Chapter 20

The day began suspiciously quiet.

Yuuji knew this because nothing had tried to explode, haunt, or narratively challenge him before breakfast.

That, in itself, was alarming.

He sat in the mess hall, sipping lukewarm tea while Kael meditated next to a floating candle and Elira read a scroll sealed in black wax. She hadn't spoken since she'd received it, which worried him more than when she did speak.

[System Notification: "Calm Before the Plot Storm" Detected]➤ Suggested Action: Prepare Mentally. Or Flee.➤ Bonus Objective: Don't Poke the Ice Queen's Secrets (Warning: Fatal Consequences Possible)

Yuuji tapped his teacup nervously. "Soooo... anyone want to bet how high we ranked after yesterday's trial? I'm guessing 'surprisingly adequate' or 'accidentally impressive.'"

Kael opened one eye. "We did not die. That alone is exceptional."

"That's not a rank, Kael. That's a coping mechanism."

Elira set down the scroll with unnatural care. "The rankings are about to be posted."

As if on cue, a pulse of gold light rippled across the hall. Every student froze.

Dozens of enchanted glyphs flared to life in midair—tiered lists, scores, glowing team banners. The Inter-House Tournament Rankings, updated and announced with maximum drama.

A hush fell.

Then: gasps, cheers, groans, and at least one audible scream from the Aetherlight table.

Yuuji squinted as the text scrolled.

1st – Team Valiant (Aetherlight)2nd – Team Thornsong (Sylvaeon)3rd – Team Obsidian Wyrm (Draconis)4th – Team Five (Yuuji, Elira, Kael)"Rating: Tactical Success, Bonus Coordination Score, Unusual Style: +Extra Credit"

Yuuji choked on his tea.

"FOURTH?!"

Kael looked mildly offended. "We deserved third."

"We tripped over half the dungeon!"

"We did so intentionally."

[System Alert: Congratulations! Your accidental competence has been upgraded to semi-respectable.]➤ Reward: +5 Team Reputation➤ Kael's Raven Now Regards You as "Tolerable"

Elira frowned. "This will attract attention."

"Thanks for the warning," Yuuji muttered, ducking a flying confetti spell from across the hall. "I'm already one step from wearing a disguise to class."

A Draconis student marched up to them, armor clanking, eyes narrowed.

"Elira Vortemer," she said stiffly, "you're being summoned by House Council."

Elira stood, regal and unreadable as always. "Understood."

Yuuji blinked. "Wait, hold on, what—?"

"She'll be fine," Kael said, sipping something that looked suspiciously like blood-orange juice. "Probably."

"But—"

She was already gone.

Scene Break: Elira's Shadows

Elira walked alone through the marble corridor leading toward the Vortemer enclave—a private wing behind House Draconis's tower.

She wasn't surprised it came to this.

The sealed letter she'd received that morning was written in noble code: subtle turns of phrase, titles laced with hidden threats. The Vortemer family wanted a word.

When she entered the chamber, three older nobles stood waiting—robes pristine, expressions sharp enough to cut steel.

"You've drawn attention," the elder said, voice cold. "To yourself. And to the family."

"I performed well," she replied.

"You stood beside a commoner. Publicly. Aligned with him. Chose him."

Elira didn't flinch. "I chose capability."

A younger noble sneered. "The tournament was meant to elevate the right names. Not... tutors."

"The battlefield does not care for bloodlines," she said softly.

The room fell silent.

Then the elder smiled thinly. "Just remember who holds your name, Elira. And where it can be taken."

She bowed.

But her eyes burned colder than ever.

Scene Break: Meanwhile, Yuuji Fails at Relaxing

Yuuji had tried, very sincerely, to do nothing for the next hour.

He made it seven minutes before three more enchanted birds delivered fanmail, one rival glared at him from across the quad, and a mysterious hallway started glowing for no reason.

[System Notification: Rafe Spotted. Background Monitoring Activated.]

Yuuji froze.

He turned.

Sure enough, across the training field, he stood again—Rafe. The Smirking Plot Magnet. Cloak rippling, boots never touching the ground quite right. Watching. Waiting.

"Why is he always lurking like an optional boss?" Yuuji muttered.

Kael appeared at his elbow. "He smells like unresolved subplots."

"I hate how accurate that is."

Rafe tilted his head slightly.

Yuuji did the mature thing.

He ran.

Scene Break: Kael's Invitation (and the Bird That Delivered It)

Later that evening, as Kael adjusted the lunar wards around his bedside crypt-altar (which was technically allowed under House Nocturne's weird rules), a sharp knock echoed.

No one stood at the door.

Instead, a raven-shaped letter hovered in midair.

It landed gently in Kael's palm.

To Kael Zyrion, Heir of Shadows and Detention List Regular:

You are hereby summoned to the Veiled Faculty Chamber at moonrise.

Topic: Inheritance of Forbidden Flame.

Attendance is mandatory.

P.S. The chair is not optional this time.

Kael smiled for the first time that day.

"I was wondering when they'd remember me."

Scene Break: Rooftop Revelations

Yuuji sat on the rooftop of the west dorm wing, legs dangling off the edge.

The academy sprawled beneath him—runes glimmering, towers casting long shadows, magic dancing in the sky like lazy fireflies.

He just wanted a moment. A breath. A second where he wasn't "that guy from the duel," "the tutor turned gladiator," or "Rafe's designated rival-slash-target."

Elira joined him without a word.

She handed him a cup of proper tea.

"You're late," he said.

"I had politics," she replied. "You wouldn't have liked it."

"I don't like it when toast levitates. I definitely don't like noble threats."

She didn't argue.

"So," he tried, "any chance we could go back to that part of the story where I just taught remedial enchantment to a villainess?"

She considered it.

"No."

[System Alert: Bond Deepening – Elira Vortemer]➤ Emotional State: Guarded, Curious, Slightly Impressed➤ Hidden Trait Discovered: Fiercely Loyal (Locked)

"Great," he muttered. "Guess I'll just vibe my way through whatever happens next."

Elira sipped her tea. "That's the plan."

End Scene: The Gathering Storm

Later that night, three figures stood in a sealed observatory chamber at the top of the academy.

Headmistress Caldris watched the stars shift in unnatural patterns.

Professor Daelin frowned over a glowing map of student influence.

And a third, cloaked figure—unknown even to the faculty—watched Yuuji's name slowly drift toward the very center of the chart.

"So," the cloaked one murmured. "It begins."