Chapter 88: Back To The Academy!
December 21st, 9:00 PM.
The night sky poured itself onto the environment below.
Stars stretched endlessly above the ocean, their reflections dancing across the dark waters as the cruise ship slowly approached the coastline. A cold winter breeze drifted throughout the deck, carrying the scent of salt and seawater through the air. Some students rubbed their eyes from exhaustion while others practically vibrated with excitement.
Some students yawned; others felt excited to finally step back down on their home turf.
"Finally! Home!"
"I can finally catch up on my studies!"
"Dumbass, we got break soon!"
Continuous hours passed, and Class-1C were doing their final check-in with the instructors prior to getting off board and stepping onto the magic circles positioned along the coastline.
"Once again, I can’t thank you guys enough for your cooperation. Without you, none of this would’ve been possible." She spoke confidently. "Now..." the woman snapped her fingers softly, "All of you will return back inside of the academy’s gymnasium."
Cassien was suddenly engulfed in a bright white light, his eyes barely able to remain open. The area around him became deafening while his sense of touch slowly began dispersing.
As he blinked, not just him, but everyone else was standing at the exact same placements from when they had originally left.
"Testing. Testing." The same student council member stood there, fixing his glasses. "Congratulations to everyone for battling through an incredibly difficult environment."
Most students were still confused by the sudden transition, but they simply rolled with it.
Cassien couldn’t help but ponder how organized this academy truly was.
’Their teleportation tactics sure are something.’ He thought almost immediately. ’Nothing crazy though.’
The student council president continued speaking for a little while, discussing procedures and final reports until eventually breaking down some rather unfortunate news.
At first, Cassien believed he would announce that the three women had died.
But that assumption was quickly proven wrong.
"Break will be on hold until the 26th of December. You guys are welcome to stay inside the academy and do whatever you please until then. We cannot let anyone leave until that date." He announced. "Sorry, but the instructor wasn’t meant to deliver that false message. No one gets extra time off."
The entire gymnasium froze.
"There was simply an error in the system we must replace."
Silence.
Then came the complaints.
"WHAT?!"
"You’re kidding!"
"I already made plans!"
"Can this academy do anything normally?!"
After he finished speaking, every class was suddenly dismissed.
"Starting now, you guys will be given open public use of the academy up until the 25th. I do hope that is fine with all of you and that communication won’t be a struggle. All the best until then!"
The chatting immediately returned amongst every student.
Cassien began walking towards the exit alone, his head held high with confidence as he slowly strode across the gymnasium floor.
Olivia was still celebrating with her classmates, far too distracted to find the time to speak with him.
Aiysha appeared to be finalizing some sort of report with Class-1A.
Amelia and Theodore still seemed quite flustered at having placed last. More Amelia than Theodore.
The moment Cassien pushed open the gymnasium doors, the cold night air greeted him once again.
Beyond the entrance stretched the enormous grounds of Nosguard Academy. Towering buildings illuminated the darkness while distant pathways glowed faintly beneath enchanted lamps. The academy never truly slept. Even at this hour, students could be seen moving between dormitories, training halls, libraries, and restaurants.
The more steps Cassien took toward his dormitory, the more annoyed he became.
"My legs are already tired, Goddamnit!"
The island exam had drained him far more than he originally expected.
Though he continued moving regardless.
Cassien turned right, walking around one of the larger dormitory buildings. His room happened to be located closer toward the back section, where traffic was usually quieter.
As soon as he approached the final intersection, he heard voices.
Not loud ones.
But sharp ones.
"Give it up already. Your family has already reinstated our engagement."
That final turn immediately revealed the situation.
’Gosh, I despise these freaky nobles.’
Cassien continued stepping forward, watching Victoria being cornered by a man roughly the same size as himself.
The individual wore an expensive suit, silver hair falling neatly around his face while a confident grin stretched from ear to ear.
"I never agreed to that engagement." Victoria argued back. "I’ll decide who I love myself."
Cassien continued approaching quietly.
The man suddenly looked irritated.
Then, without hesitation, he grabbed Victoria by the hair and violently pulled her downward.
She released a soft sound of pain.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The silver-haired man’s expression twitched.
His hand slowly released Victoria’s hair as he turned around.
Standing directly behind him was Cassien.
The two stared at each other.
Foreheads practically touching.
Neither moved.
Neither blinked.
"And just who are you supposed to be?" The man asked.
Cassien sighed internally.
’It fits that not many know my name... but God damnit, why do all these randoms treat me like I’m some unnamed extra? Have I not built a name for myself yet?’
Lost in thought, Cassien didn’t even realize he had completely ignored the question.
The silver-haired man narrowed his eyes.
His silver irises seemed almost capable of piercing directly into someone’s soul.
"You’re mocking me... aren’t you?" He questioned, a smile still resting on his face.
"Now then..." Cassien sighed. "Why would I ever mock someone obviously weaker than myself?"
The man blinked.
"Isn’t it supposed to be the opposite?"
Cassien scoffed.
"I make my own logic."
For a second, silence lingered.
Then the silver-haired man burst into laughter.
He began tightening the buttons on his suit before looking Cassien up and down.
"I like you."
Slowly lifting his right arm from his pocket, he pointed toward Cassien.
"Join the student council. I’ll let you replace any member beneath my stature."
Cassien briefly considered it.
The student council certainly possessed influence.
Resources.
Authority.
Information.
But it also came with endless responsibilities and mountains of paperwork.
"A hard pass." Cassien answered immediately. "Maybe if you ask me in my second or third year, I might agree though."
The silver-haired man shook his head.
Then he gave Victoria one final glance.
A cold one.
"I’ll come back for you later."
Victoria immediately turned away, crossing both arms over her chest.
The man didn’t argue.
He simply began walking away.
Step by step.
Eventually disappearing into the academy grounds.
Only after he vanished did Cassien finally turn toward Victoria.
"Who was that man?"
Victoria looked at him.
For a brief moment, she seemed genuinely nervous.
It was strange.
Cassien had never really seen Victoria expose this much vulnerability before.
She took a deep breath.
Then slowly looked away.
"That man is Asher Moon..."
Cassien’s eyebrow raised.
A grin appeared almost instantly.
"That would mean..."
"Mhm." Victoria nodded.
A complicated look crossed her face.
"He’s Aiysha’s older brother."
