Re-Awakened :I Ascend as an SSS-Ranked Dragon Summoner - Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Confrontation gone wrong Chapter 118: Confrontation gone wrong “Not to push anything” Lucas said, his expression grave.

“A girl named Lila approached me this morning.

First-year, blonde.

She seemed…

concerned about your whereabouts last night.” Noah’s confusion quickly morphed into something darker.

“Lila?

What the hell does she have to do with anything?” “She’s not your girlfriend then?” Lucas asked, though he already knew the answer, everyone knew he was with Sophie so it didn’t make any difference asking.

Although, certain times, people could be with more than one person.

“No,” Noah’s voice was tight.

“She’s just…

she’s in my class.

She’s been…” He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident.

“I’ll handle it.” Lucas nodded slowly.

“She knew about the raid, Noah.

Knew details she shouldn’t have known.

And the way she talked about you…” He let the implication hang in the air.

“I’ll deal with her,” Noah repeated, his jaw clenching.

The last thing he needed was another complication, especially one that involved Lila’s…

particular brand of attention.

“We got played,” Lucas admitted, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“Somehow, they knew exactly when to strike.

But I’ll get to the bottom of it.” Noah glanced back toward where the others had dispersed.

“Not to sound bitter, but my money’s on Micah.

Did you notice how he conveniently felt sick right when we were heading out?

And now he’s the first one pointing fingers?” Lucas sighed, considering the possibility.

“Could be.

Could also be exactly what someone wants us to think.” He straightened his shoulders.

“Don’t worry about it.

I’ll handle this end of things.

You just…” “Focus on a certain blonde classmate?” Noah’s expression hardened.

“Yeah, I think it’s time Lila and I had a conversation about boundaries.” “Just be careful,” Lucas warned.

“There was something off about her.

The way she spoke about you…” “I know,” Noah cut him off.

“Trust me, I know exactly how she can be.” Lucas nodded once more.

“Get ready for class.

Try to stay focused.

We’ll figure this out.” Noah turned to head back to his dorm, his earlier exhaustion forgotten, replaced by a simmering anger.

He wasn’t even excited about classes anymore.

All he could think about was finding Lila and getting some answers.

The morning sun had fully risen now, casting long shadows across the campus.

Somewhere in those shadows, secrets were hiding.

Someone had betrayed them.

Someone had known their plans.

And somehow, Lila was mixed up in all of it.

One way or another, Noah was going to get to the bottom of it.

— After going back to finish his preparations, he waited for kelvin who had his bath and together they both went to class.

Miss Brooks strode into the classroom, her heels clicking against the floor with purposeful rhythm.

The black pencil skirt and crisp white blouse she wore did little to hide her thick frame – it was becoming routine that they got to feast their eyes on the beauty she was regularly now.

“Territory,” she began, writing the word on the board in elegant script, “is more than just the ground beneath your feet.

It’s about understanding every advantage and disadvantage your environment presents.” Behind Noah, Kelvin continued scrolling through updates about the cafeteria incident on his laptop.

Noah’s attention, however, drifted to the far corner where Lila sat, perfectly still, seemingly absorbed in the lecture.

“When engaging an enemy,” Miss Brooks continued, pacing the front of the room, “you must first understand what they value.

What are they protecting?

What are they willing to sacrifice?” She paused, scanning the room.

“For instance, in last night’s incident-” The class collectively held its breath.

The forum might as well change its name to teachers and student forum at that point because everyone knew what went down.

However, it was a given that teachers would hear of it.

After all, it was a major place that was struck.

Even without the forum, news would obviously spread.

“-School 8’s attack on our cafeteria demonstrated a fundamental understanding of resource denial.

They didn’t target our training facilities or dormitories.

They struck at our ability to sustain ourselves.” ‘Of course they did,’ Noah thought bitterly.

‘Because someone told them exactly where to hit us.’ “But their success relied on something more basic,” Miss Brooks tapped her marker against the board.

“They understood timing.

They knew when the facility would be most vulnerable.

Can anyone tell me why timing is crucial in territorial warfare?” Several hands rose.

Miss Brooks pointed to a student in the front row.

“Because it determines the resistance you’ll face?” “Partially,” she nodded.

“But it’s more than that.

Timing affects morale.

Strike when your enemy is celebrating a victory, and you don’t just damage their resources-you damage their sense of security.” Noah felt Lila shift slightly in his peripheral vision.

Still, she didn’t turn his way.

“Now,” Miss Brooks set down her marker, “speaking of timing, I have an announcement regarding the upcoming selection process.” The classroom’s atmosphere shifted instantly from academic focus to intense anticipation.

“Starting this week, all specialized classes will begin their assessment periods.

Beast core removal, combat training, crafting-each department will select their top five students to represent our academy.” She smiled, a hint of competitive fire in her eyes.

“And I expect Class 1B to break tradition this year.” She cast a meaningful glance at Noah before continuing.

“Too long has Class 1A dominated these selections.

This year, I want to see my students proving their worth in every category.” The bell rang, signaling the end of class.

As Miss Brooks gathered her materials, several male students’ eyes followed her movement with poorly concealed admiration.

Noah barely noticed.

His attention was fixed on Lila as she began packing her things.

She moved with deliberate slowness, as if she knew-as if she was waiting.

‘Not this time,’ Noah thought, rising from his seat.

‘We’re going to have that talk, whether you want to or not.’ The classroom began to empty, but Noah wasn’t letting her slip away.

Not after what Lucas had told him.

Not after everything that had happened.

It was time for answers.

Noah moved fast, cutting off Lila’s escape before she could slip into the crowd.

His hand caught her wrist, firm but not forceful, just enough to halt her in place.

“Not so fast,” he muttered, dragging her into the nearest empty corridor, away from prying eyes.

Lila let out a soft, breathy laugh as he released her.

She tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear, her expression one of mild amusement.

“Well, this is unexpected,” she murmured, tilting her head.

“Something on your mind, Noah?” Noah’s jaw tightened.

“Cut the act, Lila.” His voice was low, edged with simmering frustration.

“You confronted Lucas about my whereabouts last night.

You knew details about the raid you shouldn’t have.

And now, I find out you’ve been watching people I’m associated with?

Stalking them?” Lila blinked, then let out another light laugh-musical, effortless, as if the very idea were absurd.

“Stalking?” she repeated, pressing a hand to her chest as if the accusation wounded her.

“Noah, please.

You make it sound so dramatic.” “You know exactly what I mean,” Noah snapped.

Lila sighed, shaking her head with a small, indulgent smile.

“You’re overstating your importance, you know.

Maybe I had a little crush on you.

Maybe I was curious.

But stalking?

That’s a bit much, don’t you think?” Noah’s eyes narrowed.

“Lucas said the way you talked about me-” “Oh?” Lila’s lips curled as she took a step closer, forcing him to either stand his ground or back away.

He didn’t move.

“Tell me, Noah,” she whispered, standing on her tiptoes until their faces were inches apart.

“Are you sure it’s not the other way around?” His brows furrowed, but before he could react, she grabbed his tie, her fingers curling around the fabric.

She gave it a light tug, just enough to make him feel the pull, enough to throw off his balance ever so slightly.

Her voice dropped, silky and almost playful.

“Are you sure you’re not the one obsessed with me?” Noah stiffened as her chest nearly brushed against his, her gaze locked onto his, unwavering, searching.

“Do you have a problem with me, Noah Eclipse?” she murmured, her tone laced with something between amusement and challenge.

For a moment, the air between them crackled with tension.

A trap laid so delicately, so deliberately, that he could see it even as it threatened to ensnare him.

His hands curled into fists at his sides.

“Stay the hell away from me,” he said coldly.

Lila released his tie with a slow, deliberate motion, her smile never faltering.

“Oh, Noah,” she sighed, voice featherlight.

“You say that now.

But I wonder…” She let the words trail off, letting silence fill the gaps where threats and promises blurred.

Then, as if nothing had happened, she turned on her heel and walked away.

Noah stood frozen in place, his pulse drumming in his ears.

Something was very, very wrong with her.

Noah’s eyes followed Lila as she bounced on her toes, her every step light and almost playful, as if their entire conversation had been nothing more than a game to her.

Her short miniskirt flirted with danger, lifting just enough with each movement that-if she took one wrong step-he’d see more than she intended.

Or maybe she intended for him to see.

At the last second, just before disappearing around the corner, she turned back with a smirk and blew him a kiss.

Noah exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face.

“Fucking psycho,” he muttered under his breath.

And then- His stomach dropped.

From the corner of his eye, he spotted movement near a nearby tree.

His head snapped in that direction, and there, standing with her arms crossed, was Sophie.

Waving at him.

“Oh, fuck,” Noah felt a chill run down his spine, but he forced himself to school his expression.

The last thing he needed was for Sophie to get the wrong idea.

Except… was it really the wrong idea?

Lila had just grabbed him by the tie, leaned in way too close, and looked at him like he was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Now she was practically skipping away after blowing him a kiss.

No doubt, this looked bad.

Really, really bad.