The morning after their return from the forbidden chamber, the air in Asterblume felt heavier—like the walls themselves were whispering secrets.
Blanche led the way through the polished halls of the central building, the soft click of her shoes echoing behind her. Yuxin walked with arms crossed, still not over how clean Vila's alibi had been. Ruka trailed a few steps behind, quiet as always, but her eyes missed nothing.
They reached the high double doors of the Student Council chamber, and with one knock, the guards let them in.
The chamber, lined with towering glass and ancient crests, felt colder than usual. Seated at the end of the long table was Silas Caelumortis, flanked by a handful of council members. His fingers were steepled, and his gaze sharpened the moment they entered.
Without ceremony, Blanche stepped forward and placed the sealed folder on the table.
"We have a report," she said clearly. "Regarding the incident in the east wing."
Silas gave a slight nod, gesturing for her to continue. "Proceed."
Blanche explained what they'd found in the Gray Zone—an old chamber with ruined runes, strange Æther fluctuations, a corrupted elven glyph carved into stone, and the feather. Yuxin added the sighting of the cloaked figure. Ruka spoke of the magical distortion and the possible link to another force—something alchemical.
Then came the name: Seryn Eloweth.
The room shifted. Chairs creaked. One of the council members leaned back and muttered, "That's a dangerous claim."
"We didn't come with claims," Blanche replied, voice steady. "We came with evidence."
"But no direct proof," said another. "Nothing but rumors and a feather."
Yuxin stepped forward, annoyed. "We were ambushed last night. Three students confronted us. They carried Seryn's scent. Her tone. Her poison."
"And yet they said nothing directly," Blanche added. "Every word was deflection. But it was clear—they knew."
Silas remained unreadable. "And what of Vilaphine?"
"She was there. Or something that looked like her," Blanche said. "But she denied involvement. Her alibi holds—for now."
Ruka's voice came soft. "We think we're being watched. Not just by Vila. By something... deeper. Hidden in this academy's roots."
There was a long silence before Silas finally responded.
"You've brought more questions than answers," he said. "But questions worth pursuing."
He paused, then added with deliberate weight, "You may continue your investigation. Quietly. I suggest you avoid confrontation—for your own safety. You're stirring shadows older than any student war."
As they turned to leave, Blanche caught one council member's gaze following the feather still on the table. Their expression wasn't fear.
It was recognition.
The academy cafeteria was quieter than usual. Morning had passed, and most students were scattered across campus. The trio sat near the far end, where the ceiling was lower and voices didn't travel far.
Steam rose from mugs of bitter herbal tea. Blanche stirred hers slowly, while Ruka picked at her untouched pastry. Yuxin leaned forward, eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced around to make sure no one was too close.
Then, without much warning, she asked,
"What exactly is an underground faction?"
Blanche blinked, but didn't look surprised. She placed her spoon down, folding her hands. "You've heard the term before, haven't you?"
"I've heard whispers. That's it," Yuxin said. "But after last night? I'm starting to think it's not just edgy seniors being dramatic."
Ruka nodded quietly. "Same."
Blanche sighed. "They're real. Not officially, of course. But very real. You can't spend more than a year here without feeling their reach."
Yuxin leaned in. "So who are they?"
Blanche looked down at her tea for a moment, as if trying to recall threads of stories woven through the academy's darker corners.
"There are four main factions. Each tied to a direction of the campus, each with its own network, its own… leader. No one confirms anything, but people talk. Enough for me to know what might be true."
She held up a finger. "North—Selene Varentia. She runs the gambling rings. Every duel, every match, every competition that has odds—she's probably behind it. They say she never loses, but she never bets unless she already knows the outcome."
"Sounds rigged," Yuxin muttered.
"It is," Blanche replied. "But elegantly so."
She raised a second finger. "West—Kael Dymont. He owns the Iron Pit. An underground fight arena hidden in the storage catacombs. Students test their Pacta in real, brutal combat. It's where the strong go to prove they can stay on top—without rules."
Yuxin smirked slightly. "Sounds like my kind of place."
Ruka shot her a sideways glance.
Blanche continued. "East—Seryn Eloweth. The one we encountered through her proxies. She controls the flow of restricted substances—elixirs, enhancers, even Pacta-altering stimulants. If something rare or illegal is circulating through the dorms, it probably passed through her hands first."
"She's dangerous," Ruka said softly.
"And charming," Blanche added. "Which makes her twice as dangerous."
She raised a fourth finger. "And South—Vargan Krolt. He doesn't deal in subtlety. He deals in threats, brute force, and protection rackets. If someone gets beaten behind the gym and no one reports it, it's probably because they owe him."
Blanche leaned back, lowering her hand.
"These four—Selene, Kael, Seryn, Vargan—they don't run the academy… but they control it in ways the Council can't. Their reach goes beyond grades and clubs. They've got dirt on teachers, leverage over student families, even influence in the city outside."
Yuxin frowned. "And no one does anything?"
Blanche gave a dry smile. "You think the Council doesn't know? They know. But there's a balance. An ugly one. As long as the factions don't wage open war, the Council lets them breathe."
Ruka stirred her drink slowly. "So we're walking into something that's been buried here for years."
Blanche nodded. "And we just kicked up the dust."
After finishing their tea and cryptic talk of hidden rulers, the trio left the cafeteria in silence. The corridors were dimmer now, with only a few students lingering in the quiet between classes.
Blanche's steps slowed as they neared her dorm.
Something felt... off.
The door was slightly ajar.
She exchanged a glance with Yuxin, who immediately raised her hand, shadow energy gathering subtly at her palm.
Blanche pushed the door open.
Inside, sitting calmly on the velvet armchair near the window, was Vilaphine.
Her cloak was folded neatly over her lap, blond hair falling loose over one shoulder. She looked perfectly composed, but her posture was tighter than usual—guarded, like a blade half-drawn but not yet flashing.
"You're in my room," Blanche said coolly, closing the door behind her.
"I am," Vila replied without a hint of apology. "I needed a place no one would expect me to be."
Yuxin's eyes narrowed. "Hiding?"
"Protecting myself," Vila corrected. "I'm being hunted."
That word changed the air in the room.
"By who?" Ruka asked quietly.
Vila turned her gaze to Yuxin. "I don't know his name. But I know his eyes. Cold. Precise. Human, but wrong. He's tracking me—and he's good at it."
Yuxin stiffened. "Wait. Did he wear a dark cloak? Sharp gaze, talk too smooth for someone holding a knife?"
Vila nodded once. "Yes."
Yuxin exhaled sharply. "He tried to kill me. Back in Myrdvawein. Asked about an elf—then attacked. Relentless bastard."
Blanche sat down slowly. "So he's real."
"Very," Vila said. "And getting closer."
"You're supposed to be the one people fear," Yuxin said, almost skeptically. "Why is he after you?"
"I don't know yet," Vila answered. "But he wants something. And he thinks I have it."
The room fell into silence.
Ruka was the first to speak again. "You picked Blanche's room for a reason."
Vila turned her eyes to her. "Because the wards here are different. Strong. Old. I can sense your family's magic woven into the walls, Equinox."
Blanche gave a curt nod. "My mother designed them. For more than simple privacy."
"Then I'll stay only until I recover," Vila said. "You don't owe me anything. I won't interfere further."
Yuxin still looked unconvinced. "You sure this isn't some long game you're playing?"
Vila's gaze flicked to her. "I could've let that blade reach your throat in the forest. But I didn't."
Yuxin huffed. "…Fair."
Blanche leaned back, fingers steepled. "So now we have a hunter, a set of underground factions at each other's throats, and something ancient stirring beneath the academy."
Ruka's voice was quiet. "And none of it's a coincidence."
Blanche locked the door behind her, making sure the warding glyphs along the frame glowed faintly—active. Vila hadn't moved from the chair, though her sharp gaze followed every motion they made.
Ruka sat on the bed, notebook open, already sketching out something—a pattern or a rune perhaps. Yuxin leaned against the wall, arms folded, the white feather they'd found earlier now tucked behind her ear like a quiet reminder.
Blanche paced slowly, thinking aloud. "Seryn's people aren't denying anything—but they're too polished. They're prepared for questions, maybe even for confrontation."
"Which means they knew we'd get involved," Ruka said, not looking up.
"Or they wanted us to," Yuxin added. "All that smug attitude? It felt rehearsed."
Blanche nodded. "So, what's the move?"
"We follow the scent," Ruka said, calmly drawing. "We know Seryn's crew has access to Pacta enhancers. What if one of those substances is traceable? Something rare. Something that leaves a mark."
Blanche's eyes lit up slightly. "We find the trail, we find the lab."
"And once we find the lab, we find the truth," Yuxin said. "Or someone we can beat it out of."
Vila raised an eyebrow. "Subtle."
Blanche glanced at her. "You're staying here for now."
Vila tilted her head. "Because you trust me?"
"Because I don't," Blanche said evenly. "But your presence may not be a coincidence. If you're being hunted by the same forces we're investigating, that makes you… a variable we can't afford to ignore."
Yuxin snorted. "That's noble-speak for 'we're using you.'"
Blanche didn't deny it.
Vila gave a soft, humorless smile. "I've recalled experiences where I was used, now and then. Just don't expect me to sit here quietly forever."
Ruka finally looked up. "If that man's really hunting her, he might be connected to the factions too. Maybe even working for one of them."
Yuxin's brows drew in. "Or... worse. Maybe he's not with anyone. Maybe someone else is pulling the strings."
Silence settled over the room for a moment.
Then Blanche spoke. "Tonight, we begin mapping movement around the east dorms. Ruka, check the Æther flow—see if anything shifts again. Yuxin, I want you to tail anyone who visits the greenhouses or eastern labs."
Yuxin cracked her knuckles. "With pleasure."
Blanche turned to Vila. "And you—rest. Recover. But if you remember anything... anything at all about your hunter, or what he could be after—"
"I'll tell you," Vila said simply. "If I believe it matters."
Blanche didn't press further. She didn't have to.
The pieces were moving now.
The plan was set. They would begin that very night.
Blanche was adjusting the settings on a small enchanted pocket watch, aligning its Æther reading to the fluctuating currents around the east wing. Vila remained silently perched by the window, her eyes closed—but listening.
Ruka, sitting near the edge of Blanche's bed with her knees drawn up slightly, shifted uncomfortably.
"…Do we really have to do this at night?" she asked quietly, her voice carrying more nerves than usual. "Can't we just… wait until morning or something?"
Blanche looked up, calm as ever. "It has to be night."
Ruka blinked. "Why?"
Yuxin leaned against the doorframe, Sighing slightly. "Scared of the dark, Ruka?"
Ruka glared sideways at her, cheeks warming. "I just don't see the point of creeping around when we could literally ask questions in daylight like normal people."
Blanche interjected before the teasing escalated. "Because in daylight, people wear masks."
She stood, stepping forward, her voice lowering just slightly.
"During the day, Seryn's followers are model students. Honors, perfect attendance, polite smiles. But at night? That's when the true networks move. The deals, the exchanges, the real conversations—the ones they don't want on record."
Yuxin tilted her head with a grin. "Besides… sneaking around in the dark makes it more fun."
"Not helping," Ruka muttered.
Blanche continued, unbothered. "There's also the Æther flow. Ruka, you said it yourself—at night, it shifts. Grows unstable near the eastern wing. If something is being hidden magically, it'll be more exposed under those fluctuations."
Ruka sighed, brushing her hair behind one ear. "…I still don't like it."
Yuxin walked by and gently poked her shoulder. "Don't worry. If anything jumps out, I'll let it eat me first."
Ruka deadpanned. "That's supposed to be comforting?"
Yuxin shrugged. "Nope. Just funny."
Blanche smiled faintly, watching them. "You'll be safe. We stick together. No splitting up, no chasing suspicious shadows alone."
"Yuxin," Ruka said flatly, without looking.
"What?" Yuxin blinked innocently. "I'd never."
"You already did that last week."
"…Okay but that was different. I had a good feeling about that hallway."
"That hallway was cursed."
"And my instincts were almost right."
Ruka sighed again. "We're all going to die."
Blanche chuckled softly and tightened the strap on her coat. "Not tonight. Tonight… we watch. And if we're lucky, we find the first real crack."
Night had settled like a velvet curtain over Asterblume, soft and silent. The wind whispered low through the ivy-covered walls, and the lamps around the eastern quarter flickered faintly—magically dimmed, perhaps intentionally.
Blanche, Yuxin, and Ruka moved like shadows.
Ruka's fingers lightly traced the edges of her sensing charm, her gaze scanning the empty path ahead. "There's something off," she whispered. "The Æther current—it's bending, like being pulled by something."
"Something… or someone," Yuxin murmured, her eyes narrowing.
Then Blanche raised a hand, signaling them to stop.
A figure emerged from behind one of the greenhouse corridors. Dressed in standard uniform, but with a long hooded cloak drawn low. They moved quickly but without urgency, steps practiced—like someone who knew they weren't supposed to be seen but wasn't worried about being caught.
"There," Blanche whispered. "Move."
They followed from a distance—keeping low, silent, using shadows and vines for cover.
The figure moved past the old botanical labs, then through a narrow gate partially covered by climbing plants. It looked like a dead-end courtyard—but Ruka's eyes widened.
"There's a false wall," she breathed. "Right there. It's covered in illusory masking."
Blanche stepped closer. She could feel the air shimmer slightly—Æther layered on top of stone like a silk curtain.
The cloaked figure placed their hand on a flat tile embedded in the wall. A low pulse of green light rippled across the stone, and with a soft shhhkt, the wall shifted.
A hidden passage opened.
The figure disappeared inside.
"Go," Blanche said, and without hesitation, the three slipped through before the entrance sealed behind them.
For a moment, the greenhouse was quiet—too quiet. Only the soft glow of alchemical lights and the faint hum of Pacta sigils pulsed beneath their feet.
Marleth walked a slow circle around the trio, fingers laced behind her back, voice syrupy smooth. "You know, I've always admired Blanche's bravery. Walking into a den of wolves without even sharpening her claws."
Blanche didn't respond, eyes locked on every movement.
Marleth turned to Ruka. "And you. The quiet one. Always so calm. Tell me, do you even know what you're following? Or are you just hoping someone else will make your decisions for you?"
Ruka's grip tightened on her notebook, but she held her tongue.
Then Marleth turned to Yuxin.
"And you… what was your name again?" Her lips curled. "Right. That girl from nowhere. The one who got into Asterblume by accident—or was it pity?"
Yuxin's brow twitched.
Marleth kept going, like a cat toying with a wounded mouse. "I mean, really. A little street rat with shadows pretending to be a noble's watchdog. How precious."
Blanche's eyes snapped toward Yuxin. "Don't—"
But it was too late.
Yuxin stepped forward, slow and steady.
Her voice was low. Controlled. Dangerous.
"What the fuck did you just say to me?"
Marleth's smirk widened. "Touched a nerve, did I?"
The shadows around Yuxin's feet flared instantly—twisting, thrashing, alive.
"I've had enough of your prissy little words and your smug fucking face," she hissed. "You think this greenhouse shit scares me?"
The nearest follower took a step forward—bad move.
Yuxin lashed out.
A surge of black tendrils shot from her arms, wrapping around the student's waist and slamming them into the wall hard enough to crack the glass.
Chaos erupted.
"Take them down!" Marleth shouted, voice no longer calm.
The followers charged.
Blanche moved to grab Ruka—"Fall back! Let her vent!"
Yuxin didn't wait.
She launched herself into the crowd, shadows swirling like a storm. One swipe—a masked student flew across the room, crashing into an alchemy rack. Glass shattered. A vial exploded, sending green sparks into the air.
"You fucking brats wanna play?" she roared, slamming another one into the floor. "Then let's fucking PLAY!"
Three came at her with darts and toxin-infused blades—Yuxin spun midair, her shadows forming a dome, blocking the projectiles before she countered with a wave of black spears, piercing into their legs.
One tried to flank her. Bad luck.
Yuxin caught their wrist, twisted—crack—and hurled them over her shoulder like garbage.
"You rich bitch rejects don't know SHIT about fighting!" she snarled, eyes glowing red beneath the shadows that now cloaked her arms like armor. "This ain't sparring class—this is me putting you in the fucking ground!"
Blanche and Ruka stayed back, momentarily stunned by the raw energy radiating from her.
"This is why we don't insult Yuxin," Ruka whispered.
"No shit," Blanche muttered, already preparing to knock out Yuxin—just in case.
One of the bigger students charged with a halberd glowing in Æther-green.
Yuxin ducked, slid under his swing, then rose with a shadow punch straight to the gut, enhanced by a spike that sent him flying into the ceiling.
Marleth took a step back, her composure slipping.
"This… this wasn't supposed to—!"
Yuxin turned toward her, shadow tendrils now swirling like wolves.
"Your turn, flower girl."
Yuxin stood in the center of the wreckage she had created, panting, her arms cloaked in writhing shadows. Around her, masked followers of Seryn groaned on the ground, some unconscious, others too scared to move.
Ruka and Blanche hadn't dared to interfere.
The Hollow was silent—broken, gasping.
Then came the shift.
Not in light.
Not in sound.
But in pressure.