Morning at Vasra Academia always carried a strange electricity—like the whole campus knew more secrets than the students living inside it. But today? It felt heavier. The "Battle of the Heirs" trials were only hours away, and every noble heir walked around pretending they weren't terrified of failing.
Celeste wasn't thinking about heirs, trials, or prestige.
She was thinking about Lysander.
And how Leroy had come back to her that morning looking defeated.
---
Leroy Fails (Because Nathan Made Sure of It)
"Nothing," Leroy said quietly as he met Celeste under the marble archway leading to Combat Field B.
Celeste blinked. "Nothing? Leroy, that man studied here. He was in the registry, photos, reports—something."
Leroy looked frustrated, genuinely.
"I searched everywhere. Archives, upper floor catalogue, even bribed the monitor spirit in the restricted hall—dead end."
Nathan joined them casually, Maximus jogging behind him like a tiny shadow with too much energy.
"Well… that's unfortunate," Nathan said, with an innocence so smooth it felt fake.
Celeste narrowed her eyes at him. Nathan only shrugged.
But what she didn't know…
Last night, Nathan's master contacted him through the Pathfinder mark burned lightly into his chest.
> "Lysander must remain buried. Do not let the boy Leroy succeed. Vasra does not need that ghost roaming again."
Nathan obeyed without hesitation.
He always did.
And now he watched Leroy struggle, exactly as ordered.
---
Combat Class — Where Everything Cracked Open
Combat class slammed into the day like thunder.
Instructor Helena stood in the center with a spear longer than her body.
"The heirs' preliminaries begin after lunch. Show me you can at least survive until then."
Pairs were called.
"Emile Birmingham and Celeste Beaumont ."
The class murmured—this matchup was juicy. Emile smirked, snapping on her gloves. Celeste rolled her shoulders, her fingers twitching with that strange warmth she'd been feeling for days.
They bowed.
Fought.
And then—
Everything inside Celeste finally woke up.
When Emile lunged with a glowing arrow strike, Celeste dodged with Pathfinder precision…
but countered with something new.
A burst. Like liquid starlight exploding from her palms.
The ground cracked.
Energy spiraled.
Students stumbled back.
Even Helena's eyes widened—just a fraction, but enough to count as shock.
"What… was that?" Emile gasped, stepping back.
Celeste stared at her hands.
"I—I don't know."
But deep inside her chest, something unfurled. A memory that wasn't a memory. A power that felt older than Varsa itself.
Nathan swallowed hard.
Leroy whispered, "This is… beyond warrior rank."
And far above the field, watching from the balcony, Ivander tapped the railing with interest.
"Oh, Celeste… you're going to make things interesting."
---
Xavier & His Uncle — The Truth About Lysander
Somewhere beneath the Academy, past halls no student was allowed to enter, Xavier knelt in chains, sweat dripping from his jaw.
His uncle stood before him, tapping a cane against the ground impatiently.
"You disappoint me, boy. Aligning yourself with Mere mortals' zodiac ? With her?"
Xavier coughed, blood on his lip. "Thats surprised to me. To see the coward talk about mortal zodics."
His uncle leaned close, voice low and poisonous.
"If You're worried about her connection to the family. You really shouldn't be.?"
Xavier froze.
The chains suddenly felt colder.
His uncle smirked.
"Ah. So you didn't know. The great Prince Lysander Asgathiers was about to be changed here. To become every thing you hate. The Darkness that crawled inside his skin almost came out.
On these grounds. The academy covered it up to keep the nobles calm."
Xavier's whole body went cold.
"He… he died? My brother died by your hand. I take every single day remembering the light that used to be in those eyes."
"Don't look so shocked. Power like his always attracts enemies. And if Celeste continues his path…"
He dragged the cane under Xavier's chin.
"She'll end up the same."
Xavier's breathing sharpened—anger, fear, helplessness.
He wasn't sure which.
But he knew one thing:
He needed to warn her.
If he survived this.
---
Lunchtime — Ivander Changes His Tone
The cafeteria buzzed with rumors about Celeste's power flare. Nathan and Leroy sat with her, Maximus curled under the table.
Celeste poked her food, mind racing.
"Why would he hide his death? Why would they erase everything?"
Leroy sighed. "Celeste… I swear I looked everywhere. It's like someone wiped him clean from the system."
Nathan kept eating quietly, poker-faced.
Then Ivander slid into the seat beside Celeste like he belonged there.
Leroy groaned. Nathan nearly choked.
Celeste stiffened.
Ivander grinned.
"Relax, I'm unarmed. Mostly."
He leaned in, voice softer than anyone expected from him.
"You were incredible in combat today. That wasn't just warrior rank."
Celeste blinked. "You watched me?"
"Obviously," he said, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Celeste hated that her stomach did a tiny flip.
Nathan noticed. And frowned hard.
Ivander tapped the table with a single finger.
"You're changing, Celeste. And Varsa doesn't like change unless it controls it."
Something in his tone felt… honest.
Different from his usual teasing.
She met his eyes. "You know something about the L.Asgatheris"
The table went silent.
Ivander tilted his head, a tiny smile touching the corner of his mouth.
"Who told you that name?"
"Does it matter?"
He studied her face, scanned her expression, then let out a slow breath.
"Alright. A deal then."
Nathan almost slammed his fork down. "No—Celeste, you don't make deals with him."
Ivander flicked him a bored look.
"Pipe down, loyal puppy."
Celeste crossed her arms. "What's the deal?"
Ivander leaned closer—close enough for Celeste to hear his heartbeat, steady and annoyingly confident.
"I will tell you the truth about Lysander. All of it."
"And what do you want in return?"
His voice dropped.
"You."
Celeste froze. "…What?"
He smirked.
"Not like that. Calm down. I want you on my side in the heir trials. One alliance. One name. Beaumont and Lecister ."
Nathan whispered, horrified, "That's political suicide."
Ivander ignored him completely.
"Think about it, Celeste. I help you find your ghost — you help me win the war that's coming."
Celeste stared at him.
She didn't trust him.
He didn't care.
But something in her bones told her he was the only one with access to the truth.
And… she couldn't deny the weird warmth crawling up her neck under his gaze.
"Fine," Celeste said quietly. "One alliance."
Ivander's grin softened into something almost real.
"Good girl."
Nathan muttered, "This is the beginning of the end."
Leroy whispered, "Or the beginning of something insane."
---
And Just Like That… They Became Close
When lunch ended, Ivander offered to walk her to class.
Not demanded.
Not teased.
Offered.
Celeste didn't want to accept… but she did.
And the distance between them shrunk in ways neither of them addressed, but both felt.
---