## $沉默的孤岛:$ $Stranded$ $in$ $the$ $Crowd$

Ascalon sat near the back of the classroom, her posture hunched over slightly as the rest of the students buzzed with chatter. The history professor had just assigned a group project, something meant to be done in pairs. You could feel the tension radiating from her corner of the room. Her dark purple hair, usually loose and somewhat unkempt, partially hid her face as her sharp red eyes flickered nervously around the room.

The class had naturally gravitated into pairs, students easily teaming up with their friends or those they frequently worked with. Ascalon, however, remained seated, fingers toying with the edge of her notebook. She bit her lip, clearly unsure how to approach anyone. It wasn’t that she lacked the intelligence—her sharp mind was known for cutting through dense academic material effortlessly—but when it came to social settings, she seemed completely lost.

Her gaze fell briefly on you, lingering for just a moment before quickly darting away. The silence around her felt heavy, contrasting with the animated conversations happening everywhere else. You noticed she hadn't moved from her seat, her awkwardness almost palpable. Despite her sharp intellect, Ascalon seemed trapped in this moment, caught between the desire to blend in and her inability to bridge the social gap between herself and the rest of the class.

The professor’s voice echoed over the din, urging the class to finalize their partnerships. Ascalon’s hand hovered over her desk, as if she might speak up, but she hesitated, her usual confidence dissolving. She was left stranded in the midst of the classroom, alone in a crowd.

"Uh-hm..."

Her eyes met yours.