Re-Awakened :I Ascend as an SSS-Ranked Dragon Summoner Chapter 74 Top girl 2

Up close, Noah understood why people called her the gold standard. Sophia Reign wasn't just beautiful - she was striking in a way that made you forget other people existed.

She had high cheekbones, highlighting features that seed crafted rather than born. Her eyes were an unusual shade of amber, almost gold in certain angles, frad by dark lashes that made them appear even more dramatic.

She carried herself with the kind of confidence that ca from knowing exactly who you were and not caring who disagreed. Her figure was athletic but feminine - the slim thick kind.

The kind of body that ca from years of combat training combined with good genetics. Dark hair fell past her shoulders in waves, the color so deep it seed to swallow light.

Noah held her gaze, surprising himself with his own steadiness. "Guilty as charged."

'Where did that co from?' he wondered, but his voice had co out smooth, almost playful.

"I should probably introduce my-"

"Noah Eclipse," she cut him off, a smile playing at her lips. "Or should I say 'Zombie Boy'?"

Noah felt heat creep up his neck. The forum nickna had spread faster than he'd expected after the Raven fight.

Sophia laughed, the sound musical even over the bass. "Don't look so mortified. I was there, you know. Front row to your little performance with Raven." She leaned forward slightly. "I have to say, I was impressed. Not many first-years can move like that."

'She watched the fight?' Noah's mind raced, but he kept his expression controlled. "Just so basic training."

"Basic training doesn't usually end with a 1A student kneeling." Her eyes sparkled. "Or with being amongst the survivors of the Cannadah trip. Or even defeating a category 3 beast during a routine expedition." She tilted her head. "You've been busy."

Noah studied her, seeing past the surface beauty to sothing sharper beneath. "You've done your research."

"Let's just say you're interesting." She gestured to his outfit. "And clean up surprisingly well. The chain is a nice touch."

'Note to self, send Gustavo a "Thank you" package,' Noah thought deviously.

Around them, Noah could feel the weight of stares. A group of second-years near the stairs weren't even trying to hide their glares. Soone's phone flashed - another picture for the forum, no doubt.

'Great,' Noah thought. 'More attention.'

But sohow, sitting here with Sophia, the stares felt less threatening than usual. Maybe it was the drink finally hitting his system, or maybe it was just her presence, but Noah found himself relaxing.

"Most people who find 'interesting' usually want sothing," he said, watching her reaction.

Sophia's smile widened. "Smart boy. But maybe what I want is just conversation. You'd be surprised how rare that is - everyone's either too intimidated to talk or too busy trying to impress ."

"And I'm not trying to impress you?"

"Are you?"

Noah considered this. "No," he realized. "I'm just talking."

"Exactly." She signaled the bartender, ordering sothing that ca in a tall glass with a faint glow. "So talk. Tell sothing that isn't on the forum. Sothing real."

The request should have set off alarm bells. Noah had spent the last twenty four hours carefully managing and trying to catalogue what people knew about him. The mole was still out there even though his guts told him it was Micah.

However, sitting here, watching the lights play off her face, he found himself wanting to be honest.

"I hate parties," he said finally. "Lucas practically dragged here. But..." he glanced around the room, at the people dancing, laughing, living. "I think I needed it."

Sophia nodded, understanding in her eyes. "The curse of being different. We spend so much ti maintaining our images that we forget how to just exist." She took a sip of her drink. "Why do you think I co here? For a few hours, I can just be Sophia, not the 'gold standard' everyone expects."

A third-year tried to approach their corner of the bar, but one look from Sophia sent him retreating. Noah watched the interaction with amusent.

"Must be exhausting," he said. "Being what everyone wants you to be."

"Almost as exhausting as hiding what you really are." Her gaze was knowing. "We all have our secrets, Noah Eclipse. So of us just wear them better than others." She said, staring for a mont longer than needed at him.

She held eye contact well and Noah wasn't the type to flinch from a challenge either. Whatever the smoke was, he wanted it. Hell, the whole chimney if it ca to that.

The music had shifted again, sothing with a deeper bass that seed to vibrate through the floor. More phones appeared in the crowd, their caras not even pretending to be subtle anymore.

Sophia looked around, her expression shifting slightly. "It's getting a bit crowded in here." She stood in one fluid motion, holding out her hand. "Want to go sowhere quieter? I know a place with a much better view."

Noah hesitated for a fraction of a second, his mind automatically assessing risks. But then he saw sothing in her eyes - a genuineness that cut through all his usual defenses.

'Sotis,' Lucas's words echoed in his head, 'you need to stop surviving and start living.'

Noah took her hand, noting how naturally their fingers intertwined. "Lead the way."

Behind them, he could hear the buzz of conversations, could practically feel the forum notifications lighting up phones across campus. Tomorrow, there would be consequences, questions, probably more unwanted attention.

But for once, Noah didn't care about tomorrow.

For once, he was just going to live.

As they moved through the crowd, which parted automatically for Sophia, Noah caught Lucas's eye across the room. The Number One student raised his glass in a silent toast, his expression a mix of pride and disbelief.

'What am I doing?' Noah thought, feeling Sophia's hand warm in his.

But for the first ti in years, not knowing the answer felt like freedom.

They walked past the pulsing lights of the Rave, beyond the bustling comrcial district of the east wing, until the academy's nightlife faded into comfortable silence. The moon painted everything in silver, their footsteps echoing softly against stone paths rarely traveled at this hour.

Sophia led him to a secluded spot overlooking the lower grounds, where the academy's architecture blended with natural rock formations. She settled onto one of the stone benches, the material of her dress catching moonlight like liquid stars.

"I hope it's okay that I stole you away," she said, a playful smile dancing across her features. "Wouldn't want your admirers to be upset."

Noah almost laughed at the irony. Here she was, Sophia Reign - the girl whose every movent sparked new forum threads, whose presence caused traffic jams in hallways, whose smile had launched a thousand training ground accidents - worried about his admirers.

"I don't have anyone to upset," he said simply. Not rembering anyone in particular.

Her smile changed then, becoming sothing softer, more genuine. "No one at all?"

Noah shook his head.

"Good."

The word was barely a whisper. She moved closer, one hand sliding up to his neck, her nails grazing lightly against his skin. Her eyes t his for one electric mont before closing, her lips parting slightly as she drew him closer.

The last thought Noah had before their lips t was that maybe, just maybe, Lucas had been right about tonight after all.