The cafeteria was louder than usual, filled with overlapping noises of students and trays clattering.

For the students, it had become a common place where they could unwind after the hour long lectures.

While the whole place was buzzing with noise.

There was a single area where only four students were sitting and eating with a relatively calm pace.

In the corner-most table, Valerie, Cinnia, Aron and Isabelle sat together at one place.

That sight alone was enough to attract the attention of the nearby students.

They kept stealing glances at their table. The thing that attracted most of the attention were their calm faces — it wasn't hidden from the public that; all the great clans were more than just competetive with each other.

This sight alone was enough to silence them.

Watching the rising tension at the table, Cinnia sliced a piece of meat, poked at it with her fork, then sighed.

"So.." she said, glancing at Isabelle, "how come Ezio isn't with you today?"

Isabelle shrugged, taking a bite of her food.

"He got called to Jeanne's office, right after the lectures ended. No idea why?"

Cinnia clicked her tongue and turned toward Aron instead. "Well...well, this is the first time I have seen a Voss staying silent, this long."

Aron eyed her, and took a sip of water.

"What can I do?", he said evenly. "Even the Amberose family lost their position twice. Once at the annual meeting… and now it looks like even their successor is following tradition."

"It looks like staying silent, will become a new norm for someone else?" Watching Cinnia for a fraction of a second, he went back to finish his plate.

The words landed heavily.

'This fucker...'

Cinnia's fork trembled slightly in her hand. She understood what he meant. It wasn't long ago that she had came to know that there was someone who stood at equal footing with Ezio.

She knew that even if Raviel really stood on the same level as Ezio, then the present rankings were just temporary paper numbers. Erasable ones. Even her own rank five wasn't solid

Aron and Isabelle just looked at Cinnia, both of them were notified about all the students capabilities — just a few day after the exams, to take them in their own factions. Even when they had received the information, they too were shocked.

For them it was surprising, being raised with highest grade of skillsets and yet there were people who were proving to be stronger. It was fascinating and concerning at the same time.

And right now, all their eyes were currently on Raviel, Kai and the other top students.

The question still lingered in their minds.

Who would act first?

Valerie, meanwhile, stayed quiet. She ate at her own pace, watching the exchange without interrupting. When she lifted her glass of fruit juice, she frowned slightly.

'When did it get so warm?'

The glass had gone lukewarm, while she was busy listening to her surroundings.

She activated her affinity without any fuss. Frost spread across the glass for a split second, chilling the drink instantly. Valerie took a sip and thought simply,

'Sweet drink.'

....

In the quiet stillness of Nova hallways.

Ezio walked in the academy's hallway at a steady pace.

His mind was anything but calm. Jeanne calling him was yet another added headache to his already messed up shedule.

The last four days had been pretty much depressing for him.

Incidents kept piling one after another, barely giving him any room to breathe.

Ezio had really hoped, that Kai would join his faction, for him Kai was the definition of an unpolished gem — but instead of giving him any clear answer, Kai just buried himself deeper into his training. He hadn't rejected Ezio outright, but he hadn't accepted either. Stuck in that annoying middle ground.

Then there was Raviel.

Raviel hadn't shown up to the classes for four days straight. Even though both of them lived in the S-rooms, they weren't close enough to just casually knock at each other rooms for some casual conversation, where he would bring up the topic and Raviel like a good neighbour would accept it.

"Tch..."

Now that Ezio thought about it, he regretted not talking to him on the first day. Back then Raviel seemed outgoing, so if he had used that opportunity, they could even have been friends by now.

He really wanted to know more about Raviel and Kai — genuinely. But becasue of his hesitation and packed shedule, he barely got any time, so this was partly his fault as well.

He rubbed his forehead once, feeling the tension build up. "Please have mercy on me, sis," he muttered under his breath.

Tak..Tak—!!!

His feet carried him absentmindedly through the wide corridors.

After walking down a few hallways, Ezio came to a stop before a door with intricate carvings on it's mettalic surface, which seemed to be more on the wooden side.

Straightening his posture, Ezio took a breath and stepped toward the door.

Click—!!

Ezio opened the door — and instantly paused.

A cool wave of fresh distorted air brushed against his face. There was a soft, clean scent in the air, mixed with a thin layer of drifting smoke that made the lights feel hazy.

It was Calm.

It was Comforting.

Jeanne sat there, her gray hair creating a subtle shade of contrast with the brown wooden library, filled with tons of thick and thin books, behind her. The atmosphere was heavy.

For a split second, Ezio was impressed by her aesthetic taste.

But then he noticed someone sitting.

At first, he only saw violet eyes through the transluscent grey smoke.

Ezio's eyes slightly widened.

As the smoke slowly thinned, the face became clear — and his mind questioned.

Raviel,

He was sitting there with an intrigued expression. He was just watching him as those violet eyes shone through the mist.

The moment their eyes met, Raviel spoke, his voice steady and clear.

"Good to see you here, Rank 1."

'Huh...?'

Ezio stood frozen for a second.

The atmoshere was way too heavy for this to be a light talk. Ezio just watched both of them.

Before he could even react properly,

Jeanne's voice cut in, cool and firm.

"Sit down, Ezio."

She pointed to the chair right beside Raviel.

Ezio swallowed, glanced once more at Raviel, then slowly moved forward, his thoughts spiralling as he reached for the chair.

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.