[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190120/b458a81531631a6916fa9413063c5f80.png[/img][/center][right][sub][i]With a brief aside from Lilie[/i]
[@Hero] [@Scribe of Thoth] [@Trainerblue192] and maybe [@Gisk]?[/sub][/right]
Aaron watched as Lilie quirked a curious eyebrow at Salem’s talk about a hamburger, though she didn't make a comment on it, only giving a gentle giggle of amusement that frankly delighted Aaron more than he would have liked to admit. But no sooner had Salem returned than Lilie decided to get the conversation rolling with some [i]gossip[/i], and Aaron could have sworn he tasted blood in his mouth when she told them what it was. The persistence and frighteningly quick spread of that rumour was bad enough, but apparently there was one small and [i]rather important[/i] detail he’d missed:

[color=deepskyblue]“...for having…[i]relations[/i] with a Noila mage.”[/color]

Aaron might have passed out from the shock had his horror not been keeping him wide awake. His ears burned fiercely under his hair, and he could even feel a bit of a flush forming on his cheekbones. So what, it was the first day of class and apparently the whole school already thought he was some kind of slut? Good lord, some of his [i]family[/i] worked at this school! What if they heard? Or the Princess, or Count Alder, or Sariel and William… what would they think? And Lilie! She was looking [i]right at him[/i] when she said it! What would [i]she[/i] think?! Did she think less of him? It didn’t seem like it, she was smiling and seemed no more than entertained at the news, apparently didn’t even know a Noila mage was attending…

Wait, did she not know it was him?

Aaron almost smacked himself. Of course! She didn’t know it was him! He supposed it made sense, she appeared to come from a human family, and it was probably a little arrogant on his part to think that everyone would just [i]know--[/i]

[Color=82ca9d]“Not possible, Aaron's been preoccupied with a lot of things and they involved me as well. So unless I was drugged and he either slipped out and had a quick bit of fun or I was in a uh... menage a trois, then I doubt the validity of this claim.”[/color]

That time, Aaron almost smacked [i]Salem[/i]. Sure, refusing the rumour was good and his willingness to help was appreciated, but the guy could have at least given him a chance to do some damage control! And that awful implication… in that moment, he wasn’t sure if he would rather hang Salem or himself. 

As it was, Aaron could only watch on helplessly, wishing he could turn invisible as he watched Lilie’s expression shift at the news, her smile slowly fading and turning into one of confusion, looking back over at him with wide eyes. Her mouth formed a small ‘o’ of realization, as if she was just figuring out something now.

[Color=00BFFF]“Wait, so...the Noila mage from the rumor is you…?”[/color] Lilie asked slowly, clearly only just getting the implication of what Salem had said.

As his public image crumbled around him, Aaron would have liked nothing more than to either dissipate into mist or jump up on the table and exclaim to the entire dining hall, “I didn’t sleep with anybody!” But of course, one was unwise and one was impossible, so he settled for a tight smile and an uneasy laugh, tugging on his still-burning ear and hoping his face wasn’t turning [i]too[/i] red. 

[color=f0d705]“Well, yes and no,”[/color] he managed to hurry out, [color=f0d705]“yes as in yes, I am the Noila mage, sort of, but no because I can’t be from the rumour because Salem is right and that rumour is [i]categorically false.”[/i][/color] His voice took on a notable urgency, emphasizing the last two words with both his tone and two jabs of his finger into the tabletop. 

Thankfully, mercifully, Salem seemed just as eager as Aaron was to change the subject, and he went with it enthusiastically, clearing his throat and doing his best to brighten up, figuratively speaking. [color=f0d705]“Yeah, how [i]did[/i] affinity mastery go?”[/color] he spoke to the group, but mostly to Lilie, seeing as his affinity seemed like a touchy subject for Max. [color=f0d705]“Your affinity is water, right? Have you ever had any magical training before this?”[/color]