vibrant atmosphere, Navies remained aware of the subtler details.
How Rendra seemed almost too relaxed, deliberately avoiding direct eye contact. How his fingers tapped rhythmically against Navies' shoulder every now and then, as if betraying a hint of nervous energy.
And how, despite his words sounding like a simple invitation, there was something more to them—something beyond just a fun place to visit.
Navies didn't ask.
Not yet.
He simply followed, allowing his curiosity to lead him toward whatever awaited at the end of this path.