Chapter 69 : Back to Academy

Days passed after the tournament.

Jax walked through the academy gates, protein bar in one hand, smartphone in the other. The morning air was crisp, students scattered across the courtyard.

His mind drifted back to two days ago. The mess at Sterling Mansion. The chaos. The defeat.

And Emma’s wish.

He chuckled, shaking his head. ’The dumbest wish in history. That’s what everyone’s calling it.’

She could’ve asked for anything. Wealth. Power. Influence. Hell, she could’ve demanded Calista’s crown or Nyx’s kingdom.

Instead?

"I wish to enroll in Starlight Academy. Same year. Same class as Jax Rayne."

The crowd had erupted. Calista sighed with relief. Nyx actually laughed. The entire world watching the broadcast couldn’t comprehend it.

’She could’ve gotten in next year. Or forced her way in this year through sponsors. Why waste something precious on this?’

But Jax knew the answer.

She didn’t just want to challenge him. She wanted to show him that nothing mattered more than him. Than her revenge.

"Pss. Trust me, Em. You’ll regret this choice."

Then another thought struck him hard.

’Wait. She’s just like me. A transmigrator.’

His steps slowed.

’We both took control of bodies. I got thrown into Jax Rayne. She got stuffed into some orphan. I got this stupid lewd system. Does she have one too? Or something different?’

He laughed out loud. A passing student gave him a weird look.

"Things are getting interesting," he muttered.

His smartphone screen glowed. A notification.

He tapped it.

[Message from: Katherine Rayne]

’Baby, are you alright? I saw the footage from the challenge at Sterling Mansion. Are you hurt? Tell me, is everything fine?’

’And that girl, Emma. She doesn’t feel right to me. The way she looked at you, those hateful eyes. Now that bitch made her way into your class. Be careful, okay?’

’I’ve delayed her entrance for some time. One week. That’s the maximum I can hold her.’

’So, Jax. We need to figure this out. Come to me whenever you’re free.’

Jax blinked. "Katherine Rayne?"

He scrolled back to the name.

’Rayne? So she’s like my relative? And a caring Rayne? That’s impossible. The entire family is cold as ice.’

He thought about the message. ’One week hold, huh? This woman has power. Maybe she’s working at the academy.’

He shoved the phone back into his pocket.

’Meet me? Hell nah. Meet for what? To tell you a girl from another world orchestrated all this for her revenge? Miss, you’d take eternity to process that.’

He reached his classroom and stepped inside.

Celestia was already sitting in the seat beside his. Ava stood next to her, arms crossed, arguing.

"That’s my seat," Ava said sharply.

"I was here first," Celestia replied calmly.

Kai sat alone in the far corner, a fresh red handprint glowing on his cheek. His bag slumped beside him.

He looked at Jax with sad puppy eyes, then quickly looked away when Jax glanced back.

’Poor Kai. Probably showed off his stupidity again. Deserved that slap. And now he’s exiled to the corner.’

Jax ignored both girls and walked straight past them.

He spotted Azara sitting alone near the window, her expression distant.

He sat down beside her without hesitation.

"Can I sit here?" he asked.

She didn’t even look up. "You’re already sitting. What’s the point of asking?"

"So I’m not allowed?"

She sighed, finally glancing at him. "Whatever. I don’t have the energy to argue with you or ruin my mood this early."

He grinned. "So I’m lucky here."

Silence.

Jax leaned back. "By the way, I wanted to say sorry."

"For what?"

"For Emma."

Azara frowned. "Why are you apologizing for her?"

"It’s because of me she did all that. The challenge. The chaos. Your mother."

Azara shook her head. "Yeah, I know. But it wasn’t your fault. I don’t know why she holds a grudge against you, and honestly, I don’t care to know."

She paused.

"Besides. You were ready to help me back there. Without knowing anything. So I don’t care about any of it now."

Jax blinked. ’Huh. She’s actually reasonable.’

Before he could respond, a professor walked in.

The same one who’d interrupted him with Elara back then.

Jax smirked faintly. ’Cockblocker professor. Great.’

The class began. She taught something about game theory, strategic planning, probability matrices.

Jax pretended to listen. His mind was elsewhere.

Time passed. Another class. Then another.

Finally, the lunch bell rang.

Students stood, packing their bags, heading toward the cafeteria.

Behind Azara and Jax, two boys were arguing loudly. One shoved the other.

The desk tipped.

Azara, already standing and moving forward, lost her balance.

She stumbled, about to fall.

Jax moved instantly.

His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist. His other hand slipped behind her neck, supporting her weight, locking her steady.

She blinked, staring at him.

Then she pulled away, steadied herself, and walked off without a word.

No ’thank you.’ Nothing.

The class stared.

Everyone knew Azara would kill anyone who touched her. But Jax? She didn’t even flinch.

From the back, Celestia watched. Her eyes narrowed.

’He talked to her in class. Smiled at her. And now this.’

Her jaw tightened.

Jax grabbed his bag and headed to the cafeteria alone.

Kai was nowhere to be seen. He texted him.

[Where are you?]

No reply.

’Probably its the annoying girls doing.’

He shook his head and stepped into the cafeteria.

It was packed. Students crowded tables, voices overlapping.

And there, sitting alone in the corner, was Azara.

Jax grabbed a tray and walked over.

He sat down across from her without asking.

She looked up, her expression instantly shifting to anger.

"That’s enough," she hissed. "Don’t misunderstand me. I asked for your help because I was desperate. Don’t you dare mistake that for anything else. Stop sticking around me."

Jax leaned back, smirking. "Cool down, princess. I’m here to take something back from you."

She blinked, confused. "Back from me?"

"Yeah. Remember when you were falling in class?"

She frowned, processing. ’Did I take his book mistakenly? No, he didn’t even have a book. Then... when I was falling, did I grab something?’

Jax’s grin widened. "Come on. Did you forget already? You forgot the part where you say, ’Thank you, Jax.’"

Azara’s face turned red. "You"

"Tssk. Ungrateful."

She cursed under her breath in her native language.

Jax chuckled, standing. "Fine. I’m getting out of here."

Jax thought ’Teasing her reminds me of my sister I wonder what she might be doing’.

He turned, heading toward the food counter for a drink.

And then a voice called out behind him.

"Jax."

He froze.

That voice.

He turned slowly.

Thalia stood there, her golden hair catching the light, her blue eyes locked onto him.

Silence.