Kael had just finished convincing himself not to sabotage the dinner bell rune when someone knocked on his door.
It wasn't a commanding knock. No bang of an instructor. No rhythm of someone with a personal grudge. It was gentle. Awkward. Like the person behind it wasn't used to interrupting people but had made peace with the idea.
That made it worse.
Kael stared at the door, calculating whether pretending to be asleep was still an option. Then he remembered: the rooms were ward-registered. Whoever was out there already knew he was inside.
He sighed, rolled off the bed, and opened the door like it personally offended him.
And there he was.
Tarin Yul.
The protagonist.
Black hair a bit messy from travel, sleeves rolled to the forearms in that "I help with chores and never complain" sort of way, and a warm, naive expression like this entire retreat had been crafted for the express purpose of friendship.
Kael stared at him, unimpressed.
"You're Kael Vire, right?" Tarin asked, voice bright with good intentions.
Kael blinked. "No. I just wear his face and tolerate guests."
Tarin hesitated, smiled anyway. "I'm Tarin. From House Yul."
"I know who you are."
There was an awkward beat.
Tarin cleared his throat. "I figured since we're in the same group for the retreat, I'd come say hi. Invite you down. We're gathering in the lounge for dinner."
"I eat alone," Kael replied evenly.
"I figured," Tarin said. "But it's a group dinner. Mandatory."
"That word keeps following me around."
Kael could've shut the door. Should've.
But something about the kid's lack of guile—his sheer earnestness—was disarming in a way Kael hadn't been prepared for.
Most people flinched around him. Or postured. Tarin just… waited.
Kael stepped back from the door.
Tarin blinked. "So is that a yes?"
Kael shrugged. "Let's find out together."
The lounge wasn't crowded, but it wasn't empty either.
Seven chairs, one table, a fire glyph burning along the wall, and enough food laid out to suggest either luxury or overcompensation. Kael walked in a step behind Tarin and immediately felt the shift in atmosphere.
The other six had already arrived.
Lyssa Saren sat with her posture too perfect for it to be natural—analytical eyes scanning the group like she was solving a riddle no one else had noticed yet.
Maelea and Vellea Mordane sat across from her, speaking in quiet tones but tracking everything with the casual alertness of girls raised in cutthroat noble salons.
Corvyn Delane was reclining on the side bench, eyes half-lidded, a book in one hand. He looked like someone perpetually five minutes from sleep but with a mana pulse sharp enough to silence a classroom.
And then there was Kieren Ardane.
Posture straight. Arms folded. Watching Kael like he'd been waiting for the opportunity.
Kael nodded once at the table and found the furthest seat—close enough to hear, far enough to bolt.
Tarin, bless his persistent soul, took the seat beside him.
Awkward small talk began.
Vellea asked about the lake's ward system. Corvyn muttered something about the leyline resonance being "underwhelming but tolerable." Lyssa asked if anyone had read the preliminary dueling schedule for next term.
Kael stayed silent.
Until Maelea, smiling politely, turned her attention on him.
"You're House Vire, right?"
Kael tilted his head. "And here I thought the embroidery gave it away."
She chuckled, more amused than offended. "You haven't said much."
"I prefer to listen before ruining the mood."
That earned a faint grin from Vellea.
Lyssa narrowed her eyes. "You answered Verat's Path Theory question last week. The lattice weave one. How'd you know the correct variant?"
Kael sipped his wine. "I read."
"That wasn't in the required reading."
"I'm thorough."
She studied him a moment longer. Kael didn't blink.
Tarin cleared his throat. "So… everyone's been doing okay since the term started? Settling in?"
It was a stupid question.
But everyone nodded politely.
Kael didn't.
"I've been adjusting," he said blandly. "Apparently, I have a reputation."
Maelea tilted her head. "Do you?"
Kieren muttered, "That's generous."
Kael ignored him.
Vellea asked, "What do you mean by reputation?"
Kael smiled faintly. "That depends on how easily people scare."
Corvyn chuckled under his breath.
It continued like that for a while. Light tension. Easy deflections. Kael was used to dancing through conversations like these—present enough to avoid suspicion, absent enough not to be invited in.
But Kieren kept watching him.
Every time Kael spoke, even a word, Kieren's eyes narrowed slightly. Like he was waiting for an excuse.
Eventually, he found one.
"So," Kieren said suddenly, cutting into a lull. "You're participating now."
Kael looked at him. "You sound surprised."
"I am," Kieren said. "You skipped most of orientation week. Didn't show up for mixed House assembly. Then suddenly, you're here."
"I go where I'm told."
"Do you?"
Kael tilted his head. "Are you volunteering for a conversation, or should I wait until you come up with a point?"
Tarin stepped in. "Kieren—"
"No," Kieren said. "We're all thinking it. Just saying it. You're a bastard, absolute scum of the earth, you don't belong with us. We all grew uf together, and we've all heard of the House Vire Heir."
Yeah, that was personal, their parents must have told them of Kael's awful track record before joining the academy.
Kael folded his hands calmly.
"I've never claimed to belong."
"Yeah, but you're good at pretending. Sitting there with that smug little smile, making jokes. Like we're supposed to forget everything that's been said about you."
"Such as?"
"You injured three students last month."
"They attacked me."
"You pushed one through a mana gate."
"He lived."
"You've got a Core Drift they can't even calibrate."
Oh wow, he's even listing off Kael's defect, little does the fool know, how much of a powerful Core he possesses.
Only Kael knows.
'Oh. and the Author I guess'
Kael smiled wider. "And yet here I sit."
Lyssa cut in, sharp and low. "That's enough."
But the table had gone silent.
All eyes on Kael.
And for the first time all evening, he straightened a little.
"If I'm such a threat," he said softly, "then why haven't they removed me?"
Kieren's voice was cold. "They're watching you. Everyone is."
Kael took a breath. Then exhaled.
"So watch."
And just like that, he stood.
Calm. Unrushed. Still holding his wine.
"I'm going to step outside. Breathe some air."
He glanced at Tarin. "You're still too nice. It's going to get you hurt."
Then at Kieren.
"And you're too much of a prick. That's going to get you hurt."
Keiran did not fail to notice the underlying threat embedded in Kael's words. Who could have missed it? It was the most apparent threat anyone at the table would notice.
Even child would have recognized it.
He didn't wait for a response.
The door closed quietly behind him.