Full-course dinner!

✦ THE NIGHT OF SMALL TRIUMPHS ✦

✦ Aether's Shock

The door creaked open under Aether's hand, and he stepped inside his dorm room—only to stop dead in his tracks. For several heartbeats he just stood there, blinking slowly, as if his mind was refusing to accept the scene before him.

Then—

"A-AHHHHHHH? WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"

His voice cracked embarrassingly.

Because there, neatly arranged across his bed, desk, shelves—everywhere—were boxes and crates and glittering parcels. Every single item he'd painstakingly planned to purchase with his freshly hard-earned contribution points was there. The premium engineer's toolkit imported from Armanthia, the high-density core stones, the array of rare conductive filaments, even the delicate crystal wands he'd intended to study and break down for their mechanical principles.

All of it. Here. Delivered.

And none of it by his own hand.

He stared at it, then slowly turned to the only other person in the room. Claire was perched on his windowsill, legs swinging slightly, a proud little grin curling her lips.

"Oh, this?" she said with a breezy wave of her hand, as if she'd merely tidied up some stray books. "I bought all of it for you. It's really not much, you know. Just a little present from me for you… after keeping your promise. Hehe."

✦ Aether's Tragic Inner Collapse

Aether was silent. Completely still. Then his hand rose—he began to claw weakly at the air, as though trying to grasp the invisible strings of his sanity.

"Not… much…?" he croaked.

Claire just blinked innocently, her eyes twinkling in the lamplight.

"Ahh! Not much, she says!" Aether raged, now pacing in tight, frantic circles. His hands clenched into trembling fists. "I— I sold my precious creations—almost got myself incinerated by Lucas—cut deals with the Dean herself—just to scrape together barely HALF of what all this would cost! And this idiot just calls it 'not much'?!"

He dramatically punched the air, each strike slowing as existential despair settled over him. At one point he even leaned against the wall, eyes squeezed shut.

"How many contribution points does a chosen one even have, huh?! Enough to treat my life's work like a roadside snack purchase? Ugh, I think I'm gonna faint…"

Claire tried—truly tried—to stifle her giggles. She failed. Her laughter rang bright through the small dorm room, bouncing off metal and wood alike.

✦ Dropping the Masks

Finally, with a long, heavy sigh, Aether scrubbed a hand over his face and dropped into his chair.

"You know what? I don't want to think anymore." He lifted his eyes to her, the storm in them settling into something clearer—relief, maybe, or the cautious bloom of peace. "Anyway… I guess all the matters are settled now. We don't have to hide anymore, do we, Claire?"

Her answering smile was brilliant. She hopped off the sill and nearly danced over to him. "Yeah! Yay! My brother's the best after all." Then, with eyes sparkling with mischievous delight: "Come on—I'll treat you to food. Anything you want."

Aether let a cocky smirk curve across his lips. "Well, of course I'm the best. You don't have to say it twice." He stood, stretching lazily. "But save your coins, princess. Come with me instead. I was actually about to call for you anyway."

✦ A Curious Detour

Claire puffed her cheeks in mock irritation but let it go, falling into step beside him as they left the dorm behind.

"Fine, fine. But where exactly are we going?"

Aether just shot her an infuriatingly smug look over his shoulder. "You'll see. Just follow along."

So she did. Down the softly lit academy corridors they went, past wide windows that opened to gardens now bathed in silvery moonlight. Occasionally they passed lingering groups of students who tried (and failed) not to whisper when they spotted the now-infamous non-mage prodigy. Aether ignored them all.

Finally, after a gentle descent down marble stairs, they arrived before a set of large double doors. Claire blinked, confusion wrinkling her brow.

"Aether… why are we in front of the cafeteria? It's practically deserted this late. Not even night owls are hanging around."

She pushed the doors open—and gasped.

✦ Aether's Quiet Flex

The entire grand cafeteria stretched before them—rows upon rows of gleaming tables, now entirely empty save for the uniformed staff bustling about, laying down polished silver cutlery and pristine white tablecloths. Chandeliers overhead burned with a mellow glow, casting everything in a golden haze.

Aether stood by her side, arms crossed over his chest, wearing a look of smug satisfaction that was almost too wide for his face.

"I rented out the whole cafeteria tonight."

Claire snapped her eyes to him, utterly flabbergasted.

"The whole cafeteria?! Are you planning to propose to someone or something, Aether?!"

His eye twitched. "No, idiot. And even if I was—which I'm not—I'd pick literally anywhere else. Why would I propose to someone in a cafeteria of all places? Use your brain."

✦ The Grand Meal Arrives

Their playful squabble was interrupted as a small army of waiters began to file out from the kitchens, pushing carts and carrying trays heaped with fragrant, steaming dishes. Platters of roast meats drizzled with glistening sauces, towers of delicate pastries dusted with sugar, bowls of jewel-bright fruits—every step filled the air with richer scents.

Claire's jaw nearly hit the floor.

"A-Aether… isn't this a full-course dinner? This tier's reserved for teachers or literal academy directors. How did you—"

Aether's grin turned wolfish. "Shocked, huh? Hehe."

Then he leaned in, voice dropping conspiratorially. "Well, I'll explain it all later. But first, you can see we've got enough food here to feed half the dorms. Call your friends—hell, call anyone you like. We're not finishing this alone."

Claire just stared at him, mouth opening, closing, then finally—

"EHH?! You're inviting my friends too? Just how many contribution points did you even swindle from the Dean?!"

✦ A Visit to His Classmates

But Aether was already waving her off, turning toward the door. "Go on, start gathering people. I'm heading to visit my own classmates. Be right back."

He made his way briskly through the corridors, reaching his own classroom—where he found it humming with soft chatter and laughter. Tables were pushed together to accommodate platters nearly identical to those in the cafeteria. His classmates were already digging in, eyes wide with delight.

Morgan looked up, cheeks bulging comically with food. "Mmh—yeah? It's really tasty, Aether. But… why are you giving us this?"

Aether rested a hand on the table, his smile softer now, but unmistakably proud.

"Well, I have my reasons. Everyone—listen for a sec, yeah?" The room quieted. "We may have lost the tournament. But today, we proved something more important: that we're not to be underestimated just because we don't have magic. You guys did great work out there—better than anyone expected. So tonight's my treat. Eat up, celebrate, and remember: from now on, lean on each other. I'll also be teaching you everything you still don't know about mechanisms. So let's build our teamwork from here."

There was a brief silence. Then one by one, his classmates broke into smiles. Someone clapped. Then another. Soon the whole room was ringing with applause and cheerful shouts.

Morgan beamed. "Thanks, Aether. We'll give it everything from here on!"

✦ A Teacher's Warm Approval

Just then, the door slid open. Teacher Akabane entered, her gentle face brightening as she took in the scene.

"Oh my. Thank you for inviting me, Aether," she said, voice tinged with affectionate surprise.

"Of course, Teach. Glad you could join us."

Her eyes danced over the elaborate spread, her head tilting. "But… how in the world did you manage a full-course dinner at your age? Even I would need to wrangle special permissions…"

Aether just scratched his cheek with a sheepish grin and launched into a quick explanation. Akabane Teach listened, then burst into a soft laugh. "I see. Well, your classmates are lucky to have someone like you. And I'm lucky to be their teacher."

As he excused himself to return to Claire, he caught the quiet, proud look Akabane wore while watching her students joke and eat together. It made something warm twist in Aether's chest.

✦ The Banquet Grows

Returning to the cafeteria, Aether found it buzzing with new life. Claire hadn't wasted time—she had called every friend, every loose acquaintance. Lena, Olivia, Zheny, Hinata—they were all there, clustered at different tables, bright eyes turning toward Aether as soon as he stepped inside.

"Congratulations on the tournament!"

"Even though you didn't win the trophy, you totally won the crowd!"

"That mechanism of yours—wow. I want to see it again someday!"

Aether just lifted a hand in a lazy wave, trying (and failing) to look indifferent. Claire zipped to his side, looping an arm around his shoulders.

"Look at all these people coming to see my genius brother. Try not to let it inflate your head too much, okay?"

Aether snorted, poking her forehead lightly. "Says the girl who couldn't stop bragging about me to her friends."

✦ The Night Rolls On

Soon the entire hall was alive with chatter and laughter. Platters emptied, goblets clinked, and clusters of students formed and dissolved across the tables, drawn by the shared novelty of such a rare, lavish meal. Somewhere, a student strummed a small guitar, drawing quiet cheers.

Aether found himself dragged from group to group—sometimes by Claire, sometimes by others. Everyone wanted a word with the boy who had nearly toppled the mages' pride with nothing but steel and cunning.

By the end of it, his cheeks ached faintly from smiling. Which was strange. Because for the longest time, he'd thought he'd nearly forgotten how.

✦ A Glimpse Beyond the Halls

Outside, the night stretched across Himwarry's courtyards, studded with lanterns and the hush of wind in the trees. Somewhere on an upper balcony, the Dean stood with a cup of tea cooling in her hand, watching the light and life below.

"So this is the ripple he's already begun," she murmured. "A banquet tonight. Who knows what revolutions tomorrow."

Her lips curved into a smile that was part worry, part wonder, all seasoned by long years.

✦ To Be Continued…

Back inside, Aether leaned against a pillar, watching Claire animatedly tell some joke that had Olivia nearly crying with laughter. The warmth of the scene settled around him like a soft cloak.

"Yeah… teamwork. Family. Maybe this isn't such a bad start."

His smirk returned, just slightly sharper. "Let's see how far we can take this, Himwarry."

[To Be Continued…]

(Cue a dramatic Jojo'z bass riff as the scene fades to black.)