The Green Eyed Immortal.

Mirielle stood frozen, watching as Valen disappeared into the shadows of the academy grounds, his silver hair catching the last traces of moonlight before he was gone completely.

Her heart was still pounding not from fear, but from the sheer audacity of their interaction. She had never spoken to anyone like that before, let alone a professor. Yet, she had retaliated without hesitation, challenging his taunts with her sharp words. 

A cool breeze brushed past her, and it was only then that she realised she was still standing there, her fists clenched at her sides. With a deep breath, she forced herself to relax, but as she turned back towards the lake, her thoughts lingered on something peculiar. 

He called me by my name.

She frowned, wrapping her arms around herself as the weight of that realisation sank in. 

She had never introduced herself to Professor Valen. She had never spoken to him before. So how did he know who she was? 

Was he the type of teacher who memorised all his students' names from a single roll call? That seemed unlikely.

Most professors didn't even bother to learn names unless the student did something remarkable—or, more often, something wrong. 

But she had done neither. 

Yet, he had addressed her so casually, as if he had known from the start. 

Mirielle bit her lip. 

She had never cared much about how others viewed her, but the fact that he had noticed her was unnerving. 

And then there was the other thing—the accusation. 

"Are you taking advantage of being the founder's great-granddaughter?" 

Her chest tightened. 

She had spent her whole life making sure no one knew. The last thing she wanted was to be treated differently because of Donovan. 

But Eren Valen had known. 

And that… that was even more disturbing. 

Her fingers trembled slightly as she wrapped them tighter around herself. 

Who are you, Professor Valen?

She turned her gaze back toward the lake, staring at the way the moonlight shimmered on the water's surface. A reflection of the night sky, vast and untouchable. 

Just like him. 

With a quiet sigh, she turned on her heel and began walking back to the dormitory. There was no point in standing here any longer, lost in questions she couldn't answer. 

But she failed to notice someone's eyes that lingered on her until she reached her dorm.

Eren Valen was watching her. 

--------------------

Mirielle woke before the sun had fully risen, the soft hues of dawn spilling through the tall windows of her dormitory. The air was crisp with morning freshness, and for once, she didn't hear the usual rustling and murmuring of her roommates stirring awake.

Rishi and Sabreena were still deep in sleep, their soft breathing the only sounds in the room.

Slipping out of bed, she moved quietly, careful not to wake them as she dressed in her academy uniform. The silence of the early morning wrapped around her like a comforting embrace, and she found solace in it.

Today was the beginning of their specialised elemental classes, where students were divided based on their abilities. It was meant to refine their control and mastery over their elements.

Unfortunately for her, that meant she would be placed in the elemental control class which belonged to the weakest.

She sighed as she adjusted her uniform, fastening the golden buttons before gathering her books.

After a glance at the clock, she decided to head to the classroom early. The halls were mostly empty as she walked through them, her boots tapping softly against the marble floors. 

The quietness of the academy at this hour made it feel almost dreamlike, as though she were walking through an entirely different world—one that existed before the chaos of students filled the space with chatter and movement.

When she arrived, the classroom was empty as expected. Rows of desks stood neatly arranged, waiting for their occupants. She made her way to a seat near the back and placed her books down, exhaling softly as she allowed herself a moment to breathe.

The stillness of the room made her thoughts louder.

Her mind drifted back to the previous night to Valen, to his cold, piercing gaze and the way he had spoken to her as if he had already judged and sentenced her in his mind.

She scowled slightly.

That man…

Shaking her head, she decided she had spent too much time thinking about him already.

A few more minutes passed, and she realised she had forgotten about Arian.

Frowning, she stood, deciding that it was time to wake her twin up before he was late for class.

However, as soon as she stepped out of the classroom and made her way toward his dormitory building, she came to an abrupt halt.

There he was walking ahead of her, surrounded by a group of students, laughing and talking animatedly.

Mirielle's lips parted slightly as she watched the scene unfold.

He had made friends.

Arian had always been the more social one, but seeing him like this so effortlessly blending in, so naturally included was something she hadn't expected to witness so soon.

A strange feeling settled in her chest.

She had always thought of them as inseparable. Even at home, he had always been by her side. But here, it seemed like he was already carving a space for himself among his peers.

And she…

She felt as if she were standing outside of it all, watching from a distance.

She didn't want to disturb him.

Turning on her heel, she quietly walked away, deciding against calling out to him.

By the time she returned to the classroom, more students had arrived.

Her class consisted of only ten students.

Most were humans, rare individuals who had somehow manifested abilities, though their power was weak due to their mortal nature. The rest were supernatural creatures who could tap into their magic but lacked the control and finesse required to wield it effectively.

And then there was her.

The only one who had no abilities at all.

The humans whispered among themselves. The supernatural students ignored her completely, as though she were nothing more than a background figure.

As the bell rang, the door opened, and all murmuring ceased.

Valen stepped inside.

The temperature of the room seemed to shift, a quiet tension filling the space at his mere presence.

He did not waste a single second.

Valen strode to the front of the class, his gaze sharp as he addressed them.

"Elemental control is the foundation of all combat magic," he stated, his voice deep and commanding. "Today, we will begin with the basics—understanding the fundamental properties of each element."

His presence was suffocating.

Mirielle tried to focus on his words, but the memory of their previous encounter was too fresh, too raw.

Then—

"Mirielle."

Her breath caught in her throat.

She stiffened in her seat as his voice—smooth, yet sharp—cut through the silence.

All eyes turned to her.

She slowly looked up, meeting his gaze.

Cold. Intense.

"Come to the front," he said.

Her heart pounded.

After yesterday, she had hoped to avoid drawing any attention. But now, all of that hope had been shattered.

She hesitated for only a moment before standing and making her way to the front of the class, each step feeling heavier than the last.

Facing the students, she swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their gazes on her.

"Extend your hands. Palms up."

His words were clipped, leaving no room for hesitation.

She obeyed, her fingers trembling slightly as she raised her hands.

Eren moved closer.

Her breath hitched.

From the corner of her eye, she caught the faint movement of his hands, and then—

The leaves on his desk rustled, rising into the air before drifting toward her palms.

Mirielle barely had time to react as the delicate greenery wrapped around her hands.

A soft glow pulsed through the leaves, and suddenly—

She felt it.

A gentle warmth spread through her skin, seeping into the wound on her palm—the small scrape she had received from her fall last night.

The pain vanished.

The wound sealed itself as if it had never been there.

The leaves uncurled and floated back to the desk.

Mirielle stared at her now-healed palm, her lips slightly parted.

"This," Eren said, his voice drawing her out of her daze, "is the basic use of the element of earth. Healing."

He turned to the class, his tone detached, as if what had just happened was nothing more than a simple demonstration.

"Those with an affinity for the earth will find that it can mend, restore, and reinforce. It is not just a defensive element—it is life, healing."

Mirielle barely heard him.

Her pulse was still erratic, her skin tingling where the leaves had touched her.

Slowly, she glanced up at him.

His gaze was already on her.

The way he looked at her…

It was suffocating.

Her fingers curled slightly, still tingling with the remnants of magic.

She should have been relieved that her wound had been healed and he hadn't brought up yesterday's conversation.

But all she could focus on was the lingering sensation of his presence.

And the way her heart refused to settle.