Night Before the Tournament — Tower Roof
Rain.
Soft. Steady. Cold.
A pale drizzle fell over Reality High, glistening against the shimmer of magical runes lining the school borders. The storm clouds above rolled lazily, as if even the heavens were holding their breath for the coming war.
Chris stood atop the observation tower, a dark cloak draped around him. The raindrops slid from his hood, his fiery eyes fixed on the glow of the campus below. Every part of the school grounds—every brick and barrier—buzzed with power.
He didn't move when the footsteps came.
Kira joined him, hands in his pockets, his hair slightly damp. The shadows of the clouds curled around his lean figure.
"Couldn't sleep either?" he asked.
"Nope," Chris answered softly.
The two stood in silence, letting the rain say what they didn't.
Then Chris spoke, voice low: "Do you think we can win?"
Kira tilted his head. "Depends."
Chris glanced sideways. "On what?"
"On whether we're still the same Crimson Class that lost to a clone."
Chris smiled faintly, the memory of the Shadow King flickering in his mind. "We're not."
Kira nodded once. "Good."
A brief silence followed. Then Chris's gaze dropped, heavy with unspoken thoughts.
"You know... I think that isn't what you're here for, is it?" Kira said calmly.
Chris didn't respond right away. He turned, eyes dim with restrained fire.
"You remember when Raya came back from training with a scar?"
Kira raised a brow. "The one Ard reversed time to heal... just to show off?"
Chris gave a weak laugh. "Yeah, that one. It wasn't from training. She was ambushed. Interrogated by Jayze and his class."
Kira's smirk faded. "Interesting. So this is about revenge."
Chris nodded slowly.
"Tomorrow is the tournament. It would be poetic to settle it then. But..."
"You can't hold your anger back anymore," Kira finished.
Chris said nothing.
"So," Kira leaned against the railing, "what's the plan?"
"Jayze has a sister," Chris began. "I've been giving her certain enchanted items... subtle ones. Designed to lower her resistance to suggestion. I invited her out tonight—after curfew."
Kira gave him a look.
"You're going to exploit the curfew rules?"
Chris smirked faintly. "She's one of the few students who doesn't read the rulebook."
"So you invited her out," Kira summarized. "Knowing it could set off a chain of events..."
"Yeah. That basically sums it up."
Kira stared at him a moment. "And how exactly does this affect Jayze? It's not like she's going to announce what happens afterward."
Chris blinked. He hadn't thought that far.
Kira let out a chuckle. "Your plan's decent. But it's missing a final move."
Chris frowned. "You didn't have to add the 'I guess' part."
Kira shrugged. "Do what you planned. I'll handle the part you missed."
Chris turned to him fully. "Now I understand why Lina's always hanging around you. You're reliable... even if your plans are half-reckless."
Kira sighed. Did he have to bring her up?
"I'll initiate the missing piece in thirty minutes," Kira said, then vanished into the shadows with a faint flicker of light.
Chris remained, eyes locked on the rain-slicked horizon.
Five Minutes Later — Forbidden Garden Courtyard
The garden beyond the west tower was supposed to be sealed off for restoration, but that hadn't stopped Chris from bribing a first-year illusionist to bypass the barrier. The faint blue glow of enchantment kept the area hidden.
Chris leaned against a statue, waiting.
Footsteps.
She arrived.
Jayze's sister. Her silver hair fell over her shoulder in a braid. She looked cautious but intrigued.
Chris straightened. "Glad you came."
She smiled nervously. "You said it was important."
He nodded, stepping closer.
Elsewhere, In the courtyard. Kira walked heading towards the dormitories.
"I know I said I'll handle it but I don't have Jayze's contact or anything."
He murmured to himself and thought for a while.
His phone buzzed and he picked it only to receive a message from Rhea
*Can you meet me at the bank of the ocean I want to ask you something*
What could she want at this time. I hope she isn't coming to tell me something related to Chris and Ignis since that is what she always does. Wait I can get his number from her.
*I'll come but I need something first* he taps on the send button. And to his surprise she replied instantly.
*Sure, anything*
What could she even want to say.
*Can I get Jayze's contact*
*If this is what you want then sure I'll send it to you. I'll be waiting for you by next 5 mins*
Within the next seconds he gets a message from her. He opens it and saved Jayze's contact.
He texted Jayze *Your sister broke curfew. With Crimson*
"Well now the stage is set now that the star has been invited even though he hasn't read the message" he murmured to himself and laughs. He disappears into the shadows.
Kira appeared at the bank of the ocean and sees Rhea sitting on a rock and walks over to her.
"So why did you call me here."
"You won't even start with a hi or something." She smiles and signals him to sit beside her and he does as she says.
"You know when I said you could ask for anything I thought you were going to ask for something inappropriate but you surprised me"
"Inappropriate huh…. It was an option but I had something doing that is why"
"let's get to the main reason I called you here then. It's about Chris"
Kira rolled his eyes and thought to himself 'As always'
"His Ignis flames....normal." She said in a frightened tone.
"Why did you get injured by it while training or something"
She said nothing instead turns her back to face him. She slipped down her dress slightly to reveal a huge scar on her bare back.
Kira first surprised by her move now was stunned and didn't say anything for a while.
"Well due to this the school has dropped me down to the Crimson class since they said I'm now unfit for the sovereignty class since if I decide to use any magic of that sort it…." Tears welled in her eyes.
"Do you want to continue with this school even though you are now in the crimson class"
"Yeah I just wanted to be someone….. you can acknowledge" she said with a faint smile
He smiles back and his hand starts to glow and he touches her back and with a soft pulse of magic the wound disappears.
"Now you can continue."
She hugs him tightly and whispers. "Thank you"
He hugs her back.
The hug lasted for a while until she pulled away and finally covers herself. They engaged in a conversation that lasted for a while.
An hour later. Kira in his room checked his phone to see that Jayze didn't read the text.
"As expected….. now to play the final card."
He scrolls on his phone and finds an unread message.
He received a photo from an unknown number and he sends it to Jayze.
Ten minutes later, Chris entered his dorm.
I didn't think it will feel that great doing it with her even though it was just for revenge.
Let's see how he will react when he finds out.
At the same time, Jayze takes out his phone to see the messages Kira sent him.
"Who is this unknown number and how dare him disturb my sleep"
He reads the message and sees the photo that was sent to him.
He tapped on it to see his sister together with Chris in an inappropriate manner.
His eyes widened. His aura surged.
BOOM!!
His room cracked apart from the sheer pressure. Glass shattered and walls warped.
"CHRIS!!!"
His voice echoed like thunder in the dormitory.
"You dare lay your hand on my sister"