The main hall of Aethelred Academy still hummed with the lingering traces of magic from the recent spirit summoning ceremony. Though the event had ended, the tension among the noble youths remained thick in the air.
Alexa sat on the second-floor balcony of the academy library, gazing down at the empty courtyard. Her tea had long gone cold. She was quiet, but her thoughts raced.
> "So... Seraphina has sided with House Vierran."
Her whisper was soft, but her tone was as cold as the ice magic that ran in her veins.
Seraphina—someone she had helped from the start of their time at the academy—had handed over information about her magic to Lyselle, the cunning noble of House Vierran.
> "They're planning to bring me down during the joint magic exam…"
---
📚 In the Academy Hallways...
Crown Prince Thalionric Arelthia walked briskly through the western corridor. His expression was sharp, his golden eyes burning with restrained fury.
Just as he turned the corner, he saw Eiden Vaelthorn exiting the training room. Thalionric froze.
> "Since when have you been so close to Seraphina?"
Eiden raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
> "You looked rather comfortable standing beside her. Are you that friendly with every woman?"
Thalionric's voice was edged and accusing.
Eiden smirked faintly. "Or perhaps… Your Highness gets jealous a little too quickly."
Before tension escalated further, heavy footsteps echoed through the hall.
Lucian Zevarelis stood tall at the end of the corridor, his long coat billowing slightly, his presence wrapped in a cold aura.
> "If you want to fight, do it in the arena. But don't drag my little sister's name into it."
Thalionric and Lucian locked eyes. Their auras clashed silently. But they both chose to walk away—for now.
---
🕯️ Later That Night...
A nameless letter was slipped under Alexa's door. The note inside read:
> "If you insist on joining the joint magic exam, your family's secrets will be exposed.
Without the Zevarelis name, you are nothing."
Alexa read the letter slowly. Her hands trembled—then clenched.
> "If they want to know who I am without the Zevarelis name…
Then I'll show them who Alexamysa truly is."
She stood tall, staring at her reflection in the window.
Her silver hair shimmered under the moonlight. Her golden eyes burned—cold, but fierce.
---
🌒 Elsewhere...
A mysterious professor stood just outside the academy's magical barrier. His cloak fluttered in the night wind, and in his hand was a pendant engraved with a dragon sigil.
> "Zevarelis... has awakened at last.
The South will no longer remain silent."
---
[End of Chapter 19]