Killian looked from Theodore to Reginald.

"Top scorer?" He could barely believe it.

His thoughts immediately went toward the earlier conversation he had with Evelyn.

He thought the other two Top Scorers were almost mythical amongst the trainees since no one had ever seen them, but it seemed he was the only one unaware.

From the way Evelyn thought he lied about not knowing them, he expected them to be someone everyone spoke about, but not in his region.

How did the Olpha Region have three trainees that dominated the score list? And Theodore didn’t act like someone famous.

"What do you mean by top scorer?" Killian asked slowly. "Are you even sure he is the one?" Before Reginald could answer, a shadow stopped beside their table.

Killian looked up at him. It was Ephraim.

The boy quietly stretched out a folded note toward him and his eyes remained on the note, avoiding eye contact with Killian.

"My brother wanted me to give this to you."

Killian accepted it slowly while Reginald leaned over immediately with visible curiosity. Killian kept the letter closed still.

The younger brother hesitated for a second before quietly adding, "Theodore said... you should stop trying to greet people who clearly don’t want your greetings."

"..." Killian stared at him.

Then slowly unfolded the note anyway.

Reginald looked scandalized on his behalf. He watched the younger brother walk away while looking him over repeatedly. "That’s rude. How do you stay quiet when these things happen?"

Killian lowered his eyes toward the paper.

Despite what Ephraim had said, the contents of Theodore’s letter were different. It was just as Killian expected from his double personality, anyway.

’Meet me for training later today.

Since Evelyn and my brother are fighting today, my match and Keith’s were moved till tomorrow.

Don’t abandon me this time.’

Killian sighed, folding the letter. To send a handwritten letter when he could just talk was simply unnecessary. ’He is so extra for no reason.’

Then again, he knew he was partly at fault for Theodore having an attitude since he did abandon him during their training, then picked Keith when Theodore offered first.

Killian slowly lifted his head toward Theodore’s direction, and as he expected, Theodore was already watching him from across the cafeteria.

Killian gave him a small nod and watched Theodore look away afterward as if nothing had happened.

"So dramatic," he muttered under his breath, and turned to Reginald who leaned over the table. "He wants to train together later."

Reginald nearly choked on his drink. "Train? The proud Top Scorer wants to spar with you?" He stared at Killian differently now. "You are lucky."

Killian shrugged lightly. He remembered the simulation training they did together, and his suspicion that Theodore had killed some B-tier realm monsters but concealed that fact.

’I was right. He had always been suspicious. Now, I understand why my nerves never really relaxed around him.’

Reginald suddenly sat upright, dropping his empty soda can on the table. "Killian, I just realized something now."

Killian paused mid-thought, already disliking his tone. "What is it?"

"You’re in the Dragon Dorm too," Reginald said slowly. "That means you must be a big deal. Right? But I never asked about you."

Killian stayed quiet. That question preceded other things he didn’t want to talk about. He was satisfied with being invisible and no one expecting anything from him, in front of Reginald. "What do you want to know? There’s nothing interesting about me."

Reginald pointed at him dramatically. "Who are you?"

Killian rolled his eyes. "That sounds aggressive."

Reginald chuckled. "I’m serious though. Most Dragon Dorm students are from strong families, famous generations, or have terrifying rankings. So which one are you?"

Killian looked away briefly. ’He would probably treat me like before after I tell him. Wouldn’t he?’ He looked back at Reginald’s narrowing eyes. ’Probably not.’

He sighed. "My family isn’t exactly strong or from famous generations. We are just normal."

Reginald looked unconvinced. "Your version of normal and my version of normal probably aren’t the same thing. But if you are from a famous generation, you seem humble about it."

He studied Killian for another moment before eventually giving up with a sigh. "You must’ve done well during your missions then. I did feel how hot your fire was earlier. It’s scorching, actually."

Killian raised a brow, then smirked. He did notice Reginald step away when flame gathered in his palm but he assumed it was an instinctual reaction to fire. "Is it? I didn’t think the temperature would’ve increased that much."

He remembered Jenovan’s remark about his fire being unable to heat pizza. ’I should train with him again. He will be surprised.’

Reginald nodded absentmindedly while opening his next can of soda. His expression brightened when he remembered something else.

"Oh right. What’s your nickname? I never asked you. That should be the first thing we know about each other as Wardens, right?"

Killian had stilled when he asked. ’Ah. There it is.’

He could already feel the incoming problem. Somehow, that nickname prompted social stigma around him.

Still, avoiding the question now would only make it stranger later since they would have personal matches after tomorrow. So Killian answered calmly.

"Grim Warden."

Silence.

Reginald froze, and his arm raising his drink to his lips stopped mid-motion. His eyes slowly expanded.

The table beside them had also paused, and their eyes shifted towards Killian.

Even the students sitting two tables away suddenly stopped talking.

Killian slowly looked around confused. People were staring directly at him now, and one student almost dropped his spoon.

’Why the hell have they been eaves-dropping?’

He looked at Theodore and his brother who were also watching him for some reason.

’Did they not know too?’

Someone whispered something under his breath while looking horrified.

Reginald dropped his can on the table, and slowly, he leaned backward away from Killian.

Killian rubbed his forehead tiredly.

’Here we go again. Social stigma.’