Vane stood in the doorway of Villa 1, the cool evening air clinging to his skin. He looked at Valerica, who remained on the porch with an expectant expression. Behind her, the carriage horses shifted their weight, their breath misting in the dim light. The invitation hung in the air, heavy and unexpected. He had spent the last hour convincing himself that isolation was exactly what he needed, but looking at Valerica, he felt that certainty slipping.

"You are serious about this," Vane said, his voice flat but not unkind.

Valerica leaned her shoulder against the doorframe, crossing her arms over her leather traveling jacket. "I do not make jokes about my father's estate, Vane. It is not a place anyone goes to for a laugh. I am serious because I know how you work. You will sit in this living room, stare at that fire, and push your core until you cough up silver. You need a change of scenery before you lose your mind."

Vane looked back into the common room. The items his friends had left were still sitting on the table. The marrow soup from Isaac, the resonance crystal from Isole, and the supplies from Ashe. They were reminders that he wasn't as alone as he used to be, but they were also anchors.

"I saw your father at the Gala," Vane said, stepping back to let her into the warmth of the villa. "He did not exactly seem like the type to welcome a commoner into his guest wing. Especially one who has the Headmistress making public declarations for him."

Valerica walked into the room, her boots clicking softly on the hardwood. she didn't look at the luxury of the villa; she looked at Vane. "He is a Duke. He does not like anything he cannot categorize. But he is also a pragmatist. I told him I needed a high-tier sparring partner to prepare for the next semester. He knows your rank. He will tolerate you because he thinks you are a tool I am using to get stronger."

Vane felt a slight prick of annoyance at the word tool, but he knew how Valerica's world worked. "And what am I to you? Just a shield for your social obligations?"

"You are my friend, Vane," she said, her voice dropping the sharp, noble edge. "And you are the only person I know who can handle a month in that house without either bowing to my father or trying to burn the place down. I need someone there who sees me as Valerica, not as a Sol heiress."

Vane looked at the cooling thermos of soup. He thought about Gareth. The man was a Knight-Lieutenant in the capital. To get close to him, Vane needed to move through circles that were usually closed to people from Oakhaven. A guest of the Sol family had a level of invisibility that a lone student did not. He could use the Sol library, their archives, and their reputation.

"I need to pack," Vane said.

Valerica nodded, a small, relieved smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Do not bring the whole villa. We have everything you need there. Just your gear and whatever keeps you from being miserable."

Vane moved through the villa with efficient speed. He packed his practice spear, his training clothes, and the resonance crystal Isole had given him. He hesitated for a moment before grabbing the marrow soup Isaac had brought. It felt like a piece of his new life that he wasn't ready to leave behind. He shoved his belongings into a single rugged pack and walked back into the common room.

"Ready?" Valerica asked.

"Ready," he replied.

They walked out of the villa, and Vane felt a strange sense of finality as he locked the door. The academy was a ghost town now, the silence of the empty spires following them as they made their way toward the primary warp gate station. The station was a massive, circular building of white stone, illuminated by soft blue mana lights. It was usually bustling with students, but tonight it was empty save for a few weary-looking attendants.

Valerica presented her family crest to the gatekeeper. The man bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the desk. Within minutes, the central platform began to hum, the air around it distorting like a heat haze.

"It is an instantaneous jump," Valerica explained, stepping onto the platform. "It can be a bit disorienting the first time. Keep your knees loose."

Vane stepped beside her. He felt a sudden, sharp pressure behind his eyes, and then the world simply folded.

When he opened his eyes, the cool, damp air of Zenith was gone. In its place was a dry, crisp heat that smelled of cedar and cold stone. They were standing in a private receiving hall that was larger than the entire ground floor of his villa. The walls were made of white marble, polished so highly that Vane could see his own reflection in every surface.

"Welcome to the southern peaks," Valerica said, stepping off the platform.

They were met by a woman in a gown of pale gold silk. She looked remarkably like Valerica, but her face lacked the sharp, predatory confidence of her daughter. Her eyes were soft and held a persistent shadow of exhaustion. Beside her, two children stood at attention. They were five year old twins, a boy and a girl, dressed in miniature versions of formal Sol attire.

"Valerica," the woman said, stepping forward. She embraced her daughter, but the gesture was stiff, as if she were worried about being observed. "We were beginning to think the gate wouldn't hold."

"It was fine, Mother," Valerica said, her voice turning into the formal tone of a noble daughter. She gestured to Vane. "This is Vane. He is my teammate from the academy. He will be staying with us for the break."

The Duchess turned to Vane. Her smile was genuine but cautious. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Vane. Valerica has mentioned you in her letters. I heard of your success in the evaluations. It is quite an achievement for someone so young."

"Thank you, Ma'am," Vane said, offering a respectful nod.

The twins did not wait for the formalities to end. The boy, Leo, broke his stiff posture and lunged for Valerica's waist, nearly knocking her over. "Val! Did you bring a monster? You said you would bring a monster!"

"Leo, stop that," the Duchess said quickly, her voice hushed and nervous. she looked toward the long, dark hallway that led deeper into the manor. "Your father is resting. You know how he feels about noise in the receiving hall."

The boy froze instantly. He pulled back from Valerica, his face losing its excitement and settling into a practiced, solemn mask. The transition was chilling to watch. Beside him, his sister Mia grabbed a handful of their mother's skirt and stared at Vane with wide, curious eyes.

"Is he a knight?" Mia whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"He is better than a knight," Valerica said, kneeling down to look at her siblings. "He is the Rank 1. That means he is the boss of all the other students."

The twins looked at Vane with renewed awe, but the Duchess stepped in, ushering them back toward a nanny who had appeared from the shadows. "Take them to the nursery. They need to prepare for bed."

Once the children were led away, the Duchess turned back to Valerica, her expression turning somber. "He is in the study, Valerica. He has been there since the auditors arrived from the capital this morning. He is not in a pleasant mood. He wants to see you both the moment you arrive."

Valerica's jaw tightened. She looked at Vane, a silent apology in her eyes. "He doesn't waste any time, does he?"

"He never has," her mother replied. She looked at Vane, her gaze lingering on his face. "Please, Vane. My husband is a man of very specific expectations. Just be patient with him."

"I can do that," Vane said.

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