Patterns of Friction

Aetheris Academy had always been a place of unspoken wars.

Conflicts weren't fought in broad daylight.

They played out in the shadows of corridors, in the quiet exchanges between nobles, in the thinly veiled threats spoken with smiling lips.

But tonight?

Tonight, the war had stepped out of the shadows and into Cael's room—dagger first.

The Aftermath of an Assassin

Cael crouched beside the unconscious attacker, the faint moonlight catching the crimson streak trickling down the student's temple. His mind processed the events with cold precision.

The assassin wasn't a professional. Too hesitant.The blade had been poisoned. Amateur move. A true killer would have aimed for the throat or heart, not a wound that relied on time.And most importantly—this wasn't the real attack.

This was a message.

"You are not welcome here."

Cael's jaw tightened. How unfortunate.

Because he wasn't leaving.

A sharp knock at the door.

Three beats. Pause. One more.

A signal.

Soren.

Cael exhaled and stood, stepping over the motionless body to unlatch the door.

Soren Draeven slipped inside, his dark cloak brushing against the floor. His sharp eyes took in the sight of the unconscious assassin, the torn pillow, and the faint traces of blood.

A sigh. "Well. That didn't take long."

Cael smirked. "Faster than I expected."

Soren walked over, nudging the assassin's shoulder with the tip of his boot. "Darius's people?"

"Who else?"

Soren studied the scene, then met Cael's gaze. "They sent an unskilled hand first. That means one of two things."

Cael nodded. He already knew. "Either this was a test…"

"…or the real attack is still coming," Soren finished.

Silence settled between them, thick and suffocating.

Then, the unconscious student groaned, shifting slightly.

Cael and Soren exchanged a glance.

Soren's smirk was faint, but deadly. "Shall we ask him what comes next?"

A Noble's Pawn

The student stirred awake with a sharp inhale, his eyes fluttering open only to find Cael and Soren standing over him.

For a moment, he froze, fear flickering in his gaze. Then, instinct took over—he lurched to run.

Cael's foot pressed against his chest, pinning him down. "I wouldn't."

The student stilled.

His breathing was fast, erratic. The blood from his wound had dried against his temple, and his fingers twitched as though still grasping for the dagger that was no longer there.

Soren crouched beside him, tilting his head in amusement. "Now, let's not make this messy."

The student's throat bobbed. "You—You shouldn't be here."

Cael raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"You—" The boy gritted his teeth, defiance flickering in his gaze. "You don't belong in Aetheris. The nobles—they will not allow you to stay."

Cael leaned in.

"And yet… I'm still here."

The boy's jaw tightened.

Cael's voice softened, but it held the weight of iron beneath it.

"Who sent you?"

Silence.

Then—

"You already know," the boy said, voice hoarse.

Cael's smirk didn't reach his eyes.

"Yes. But I like to hear them say it."

Soren chuckled.

The boy's fists clenched, his whole body trembling. "Darius will destroy you."

"Will he?" Cael mused, tapping his chin. "Because from where I'm standing, his first attempt failed. Spectacularly."

The boy glared, but fear had already taken root.

Cael sighed, stepping away. "Go, then."

The student blinked. "…What?"

"I said go," Cael repeated, his voice bored, distant. "Crawl back to Darius. Tell him exactly what happened here."

Soren gave the boy a slow, amused smile. "Tell him Nox is still standing."

The student hesitated, then scrambled out of the room, stumbling in his haste to flee.

The door slammed shut behind him.

Cael exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "That was a waste of time."

Soren chuckled. "Oh, I wouldn't say that." He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Darius will hear about this by morning. And he'll know something else, too."

Cael glanced at him. "What?"

Soren's smirk widened. "That you don't scare easily."

By sunrise, the entire academy knew.

Someone had tried to kill Nox.

And Nox? Was still here.

Cael knew what would come next.

Darius wouldn't admit defeat.

He would move his pieces again.

Which meant Cael had to move first.

The academy was a battlefield now.

And every student?

A piece on the board.

Cael had no intention of being a pawn.

He was here to win.

And this was only the beginning.