Anomaly of Fate
Chapter 68: An Awkward Lunch Break (1)

Chapter 68: An Awkward Lunch Break (1)

Velren sighed, staring at the crest in his hand before letting his gaze drift to the paper beside it. A two-day weekend. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make him wonder how he should spend it.

Returning to the forest briefly crossed his mind, but he dismissed the thought almost immediately. It had only been a week since he left—going back so soon felt excessive. Besides, he could already imagine Fenrir’s irritated grumbling if he showed up without a good reason.

’You’re wasting your time visiting instead of doing something useful there.’

Yeah... he could do without that.

His eyes returned to the sheet detailing the commission system, specifically the part concerning Challenger-ranked commissions.

Challengers were considered competent enough to take on more complex requests, though they were still restricted from high-risk assignments. Tasks ranged from escort missions, material gathering, magical analysis, or acting as temporary aides for researchers. Unlike Initiates and Aspirants, who were mostly limited to internal academy requests, Challengers could accept commissions from external clients as well.

The more he read, the more he considered it. A few bonus grades wouldn’t hurt, and the monetary rewards were tempting. He couldn’t keep relying on Gramps’ monthly allowance forever.

His thoughts were interrupted by a voice.

"May we sit here?"

Velren looked up, finding himself face-to-face with Eterna. She stood by the table with a tray in hand, her expression as composed as ever. But what caught his attention was the red-haired girl beside her, who looked mildly horrified by the sudden request.

"Wha—why do we have to sit here?" Raine blurted, darting her eyes between Eterna and Velren.

Eterna glanced around the cafeteria before replying smoothly.

"I don’t see another empty spot for two."

Raine let out an exaggerated groan but, after a brief moment of resistance, finally huffed and settled into the seat across from Velren.

Velren blinked. ’I didn’t even give her permission yet...’

Then again, he had no real reason to refuse them either.

Normally, Kael would be the one sitting with him, but given how he was still handling the aftermath of the exam, it wasn’t surprising that he was absent.

Velren met Eterna’s expectant gaze before giving her a slight nod. Without another word, she took the seat next to Raine.

He resisted the urge to sigh.

’Was she just going to stand there if I didn’t give the nod?’

Velren’s gaze instinctively drifted toward Raine’s tray first. At a glance, it looked like a normal meal set—a balanced serving of meat, vegetables, and bread. But what immediately stood out was the sheer number of ice cream variations she had stacked on the side. Small bowls of sorbet, a parfait glass filled to the brim, and even a simple cone resting on the edge of her tray.

’Does she... really like cold things that much?’ Velren wondered, a bit amused.

However, his mild surprise didn’t last long, as what truly caught him off guard was what Eterna had placed on the table.

A massive amount of food.

It wasn’t just a slightly bigger portion—it was practically double, no, triple the normal serving size. Plates of roasted meat, a side of hearty stew, an entire loaf of fresh bread, and even a generous portion of fruit tarts. It was a meal fit for someone who had just come back from a week of starvation.

’That is not what I had in mind when I thought about this usually calm and aloof girl...’

As if sensing his gaze, Eterna suddenly turned toward him.

Velren barely had time to react before their eyes met. Caught red-handed, he stiffened a little..

She tilted her head ever so slightly before speaking in a tone as smooth as ever.

"It’s improper to watch a girl eat."

Velren almost choked on air.

"So—sorry!" He averted his gaze immediately, forcing himself to focus on his own meal instead.

That should have been the end of it. And yet, as they quietly ate, a strange awkwardness settled between them.

No one spoke. There were no forced attempts at conversation, no lingering stares, no unnecessary chatter—just the sound of the three of them munching on their own food. And yet, despite all that, the air still felt undeniably awkward.

Velren wasn’t sure why.

Maybe it was because of how sudden this whole situation was. Maybe it was because these weren’t just any two students, but two of the top five first-years. Maybe it was because he wasn’t used to eating in silence with company.

Or maybe... it was something worse:

A faint murmur caught his attention.

He glanced to the side, his ears picking up the whispers of a few nearby students around the cafetaria.

They weren’t even trying to hide it. Their hushed voices, their curious stares, their barely contained gossip—it was obvious.

"Why are they sitting with him?"

"Wait... isn’t that Raine Ashford? And Eterna Lys?"

"That guy... what’s his name again?"

"He was a first year too, right? I heard he fought Raine and held his own."

"No way—seriously?!"

Of course.

Two well-known figures among the first-years students suddenly choosing to sit with an unknown nobody—of course people were going to talk.

And the worst part? He could already feel the attention spreading around him.

Some students were merely throwing occasional glances, but others were outright staring. Some whispering in hushed voices, while others barely hiding their intrigue.

Velren sighed inwardly, rubbing his temple.

’This is exactly why I prefer being unnoticed...’

He suddenly became hyper-aware of his every movement. The way he picked up his fork, the way he chewed his food—everything felt like it was under a microscope.

"Tch." Raine clicked her tongue in irritation.

"They’re staring too much."

Velren nearly groaned at her words.

’You don’t say?’

Eterna, on the other hand, remained unfazed. She didn’t even spare a glance toward their surroundings, continuing to eat as if none of it concerned her.

’I take it back... there was actually a reason to decline them after all...’

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