CHAPTER 132: IT WAS UNCLE MARC

{Elira}

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"Today," Rennon said, his voice steady, "we will focus on reading your opponent’s stance before they even move. Combat is not just about strength, it’s foresight. If you can see their decision before they act, you’ve already won."

Pens scratched softly against notebooks. The students at the front leaned forward, eager, while those in the middle exchanged nervous glances as if already anticipating the practical test that would follow.

I gripped my pen a little tighter, fighting off the sluggishness that threatened to creep in while trying harder to focus.

And then I felt Rennon’s eyes lingering on me for just a moment. His gaze wasn’t piercing like Zenon’s, nor teasing like Lennon’s. It was calm, steady, almost grounding.

When he called for volunteers to stand and demonstrate, my heart raced just like back then in Lennon’s class. I was terrified he might call my name. But instead, he looked elsewhere, picking students who were eager to prove themselves.

Each time his gaze brushed over me, though, it never lingered long, like he knew I needed space rather than pressure.

Still, I couldn’t shake the awareness.

Even when he corrected another student’s stance, his words seemed to carry toward me as well: "Balance matters. If you’re weighed down by something like fear or exhaustion, it will show in the way you move. Never give your opponent the chance to see it."

The class scribbled down the wisdom as though it were nothing more than a lecture note. But I felt the weight of it sink deeper into me. His calm, quiet way of protecting me without calling me out.

I found myself relaxing more into the lesson.

"...That will be all for today," Rennon said, his voice calm as always. "Before you leave, if there’s anyone who has questions or feels uncertain about what we covered, speak now."

For a moment, silence filled the classroom. No one raised their hand. It was as if they understood everything and didn’t need any help. But that was different from me.

My heart thudded, but something inside me pushed past the nerves. And slowly, I lifted my hand.

Every head turned to me, but I kept my gaze forward, steady, waiting.

Rennon’s eyes found mine. There was the briefest flicker of warmth in his expression before his tone returned to its usual calm.

"Miss Shaw," he said evenly, "meet me in the training hall after your last class today."

A ripple of surprise swept across the room, hushed murmurs quickly filling the air. But Rennon gave no one time to dwell on it. He gathered his notes, nodded once to the class, and walked out with the same steady composure as always.

I bit back a smile, heat fluttering low in my chest, happy that I got to spend a private time with him, and a chance to learn without every eye watching. That thought alone made my nerves hum with anticipation.

I slipped my books into my arms, slid my phone into my palm, and joined the current of students leaving the room.

The hallway outside was already alive with noise—laughter, chatter, the slamming of lockers, footsteps echoing in a dozen directions at once.

Weaving my way through the tide, I finally reached the first-year locker hall. My eyes scanned quickly for Cambria, Juniper, Tamryn, and Nari, but none of them were here yet.

So I went straight to my locker first and dumped my books. The metal door closed with a soft clang, and I leaned back against it for a second, drawing a breath.

Habit tugged me toward my phone. I unlocked it, slid into our group chat, and typed quickly:

Elira: [It seems I’m the only one who is done with her first class today.]

My finger hovered for half a beat before pressing send. The screen lit with the little "sent" tick, and I found myself waiting for any of them to answer soon.

The message ticked green, and I didn’t have to wait long before a notification popped up at the top of my screen.

Nari:[Don’t remind me. Our professor kept us extra 10 minutes. Torture!]

I smiled faintly, shaking my head. Of course, she would be the first to complain.

Another bubble appeared almost instantly.

Juniper:[Same here. And my brain is already fried. How is this only the first class of the day??]

I bit my lip, fighting back a laugh at her dramatic phrasing.

Cambria:[I will be done in 5 minutes. Wait for me in the cafeteria, okay?]

Cambria’s calm practicality settled me a little, even through the text.

A moment later, another message joined theirs.

Tamryn:[Still in class. But Nari keeps glaring at our professor like she wants to fight him. Pray for us.]

I chuckled softly, shoulders loosening as I read. It was so easy to imagine Tamryn’s deadpan delivery behind the words.

Nari’s bubble blinked again.

Nari:[He deserves the glares. If I were in Elira’s shoes, I would have marched out already. Elira, wait for us at our usual table. Don’t let anyone steal it.]

My lips curved before I could stop them.

Elira: [I will guard it. See you all soon.]

As soon as I typed out the last message, a thought tugged sharply at me—the unknown number that had called me this morning.

But now, with the hallway thinning out as students streamed toward the cafeteria, curiosity gnawed at me.

Quickly, I tapped into the call history and stared at the string of numbers. My thumb hovered for a breath before I pressed dial.

The line rang twice before the call connected.

"Elira, Dear?" A familiar voice came through, deep and steady, yet threaded with something softer.

I froze mid-step as my heart gave a startled lurch. "Uncle Marc?"

"Yes." A small pause followed as though he were smiling faintly on the other end. "I’m glad you answered."

I blinked hard, thrown by the suddenness of it all. "I... I wasn’t expecting your call."

"I know," he admitted, his voice calm but careful. "And I should have reached out sooner. Tell me, how are you doing?"

For a second, I wanted to ask how he had gotten my number, but the words never left me. Instead, I drew a steadying breath. "I’m doing fine."