The effects of Astrea’s verge pressure still lingered having initially hit like a wave on the cafeteria.

That half a second was enough for heads that understood the pressure to turn in her direction.

Astrea remained silent as the red aura completely dissipated like it was never there in the first place.

Leaning back, Dean didn’t take too long to muse about the fate that her slip of control was something that tied them.

Or did she notice that we were alike, hence why she took an interest in him? Dean stayed calm even as she regained her composure.

"So...," Dean whistled.

"So?"

"How about that lunch?" Dean said.

Astrea’s eyes narrowed. She couldn’t understand how this boy’s mind works. He should have been asking why she lost control and yet.

She smiled. "Sure... let’s have lunch."

"Alright," Dean nodded. He wanted to approach her first before grabbing food. Hence why he was here.

"So..what do you want?" He asked.

"I am a vampire," she replied as if he was supposed to know what’s on her mind.

"So... Blood?"

"Yes, Blood matters the most, everything else is just secondary."

Dean nodded. "Alright." And began walking to the food line where the meals on the menu were placed.

Quickly grabbing two trays, he moved down the line and almost at the same time his stomach growled, the system chimed.

Ding!

[You have completed several self-imposed objectives]

[You have attended classes consistently for two days]

[Rewards: 800EXP]

[You begin Archery training with Ymir]

[Rewards: 2000EXP]

[You made a new Friend: Ymir Argent]

[Rewards: 1500EXP]

[You have confronted Astrea Vermith]

[Rewards: 1500EXP]

[Total EXP: 15300EXP]

Dean moved slowly as he read through the system notifications.

Now he was more than certain he could rank up but he wanted to amass even more experience points.

He wanted a leap from Elite 2 to maybe Elite 5 and since he was getting rewarded for even activities like making new friends.

Grinding was the only way forward. But he still felt cheated right now. Why didn’t the system reward him for surviving a Jump fest.

He looked away from the notifications and then his eyes caught the two werewolves from earlier.

They were seated at the eastern wing of the cafeteria. Watching him without a single shred of subtlety.

It was like they wanted him to know they were watching him. Dean smiled and waved at them.

He needed them to know, he wasn’t by any means scared of them or Marcus who might have sent them.

"I need some blood, and–" Dean was speaking to the personnel behind the counter when Rogue and his crew burst through the doors of the cafeteria laughing and having a good time.

"Hmm.." his eyes squinted. But he chose to ignore and would have if he didn’t see the girl hugging Rogue.

"Vanessa..." Dean snapped inwardly. It was the girl he saw at the alley, flirting with those bastards that attacked him.

So it was Rogue all along. Dean was actually surprised. He thought he was such a good judge of people. How could he have misjudged Rogue.

"How many pi–"

Dean ignored the personnel, dropping the trays off, as he moved directly to Rogue without a second thought.

Most of the room’s attention followed him like a magnet as Astrea squinted even as Ymir’s lips curled into a devious smirk.

Amongst Rogue’s crew, David was the first to spot Dean marching towards them with a menacing gait.

"Hey, Rogue," David tapped him and gestured.

But it was too late. Dean was already in front of Rogue and Vanessa.

"So you had your friend send her boyfriend to jump me huh?" Dean said calmly.

Before he moved closer, to stare directly into Rogue’s blue eyes. "I knew you were a bitch, but I never took you to be a coward too."

Ymir chuckled and nearly burst out laughing as heads turned in her direction before quickly turning away.

"Back off... I don’t know what you’re talking about fool," Rogue barked.

Standing like a mountain, Dean didn’t back off. Rogue was going to get what’s coming to him.

"So you didn’t send five morons to attack me?" He looked away from Rogue and stared at Vanessa. "Five morons that wouldn’t stop talking about her."

Vanessa suddenly laughed. It seemed Dean had said something quite funny without realizing.

"The fool’s crazy," she said while playfully hugging Rogue’s hand. Dismissing Dean’s accusation.

"I may be crazy but I’m not blind," Dean smirked.

"Saw your skanky ass with that sophomore and his boys, and you were doing more than talking." he wiggled both his brows as he looked at Rogue.

Vanessa’s smile quickly faded as she looked up at Rogue.

Rogue at this point, was just blank, staring at Dean with disbelief. And without looking at Vanessa, he asked with a deep tone.

"Is this true?"

"N-no, he’s lying," she held onto Rogue even tighter.

"Hahahahaha," Dean laughed. He was putting on a show now.

"Yet you can’t look me in the eyes," Dean said to Vanessa as he stepped back with a darkened expression. "Yeah...she’s cheating on you."

Rogue’s expression went through the four stages of grief in a second as he looked at Vanessa. Anger bleeding from his voice.

"I don’t need anyone fighting my battles. How dare you?"

And in that moment, Dean understood. This wasn’t even about cheating for this boy.

It was the principle. His ego. The need to prove something to himself.

"I-i just wanted," Vanessa couldn’t bring herself to speak, when Rogue was giving her a death stare.

"You had no right..." Rogue snapped again. "I don’t need your help taking care of–"

"Yes... you do." Dean intercepted.

Rogue’s jaw clenched. And at that moment, Dean saw it. Rogue’s ego broke like a dam.

"You fucking bastard, you wanna go?" He raged even as blue light erupted all around him.

And a magic circle formed by his right hand side as streaks of lightning flew in different directions.

From the depths of the circle, a massive dire wolf rose up. Its eyes were sanguine as it growled ferociously even as lightning streaked around its fur.

Rogue stepped forward as everyone except Dean and Vanessa left his vicinity.

"Open that damn mouth of yours again," Rogue snarled even as lightning crackled through his body while he stood face to face with Dean.