Chapter 11

Reflections

The cafeteria buzzed with morning energy — the clatter of cutlery, the low hum of overlapping conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter created a tapestry of youthful chaos. Sunlight poured through the tall windows, warming the long wooden tables and catching in the swirling steam rising from mugs of tea and trays of hot breakfast. The smell of freshly baked bread mingled with sweet fruit and something unidentifiably magical coming from the enchanted food corner.

At one of the tables, Raphael sat comfortably with a half-eaten sandwich on his tray, its strange glowing garnish drawing a few curious glances from nearby students. Kael and Liam were seated across from him, both nursing mugs of something dark and bitter — probably the school’s version of strong coffee.

Liam couldn’t hold back. His voice cut through the noise.
– Dude! What’s gotten into you?

Raphael blinked, caught mid-chew.
– What do you mean? – replied Raphael between bites of a rather unusual-looking sandwich.

Liam leaned in, his brows furrowed, frustration lacing his tone.
– Do you have a death wish or something? Are you seriously not afraid of anything?

Kael sighed quietly, lowering his cup and glancing at Liam with mild exasperation.
– Liam, give him a break – Kael cut in – how was he supposed to know who Ethan is and what kind of reputation he has?

Raphael calmly wiped his fingers on a napkin, unfazed by the tension. His voice remained light, almost thoughtful.
– Guys, it’s not like I’m not afraid of anything. I’m afraid of a lot of things. But life has taught me there’s no point in burying your head in the sand – you might miss something interesting.

Across the table, Liam stared at him like he’d just sprouted wings.

– Don’t look at me like that. I just think you shouldn’t take everything too seriously, or I’ll end up with ulcers – he added with a wink, trying to ease the tension – Life is too beautiful, and at the same time it rushes forward relentlessly. You have to enjoy every moment and soak in every experience, both the good and the bad. Whatever will be, will be.

A student from another table nearby let out a loud laugh, momentarily drawing their attention, but the trio remained in their own bubble. Liam tilted his head, frowning.
– So you’re saying you just don’t care about anything? – Liam asked, surprised.

Kael didn’t speak, but something shifted in his posture. He sat a little straighter, watching Raphael intently. His face, calm and unreadable, revealed nothing of what was going on behind his sharp eyes.

– No, it’s not that I don’t care. I don’t mean to just drift along passively. I feel everything deeply too, but I try not to get too attached to whatever happened. I toss it into my collection of memories and move on. Sometimes with a radiant smile, sometimes with a black eye – he winked at Liam, trying to appease him – Even the worst failure can teach us a lesson that helps us in life.

– So that’s why you have to put yourself in harm’s way? – Liam kept pushing.

Raphael met Liam’s stare without flinching.
– Thanks for the faith in me – he looked at Liam’s irritated face and winked at him – But seriously, it’s not like I go looking for danger around every corner. But when it shows up, I don’t run away from it. I don’t want to spend my life looking over my shoulder or living in the past or in “what ifs.”

Liam crossed his arms, still clearly unconvinced.
– I still don’t get it.

Raphael’s gaze drifted to the sunlit windows for a moment, lost in a memory.
– You know, during a time in Greece with my guardians, we went to Crete – it’s a pretty well-known island there. And on the grave of one writer I saw an inscription: “I hope for nothing, I fear nothing, I am free.” I still remember how much that shook me. I was sixteen then and I thought – I want that too. I want to be free.

Liam’s expression softened, the edge in his voice replaced with something more curious.
– Is that why you’re not trying to get close to anyone? – Liam asked, now with a gentler tone.

– No, it’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just that different experiences have shown me there’s no point in rushing or forcing a relationship. I’m not running away from it. But I carry a few scars. Maybe I was too trusting, too empathetic. But that doesn’t mean I want to become someone else. Maybe one day I’ll meet someone I feel good and safe with, who won’t use me or try to manipulate me.

– But I take it you don’t plan to live like a monk until then… – added Liam with a mischievous grin.

Kael facepalmed, Raphael just laughed.
– You’re impossible! – and ruffled Liam’s hair before he could dodge.

Kael checked the time with a subtle flick of his wrist, the spell on his bracelet glowing faintly.
– All right, boys – Kael interrupted – time to get going. Liam, you’ve got class starting soon. Raphael, Elara had some urgent commitments and asked if I could take over guiding you through school life. Of course, only if you’re okay with that.

Raphael stood, brushing crumbs from his shirt.
– Yeah, no problem. So what’s first on the list?

Kael smirked.
– How about the “fun room” – that’s our joking name for the biggest common area?

– Oh! I like it already! See you, Liam!

After the other two had left the table, Liam stayed behind for a moment to finish his sweet bun.
The cafeteria had quieted slightly, the early rush giving way to a more relaxed hum. Sunlight filtered in through the tall windows, casting golden stripes across the table where he sat. A few students lingered nearby, chatting softly, but Liam barely noticed them.

As usual, he couldn’t resist and had to get himself some kind of dessert — well, what could he do, he loved sweets.
The bun sat on his tray, half-eaten, glazed with something sticky and delicious. Normally, he would have devoured it with a grin and maybe even reached for seconds.

Although this time he ate a little half-heartedly, as he was too deep in thought.
He chewed slowly, barely tasting the familiar sweetness, his mind replaying the conversation from earlier.

What Raphael had said spoke to him on a very deep level.
There had been a calmness in his voice, a quiet certainty that didn’t come from arrogance, but from something far more grounded. It made Liam stop and look inward in a way he rarely did.

He had never really looked at things that way before.
To live without fear — not because you were brave, but because you chose not to be controlled by it…
There was something noble in that.

There was something intriguing and appealing in that way of thinking, in that approach to life. It was both serious and somehow light, joyful.
A strange mix, like laughing with tears in your eyes. It stayed with him, lingering in the corners of his mind.

Liam had always considered himself a cheerful, carefree guy — and yet, there was something captivating in Raphael’s philosophy.
He’d never thought he would admire someone like that — someone so… different.
But he did.

Yes. Raphael was definitely an interesting person.
A person full of mysteries.

Though… after recent events, he began to wonder if he really was a person at all.
There was something in his eyes, something that flickered beneath the surface, like a secret never meant to be spoken.

Whoever — or whatever — he was, Liam was still glad he had met him.
Some people stirred things in you you didn’t know were there. And Raphael… Raphael was one of those people.

Xxxx

At another table, Ethan was watching Raphael and his companions out of the corner of his eye, though he pretended not to. The cafeteria buzzed with life — the sound of clinking cutlery, overlapping conversations, and occasional bursts of laughter filled the vast space under the arched, wooden ceiling. Glowing lanterns floated above the long tables, casting soft golden light over the students and their trays. The scent of freshly baked bread and warm spice lingered in the air.

He saw how they were agitated at the beginning, their movements tense and guarded, but over time they started laughing and shoving each other playfully, like old friends. Something about the shift unsettled him. They were a strange trio — a vampire, a Nephilim and… well — who is that new one?

There was something strange about him. Ethan couldn’t place it — not his race, not his aura. It was like he didn’t quite belong to any category Ethan knew, and that made him uneasy. He didn’t understand it, but he felt that he stirred anger in him, and at the same time something else, like a breeze of calm, washing over something deeper inside.
What is that?

He turned his attention back to his own table, where his group was, as usual, joking, fooling around, and flirting with one another — but now, the contrast struck him more than usual. Their table was a chaotic mix of movement and colour, voices overlapping in playful jabs and sarcastic commentary. Someone had just summoned a tiny illusion of a fire sprite, which danced across the table before disappearing into a burst of glitter. A shapeshifter girl was mid-transformation into a cat just to steal someone’s dessert, while two others were locked in a mock-argument over who had the better elemental affinity. It was all so familiar. So predictable.

Melody, as always, was the centrepiece of the spectacle. She was perched slightly sideways on the bench, one leg crossed over the other, long curls cascading down her back like ink spilled on silk. She was wrapping some guy — one of the newer students — around her finger with such practiced ease that Ethan didn’t even need to hear what she was saying. The boy was leaning toward her, eyes wide, caught between awe and hormonal confusion. He didn’t even realize he had already fallen into her trap. Melody laughed, tossing her hair, and grazed his forearm with her fingertips in that effortless, instinctive way sirens did when they wanted to make someone feel special.

— Ugh, sirens — Ethan said shaking his head.
Lucas, nudging him in the arm. His voice was low, conspiratorial, but not without affection. — Dude, what’s with you? You’re acting kind of weird. Don’t tell me you’re actually bothered that some newbie stood up to you? Though that’s really unusual…

Lucas was his closest and most trusted friend. Really the only one he could describe that way. There was an ease between them that didn’t need explanation, a kind of loyalty born from shared memories and unspoken truths. He always knew when something was off — and he rarely let it slide.

— He didn’t really stand up to me — said Ethan. — He just held his ground. Don’t you think he’s kind of weird?

— Oh, come on, stop worrying about some jerk. You’d better finally agree to a date with Eleanor. That water nymph does things… — he gave Ethan a meaningful look, wiggling his eyebrows with a grin.

— You know I’m not into one-night flings. I’d rather be with someone with whom I’ll share something deeper — muttered Ethan, reaching for his drink and taking a slow sip, using the pause to calm the churn of thoughts in his head.

— Yeah, yeah, yeah. You and your rules…

Lucas rolled his eyes but leaned back with an amused smirk, as if nothing Ethan said could surprise him anymore.

Melody thrived in moments like this. The warm, golden light from the chandeliers above shimmered off her silky hair as she moved through the crowd with feline grace, the soft swish of her skirt echoing faintly on the polished floor. Every glance, every word she whispered, carried an intoxicating blend of allure and command.

Another victim she had set her sights on was already practically hers — the boy was squirming almost at her feet. His eyes followed her every move, pupils dilated, mouth slightly open, as if mesmerized by something he couldn’t explain. It had always given her pleasure. There was a thrill in the chase, and even more in the inevitable surrender.

This time, however, part of her attention was somewhere else. On someone else.
The new one.

Raphael.

An angelic name, a devilish soul. The contradiction lingered in her mind like a sweet aftertaste.

She didn’t know why that thought crossed her mind, but there really was something off about him. Not in an obvious way — he wasn’t arrogant or loud, nor did he radiate the kind of false confidence so many tried to cloak themselves in. No. His strangeness was subtle. It hummed beneath the surface like a silent storm.

Until now, every man — or even woman — she had looked at had been instantly, completely interested in her. One glance, one sultry smile — and they were under her spell.

All it took was two sentences — and they were already hers.

This time, even though she had made an extra effort and even used the Singing Voice… Raphael seemed completely immune to her charm. She had watched his expression closely, expecting that moment of softening, of surrender. It never came.

That was unusual.

She couldn’t let it go. The idea that someone — anyone — could resist her was unacceptable.
She decided she would take a closer look at him. And this time, she wouldn’t leave it to chance.