?"Guys, did you see the new boys ranking?"
Irina, who was just about to pass through the group of girls, stopped her tracks after hearing these words.
As for why she did it, she didn't know the answer to that question. However, the feeling of intrigue in her heart somehow seemingly took control of her body for a while. She 'slightly' pricked her ears, listening to the conversation with her amplified senses.
Hearing their friend's words, the other girls' eyes seemed to shine with excitement. "I did! And guess what? Victor is still holding the top spot," one of the girls exclaimed enthusiastically. "He's just so dreamy, isn't he? I can't believe there is someone like that in this world! Just him existing alone makes the world shine brighter." Her eyes were sparkling as she somehow held a dreamy look.
"You are crazy, Thea."
"I am perfectly normal. He is just that amazing," Thea insisted, her eyes still gleaming with admiration for Victor. The others laughed at her antics, seeming accustomed to her infatuation with the top-ranked boy.
Hearing the girls, Irina somehow looked bewildered. 'You don't even know him. How can you fawn over him this much? This is crazy…..' She thought inwardly. She had known Victor from her childhood, meeting him a lot of times.
They had trained together, went out to many banquets, etc. In a way, she could be very well considered someone who knew Victor the most in this academy with their friend group since Blackthorns weren't someone to socialize with normal people too much.
Thus, it was evident to her that this girl didn't know what kind of person Victor was, and neither did she know that he liked Julia.
"He may be amazing, but don't you think you're exaggerating a bit?" one of the other girls, Lilly, teased, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
"I don't think so. He's like a prince charming straight out of a fairy tale," another girl, Ria, chimed in, nodding fervently.
"He's got the looks, the talent, and the background. It's no wonder he's always on top."
"Yep. Anyone other than him won't satisfy me." Thea said, raising her head haughtily, showing her figure.
'Then you will be single until you die.' Irina thought as she knew Victor wasn't interested in anyone other than Julia. Also, being from a very high-ranking family like Victor's, she was very well aware of the fact that this girl didn't have the necessary qualifications to be with Victor or someone of his caliber since if she had, Irina would have known her way long ago.
The conversation shifted, and Irina listened intently as the girls discussed the significance of the new boys ranking.
"It's not just about Victor, though. This time, the rising stars are really catching everyone's attention."
"Yeah, I heard there are a couple of new entries that are causing quite a stir. It's going to be interesting to see how things shake up."
At this point in the moment, Irina's interest was piqued by the gossip and the conversation. It was like watching a theater play unfolding before her eyes, as the girls' reaction was somehow making her feel funny.
And as she was into the gossip, she also started wondering about who the new rising stars could possibly be.
'It will be Ethan, won't it?'
Though she wasn't engrossed in such topics in general, she could see the name that was going to appear now.
Just then, as if to prove her right, Ria's eyes seemed to light up with excitement as she leaned in closer to the group. "You guys know Ethan, right? He is the new campus prince."
The other girls nodded eagerly, indicating their familiarity with the name. Ethan had quickly become a prominent figure among the freshmen, his name on everyone's lips.
Lilly chimed in with her expression contemplative. "Yeah, we all heard of him. The way he jumped more than a thousand ranks in just half a semester was really eye-catching. But I guess, being a Hartley, it makes sense."
Ria nodded in agreement, her eyes reflecting admiration as she continued, "And he's not just talented; he's handsome too. But what makes him truly stand out is none of those. It's that he's so gentle and polite, not like those arrogant boys who think they own the world."
Her voice softened with reminiscence as she shared a personal anecdote, "I'm in the same class as him, and I once dropped my pen during a lecture. Without hesitation, Ethan picked it up and handed it to me with a smile. It's the little things like that which really show his character."
"And it's not just that one instance," she went on, her expression earnest. "He's helped many people during the Phantom's Land incident and in dungeon explorations as well. He's always willing to lend a hand, no matter the situation. These are the things that show the character of a man; it is not the looks and background that is always important."
'Indeed….Ethan is like that.' Irina felt proud of her friend, as Ethan was now getting the recognition he deserved. Out of all the people she knew, Ethan and Sylvie were probably the purest ones, with the former being more idealistic and the latter being just na?ve.
They scoffed at Ria's words, her expression skeptical. "Please, Victor is still better," she said dismissively.
But Ria wasn't about to let that comment slide. "Oh, come on, Thea. With the way Ethan is progressing now, it won't be long before he takes over that cold-prick Victor. People who have warm hearts deserve the world," she retorted passionately, her eyes flashing with determination.
But Thea also wasn't about to let Ria's praise for Ethan go unchallenged. "Please, Ria. No matter how much Ethan progresses, Victor will always be superior. He's a Blackthorn, after all. No one can compete with that."
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