"Caw—"

Luo Wei didn't even see how the "accident" happened before the raven shrieked, crashed, and hit the ground, its legs twitching nonstop.

An Infernal Arachne planted itself on the raven's head, raising both fore claws in swaggering triumph.

No one competes for favor with Nico. No one.

Not even a vain raven.

Nico plucked a short feather from the raven, then sprang back onto her owner's shoulder on eight fuzzy legs.

"Nico?"

Luo Wei opened her hand; the fluffy spider hopped into her palm, waving the raven feather like a trophy, bouncing insistently to flaunt her spoils from every angle.

She looked from the spasming, drama‑queen bird on the ground to the smug, attention‑seeking spider in her hand. A pulse throbbed at her temples.

Peaceful days were about to leave her—and never return.

After "defeating" the raven, Nico fastened the feather to her own head, then bounded into the yard and resumed her diligent patrol.

She still remembered what Luo Wei told her last year: catch bugs, become the household's little pest guard.

Spring was peak insect season, but with Nico around, the garden's plants had security.

Beetles, caterpillars, cabbage worms—none escaped her sharp eyes. All captured, all sentenced to death.

While Nico was busy, Luo Wei hurried the still-kicking, white‑eyed raven back into the hanging basket under the eaves, then clasped her hands behind her back and strolled after the spider.

Nico was thorough. After sweeping for insects, she even yanked a green frog out of the grass against the courtyard wall.

April was frog mating season; on rainy days they'd chorus their grating "croak‑croak." Useful bug eaters, yes—still noisy.

Unable to haul the frog, Nico chased it until it fled.

Luo Wei watched the little jumping spider bound farther and farther. She stood there, estimating the distance.

As her magic grew, Nico's allowed range expanded. At first exceeding five meters made the summon vanish. Now Nico could pass fifty.

Which meant her current magic power was more than ten times what it had been.

She wasn't sure what normal growth looked like, but she guessed hers was at least above average.

Otherwise Professor Tobias wouldn't be so insistent she compete.

On April 3, the Academy's bulletin board updated the Magic Tournament roster.

After class Luo Wei went to look; the instant she saw it she wondered if she were dreaming.

According to Professor Moses at the meeting two days prior, there should have been only one change—right?

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

What had happened since last night? Why hadn't her and Axina's names been swapped out as expected? Instead both appeared as official participants.

Gladys and Hol were there too—listed as official members, while the original four official members were now substitutes.

The Intermediate and Senior Division rosters had changed as well: Theodore, Laura, Hessel, even Sebastian—all on the list.

Luo Wei frowned, turned, and scanned the murmuring crowd. She quickly spotted Theodore, brow furrowed like hers, and Laura with her head bowed.

She pushed through the press of bodies. "What's with the roster? Did you all choose to enter?"

"Lake," Theodore said—unusually terse.

Luo Wei glanced at Laura; she still kept her gaze down.

The three headed lakeside.

From a distance Luo Wei saw two familiar silhouettes beneath the willow: Gladys and Hol were waiting.

The Death Penalty Squad gathered.

"What exactly happened? Yesterday everything was normal." The roster's wholesale mutation had no warning—absurdity welled inside her.

Theodore's face was set. "I don't know what happened on your side. As for us…"

He paused, glanced at Laura.

"Laura and I requested it. Yesterday afternoon we challenged two official members and won spots."

Luo Wei found it ridiculous. "You do realize St. Teno Divine College is competing this year?"

"We do," Laura rasped, lifting red, swollen eyes. "I received a letter. It said the Divine College's rewards this year include two cloaks."

Luo Wei's heart dropped. "What cloaks?"

"Cloaks made from Cat Beastfolk pelts," Laura whispered.

She lowered her head again; her shoulders trembled in silent sobs.

The air plunged to freezing—heavy, oppressive.

Luo Wei's throat tightened. "Who sent it? Where's the messenger?"

"A small merchant," Theodore answered for her. "He handed it over and disappeared."

A small merchant—was it the same one she'd caught and memory‑wiped?

She looked to Hol; his expression was grim. "You received a letter too?"

Hol nodded. "It ordered me to participate. If I refused, it would report me to the Temple."

"Report you for what?"

"It didn't say." His eyes were dark.

Precisely because it didn't say, he didn't dare defy it.

Luo Wei hinted, "Had you seen the messenger before?"

Hol understood. "No. Unfamiliar face—looked newly arrived from elsewhere. I chased him for a while, couldn't catch him."

Her suspicion deepened. She turned to Gladys—had she also received a letter?

Gladys shook her head. "I didn't."

"Then why participate?"

Gladys wrinkled her nose, annoyed. "Axina threatened me. If I didn't join, she'd tell everyone I'm a werewolf."

The thread only tangled further; irritation burned in Luo Wei's chest. "Axina's lost it. Didn't she say she felt unwell and wanted to be a substitute? Now she's cured?"

Fine if Axina wanted in—why drag others down?

Gladys, equally upset, explained, "Professor Moses had lots of professors examine her. They found nothing. Axina said she had nightmares, felt unwell."

Then things turned theatrical: Axina insisted she was sick—one moment claiming nightmares kept her awake, the next clutching her chest, gasping—scaring the professors.

To treat her, the Academy even gave her a healing potion; still no improvement.

Professor Phil was the first to panic. Siria had seen demons before and Axina was a Blessed One of the Goddess of Love—he feared a demon's curse and insisted on inviting the Temple's bishop.

Axina couldn't accept that and instantly declared she was cured—healed by the potion.

Professor Moses, relieved, added her back to the roster.

On her way to the dorm she saw Gladys, envied her carefree mood, and threatened her into joining—otherwise she'd expose her identity.

Gladys finished, head drooping.

"She threatens you and you don't think to threaten back?" Luo Wei said, exasperated. "You have leverage too! What are you afraid of?"

"I don't," Gladys said, aggrieved.

Luo Wei wanted to shake her. "Of course you do. The wine storage room incident last year—remember?"

Gladys struggled to recall. "I heard her voice. I didn't see her. That's not leverage."

Luo Wei's vision darkened. This child—un‑teachable.

"Is this about when the Holy Knights came last year?" Hol asked quietly.

Gladys murmured, "Yes."

Hol understood: Axina was non‑human too.

He didn't ask what species—her conduct alone disqualified her as their ally.

Theodore and Laura also pieced it together: another problematic individual in the Junior Division, but this one mean‑spirited—best to avoid.

Silence settled. Luo Wei centered herself and spoke again. "So only Hol and Laura received threatening letters, correct?"

Hol and Laura were about to nod when Theodore scratched his head. "Actually… I think I got one too."

…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ patreon.com/BZDXG - Unlock a HUGE stash of advance chapters now! Dive deeper into the story ahead of everyone else!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.