The dormitory corridor was unnervingly quiet, only the faint hum of enchanted lights breaking the stillness. Celeste had returned to her room after the forest trials, her cub nestled on the rug near the window. She barely had time to settle when a deliberate, slow knock echoed against the door.
"Celeste… open up," a deep, confident voice called, smooth and unsettlingly charming.
Her heart tightened. That voice. Ivander. He had a way of commanding attention, making the world shift slightly with each word, each glance.
"I'm busy," she called cautiously, hugging the cub closer.
"Busy doesn't mean safe," Ivander replied. The door creaked, and he stepped inside as though invited, his eyes sweeping over the room like a predator. "I'm looking for Leroy. But… seeing you instead isn't such a bad surprise." He smiled, a faint teasing curve that made Celeste's skin crawl.
Celeste bristled, planting herself between him and the cub. "Why do you care about Leroy? And why come here?"
Ivander's gaze lingered too long on her. "Leroy owes me a few favors. And if he's hiding, well… it's interesting to see who else is capable of surviving here." He leaned casually against her desk, voice smooth, yet every word carried weight. "You, for instance… you're very capable. And, I must admit, unexpectedly appealing."
Celeste's stomach twisted. "Don't mistake my caution for interest. I'm not yours to play with."
From the shadows, Nathan hovered silently, almost invisible. His eyes scanned the room, taking in every detail—the cub, the scattered trinkets, the sunlight falling across the window—and something clicked. This room reminded him of his old space as Dan the Darkness: shadows perfect for traps, angles for ambushes, and hidden threats that required constant vigilance. His instincts screamed caution.
"Careful," Nathan muttered, tension threading through his calm voice.
Celeste stiffened but before she could react, a mechanical click sounded from the far corner. An arrow shot from the wall, tipped with a faintly glowing Sagittarius poison. Time slowed. Celeste's instincts screamed—but Nathan reacted first.
He threw himself in front of her, energy flaring along his arms. The arrow struck his chest with a metallic clang and dissolved into harmless sparks before reaching her.
"Stay close!" Nathan shouted, his voice steady but urgent. "This isn't an accident!"
Celeste's eyes widened. "Nathan… you—how did you—?"
He gave her a small, determined smile. "Actions speak louder than words. Trust me."
Ivander's amusement didn't falter, even as a low rumble shook the ceiling. Ice boulders began sliding from a vent above, massive and jagged. Celeste's eyes widened in alarm, but Nathan was faster.
He spread his arms, energy crackling outward, melting the first boulder into harmless shards. Another came crashing down, and he intercepted it as well. Each move was precise—not only protecting Celeste but subtly demonstrating his reliability. She had survived again, thanks to him.
Ivander's dark eyes sparkled with amusement. "Resourceful. I like that. But boldness can be… dangerous. And you, little Celeste, seem very bold indeed."
Celeste's pulse thumped in her ears. "Why are you here? Why the traps, the forest, the poison?"
Ivander stepped closer, his voice low, teasing. "Everything in Vasra Academia… is a game. Leroy, the trials, even your little cub… all pieces on my board. Some pieces, I intend to play closely. And you, fire and instinct, are one of the most intriguing pieces."
Celeste's hands tightened around the cub, instinctively shielding it. "I don't play anyone's game. Least of all yours."
Ivander's smirk widened as he leaned slightly closer, voice silk over steel. "Oh, I like that fire. And fire… is fun to watch. Especially in someone so… unexpected."
Celeste swallowed, not liking the way her chest tightened under his gaze. "I'm not impressed."
Nathan hovered beside her, voice low but firm. "Focus on moving, not arguing. He's watching reactions. Every blink, every twitch, every word."
A sudden click sounded. Another arrow flew at Celeste, faster than the first. Nathan reacted instantly, throwing himself in front of her. Sparks flew as the arrow disintegrated against his energy shield, the fragments scattering harmlessly on the floor.
Celeste blinked. "Again… you saved me."
Nathan's gaze met hers, calm and unwavering. "That's the point. Survival first. Trust… comes later."
Ivander leaned lazily against the wall, a dark chuckle escaping him. "I must say, your friend is very… devoted. Perhaps that's why you're surviving as well as you are. But you, little Celeste… fire like yours doesn't go unnoticed."
Celeste's jaw tightened. "I'm done listening to compliments from someone trying to intimidate me."
Leroy's voice suddenly echoed from the hallway. "Celeste! Nathan! Move, now!"
Nathan guided them through a hidden panel behind a shelf—an escape route Celeste hadn't noticed. Shadows and angles reminded him of his days as Dan the Darkness: a lifetime of anticipating danger and moving silently. He led Celeste and the cub safely into the forest beyond the dorms.
Once outside, the cold night air hit them, and Celeste's chest heaved as she clutched the cub. "What just happened?"
Nathan hovered in front of her, eyes scanning the darkness. "A test. And a warning. Ivander wants to know if you can survive. He's measuring reactions, looking for weaknesses. You… survived. That counts."
Celeste hugged the cub tighter, a mix of gratitude and unease swirling in her chest. "You… saved me twice. Why?"
Nathan's expression was calm, layered with intentions she couldn't yet read. "Because someone needs to. And because survival builds trust faster than words ever could."
Leroy emerged from behind the trees, brushing dirt from his sleeves. "You okay?"
Celeste nodded, her gaze flickering to Nathan. "Thanks to him. And… I think I need to pay attention to who's watching us."
Leroy's eyes narrowed. "Ivander isn't just looking for me. He's shifting power, setting traps, testing us—and now, he's trying to manipulate you. We need to act together—Celeste, Nathan, me—if we're going to survive and counter him."
Nathan hovered closer, eyes sharp. "He doesn't know everything yet. But he's learning. So are we. Focus on instincts, strategy, and each other. That's how you survive this academy."
Celeste felt a thread of certainty for the first time. The danger wasn't over, the forest was still looming, and Ivander's charm lingered like a shadow—but she wasn't alone.
Outside, Ivander's eyes glinted from the corridor, calculating and patient. Inside the forest, the hidden passage, and the quiet safety of the trees, an alliance had begun forming. Celeste, Nathan, and Leroy were ready to face whatever came next—and perhaps, for the first time, fight back.
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