The Academy never slept, not truly. Even after curfew, spells flickered behind closed doors, secret meetings echoed in the stone halls, and rivalries sharpened in silence.
That night, however, the air was different. Every gust of wind carried the scent of challenge. Every shadow whispered of a single name.
Valerian Nightshade.
The rumors spread like wildfire.
A duel.
Unannounced. Unapproved. Unforgiving.
At midnight.
Between Valerian and Caelum Emberlight—the Flame Prodigy of Year Two.
---
Alex stood alone at the fountain plaza, the moonlight bathing his white hair in silver. Red eyes like smoldering rubies scanned the empty space.
He wasn't nervous. If anything, he was… eager.
[System Notice: High-Risk Scenario Initiated. Duel Protocols Overridden. Personal Combat Zone Established. Observer Presence Detected.]
From the shadows emerged a dozen onlookers—students from elite houses, cloaked in neutral colors but unmistakably curious. Among them, Mila and Kira stood beside a tree, their expressions tight.
And then, the air shifted.
Caelum Emberlight walked into view, fire licking at his heels.
Tall, bronze-skinned, eyes glowing like molten gold, he smirked with supreme arrogance. His crimson robes fluttered with embers that never touched the ground.
"So the ghost finally comes to burn," he said.
Alex didn't answer. He simply stepped forward.
---
The moment their eyes locked, the ground beneath them lit with magical runes.
Not academy-sanctioned.
Not safe.
Just raw, ancient magic, scraped from tomes older than the kingdom.
Alex drew first—not his wand, but a single rune-stone from his sleeve.
He tossed it to the ground.
The earth cracked open, and a glacial mist hissed outward.
Caelum snarled. "Trying to freeze a flame? Rookie mistake."
He snapped his fingers.
A torrent of flame roared toward Valerian.
But instead of dodging, Alex held out his hand.
[Skill Activated: Abyssal Rewrite – Fire to Void]
The flames twisted midair, flickered black—and vanished into nothing.
Gasps erupted.
"What was that?" someone whispered.
"Did he… eat the spell?"
Caelum's eyes narrowed. "You're not using academy magic."
"No," Alex replied. "I'm using real magic."
---
Caelum bellowed, summoning a phoenix of pure flame. It circled above, casting dancing lights over the courtyard.
Alex reached into his cloak.
From within, he withdrew a ringed dagger—silent, rune-laced, ancient. He whispered a word.
The phoenix shrieked.
And shattered into sparks.
[System Alert: Forbidden Relic Activated – Blade of Echoed Banishment]
Caelum charged.
A pillar of fire rose beneath him, shooting him into the air. He descended with blazing fists, aiming to pummel Alex directly.
Alex closed his eyes.
Then vanished.
Blink-step.
He reappeared behind Caelum, pressing a rune against the other boy's neck.
A shockwave of silence exploded.
Caelum fell to his knees.
Magic drained.
Powerless.
"You lost," Alex said softly.
Caelum wheezed. "You cheated… That's not fair magic—"
"I didn't come to play fair," Alex said. "I came to end your illusion of superiority."
He turned his back and walked away.
The audience was stunned.
Then—cheers.
Roars.
Even fear.
Valerian Nightshade wasn't just powerful.
He was changing the rules.
---
Later that night, Mila found him on the rooftop, staring at the stars.
"You didn't need to humiliate him," she said quietly.
"I didn't," he replied. "He did that to himself."
She sat beside him, silver hair glowing under moonlight. "You're rising fast. Too fast. The other houses are watching. Some already see you as a threat."
"Good."
"Valerian…" she hesitated, "just be careful. Not everyone here plays by the rules."
He turned to her. "Neither do I."
[Romance Flag – Mila Tierwyn: Progressing. Emotional Connection Strengthened.]
---
The next morning, the council convened. But not for punishment.
They wanted a report.
On Valerian Nightshade.
His origins.
His power.
His threat level.
One elder said: "We must decide now. Is he an asset—or an anomaly?"
Another replied: "No… He's a storm."
---
[System Update: Reputation Status – Apex Rising. Hidden Faction Interest Detected. Codex Access Tier Unlocked: Intermediate. New Spell Slots Acquired.]
[Quest Progress: Council Coup – 48%]
[New Side Quest: Shadows in the Court – Begin Investigation into House Obsidian's Hidden Ties.]
Alex stood before the academy's crystal mirror that afternoon, watching flames flicker across its surface.
He didn't smile.
He didn't celebrate.
He only whispered:
"Let them come."
---
End of Chapter Question: Was Alex right to crush Caelum so completely—or should he have held back to avoid provoking the council too soon? How do you think his enemies will respond?