The cafe was packed.

  I should have expected that considering that classes tended to alternate with there being four hours in the morning for class or fighting in the Dungeon, then the four hours in the afternoon were for whichever they hadn’t done that morning. Half the classes would go to the Dungeon in the morning while the other half would go to the classrooms, then they’d switch.

  And the one hour that they all had free was the lunch hour.

  “The prodigal son returns!” Andes Roge got up from his table and pointed at me. “Look everyone! We’ve got a celebrity in the house!”

  Most of the other classes didn’t bother to pay attention to the freshman, which I was grateful for. The blond man looked around for an ally but didn’t find one. One thing I noticed was that Savyn and Rals weren’t sitting at the table with the rest of the class. Which I found strange since Gileon was there, so I knew that the leader should have been there with her gang of male suitors.

  “Let’s find somewhere to sit that’s far away from them.” I glanced over at Miel and saw her glaring at the boys with her fist clenched. “Miel.” I put my hand on her arm. “He’s not worth it.”

  “Aaannnddd… he’s running away!” Andes crowed.

  “Shut up, Andes!” Aelin yelled at the silver man. “Or do we need to come whoop you again!”

  I groaned as the commotion quieted down. The students might not have cared when it was just one student mouthing off, but the moment there was a chance of a fight, everyone wanted to watch.

  I lowered my voice as I leaned towards the shorter woman. “Aelin, we don’t have time to fight them.”

  “It’s not going to be a fight.” Aelin straightened herself as she turned her focus to the Noble. “We beat you last time and we can do it again!”

  “Only because you cheated.” Andes spread his arms as he got out of his seat. “You cherry-picked the best students from three classes.”

  “Three?” Aelin shook her head. “There were only two classes there and you’re lucky we didn’t let Rix fight you. She would have killed all of you.”

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  Andes flinched, but he lifted his silver arm and pointed at one of the tables where students dressed in yellow sat.

  It took me a moment to recognize Jovena Bothua. Her teammates scooted away from her as the white-haired woman looked up to see why she was the center of attention.

  My heart sank as the fire that I’d appreciated in her sparkling blue eyes was gone, replaced with a dull resignation. I didn’t care that everyone was watching me; I moved towards her, only to get intercepted by a mountain of a Minotaur.

  The large demihuman snorted as he looked down at me. “She doesn’t need you.”

  “Alos…” Miel was beside me, pulling me back before the black-furred bullman could poke me in the chest.

  “Do I know you?” The Minotaur snorted.

  “No, but I know you well enough to know that you’re smarter than to try to push Trent Vowler’s son.” Miel stepped in front of me.

  “Look! He needs a mommy to protect him!” Andes cackled.

  I looked around for Arlo, but he wasn’t there either. I had a sinking feeling that Celia and Arlo were being briefed right now on the possibility of a Primus attack on the Cathedral. That feeling only grew as I looked for more teachers. Paul Mite, Bethil Reder, Hayz Calx, even Warder Artis were all also missing. Right now the only seasoned Adventurer in the very large room that was a friendly face was being mocked for standing up for me.

  “That boy has caused enough disruption in my class.” The Minotaur snorted. “Telling one of mine that she doesn’t have to stay with her classmates…” He squinted as he took in the red jacket Miel was wearing. “You’re not the Red Team’s teacher…”

  “No, I’m this boy’s protector.” Miel looked around the room. Thankfully, no one had called any of the Enforcers, though I doubted that anyone here would be able to handle a Tier Seven if she decided to throw down. Her voice took a menacing tone. “So please, try to touch him again.”

  “If you’re not a teacher, you have no business being here.” Alos pointed at me. “And you, stay away from my students. I need them focused on their studies, not daydreaming about being breeding stock for your barn.”

  I wanted to hit him. Probably would have if Miel hadn’t been in front of me, which wouldn’t have been a smart thing to do, but he’d just insulted not only Jovena but also all the women I cared about. The urge lasted only a moment because I also recognized that I’d be attacking someone who was at least Tier Three and there was no way that I would be able to hurt him.

  I took a deep breath and tried to remind myself that we didn’t have time to fight, but the look on Jovena’s face was too sad. I couldn’t just leave her there without doing something.

  Trades were impossible until the end of the year, so the only way out would be for Jovena to get a job offer, but it would be taken as roster manipulation if I offered her a job to leave the Cathedral. Also, if she left for a job, then she wouldn’t be allowed back to join my class. Once someone took a job, they were out.

  Wrye Tritha walked up to us. “What about an exhibition match?”

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