Lunch was a battlefield of its own.
The dining hall buzzed with suppressed curiosity. Students had clearly heard of the morning's message carved into marble. Eyes followed me—not with open hostility, but with sharpened interest.
Serena slid into the seat beside me. "You know Reina's building her own alliance, right? Not just noble heirs—some of the scholarship students, too."
"She's smart. Divides the board before the first move is made."
"And you?" Serena asked.
I toyed with my spoon. "I prefer to let people show their colors first."
Across the room, Professor Revin was deep in conversation with a man I didn't recognize. His robe bore the seal of the Ministry of Magical Infrastructure—a rarely seen branch, unless something was being audited or rebuilt.
Interesting.
Afternoon classes resumed with Elemental Theory. But before the lecture began, a parchment slip was delivered to me.
You are summoned to the faculty tribunal at the sixth bell. Case ID: 1098-AR.
My stomach turned cold.
Serena read it over my shoulder and swore under her breath.
"She's making her move," I muttered. "Through the rules."
"She's betting you'll break them."
I folded the paper carefully, placed it in my satchel, and looked across the room.
Reina was already watching.
She smiled.