VELTHRA
Chapter 7 – The Storm

“Yes... someone is very good at running.”

The voice boomed from behind Calvin.

He froze.

Kael and Rio peeked over his shoulder—only to find Velmira, arms crossed, eyebrow arched.

A bonk landed squarely on Calvin’s head.

He did a flawless sideways tumble, popped up, and said smoothly:

“Hey, beautiful.”

As if the hit—and gravity—had never happened.

Kael and Rio slowly turned to Velmira, expecting fury.

Instead, they were met with a warm, polite smile.

“You must be Calvin’s friends?” she said.

“Yup,” Kael replied, deadpan. “Sadly, that happened.”

She giggled softly.

“So you all met here at the academy?”

“Yes,” Kael nodded. “And thank you—for standing up for us.”

“It’s no big deal,” Velmira said, waving it off. “You were wrongly blamed. Any friend of Calvin is a friend of mine.”

“Yeah, Calvin mentioned you briefly,” Rio chimed in. “Pleasure to meet you.”

Velmira’s cheeks tinted pink. She glanced affectionately at Calvin.

“Is that so…”

Calvin grinned smugly, arms crossed like a conquering hero.

“Yeah, I was honestly surprised he landed someone like you,” Rio continued casually. “Considering he flirts with every gir—”

Kael lunged forward and slapped a hand over Rio’s mouth.

Too late.

Velmira’s gentle smile turned to demonic rage.

Calvin was already cowering in a corner.

“So,” Velmira said, her tone now icy, “you met recently, right?”

“Y-Yes,” Kael replied, eyes wide.

“And in that short time… he still found time to flirt with other girls?”

She cracked her knuckles and began marching toward Calvin.

“I said something I shouldn’t have,” Rio muttered, stepping back.

“Yup,” Kael nodded solemnly. “Now we just need a coffin for our new friend.”

Suddenly, a voice crackled over the academy intercom.

“All first-year squads, report to the canteen for post-evaluation briefing.”

With newfound camaraderie and bruised pride, the trio headed off. Calvin tried his best to please Velmira, who walked beside him with an unreadable expression.

But trouble came early.

They turned the corner—and ran into Ron.

Without a second thought, Rio grabbed him by the collar, fury bursting through.

“Traitor!” he barked.

Ron didn’t fight back.

“Do what you want. I had to survive,” he said, eyes low. “You’ll leave this place eventually. I don’t have that luxury. My family lives in his territory.”

For once, Calvin's usually goofy face turned serious. He gently placed a hand on Rio’s shoulder.

“Sometimes, we get a choice,” he said quietly. “Sometimes, we don’t. Even if it’s staring right at us.”

Rio backed down. Velmira offered Calvin a look—half impressed, half concerned—and they moved on in silence with her on Calvin's arm, consoling him.

But silence doesn’t last long when Trollin is nearby.

As they neared the canteen, his voice boomed through the corridor.

“Why are you still clinging to his hand?” he growled, glaring at Velmira and Calvin.

Calvin instantly bounced back to his usual energy.

“Jealous? Still no one wants to hold yours?”

“You think this is funny?” Trollin seethed. “You know what you did?!”

His voice cracked, not with anger—but something closer to wounded pride.

“What did I do?” Calvin asked with wide, fake innocence.

Then, from behind them came a sultry voice.

“You made me fall for you.”

A tall, beautiful girl with dazzling eyes strolled past them, flipping her hair.

“Hey boys, miss me?” she winked.

Calvin flinched. Velmira’s gentle aura evaporated.

“What are you doing here, Layla?” she hissed.

“My business is wherever you all are,” Layla replied playfully, brushing past Calvin.

“There’s no need for you here,” Velmira snapped. Her tone resembled Trollin's for a moment—and somehow, that made it scarier.

“Still playing noble princess, Velmira?” Layla said with a smirk. “Thought you'd outgrow the need to control everything.”

Kael pulled Calvin aside, whispering.

“What is going on?”

Calvin scratched his head sheepishly.

“Well… remember Trollin’s girlfriend?”

“That’s her?!” Rio and Kael said in unison.

Calvin nodded with the grin of a man who knows he’s not making it to old age.

Rio nearly cried.

“How, bro? HOW?!”

Kael sighed, watching the growing storm.

“This academy has more drama than my entire orphanage put together.”

Meanwhile, Calvin got dragged back into the eye of the storm—Velmira and Layla were toe-to-toe, sparks flying, crowd gathering.

Rio activated his camouflage and turned away, whispering:

“I’m out. I didn’t sign up for this.”

But a hand gripped his collar from behind.

“If I’m screwed, you’re in it with me, no escapeing” Kael muttered, dragging him back.

Layla finally spun on her heel.

“See you around, handsome,” she said to Calvin, blowing a kiss.

Trollin stormed after her, muttering something about dignity.

Kael and Rio stared at the giant canteen doors ahead.

“We’re screwed,” they said together.

And with that, they walked into the lion’s den—new friends, tangled history, and chaos waiting to be served hot.