The atmosphere in Class S was unusually bright. Students chatted in small clusters, desks were slightly shifted aside, and anticipation filled the air.
Arven entered the room with Lyra and Kael at his side.
The moment they stepped inside, Elara — already seated — glanced up.
And froze.
Just for a heartbeat.
Her face warmed instantly as the memory of her conversation with her father flashed in her mind.
"What exactly do you feel for Arven Shisui?"
"It's different… warmer…"
She quickly lowered her gaze, pretending to write.
Kael frowned.
"Is Elara okay? She looks like she swallowed a fire crystal."
Lyra smirked.
"Maybe she noticed someone walking in."
Arven blinked.
"Did something happen?"
Lyra sighed.
"You can be really dense sometimes, Arven."
Before he could reply, the classroom door opened.
Aria Greenish entered — young, composed, emerald hair tied into a loose braid. She placed a stack of papers on her desk and clapped once, catching everyone's attention.
"Good morning, Class S. Today you'll form teams for the Inter-Class Battle Event. Teams must have three to five members."
A wave of voices filled the room.
Aria continued,
"You must also register your team with the Student Council before sunset. If you don't register, you don't participate."
Kael shot his hand up.
"Professor! Is it true we get semester points and something valuable?"
Aria nodded.
"Yes. Participation grants points. Winning teams will receive an additional reward chosen directly by the academy."
That only increased the excitement.
"Begin forming your teams," Aria said. "Names must be submitted before the end of the day."
Students moved instantly — gathering partners, negotiating, panicking.
Lyra crossed her arms.
"So? The four of us?"
Kael grinned.
"Obviously."
Arven turned toward Elara, who was clearly waiting but too nervous to take initiative.
"Elara," Arven called gently, "want to join us?"
She jumped slightly.
"O-Of course. I mean— yes. Yes, I'd love to."
Kael mouthed finally while Lyra tried not to laugh.
The four pushed their desks together.
Lyra smiled.
"Team of four. Perfect."
Elara's posture softened.
"When do we register?"
Arven stood.
"Now. The council hall should be open."
Aria Greenish nodded as they walked out.
"Good. Don't delay — the Council is already overloaded."
And so they headed out, ready to face the bureaucratic chaos ahead.
-----++++++-----
The Student Council Hall was spacious, elegant, and completely overdecorated. Long tapestries covered the walls, banners of the four major houses floated gently with the magical airflow, and a long registration table sat in the center.
Among the council members was Ana Pendragon, the Student Council President.
Silver hair cascading to her waist.
Perfect posture.
Deep crimson-red eyes that seemed to judge the entire world.
Kael stiffened the moment he saw her.
"Oh no. Oh gods. She's here."
Lyra rolled her eyes.
"Relax. She doesn't even know you exist."
"That's what scares me," he whispered.
Ana lifted her gaze as they approached.
She tapped her fingers lightly — elegant, yet impatient.
"Next group. Names and class."
Arven stepped forward.
"Arven Shisui, Class S. Elara Dusk, Class S. Kael Fever, Class S. Lyra Vesper, Class S. We're forming a team of four."
Ana observed each of them silently, her eyes sharp and unreadable.
"A single Class S team," she said, writing on a glowing registration crystal.
"Acceptable."
Elara blinked.
"…Acceptable?"
Ana continued without responding to her confusion.
"Available exploration zones for the preliminary test: west sector, northwest sector, and east sector. West is the simplest. East is intermediate. Northwest is… unpredictable."
Kael raised a hand.
"Unpredictable like fun, or unpredictable like instant death?"
"Yes."
She answered without blinking.
Kael slowly lowered his hand.
"Okay. Good to know."
Arven exchanged a look with Lyra and Elara.
"We choose the east sector," he said.
Ana made another notation.
"Team S-04, east sector. Registration complete."
She handed Arven a small obsidian medallion marked with the academy's emblem.
"Your identification. Losing it is… ill-advised."
Kael whispered,
"I swear if I lose this she'll murder me."
Before they could leave, Ana spoke again.
"One more thing."
They stopped.
"A warning," she said, folding her hands.
"Avoid straying outside your assigned area during the event. There have been… odd reports."
Elara tensed.
"What kind of reports?"
"Nothing confirmed."
Ana's eyes flickered, almost too subtly.
"But if something feels wrong, do not investigate. Retreat."
Arven felt a familiar unease — remembering Emma's secret mission.
"Understood," he said.
Ana nodded once.
"Next."
As they stepped outside, Kael finally released the breath he'd been holding.
"By every deity, why is she so terrifying? I swear my spine shrank."
Lyra laughed.
"She's the president. Comes with the role."
Elara walked beside Arven, clutching her books.
"Arven… what she said. You think it has something to do with… that?"
"Probably," he answered quietly.
With the registration complete, a subtle tension settled among them.
Something was coming.
And the event would be the beginning of it.