Reborn: Apocalypse Ready. War Goddess by My Side novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20 Haughty Lilliana

The teacher’s voice settled over the room. “I don’t know how Ms. Chapman ran things before. but since I’m the one teaching now, we’re doing this my way.

“The year 2030 is designated as Divine Awakening Year Zero. That was the year humanity’s first Awakened emerged, and the same year the beasts began their rise.

“The Awakened are recognized as those chosen by the divine itself, granted Divine Sigils, and given dominion over Divine Power…”

The class moved along at a steady, unremarkable pace, and the students‘ enthusiasm stayed mostly flat. Most of the material was already familiar to them.

What had their minds occupied was Steven’s identity.

But no answers came. The teacher said nothing more about it.

All they knew for certain was that Cassandra Chapman wasn’t coming back anytime soon.

The bell rang.

“Come on, Bianca. I’ll walk you home,” Steven said, falling into step beside her as the classroom emptied.

Nobody was going to bother her today. She didn’t have anything to deal with on her own.

Bianca ducked her head, a little flustered. “You really don’t have to do that. You should just get home straight away.”

“Walking out of school together is fine, at least.”

Bianca’s cheeks went soft pink, and she nodded.

She gathered her things and fell into step with him.

Nelson materialized at Steven’s other side almost immediately.

“You in for a couple rounds later?”

What he meant was the virtual combat sim, the immersive game where players could load their consciousness directly into the environment and hunt beasts.

It did nudge your combat proficiency upward, but only slightly. It was still a game first and a

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Chapter 20 Haughty Lilliana

training tool second.

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Steven shook his head. “Broke. Also, I’m with Bianca. Get out of here before you make things awkward.”

Nelson huffed with considerable offense. “You’re ruthless, you know that?”

He made himself scarce at a brisk pace, leaving absolutely no room for ambiguity about his role in this situation.

Bianca lowered her head with a shy little smile.

Make things awkward?

The two of them drifted out of the classroom one after the other.

And a beat later, Lilliana followed.

There were things she needed to say. She’d made up her mind about that.

He hadn’t acknowledged her once all day, and she found, to her mild irritation, that she wasn’t used to it.

They walked along the path outside.

“If anything comes up,” Steven said, “you call me. Don’t try to handle things by yourself.”

Bianca gave a small, tentative nod. “Okay.”

But Bianca had never liked asking for help.

She already owed Steven more than she could easily put a number on, both in money and in favors.

The thought of calling him over something small felt like too much to ask.

Steven glanced at her profile. The late afternoon breeze moved through her hair and lifted it gently, and the low gold of the setting sun caught the edges of her in a way that was quietly, effortlessly lovely.

But she was someone he needed to stay close to, not someone he could let himself want.

“Still, I think it’d be worth considering moving closer to my area. You and your mom both. It’d be easier to look out for each other.”

Bianca shook her head. “The apartment is fine for now…”

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Chapter 20 Haughty Lilliana

Steven let it go.

“Alright. We’ll see.”

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She’s calling out to me?

12:14 Tue, Jun 9

“Stay.”

The contact hit Bianca like a current running straight through her. She went completely still, rooted to the spot, her face blazing from her cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears.

Lilliana’s gaze dropped to where his hand held Bianca’s wrist.

Something sharp and unwelcome lodged itself in her chest.

Jealousy? Over something like this?

The feeling unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.

Is he doing this on purpose, right in front of me?

“Make it quick. We’re both trying to get home.”

Lilliana’s expression finally shifted, just barely.

She pulled in a slow breath and held Steven’s gaze without flinching.

“Steven, I told you. I’m not interested in a relationship before Divine Awakening. You understood why I turned you down yesterday.

“But you didn’t have to go find her just to spite me.

“Is that really the kind of person you are?”

Steven let out a short laugh.

The sheer audacity of it genuinely amused him.

But the words landed somewhere else entirely for Bianca. Her chest went tight with a sudden, quiet ache. Steven sought me out to spite Lilliana? That’s the reason?

The warmth from a moment ago drained right out of her. She felt smaller than she had all day.

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Chapter 20 Haughty Lilliana

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