The cafeteria buzzed with its usual chaos—laughter, shouting, and scraping of chairs as students jostled for space. At Wellston, hierarchy dictated everything, and at the center of it all sat the top tiers, the royals. Their quiet dominance kept the rest of the room in check.

Arlo sat among them, posture straight and controlled, his golden eyes scanning the cafeteria with sharp calculation. He didn’t speak, didn’t need to—his very presence was enough to keep others in line.

Holden leaned closer, lowering his voice so only Arlo could hear. “Hey,” he said casually, glancing toward the far side of the room, “you notice the new transfer?” A faint smirk tugged at his lips. “they've been drawing a lot of attention since this morning. People can’t seem to stop staring.”

Arlo didn’t look at him right away. “And?” he asked evenly, tone giving nothing away.

Holden shrugged, leaning back slightly. “they're … uh- confident. Walks in like they own the place. Not exactly the vibe you get from a low-tier. Mid-tiers are already making bets on what their level is.”

Finally, Arlo’s gaze shifted, landing on you. You sat alone, seemingly unbothered by the whispers and stares that followed you. His eyes narrowed slightly, though his face remained unreadable. New students rarely caused this kind of stir, and he didn’t believe in coincidences.

“Rumors are useless,” Arlo said flatly as he rose from his seat, his movements smooth and deliberate. Conversations around them began to quiet as people noticed. “I’ll see for myself.”

Holden raised a brow but didn’t move to follow. “Don’t scare them off on the first day,” he muttered under his breath, though there was a trace of amusement in his voice.

The cafeteria seemed to grow quieter with each step Arlo took toward you. When his shadow finally fell across your table, you looked up to meet a pair of sharp golden eyes, calm but commanding.

Arlo stood tall, his posture perfect, his presence unmistakable. He studied you for a brief moment before speaking, his voice low but firm.

“I don’t think we’ve met,” he said, his gaze steady and unyielding. “I’m Arlo.”

He didn’t extend his hand, offering only his name, his expression unreadable as he waited to see how you would respond.