The campus gate of Aurelian High School opened slowly, just as the morning sun crowned the horizon with soft gold. Students in polished shoes and designer uniforms stepped out of sleek cars—Lamborghinis, Benzes, and custom sports models that glittered like jewels under the soft light.
But among the grandeur, a single bicycle cut through the crowd.
It was silent, elegant in matte black and silver, and atop it sat a girl whose presence stopped time.
No chauffeur. No entourage. No need.
Elara.
Clad in the school's crisp uniform, she wore it like it was tailored by the heavens. Her long, obsidian hair flowed behind her in a soft ripple. Her skin glowed subtly, an ethereal sheen thanks to her frequent baths in the spiritual spring. Her eyes—cool, deep, and distant—swept across the school grounds without pausing.
Conversations stalled. Heads turned. Even the sunlight seemed to chase her silhouette.
"Who is she?" someone whispered.
"New student?"
"No... That's Elara. She used to go here before she vanished."
"Impossible. That Elara? She used to look... ordinary."
But now? There was nothing ordinary about her.
Whispers turned into hushed awe. A few girls—dressed to impress with designer bags and inch-thick makeup—mustered their courage.
"Oh look who's back," one said, forcing a smile. "Elara, right? Didn't expect to see you back after your epic disappearing act."
Another chuckled. "Still prefer the poor girl aesthetic, huh?"
But Elara only turned her head slightly, her gaze landing on them like cold starlight. Her silence was sharper than words. They faltered under the weight of it.
Before the tension could rise, the morning bell rang and their homeroom teacher, Ms. Langford, walked in briskly.
"Elara Lin."
She stopped mid-step.
"You've got nerve returning here." Ms. Langford scowled. "Your last recorded scores were atrocious. Do you think beauty can replace brains here?"
Elara raised a brow, unphased. But deep inside, her memories sparked. Her grades before leaving had indeed been terrible. Her last science paper had a red circle of 23%. And her math teacher at the time almost fainted seeing her work.
No excuses. She hadn't cared then.
"I'll correct that," she said calmly.
Ms. Langford sneered. "See that you do. Otherwise, you'll be out before you have time to pose for the crowd."
As the teacher left, Elara walked into the classroom and settled quietly in her seat.
Moments later, a petite girl plopped into the seat beside her, eyes wide with curiosity.
"I'm Miri," she said brightly. "Are you...really Elara?"
Elara blinked. "Yeah."
"I heard about you. You vanished and came back looking like an immortal princess. I mean, wow. You could star in a drama."
Elara allowed a small smile to tug at her lips. "You talk a lot."
"I do! Sorry! I'm just... excited. Oh! Are you a fan of Scentra perfumes? I collect their samples like gems. They're sooo good. I just got the Luminous Bloom from their new luxury line!"
Elara's lips curved further. "Want another one?"
Miri's eyes lit up like stars. "Seriously? I was just kidding!"
"I wasn't."
"Wait—are you connected to someone at Scentra?"
Elara just looked ahead with her signature calm. "You'll see."
---
When school ended, students rushed out toward their luxury rides. One by one, they were picked up in sleek sedans and flashy sports cars.
Elara stood with her bike, adjusting her satchel before hopping on.
Someone snorted. "She's riding *that*? Couldn't her parents at least get her an electric scooter?"
"I thought she looked rich..."
Unbothered, Elara rode away, back straight, hair fluttering in the wind.
Minutes later, one curious classmate who'd snapped a photo of the bike uploaded it to a luxury vehicle forum.
The response was immediate.
"That's a Pegasus Racing Bicycle. Limited edition. Custom specs. Worth two million at auction."
The comments exploded.
"What?!"
"Seriously?? I thought it was a regular bike!"
"She's riding a fortune!"
Speculations flooded the school's online community. Was she low-key wealthy? A hidden heiress? Who was backing her?
---
Meanwhile, at a high-end cafe in the heart of the city, Mae sat across from a foreign executive from one of the world's top luxury brands.
"We believe Scentra would flourish under our umbrella," the man said smoothly. "We offer unparalleled global distribution. Your current revenue is impressive, but we could double it in months."
Mae sipped her tea with poise. Her hair was swept up into an elegant bun, a soft lilac dress hugging her graceful form. Calm, serene, yet clearly untouchable.
"Thank you," she said politely. "But we're not interested in selling. Not now. Not ever."
The executive's smile wavered. "Ms. Lin, this is a one-time offer."
Mae stood, graceful as ever. "And I've made a one-time refusal."
She walked out without a backward glance.
The man's expression soured as he pulled out his phone and called overseas.
"She declined."
On the other end, a voice as cold as steel replied, "Villainously proceed to Plan B."
"Yes, sir."
As the call ended, the executive's eyes narrowed. "Let's see how long they can hold out."
A storm was brewing.
---
That evening, Elara sat on the balcony of her room, the soft wind brushing against her face. Her phone buzzed. A message from her uncle.
"Meeting with the new VR engine team scheduled tomorrow. Also, the game's ranking just hit top ten globally."
She smiled faintly. Everything was moving so fast. Eonmatrix was flourishing. Scentra was becoming an empire. And yet, there was still so much more to come.
Her eyes lifted toward the night sky, stars twinkling like scattered perfume droplets. There was a war coming—and she wasn't going to lose.
Not this time.
Not ever.
She whispered to herself, her voice calm and resolute:
"Let them come."