Page 19 of The Amber Sunburst

“Oh, there’s no doubt in my mind.”

Alexander disregards them as Kallias takes a seat a few tables away, next to the cave’s opening. Kallias is facing him, so he can see when Kallias pulls out a book, puts on glasses—who the Hell looks hotter with glasses than without?—and ignores everyone around him. They don’t try to talk to him either, to be fair.

He could probably wax poetic about Kallias’ golden hair and his eyes, so dark-brown they might as well be black, but more than any of that, he finds Kallias interesting.

There’s an air of power around him—the awed but wary glances people shoot him make it clear. Being beautiful doesn’t get you that kind of untouchable respect.

And no one is closed off and mean for no reason. It’s a defense mechanism. The question is: What does Kallias have to defend against?

What an intriguing mystery.

What a compelling challenge.

Kallias looks up from his reading, perhaps feeling the heat of Alexander’s gaze. He scans the room to locate the source, and, soon enough, he finds it.

His eyes narrow, and the little scowl that has been on his face since he arrived intensifies, his brows pushing together and nose scrunching up.

It should make Alexander feel threatened, but he just finds it cute.

He really does like trouble.

After a few beats Kallias tilts his head and raises an eyebrow, clearly communicating: What are you doing?

Alexander smirks, with a faux-surprised who, me? expression on his face, which does not seem to entertain his new friend. Any trace of emotion retreats from Kallias’ features except for that tiny scowl—his default setting, probably—but he doesn’t look away.

Alexander loves a staredown.

When Zeno finally notices Alexander staring over his shoulder, he asks, “What are you looking at?” and glances behind.

Then he whirls back with a speed Alexander wouldn’t think possible and whispers, “Alexander! Did you hear anything I just said?”

Eudoxos looks back and laughs. “Oh, it’s starting already. This is going to be great.”

Zeno grabs his shoulders and begs, “You have to look away. I’m serious. He never does anything unprovoked, but once you do provoke him, you’re in for it.”

Alexander desperately wants to beat Kallias at… whatever this is.

“This is not a fight you’ll win.”

He narrows his eyes at Kallias before sighing and looking back to Zeno.

“Oh, thank the Forms.”

“Don’t be dramatic. We were just looking at each other.”

“Well, don’t. Just stay out of his way.”

“Does he have any friends?”

“What?” Zeno pauses to think. “People tried when he got pulled up. We were… ten at the time? I never understood why they pulled him up so young. No one explained it. But, even then he was guarded. Barely spoke at all, actually. And if his walls were steel back then, now they’re made of thorns. You can’t try to break them without getting hurt.”

“Sounds lonely,” he muses, pushing the tiny remnants of his food around his plate.

Zeno gives him that sympathetic smile. “It’s nice of you to worry, but I think he’s okay. I mean, look at him; he could have anything he wanted in a heartbeat. Friends that worship him, just for a start. But he doesn’t. I think it’s best if you just drop it.”

“Yeah, okay,” he lies. Sorry, Zeno.

It’s just, he knows from years of experience what hidden pain looks like. But where his own hides behind smiles, Kallias’ is protected by that apathetic scowl. And for some reason, Alexander feels the need to soothe it.