Chapter 38 The Human Sport

Chapter 38 The Human Sport
Lena’s POV

“Blood is memory.”
Professor Valen’s voice echoed through the lecture hall smoothly as he paced slowly in front of the classroom.

“Most supernatural species underestimate the importance of blood,” he continued, adjusting the silver cuffs on his sleeves. “But blood remembers emotions. Power. Lineage.”

A few vampires in class nodded like this was the greatest thing they had ever heard. Meanwhile, I was struggling to stay focused.

Professor Valen suddenly stopped in front of Raphael’s desk.
“For example,” he said casually, “a vampire can often sense emotional instability through blood alone.”

Raphael raised an eyebrow lazily.
“That sounds unhealthy.”

A few students laughed quietly.
Professor Valen smirked faintly.
“Oh, it is.”

The class chuckled again. I barely heard any of it. My thoughts were elsewhere.
Still stuck on yesterday.
On the old man. I swallowed hard.
Did my uncle know?

The thought hit me suddenly.
What if he did? What if he knew I was a hybrid this entire time and never told me?
No. That didn’t make sense.

My chest tightened uneasily..I thought back to all the strange rules growing up.
The constant warnings to stay hidden.
To never lose control.

At the time, I thought he was just overprotective.
But now… Now I wasn’t so sure anymore.

The loud ringing of the bell pulled me from my thoughts..Class was over.
Students immediately began packing their things while conversations filled the room again. I stayed seated quietly.

A few seats ahead, Zara and Raphael were already arguing again.
“I’m telling you,” Zara snapped, shoving books into her bag aggressively, “vampires are naturally annoying.”

Raphael looked offended.
“Excuse me? We’re sophisticated.”

“You literally drink blood.”

“And you nearly joined us voluntarily.”

“That was temporary!”

Raphael smirked.
“Sure it was.”

I sighed softly, rubbing my temples.
At least Zara seemed normal again.
That was one less thing to worry about.

As the classroom slowly emptied, movement near the doorway caught my
attention.

Adrian.

My breath caught slightly. He was standing near the entrance, his eyes already fixed on me.
Then Adrian started walking toward me.
My stomach tightened instantly.

Nope. Absolutely not.

I looked away quickly.
But before Adrian could even reach me, someone else stepped directly into his path.

Damian.

The dark-haired werewolf flashed Adrian an annoyingly casual smile before continuing toward me like nothing happened.

Adrian’s expression darkened immediately.
Damian ignored him completely and dropped into the empty seat beside me.
“Well,” he said lightly, “you look stressed.”

I blinked. “Thanks?”

“You’re welcome.”

I stared at him suspiciously.
“What do you want?”

Damian placed a hand dramatically against his chest.
“Can’t I simply enjoy your company?”

“No.”

He grinned.
“Fair enough.”

I glanced toward the doorway again. Adrian was still there. Watching us.
His jaw looked tight enough to crack.

Then finally, after one last look at me, he turned and walked away. Something in my chest twisted painfully.

Damian noticed immediately.
“You know,” he said casually, “for someone avoiding Adrian Wolfe, you sure look disappointed when he leaves.”

“I am not disappointed.”

I narrowed my eyes at him.
“What do you actually want?”

His grin widened slightly.
“There’s an extracurricular activity starting soon.”

I blinked slowly.
“…And?”

“And I want you to join me.”

I immediately shook my head.
“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I enjoy peace.”

Damian laughed softly.
“It’ll be fun.”

“That sounds suspicious.”

“Come on,” he insisted. “You’ve been stressed all day.”

I groaned softly.
“How are you this persistent?”

“It’s a gift.”

I should’ve said no. Honestly, I fully intended to. But after everything that happened recently… maybe I needed a distraction.

Eventually, I sighed.
“Fine.”



Thirty minutes later, I realized I absolutely should’ve asked more questions.
“This is fencing?” I asked blankly.

Damian looked genuinely confused.
“Yes?”

I stared at the massive indoor training hall.
Several students were already practicing with thin silver blades while instructors walked around correcting their stances.

“I thought fencing was a human sport.”

Damian grabbed two practice swords casually.
“At Blackwood Academy?” He smirked slightly. “Everything becomes dangerous eventually.”

A few minutes later, I found myself dressed in protective gear while Damian adjusted his gloves across from me.
“This still feels ridiculous,” I muttered.

Damian tossed me a practice blade.
“Try not to stab me.”

“No promises.”

That earned a laugh from him. Then the match began. At first, I was terrible.
Damian dodged almost every strike effortlessly while looking annoyingly relaxed.
“Your footwork is weak,” he commented casually.

“You’re weak.”

“Ouch.”

I lunged again. This time faster. Damian blocked it smoothly. But his eyes widened slightly.
“Okay,” he admitted. “That was better.”

I smirked a little despite myself. As we continued sparring, the conversation became easier somehow.
“So…” Damian started carefully while circling me slowly. “You and Adrian.”

I immediately groaned.
“Can we not?”

“I’m just saying,” he continued, blocking another strike, “the guy clearly has issues.”

“Damian.”

“What? I’m being honest.”

I swung again harder this time.
He dodged barely in time.
“Wow,” he laughed. “Defensive.”

“He’s complicated.”

“That’s one word for it.”

“Damian.”

“Alright, alright.”

He raised his hands slightly in surrender.
“Sorry.”

I exhaled quietly.
To be fair… He did stop immediately.
That was rare around here.
A few more minutes passed before something surprising happened. I disarmed him completely. His sword clattered onto the floor.

Damian blinked. Then laughed loudly.
“Okay, I definitely deserved that.”

I lowered my blade slowly, slightly shocked myself.
“I won?”

“You absolutely won.”

A few nearby students clapped lightly.
I smiled before I could stop myself.
It felt nice.

But of course, peace never lasted long at Blackwood Academy.
“Well,” a familiar voice drawled behind me. “That explains the noise.”

My smile vanished immediately.

Diane.

She walked toward us confidently, dressed perfectly as usual. Several students immediately started whispering.
Damian looked deeply unimpressed.
“Go away, Diane.”

She ignored him completely.
Instead, her eyes locked onto me.
“I heard the new girl thinks she can fence.”

I raised an eyebrow.
“I never said that.”

Diane smirked slightly.
“Then prove me wrong.”

Damian sighed dramatically.
“This already feels annoying.”

Diane held out her hand for a blade.
“I’ve never lost a fencing match,” she said proudly.

That alone irritated me. Not because of the bragging. But because she sounded so sure I would lose.

I grabbed my blade tighter.
“Fine.”

The match started immediately.
Unlike Damian, Diane fought aggressively.
The clash of our blades echoed sharply through the hall as students gathered around us excitedly.

At first, neither of us gained an advantage.
But slowly… Diane became frustrated.
I could see it in the way her movements became sloppier.

I twisted sharply. Her blade flew from her hand. And hit the floor. Silence filled the hall. Diane stared at me in disbelief.
I lowered my sword slowly, breathing heavily.

Then suddenly, the room erupted.
“No way.”
“She beat Diane?”
“Twice in one day?”

Diane’s face burned red with humiliation.
Then her eyes darkened.
“You might’ve won fencing,” she said coldly.
The room quieted again.
“But you still don’t have what matters.”

I frowned slightly.
“And what’s that?”

Her lips curled cruelly.
“Adrian.”

My chest tightened instantly.
Diane stepped closer.
“He’ll always choose me over you.”
Something inside me snapped.
Hot anger exploded violently through my chest.

My breathing became uneven.
And suddenly, everything around me sharpened. The sounds. The smells.
The heartbeat of every person in the room.

Diane was still talking but I barely heard her anymore. Because heat was rushing through my entire body now.

Da
mian froze. His eyes widened slightly as he stared directly at my eyes

Fear flickered across his expression.
“Lena…”

My stomach dropped instantly. No.
Quickly, I turned toward the reflection on the glass window nearby. And my blood ran cold. My eyes had turned red.
Not werewolf gold. Red.

Panic slammed into me instantly. Before anyone else could notice, I ran.