Chapter 21: A House Without a Crest

Elias paced across his dorm, blueprint papers scattered across his desk. Lira sat on the bed, watching him like he had lost his mind—which, to be fair, wasn't entirely inaccurate.

"You do realize," Lira said, exasperated, "that founding a new house isn't just something you can do, right? Noble houses have history, generations of backing, political ties—"

Elias waved her off. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But think about it—why do those houses have all the power?"

Lira narrowed her eyes. "…Because they control the economy, magical knowledge, and the Academy's internal politics?"

Elias grinned. "Exactly." He slammed a hand on his desk. "Which means if we want to break into that system, we have to offer something they don't."

Lira crossed her arms. "And that is?"

Elias held up his gauntlet, the metal humming softly with raw potential.

Lira blinked. "You want to make a house based on technology?"

Elias smirked. "Not just technology—innovation. Magic houses have been fighting the same way for centuries. They build their strength on tradition, but tradition doesn't win wars. Progress does."

Lira let that sink in. "Okay… let's say you somehow convince the Academy to allow this. Who the hell is going to join? The nobles aren't exactly lining up to switch sides."

Elias grinned. "We don't need nobles."

Lira stared at him. "You're insane."

Elias shrugged. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

First Recruitment—The Rejects and the Outcasts

If Elias was going to start a house, he needed people. And since the established noble families weren't going to be interested, he had to look elsewhere.

Which meant going to the lowest rung of the Academy—the misfits, the failures, and the overlooked.

Lira sighed as they approached the Academy's lower practice halls, where students who couldn't get into a noble house trained alone or in small groups. These were the ones who lacked powerful bloodlines, lacked resources, or were just seen as unworthy.

Elias grinned. "Perfect."

Lira groaned. "This is either going to be legendary or get us both expelled."

The first potential recruit was easy to spot.

A hulking mountain of muscle stood in the far corner of the hall, swinging a massive war hammer, his sweat-drenched tunic barely fitting over his broad frame. His strikes shook the ground, but no noble sparred with him.

Lira raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. You want that guy?"

Elias smirked. "Yep."

They approached, and the giant of a man turned, his sharp amber eyes narrowing as he set the war hammer down.

"You need something?" he rumbled.

Elias nodded. "Yeah. I'm putting together a house. You interested?"

The man folded his arms. "Not part of any noble family. No crest. No legacy."

Elias grinned. "Good. Neither am I."

The man stared at him for a long moment before chuckling. "Name's Reinhardt." He grabbed his war hammer. "Tell me more."

Lira massaged her temples. "Oh gods. This is actually happening."

A Name That Carries No Weight

By the end of the day, Elias had recruited four people—Reinhardt, a brute of a warrior; Cecilia, a rogue who specialized in magical sabotage; Marco, a researcher obsessed with alchemy and technology; and Ivy, an archer with an uncanny ability to predict attacks.

Lira muttered, "It's like you hand-picked the biggest group of misfits in the school."

Elias smirked. "That's the idea."

Of course, there was one last problem.

Every noble house had a crest, a legacy, and a name that commanded respect.

And Elias?

He had none of that.

So, as the group gathered in the dimly lit practice hall, Reinhardt leaned forward. "Alright, boss. What do we call ourselves?"

Silence stretched.

Then, Elias grinned.

"The nobles think a house without a crest is worthless," he said. "They think only bloodlines give strength."

He clenched his gauntleted fist.

"So let's prove them wrong."

Lira tilted her head. "Elias, what's the name?"

Elias smirked.

"We're House Null."

A house with no crest. No legacy. No limits.

The Academy was about to change forever.