Chapter 34 || The Limits of Authority

Chapter 34: 34 || The Limits of Authority

The Grents and Servitors stood beside the café, its walls casting a long shadow across the ground as the evening sunlight began to fade.

Code and Ivy turned to face Aria and the Servitors.

Aria frowned. "What are you two doing here?"

"We just happened to be passing by," Code replied.

"Whatever."

Cassian’s lips curved into an amused smile. He pointed lazily at the two Grents.

"So... those two are your classmates?"

"Yeah, we are." Ivy tilted her head. "And who are you?"

Code glanced at her.

’Why did you have to drag both of us into this? He wasn’t even talking to you.’

Aria shot Cassian a cold look. "Why do you care?"

Ivy stepped beside her and gently tapped her shoulder.

"Aria, do you know them? Are they your friends?"

Her voice was as sweet as ever.

Code studied the Servitors.

’She’s a loner. She doesn’t have friends.’

"These students are from the third floor," Aria replied sharply. "You don’t need to bother yourself with them."

Ivy looked over the group, her smile fading slightly.

"...Servitors."

The lavender-purple haired girl scoffed.

"More Grents crawling out of nowhere. I can’t believe we’re even seen talking to such lowlifes." She turned to Cassian. "Let’s just leave them, Cass."

Cassian chuckled.

"Wait a minute, Alice. I haven’t finished talking to my dear maid yet."

Code glanced at Alice.

’So she’s the bitch Meira keeps complaining about.’

Aria’s expression hardened.

"It seems your position is getting to your head. The part-time job hasn’t even started yet, which means I’m not your servant right now. So watch your mouth."

Cassian grinned.

"Aren’t you already wearing your servant uniform? That makes you one, doesn’t it?"

He stepped closer, lowering his voice.

"How about we go to my room and continue this discussion there? I have a surprise for you."

Aria raised a hand between them, keeping him at a distance.

"That can wait. We’ll talk when it’s time for the job."

She walked past him.

Cassian caught her wrist.

Aria spun around, her eyes flashing.

"Let go."

Instead of answering, Cassian gestured to the two boys standing behind him. They immediately moved toward Code and Ivy.

Ivy grabbed the sleeve of Code’s coat, her voice trembling.

"Code... what do you think they’ll do to us? I’m scared."

The ash-gray-haired boy, Nolan, grinned.

"Don’t worry. We won’t hurt you."

He reached for her shoulder, his fingers brushing against her coat.

SLAP!

Ivy knocked his hand away. She tightened her grip around Code’s forearm, then gave Nolan a gentle smile.

It was soft and polite. Almost sweet.

"Could you please not touch me while I’m holding on to Code?"

Nolan froze.

He quickly withdrew his hand.

"...Okay."

"Nolan." The other boy, Kyle, tapped his shoulder. "What’s wrong with you?"

Nolan blinked and shook his head.

"Nothing, Kyle. Just... thinking."

Kyle grunted.

"You grab the girl. I’ll take the boy."

Nolan glanced at Ivy again. She was still clinging to Code’s arm, whimpering like a frightened, innocent girl.

’That smile... there’s something off about it.’

"What’s taking you fools so long?" Alice snapped.

"Wait, Alice," Cassian said, tightening his hold on Aria’s wrist. "Let them handle it."

"Don’t make me do something I’ll regret!" Aria struggled against his grip. "Let go of me right now!"

Cassian brought a finger to his lips.

"Shhh. This isn’t the time, Aria. Relax."

Kyle stepped toward Code.

Code immediately raised both hands in surrender.

"There’s no need for force."

"Wait, Kyle."

Kyle stopped.

Cassian regarded Code with an approving smile.

"The gentleman seems smart. Let them go. I don’t need them anymore."

Alice turned toward him, raising an eyebrow.

"Really?"

Cassian glanced at Aria.

"I’ve already gotten what I came here for."

He looked back at Code and Ivy.

"You two can leave... unless you want to stay and play the hero."

Aria looked at Code.

Code lowered his hands.

"No. We’ll just go."

Aria’s eyes widened.

"Code...?" Ivy stared at him, her fingers still wrapped around his arm.

Code glanced at her.

’Don’t make things difficult.’

Alice scoffed.

"What a coward. I actually thought he’d try to act tough, at least."

Nolan and Kyle burst into laughter.

Then a voice rang out from behind them.

"Stop what you’re doing, Cassian."

The laughter died.

Cassian and Alice turned behind them.

Sakura stood a short distance away, the evening sunlight catching the loose strands of her hair and revealing subtle golden highlights .

Behind her stood Mia and a tall boy with dark navy-blue hair, pale green eyes, and an athletic build.

For a moment, neither group moved.

Sakura stepped forward, entering the shadow cast by the café. Her expression remained composed, but her voice carried a firmness that left little room for argument.

"You shouldn’t trouble them. Classes have ended. They must be tired."

Cassian narrowed his eyes.

"Why don’t you go lecture someone else, Sakura? I don’t have time for that right now."

Sakura held his gaze without flinching.

"If you persist, I’ll have no choice but to inform the authorities about your behaviour."

Silence settled over the group.

Alice glanced at Cassian.

"What do we do?"

Cassian didn’t answer immediately. His attention remained fixed on Sakura.

At last, he released Aria’s wrist and approached Sakura with slow, deliberate steps.

The navy-haired boy moved in front of her, blocking Cassian’s path.

Sakura tapped his shoulder.

"It’s fine, Albert."

Albert hesitated before stepping aside.

Cassian stopped directly in front of Sakura and looked down at her.

"You shouldn’t make threats like that against me, Sakura," he said softly.

His smile returned, though there was little warmth in it.

"It could be fatal for you."

He walked past her and back into the evening light without another word with boths hands in his pocket.

Mia shifted uneasily as he passed.

Sakura turned toward the remaining Servitors.

"You should leave as well."

Alice folded her arms.

"You have no right to order us around, got that?"

She turned to the two boys.

"Come on, guys. Playtime’s over."

The three followed Cassian, trailing behind him as they left.

Only after they were gone did Sakura release a quiet breath. Her shoulders relaxed a little.

"That was... intense." She managed a weak smile and looked at her companions. "Right, guys?"

Mia immediately rushed over and grabbed her shoulders.

"Sakuraaa! Why did you have to do that?"

Her voice wavered with worry.

"You’ve just made an enemy out of him!"

Aria watched them in silence.

’Sakura of Class 1-B...’

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

’...The Master of the Aspirants.’

Ivy hurried over with a bright smile.

"Sakura! Thanks for coming to our rescue."

Sakura waved her off.

"Oh, it’s nothing."

She approached Aria and looked her over.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. I’m fine."

Albert’s gaze shifted toward Ivy.

"Wasn’t there a boy standing beside you?"

Ivy nodded.

"Yes."

She turned to point at him.

"He’s..."

Her words died in her throat.

Code was nowhere to be seen.

Mia looked around before letting out a small laugh.

"Looks like he got scared and ran away. Poor fellow. Cassian must have really frightened him."

Sakura tilted her head.

"I still didn’t get his name."

Ivy turned toward her.

"Have you two met before?"

Sakura nodded.

"Yes. I bumped into him the other day. He was with his friends, I think."

Ivy smiled.

"His name is Code."

Sakura repeated the name quietly.

"...Code."

"I’m leaving," Aria announced.

She walked past Sakura without another glance.

The others fell silent. For a moment, nobody seemed to know what to say.

Albert let out a low scoff.

"A Grent displaying such arrogance... how pitiful. You could at least have thanked Sakura for helping you."

Sakura gave him an awkward smile.

"It’s fine, Albert."

Aria paid him no attention and continued walking.

Albert frowned as he watched her leave.

"You really shouldn’t help people like that, Sakura."

Mia sighed.

"It’s no use, Albert. You know she won’t listen to us."

"You two, it’s fine," Sakura assured them.

Ivy turned back to her with a grateful smile.

"Thanks again for your help, Sakura."

Sakura returned the smile warmly.

"You’re welcome."

Ivy took a step back.

"Alright, then. I’ll get going too."

"Take care."

Ivy nodded.

"Mmm."

Sakura watched her for a moment before walking forward.

"Let’s go."

She walked towards the path Code and Ivy came from earlier, with Mia and Albert following behind her.

...

Knock. Knock.

Code knocked lightly on Lyra’s door.

A few seconds later, it opened.

Lyra stood on the other side wearing a green apron. She stepped aside to let him in, then closed the door behind him.

The smell of freshly cooked food filled the room.

Code glanced at her apron before looking around.

"Are you preparing something?"

Lyra smiled, though she seemed a little embarrassed.

"Yes, I, uh... I’m cooking dinner for the both of us."

She looked away, fiddling with the edge of her apron.

"Well, I figured you probably haven’t eaten. And I don’t want you spending too much of your money for a while, so I thought I’d treat you to something nice."

"Sure."

Lyra turned back to him, her eyes widening slightly.

"Really?"

"Is there a problem?"

"No, no. Not at all."

She quickly turned towards the kitchen.

"Alright, then. I’ll finish up in there, and we can have dinner."

Code watched her hurry away before following at a leisurely pace.

The kitchen was small, with cabinets mounted above the counter and a worktop running along the walls. Racks held plates and other kitchen utensils, while a separate rack kept the spoons and forks. A crate of eggs sat near the edge of the counter.

Two pots rested on the lit gas cooker, their contents simmering quietly.

Lyra turned away from the stove and reached for a knife lying beside a pile of vegetables. Some had already been diced, while the rest remained untouched.

She picked up the knife and continued chopping.

CHOP. CHOP. CHOP.

Code glanced at the vegetables, then at the pots on the cooker.

He said nothing.

...

Lyra cleared the books from her reading table and dragged it towards the centre of the room. She placed two chairs on opposite sides before stepping back to inspect the arrangement.

"Good enough."

Code sat down in one of the chairs.

Lyra returned to the kitchen and came back carrying a tray. She lowered it onto the table and began arranging the dishes.

Steamed white rice.

Chicken curry.

She placed a plate of rice in front of Code and set the bowl of curry between them. Then she arranged her own plate and cutlery before carrying the empty tray back to the kitchen.

When she returned, she was no longer wearing her apron. She carried a jug of water and two cups, which she placed neatly on the table.

Satisfied with the arrangement, she sat down.

"Thanks for the food."

She picked up her spoon, scooped a little curry onto her rice, and began eating.

After a few mouthfuls, she glanced at Code.

He hadn’t touched his food.

"Is something wrong?"

Code lifted his gaze from the plate.

"Don’t you think you spent too much on this meal?"

Lyra blinked.

"What?"

"The chicken and everything else." He glanced at the dishes. "It must have cost quite a lot."

"Oh, that?" She gave a small smile and shook her head. "I just thought I should cook something good for you this once."

She picked up her spoon again.

"But you don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be fine. My salary for the month is twenty thousand, so there’s no need to worry."

"I see..."

Lyra nodded innocently and continued eating, apparently satisfied that she’d put his concerns to rest.

Code remained quiet, watching her for a moment before looking down at his own plate.

’The Servitors are paid twenty thousand...’

He picked up his spoon.

’...Good to know.’