This structure is actually good because it does three things at once:
Shows Kiara's personality.
Expands the Ascendant world naturally.
Ends with tension instead of a fight.
I'd write it something like this:
Chapter 26
Morning sunlight bathed the streets of Velkhar in gold as students poured toward the academy.
Riven walked beside Kiara while lazily eating a sandwich.
"You're walking too slowly."
Kiara rolled her eyes.
"You say that every day."
"Because it's true every day."
"You have longer legs."
"Skill issue."
Kiara looked at him for several seconds.
"...I genuinely don't know why I tolerate you."
"Because I'm your favorite brother."
"You're my only brother."
"Still counts."
Riven grinned triumphantly.
The closer they got to school, the more crowded the streets became.
Students.
Parents.
Teachers.
The usual morning chaos.
Then suddenly—
The traffic ahead stopped.
Several black luxury vehicles rolled toward the academy gates.
The conversations around them died instantly.
Students stepped aside.
Teachers straightened.
Even the security guards looked nervous.
A golden crest decorated every vehicle.
Kiara immediately frowned.
"...Vaelcrest."
Riven's eyebrows rose.
The doors opened.
Several bodyguards stepped out first.
Then came a girl around Kiara's age.
Elegant.
Beautiful.
Silver hair flowing behind her.
Her expression carried the kind of confidence only someone born at the top could possess.
Selene Vaelcrest.
One of the direct descendants of the Vaelcrest Family.
She walked toward the academy entrance without looking at anyone.
Then suddenly—
A younger student accidentally bumped into her.
Books scattered everywhere.
The little girl immediately bowed.
"I-I'm sorry!"
Selene didn't even stop.
But one of her guards did.
He stepped forward.
His voice cold.
"Watch where you're walking."
The little girl visibly trembled.
"I-I said sorry..."
"Do you know who you bumped into?"
The child lowered her head.
"N-No..."
"Then learn."
The surrounding students remained silent.
No one intervened.
No one wanted trouble.
Kiara frowned.
Riven immediately noticed.
And sighed internally.
Oh no.
That look.
Kiara stepped forward.
"She already apologized."
The entire entrance became silent.
The guard slowly turned.
"...Excuse me?"
"I said she apologized."
Kiara crossed her arms.
"Or do rich people need two apologies nowadays?"
Several students almost choked trying not to laugh.
Even Riven nearly smiled.
The guard's expression darkened.
For the first time—
Selene stopped walking.
She turned.
Her gaze landed on Kiara.
Interested.
"What's your name?"
"Kiara."
"Family?"
Kiara shrugged.
"Why?"
Selene's lips curved slightly.
"Because I'm trying to decide if you're brave."
A pause.
"Or stupid."
Kiara smiled sweetly.
"Why not both?"
Even the bodyguards looked surprised.
For several seconds—
Neither girl moved.
Then unexpectedly—
Selene laughed.
Very slightly.
Very briefly.
"Interesting."
She turned away.
"Let's go."
The guards immediately followed.
Before entering the academy building—
Selene glanced back one final time.
Her eyes moved from Kiara...
To Riven.
Recognition flashed briefly.
The boy who punched Ardyn.
Then she spoke calmly.
"We'll meet again."
And left.
The moment she disappeared—
The entire entrance exploded with chatter.
Kiara looked confused.
"What was her problem?"
Riven rubbed his forehead.
"No idea."
Then inwardly—
This is absolutely going to become my problem.
After making sure Kiara reached her class safely, Riven headed toward his own.
The moment he entered—
Ivan was already there.
As usual.
Looking like he hadn't slept and somehow still judging everyone.
The two exchanged a nod.
Then sat together.
Ivan immediately spoke.
"The leaf."
Riven groaned.
"I knew you were going to ask."
"And?"
"Nothing."
Ivan blinked.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
Riven pulled out the glowing leaf.
"It doesn't react."
Ivan frowned.
"Strange."
Riven leaned back.
"What about yours?"
Ivan casually raised his wrist.
The bracelet glimmered slightly.
"Mine works perfectly."
Riven stared.
"...What?"
Ivan smirked.
"Aarion told me this leaf would protect me."
"From what?"
Ivan shrugged.
"According to him?"
A brief pause.
"Even if a true god descended, I wouldn't be harmed."
Silence.
Riven stared.
Then looked at the leaf.
Then at Ivan.
Then back at the leaf.
"...How lucky."
Ivan smirked.
"Jealous?"
"Extremely."
"Good."
"I hope it stops working."
"It won't."
"I hope a pigeon steals it."
Ivan looked offended.
"That's just cruel."
A few moments later Ivan suddenly asked:
"By the way."
"Hm?"
"I heard you ran into a Vaelcrest this morning."
Riven groaned instantly.
Ivan immediately laughed.
"Wow."
"What?"
"You really like the Vaelcrests."
Riven rolled his eyes.
"My sister picked a fight with one."
Ivan stopped laughing.
"...Of course she did."
Riven sighed.
"Someone named Selene."
Ivan immediately recognized the name.
His expression became strange.
"All Vaelcrests are hotheaded fools."
"Comforting."
"You should probably go home with your sister today."
"...That serious?"
Ivan nodded.
"That serious."
The conversation eventually shifted.
Riven remembered something.
"Actually."
"What?"
"The space."
Ivan looked confused.
"The one during our first fight."
Understanding flashed across Ivan's face.
"Oh."
"The isolated dimension."
"Yeah."
Riven leaned forward.
"How does that even work?"
Ivan raised his wrist.
The bracelet glowed faintly.
"As Ascendants we're forbidden from exposing ourselves openly."
He explained calmly.
"The Association created dimensional barriers."
"Temporary spaces disconnected from normal reality."
Riven nodded.
Then frowned.
"Then why didn't you use one when we almost died?"
Ivan looked at him.
Deadpan.
"Because I wanted to die."
"..."
"..."
"Fair point."
Ivan sighed.
"It needs charging."
"What?"
"Aether."
"Oh."
"And a lot of it."
Ivan tapped the bracelet.
"I didn't have enough time."
Riven nodded slowly.
Then paused.
"What if you run out?"
"Then you use Aether Crystals."
Silence.
"Aether what?"
Ivan buried his face in his palm.
"Aether Crystals."
"The currency of our world."
Riven stared.
"...There's a currency?"
"Obviously."
"There's a world?"
Ivan looked ready to throw himself out the window.
Riven stretched across his desk dramatically.
"There is so much stuff I don't know."
"Understatement of the century."
Then—
The teacher entered.
And class began.
Several hours later—
Students flooded the hallways.
Riven and Ivan descended the stairs together.
"My memory improved."
Ivan glanced sideways.
"What?"
"After becoming an Ascendant."
Riven sounded pleased.
"I can probably score full marks whenever I want now."
Ivan stared.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Yes."
"What?"
"We all have better memory."
"Oh."
A pause.
"Still impressive."
"It isn't."
Soon they arrived at the academy gate.
Waiting for Kiara.
Students gradually left.
Minutes passed.
No Kiara.
Then suddenly—
One of Kiara's classmates hurried toward them.
The girl's face looked pale.
Nervous.
"Excuse me..."
Riven immediately stepped forward.
"Have you seen Kiara?"
The girl swallowed.
"K-Ki..."
Her voice trembled.
"K-Kiara was called by Selene."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Riven's eyes widened.
A memory resurfaced instantly.
A young master.
A trap.
A hospital bed.
A hole through his chest.
Ivan slowly turned toward him.
Neither spoke.
They didn't need to.
Because both of them were thinking exactly the same thing.
This could not possibly be good.
End.