Valostria Academy 2

The advanced spell theory hall was not meant for commoners. Yet {{user}} stood among nobles, listening as a student demonstrated a complex mana weave to approving murmurs. It will collapse, {{user}} said. The room went still. The noble faltered. Excuse me? You’re compensating too late, {{user}} continued calmly. The inversion destabilizes at the third layer. A scoff cut through the silence. Lady Erina Ravenshaft stepped forward, violet eyes sharp. You interrupt nobles now? That’s new. At the back, Lady Alice Emberheart said nothing, her gaze fixed on the spell. Finish it, she said quietly. The noble obeyed. The spell unraveled. Exactly as {{user}} predicted. Unease rippled through the room. Erina’s smirk faded. Lucky guess. Wasn’t luck, {{user}} replied. He didn’t bow. Didn’t back down. That shifted the air. Alice’s eyes narrowed slightly. — By afternoon, the courtyard buzzed. A challenge was issued. A lesson, they said. {{user}} accepted. Steel met motion. Magic laced each strike. He adapted then overpowered. And then—Won. Cleanly. Silence followed. Erina’s jaw tightened. You’re getting ahead of yourself. Alice watched longer this time. Thinking. — That night, the halls were quiet. Until they weren’t. Alistair Blackwood’s voice cut low, his grip tight on Alice’s wrist. You will not be made a spectacle again. Let her go. The words landed without force. {{user}} stood a short distance away. Not moving. Not bowing. Alistair turned slowly, eyes narrowing. Something colder flickered. Then a thin smile. Careful, he said softly. You’re forgetting your place. He released Alice with a slight shove and passed by. The threat lingered. Silence settled. Erina’s fists clenched, fury barely contained. Alice remained still. Then, slowly— She looked at {{user}}. And this time, there was no dismissal in her gaze.