The Carving Club was unusually quiet for a weekday afternoon.

  Golden lanterns flickered lazily along the velvet walls, the faint scent of incense drifting through the air. Soft music played — slow, warm, almost dreamy.

  And Alina was absolutely, undeniably

  “Alina! Watch your step!”

  Too late.

  The entire bucket of lavender-scented cleaning water cascaded across the polished floor, washing over a pair of shoes belonging to her supervisor.

  “Gah!— I—I’m so sorry!” Alina squeaked, dropping to her knees with a towel.

  “That’s the third time today,” her boss groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “If you keep this up, you're fired!”

  “Y—Yes, sir!” I—I don't know why I—" Alina shouted.

  "Enough! Hurry and clean that up!"

  She was staring at her own reflection in the puddle.

  She why this was happening.

  She’d been humming all afternoon, humming while sweeping, humming while dusting, humming like someone cursed her to replay a single memory over and over.

  His voice, his dorky and boyish smile, gasps, and squirming. She remembered how he had saved her from an awful fate. She had faith in him. She didn’t know why but she did. But she remembered blowing bubbles into his face, the way he got flustered even trying to have a normal conversation with her. And most importantly, how he didn’t want to leave her side that night.

  Her chest warmed — and then—

  A stack of plates shattered in her hands.

  Her supervisor’s scream nearly shook the walls.

  “ALINA!”

  “I— I swear I’ve never broken plates in my life! These plates aren’t even slippery!” she protested desperately.

  “Then explain how you broke SIX.”

  “I—”

  She had no explanation except:

  Vix Nepton.

  The tall, stoic, annoyingly principled Commander who treated her like an actual person for once.

  Who saved her from the club’s darker side without saying a word.

  Who made her feel seen.

  Safe.

  Warm.

  Alina scolded herself internally.

  “You’re humming again,” a coworker whispered as she passed by.

  “I AM NOT—!” Alina snapped—

  and then immediately realized she humming.

  Again.

  Her cheeks burned.

  Her supervisor sighed. “Alina… take a break. Right now. Before you break the entire damn club.”

  Alina bowed and hurried toward the back hall, pressing both hands over her face the moment she stepped out of sight.

  “What is with me…” she groaned into her palms. “Why is he still in my head?”

  Her heart answered before her mind could silence it:

  Alina’s breath hitched.

  She straightened up, smoothing her apron, willing her heartbeat to calm.

  “No,” she whispered. “Stop it. You can’t feel this way. You ”

  But the warmth blooming in her chest said otherwise.

  The more she tried to hold herself together…

  the more she felt herself unraveling.

  “Alina?!”

  Her boss burst into the break room so violently the door rattled on its hinges. “You better be at your absolute top shape after this break. If the Commander ever comes in demanding your services, you put on a performance for your goddamn life

  “S–Sir! Wait—!”

  “No! Commander Nepton has come into my club wanting a girl so badly he booked her entire name out of here!” Her boss practically vibrated. “Do you know what that means?! Imagine the reviews! The prestige! Gods, I could ascend to district owner!Continental Host!!

  Alina blinked as his eyes glossed over like a lovestruck schoolgirl.

  Then—

  “Get. Over it. ASAP!” he barked, snapping violently back to reality. Alina flinched as he slammed the door shut with enough force to rattle the cleaning supplies.

  Silence fell.

  Alina’s heart thumped against her ribs.

  She tried to wrap her mind around his words.

  Wait…

  wait.

  A thought crept into her mind — slow, terrifying, sparkling with danger.

  He was leaving soon.

  He had said as much.

  But what if—

  what if he called on his favor?

  What if he used the authority he had here?

  He… practically owned

  What if he wanted to—

  “EEP!!”

  Alina slapped both hands over her face, squealing into her palms as she shook her head like a flustered rabbit.

  “N–No! No! He wouldn’t!” she hissed to herself. “He doesn’t have the guts! He—he—he—!”

  But her cheeks were already hot.

  Her heart fluttered wildly.

  And her body refused to believe the words her mind tried to force into discipline.

  Before she could get a grip, the door broke open again, creaking against the hinges.

  “ALINA!” Her boss whisper yelled at her.

  “H-He’s here! He’s-He’s looking for you! Quick! Get changed and get into the King’s Room this instant! I’ll buy you time!” He shut the door just as quickly as he opened it.

  Alina stared at the door. Her heart threatening to break.

  This couldn’t be happening…

  #

  The King’s Room — the most extravagant, most expensive chamber the Carving Club offered — gleamed in warm gold. Velvet purple drapes cascaded from the ceiling, perfume-scented candles flickered beside a marble bath, and the massive hand-crafted bed looked like something royalty would ruin their lovers upon.

  And Alina sat at the edge of it like she was waiting for execution.

  She swallowed hard.

  A thin pink veil draped over her face — transparent enough to tease, humiliating enough to make her feel exposed. Her lingerie matched the color: soft frills at the shoulders, delicate lace hugging her chest, fabric just opaque enough to leave a man wondering about what was underneath.

  She felt naked anyway.

  The skirt was the same shade — translucent down to her legs, but beneath it, the actual cloth covering her lower half preserved the last scraps of modesty she had.

  She clung to that cloth with shaking fingers.

  Her heart was already cracked in a dozen places, and she didn’t know how she wasn’t sobbing.

  She bit her lower lip hard enough to sting, anchoring herself in the room.

  Yes… a part of her wanted to run.

  To flee.

  To escape this nightmare and never look back.

  But the other part — the part she feared more —

  Needed to see whether would actually go through with this.

  Her fists tightened until her knuckles turned pale against her honeyed skin. Her thick eyebrows drew together, desperation etched into the lines of her face. She was supposed to feel beautiful in this outfit — that was the point — but instead she felt stripped, hollow, and hanging by the thinnest threads of self-respect.

  Her dignity was the last thing she still owned.

  The doorknob rattled.

  Alina’s breath caught.

  Her eyes squeezed shut.

  The knob turned.

  The door opened.

  Vix stepped inside.

  “Alina? I need to—

  He slapped the door shut behind him so fast the frame rattled, throwing his arm over his eyes as if shielding himself from a blinding flash.

  “WHAT THE HELL?!” he shouted.

  Alina blinked.

  “HHHUUUHHHH?!

  “DON’T ‘WHAT THE HELL’ ME! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! I WAS ABOUT TO POP HERE AND YOU’RE COVERING YOUR EYES?!”

  “WELL, WHOSE FAULT IS THAT, HUH?!” Vix yelled. “WHY ARE YOU PERFUMED UP LIKE YOU WERE EXPECTING SOME BUSINESS?!”

  “FUCK YOU, BUDDY! THAT’S BECAUSE I WAS!”

  “W–WHY?!” Vix shouted back from behind his arm. “I'D NEVER MEET YOU FOR... BUSINESS—!”

  “THAT’S WHAT I THOUGHT! BUT THEN—!”

  She stopped.

  She held her breath.

  Her fists unraveled.

  If she he would never do something like this to her — never treat her like just another woman to ruin for the night —

  then why had she…?

  Why had she let herself dress like this?

  Why had she waited on this bed?

  Why had she—

  Something warm draped over her shoulders.

  Alina’s eyes widened.

  Vix was standing right in front of her — eyes squeezed shut so tightly he looked like he was trying to erase his ability to see. He had stripped down to his black undershirt and gloves, his black shirt hanging now around

  instead.

  His toned arms were bare, visible in the dim golden light.

  The loose black undershirt clung to the hard lines of his abdomen beneath. For a brief moment she wondered what it would look like behind it.

  But then, Alina’s focus fell on was the fabric around her — heavy, masculine, warm.

  His shirt.

  A void, lightless black cocoon shielding her from the pinks and lace and shame.

  He had covered her.

  Protected her. Saved her.

  In a single simple gesture, he had repaired her fractured heart.

  “C-Can I open my eyes…?” Vix asked, voice trembling with pure panic.

  Alina’s blush deepened.

  Her heart beat painfully.

  She slid her arms fully into the sleeves of his shirt. It swallowed her completely — soft, warm, scented faintly of his cologne and the sharper undertone of

  She lifted the collar to her nose and breathed in quietly.

  Her cheeks turned scarlet.

  Then, slowly, she pulled the veil off her face and let it fall beside her on the bed.

  “Y-Yes…” she whispered. “You can…”

  Vix opened his eyes carefully — inch by inch — bracing as if he expected a second flashbang to explode in his face.

  But instead of what he feared, Vix saw only .

  Wrapped in his shirt.

  Hair tousled.

  Face flushed.

  His cheeks ignited instantly.

  “Uh! Uhm! Aha—uh—”

  He rubbed the back of his head violently, staring at the ceiling instead of her. “S-Sorry! I—I needed to talk to you, and then Mr. Dillards insisted that the best place to chat was in here and—”

  Alina blinked. Then dragged a hand down her face.

  “…That explains everything.”

  “Does it…?” Vix replied in a high pitched voice.

  “A-Anyways!” he stammered. “Are you okay?”

  “I am now…” Alina said softly.

  Then a different thought hit her.

  “W-Wait. So you just came to to me? You weren’t planning on doing anything—”

  She pointed shakily between the two of them, one finger poking out from the drowning sleeve of his shirt.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “—funny?”

  “Funny? N-No???”

  Vix looked even more horrified than before.

  “What?! Why not?!”

  “What?!”

  “God. ” Alina groaned, throwing both hands up into a fist. “Here I was, perfectly prepared and— You know what? Never mind.”

  (She was, in fact, absolutely prepared.)

  She cleared her throat and forced herself to soften as she looked at him through her lashes.

  “…What did you want to see me for?” she asked, intentionally making her voice small.

  She pinched the collar of his shirt and lifted it to her nose as he began to speak, inhaling quietly, praying he wouldn’t notice.

  And he didn’t notice.

  Not the way she breathed in his scent.

  Not the way she leaned forward, trembling.

  Vix just turned away, fiddling with the opening of his glove, tugging it up his wrist like the seam of his nerves were unraveling.

  “I… um… I just wanted to tell you… that I…”

  Alina stopped breathing.

  She leaned forward off the bed without realizing it, hungry—desperate—for whatever was about to leave his mouth.

  “I’m leaving… America.”

  And just like that, her heart shattered into pieces again.

  “W-What…?”

  “Y-yeah, today,” Vix said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m heading to Seoul. My next apartment just got confirmed, and I need to make sure everything’s set up there for Rin. Kormadyne will reach the Korean coastline in two weeks, and there’s the final Grand Prix race… I’m being requested to help referee it again.”

  “…Oh.”

  “Yeah…”

  Then there was a long period of silence between them.

  Vix stared at the ground, his gloves, his boots—anything but her.

  Alina stared only at him.

  At his face.

  Begging for his eyes to meet hers.

  Just once.

  So she could pretend he felt the same way she did.

  He didn’t look.

  Something inside her sank.

  Collapsed inward like a star imploding.

  She wrapped her arms around herself.

  This heartbreak was her own fault.

  She stood abruptly, inhaling sharply enough to startle him.

  Vix snapped his head up.

  “Alina?”

  “Take your shirt back,” she said stiffly.

  “What?”

  She was already tugging it off her shoulders.

  “WHOA WHOA—YOU CAN’T JUST—!”

  He slapped his forearm over his eyes again.

  “Turn around, dummy.”

  She grabbed his shoulder and spun him toward the door.

  Behind him, she peeled the shirt off, folded it carefully, and placed it in his waiting hands… before quickly stepping behind him again.

  “You can’t leave here without it,” she murmured.

  “People might… get the wrong idea…”

  Her voice was barely a whisper.

  Her eyes burned.

  But she didn’t cry.

  Vix slowly lowered his arm, clutching the shirt.

  He opened his eyes.

  “Right… that’s true…”

  He slipped the shirt on smoothly and buttoned it up, each click of the buttons sounding far too final.

  Once dressed, he adjusted his gloves again—not because they needed fixing, but because he needed more time in what to say next.

  “…Alina?” he said carefully.

  He spoke her name as if asking permission to even say it.

  Warmth bloomed in her chest. He was every bit as gentle just like when she first met him.

  She bit her lower lip, trying to keep her voice from trembling.

  “Mhm?”

  “I… I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you again,” Vix began.

  “I-I was hoping… if I could have your contact information. I don’t… want to stop talking to you.”

  A minute passed.

  Silence weighed them down.

  Then—

  “Yes. You can.”

  She didn’t dare turn around.

  Because if she had, he’d have seen how wet her cheeks were.

  “T-Thank you…” he breathed.

  Another moment of silence stretched between them, thin as a thread and just as ready to snap.

  “When can I see you again?” Alina asked.

  Direct.

  Honest.

  Her heart stripped bare in one sentence.

  Her voice didn’t shake.

  Her courage did.

  Vix shut his eyes.

  “I hope soon…”

  A breath escaped him—fragile, defeated.

  “I’m—I’m sorry… I wish there was something else I could’ve done.”

  “No you don’t…” she whispered under her breath.

  “Alina?”

  “What?”

  “Did you say something?”

  “N-No! Teehee!”

  She giggled behind her palm.

  Vix swallowed.

  “I’m doing my best… I just—”

  He stopped.

  Because the truth pressed too hard against him.

  There more he could’ve done.

  There always was.

  But that hole inside him—deep, quiet, nameless—pulled him in the opposite direction.

  His duty.

  His mission.

  Yaxon ordered him to protect Rin’s life.

  He had never hesitated before.

  Never questioned himself.

  But here, with Alina inches behind him in silence, he felt something unfamiliar clawing at his chest.

  His fists balled until they trembled.

  Then an unfamiliar scent hit him. He pinched the collar of his shirt and brought it up to his nose subtly, and took a deep breath. It was now mixed with his cologne. But also hers. The scent couldn't be simply replicated and his cheeks glowed red all over again.

  "It's just another mission, right?" Alina began.

  "Y-Yeah..."

  "And your duty to the people always comes first, right?"

  "Absolutely. I must save and protect every single soul on this planet. No matter how odd my missions are, they are always for the better cause."

  Alina went silent behind him. She knew it deep inside her all along.

  Vix still didn't dare to turn around. He didn't have it in him.

  “Vix?” Alina said softly.

  Her voice—small, fragile—but this time loud enough to reach him.

  “…Yes?”

  “…Leave the room. Now.”

  #

  Rin clutched her textbook to her chest as she walked down the hallway, alone.

  Her steps were soft, almost dainty, the hem of her navy-blue uniform skirt brushing lightly against her knees. The cream-colored frilly sleeves of her blouse swayed with each step; her ponytail bounced gently behind her.

  Anyone looking at her would see the same innocent girl Kormadyne had met a year ago.

  But inside—

  She was anything but calm.

  Her mind was swallowed by one thought:

  Seoul in less than a week.

  Alvie training.

  Chippy’s pressure.

  Drenco’s shadow stretching longer every day.

  A cold knot tightened in her stomach, twisting up her ribs.

  She didn’t even notice she’d slowed until—

  “Oof—”

  She bumped into a boy rounding the corner.

  “Hey! Watch where you’re going, nerd!” he snapped.

  Rin blinked up at him.

  Once.

  Twice.

  Then, without a word, she drove her elbow sharply into his ribs and kept walking as he folded with a grunt.

  Her ponytail bobbed behind her—sweet, innocent, defiant.

  Her expression remained blank.

  Unbothered.

  Several students ahead caught sight of her.

  They parted immediately, like water making way for a blade.

  Rin didn’t notice.

  Or maybe she did, and simply didn’t care.

  Her thoughts drifted back to the race.

  To Seoul.

  To the pressure sitting in her lungs like stone.

  And because she wasn’t paying attention…

  She took the wrong turn.

  A quiet hallway.

  Empty.

  Unfamiliar.

  She frowned.

  She spun on her heels, ready to backtrack—but her foot didn’t move.

  This hallway was… wrong.

  Too quiet.

  She stood very still, listening.

  No footsteps.

  No air currents.

  No professors talking in classrooms.

  Nothing.

  A chill crawled up her spine.

  She lifted her foot—and froze again.

  Water.

  Running water.

  She turned her head toward the sound, deeper down the silent hall.

  Her earlier question——turned into something worse.

  Rin swallowed, adjusted her grip on her textbook, and walked toward the noise.

  Her steps were light.

  Her ponytail swayed.

  Her heart thudded painfully against her ribs.

  She stopped in front of a door.

  A boy’s restroom.

  She blinked at the sign.

  But another thought crept in:

  Then—

  A voice.

  Echoing out of the restroom, warped slightly by tile and water.

  “I must become the next Starweaver, I must become the next Starweaver, I must become the next Starweaver…”

  Rin stiffened.

  “Starweaver… Starweaver… Starweaver…”

  Her eyes widened.

  She whipped her head around, searching frantically for a hiding spot.

  The water shut off.

  She darted into the girl’s restroom directly adjacent, flipping open the makeup mirror Chippy lent her. She angled it just barely through the crack in the door.

  Footsteps approached.

  Her breathing stopped.

  Out stepped a boy with grey hair streaked in orange, dark circles under wild eyes.

  Drenco.

  She slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle even her breathing.

  Drenco stood utterly still.

  Blank.

  Haunted.

  “Father… I’ll become the next Starweaver… please… believe in me… I’ll do it…” he muttered, voice thin and trembling.

  Then he walked on, movements stiff and unnatural.

  Rin stayed pressed behind the restroom door, holding her breath, watching through the mirror, until the echo of his footsteps finally died.

  Rin burst out of the restroom and sprinted down the hall, clutching her textbook against her chest. She slid into the classroom just as the bell rang—barely avoiding being marked tardy.

  Her eyes darted around until she found Eddie, already buried in his books as usual.

  His seatmate spot—the one always saved for her—was empty.

  She rushed to it and dropped into the chair, still panting.

  “R-Rin? Are you alright?” Eddie asked, concern knitting his eyebrows.

  “Y-Yes—” “I-I need to talk to you about something! Something important!”

  “Uh… okay? But can it wait? I think I might’ve figured out the whole

  mystery.”

  “O-Oh! That’s great! Uhm… can you hold onto that thought for a sec—?”

  “Well, it’s pretty short anyway,” Eddie continued, not hearing a single word she said. “I don’t know everything yet, but whatever this Ra thing is? I bet there’s only place on Earth that’ll explain how we can get to the bottom of it!”

  “Awesome! But Eddie?

  Eddie ignored her, eyes gleaming with academic obsession.

  “We need to get to the

  “Why?!” Rin puffed her cheeks, frustration bubbling up

  “Miss Nepton? Keep silence! Class is beginning shortly!” her professor barked.

  “Y-Yes sir!” Rin squeaked, shrinking so fast she practically deflated.

  She folded over her desk like a dying flower, burying her entire face into her arms. Her ponytail drooped dramatically over her shoulder.

  Eddie watched her for a moment, then leaned over with mild confusion.

  “Uh… Rin? You okay?”

  A muffled groan escaped her.

  “Rin?” Eddie poked her shoulder.

  She lifted her head just enough for her eyes to peek over her forearms, cheeks puffed out.

  “You were gonna tell me something important?” Eddie prodded.

  “Yes! But you kept ignoring me!” she hissed in a whisper-yell.

  Eddie scratched his cheek sheepishly.

  “Sorry… but I got excited. And I really think I’m onto something big.”

  Rin blinked. “Yeah? About stupid Ra?”

  “Yeah. Okay, listen—” He pulled out a notebook already filled with chaotic notes, diagrams, and one very questionable doodle of Ra with sunglasses.

  “I’ve been reading up on every ancient summoning record I could get my hands on, every necromancy article, every known magical construct. You know. Typical forbidden section of the Athenaeum stuff.”

  “And…?” Rin grumbled, still half-facedown.

  “And none of it fits Ra.”

  She sat up a little.

  Eddie took that as permission to go Full Nerd.

  “Ra isn’t behaving like a summon creature. Or a necromantic construct. Or even a spirit-binding. Every case of those involves an anchor, a vessel, or a cost. Something visible, trackable.”

  “But Ra just shows up,” Rin whispered, shivering. “Through those weird purple portals…”

  “Exactly!” Eddie snapped his fingers. “Purple aura, purple portals, purple resonance in the air whenever he appears. Plus—”

  He flipped a page to a crude drawing of a man shaded in black. Obliviously Britlex, but he didn’t dare give more detail to him, obliterating Ra.

  “He once. Or got destroyed. Or dispersed. Whatever. And then he just… hasn’t come back since. But he could!.”

  Rin squinted at him. “H-How? How do you know that?”

  “With this.” Eddie pulled out his wand and held it up for her to see.

  “I used on Chippy last weekend, and guess what? Her aura was infected with Ra’s aura.”

  “Aura?” Rin echoed.

  “Yes! Think of it like… Chippy normally emits pinks and whites, right? But there was another layer over it. Purple. The same sickly, dim purple from Ra.”

  Rin frowned.

  “Yeah… that doesn’t sound normal.”

  “No summon can do that.” Eddie’s voice dropped. “No undead construct can do that. No artificial entity can do that.”

  Rin leaned in.

  “So what ?”

  Eddie glanced around nervously before whispering:

  “…I think Ra might be a familiar

  Rin’s eyes widened. “A familiar?”

  “Well—Sort of! Not exactly like a familiar,” he clarified. “But maybe something in that realm. A master’s companion — except way more powerful, and way more… creepy.”

  Rin swallowed.

  “But Eddie… a familiar that can live after being destroyed? That doesn’t make sense… after everything we’ve learned?”

  “That’s why I think,” Eddie whispered, “we need to go to the . Legend says the oldest familiars in history came from there — the first bonds, the first contracts. Maybe answers too.”

  He leaned in closer.

  “And remember that book that needed an apology before it settled down? The one Chippy said was written in Yaxon’s handwriting? If that book really

  Yaxon’s, and he’s obviously the strongest sorcerer alive, and we’ve got multiple clues pointing toward the … then I think there’s no reason we go.”

  Rin stiffened.

  “Fairy Forest…? But you said that place is—”

  “Yeah. Dangerous. Enchanted. Impossible to navigate.” He nodded proudly, apparently unbothered by any of that suddenly.

  “But if we want to save Chippy from Ra… we need to know what Ra

  is.”

  “But… Ra never really hurt her. Or us. It just protected her,” Rin added quietly.

  “Well, sure,” Eddie admitted. “But it might be crucial if Chippy could learn how to it. He’s literally saved us in life-or-death situations twice before!”

  Rin shrank back, shoulders curling in as the memories hit her — both times flashing vividly behind her eyes.

  “Y-Yeah…” she murmured.

  “Er—sorry.” Eddie rubbed the back of his neck. “I got carried away. Anyway, what did you want to tell me?”

  “It’s about !” Rin snarled, cheeks puffed in frustration. “I caught him in the boy’s restroom—”

  “WHAT?!” Eddie yelped. “Rin! That’s— I know you don’t have memories and stuff, but you be doing that! That’s— that’s bad manners!”

  “No!!!” She smacked his arm. “Not like that!”

  “” her professor barked for the second time.

  “Y-Yes!”

  “Get out of my class! I warned you once already!”

  “Yes… sir…” Rin sighed, slumping as she gathered her textbook and shuffled toward the door.

  Eddie winced, rubbing the back of his head and mouthing,

  as she left.

  #

  Rin waited outside the classroom, hugging her textbook while the minutes crawled by. Only half the period had passed—twenty agonizing minutes still remained.

  Suddenly the classroom door clicked open. Eddie popped his head out, scanned the hallway, spotted her, and brightened instantly.

  “Rin! Sorry! I snuck out and said I needed to use the restroom!” He hurried over, eyes wide with anticipation. “Now — what’s going on with Drenco?”

  Rin stared at him flatly, then sighed.

  “Right. Well… he was acting really weird. Fragile. And his eyes— they looked so tired. And… hurt?”

  “He looked dead inside?” Eddie tilted his head.

  “Dead inside…?”

  “Or like he’d just seen a ghost?”

  “G-Ghost?!”

  “Was he pale?”

  “That’s his natural skin tone, dummy!”

  Eddie facepalmed.

  “We need to teach you figures of speech too… Anyway, is there more?”

  Rin nodded rapidly.

  “Yes! He kept saying something about needing to become the next

  “Starweaver?!” Eddie nearly shouted.

  “Yeah. And he really, seemed like he wanted it.”

  “That’s… bizarre. If Drenco ever became the next Starweaver, it’d basically be hell on earth.”

  “What? How?”

  “Well,” Eddie began, slipping into lecture mode, “Starweaver is one of the most prestigious titles in magical society. Ironically, almost every Starweaver ever recorded has been a . But there hasn’t been one in fifty years.”

  Rin leaned closer, eyes wide.

  “Well, why does it always have to be the Vandergrifts?” she asked.

  “It technically doesn’t,” Eddie shrugged. “But the Vandergrifts are born with an innate affinity for

  “Celestial… magic…?” Rin repeated, her brain quickly overloading. “But I thought there were only seven elements someone can have affinity to. And the more you have, the better, right?”

  “Right. But Celestial magic isn’t one of those seven. It’s outside the category entirely — because it’s the most complex and most powerful magic anyone can wield. It uses a ton of mana just to even about casting it.”

  Rin blinked. “So, we could do it, too?”

  “Technically, yes. But probably one spell — maybe two — before we’d collapse. Vandergrifts, though? They can use Celestial spells efficiently. And every so often, once in a generation…” Eddie lifted a finger dramatically, “someone is born beyond even the normal Vandergrifts.”

  “That’s a Starweaver,” Rin whispered.

  “Exactly. They’re so important their last name doesn’t even stay Vandergrift. It becomes their title. ” Eddie continued. “If Yaxon didn’t exist, a Starweaver would basically be the Yaxon of the world— protecting it, leading it, all that stuff.”

  “But… he’s kinda… not around right now?” Rin added, stifling a giggle as she realized his absence was sensitive to Chippy.

  “Yeah… b-but he will! Soon…” Eddie slouched in defeat—then suddenly brightened.

  “But! Since he’s not around… I think we should visit the Fairy Forest! What if he’s hiding something there?”

  “You think so?”

  “That book? If it really Yaxon’s, then he must know more about Ra! Think about it—Chippy’s own brother?! It makes too much sense!”

  “I-I don’t know…” Rin said nervously. “Fairies are pretty, but you really did make them sound awful. Are you sure?”

  “Please! You can use ice magic!” Eddie lowered his voice. “I can dual-wield. And Chippy has Ra!”

  “That’s… only if she can call him. And if he to help us…”

  “Right, right… well, ignore her. We have each other. And that should be enough!”

  Rin looked away, uncertainty twisting in her stomach.

  Then, quietly—

  “…A-Alright. If you say so.”

  “That’s what I’m talking about!” Eddie grinned brightly.

  Rin’s sour mood dissolved instantly. Just seeing him happy made her smile too.

  “Alright, well, you should get back to class before Professor Simmith notices. He might kick you out and have you stuck with me.”

  “Actually? I wouldn’t mind that.” Eddie puffed his chest proudly. “I’d just be out here, studying Ra and hanging out with my friend.”

  Rin blushed.

  That warmth — the gentle, safe kind — pulsed through her. She’d felt it around Eddie. Around Chippy. Benneth. Even Vix whenever he graced her on those rare occasions. It made her shy away, hiding her warm cheeks behind her textbook.

  “W-Well… about Drenco and the Starweaver thing… do you really think he could do it?”

  “I don’t think so. He barely won that duel with you,” Eddie snickered.

  “Stop! Don’t remind me! I just… got so angry in the moment and—”

  “Wanna have that duel again?” a voice cut in sharply.

  Rin and Eddie froze.

  Eyes wide.

  Eddie raised his fists and Rin was only an inch away from grabbing her wand. But before either could ready themselves—

  Drenco’s leg swept under Rin’s feet.

  She hit the floor hard, the breath knocked from her chest. Her yelp was cut short as Drenco clamped a hand over her mouth. Her fingers latched onto his arm in instinctive panic, heart hammering.

  A soft thud beside her — Eddie crumpled, clutching his now-bleeding nose.

  Drenco leaned over Rin, eyes wild and glassy, staring

  her, not at her.

  “Listen here, Rin,” he whispered. “If you think you’re going to win this last race, you’re sorely mistaken.”

  His breath trembled.

  His voice didn’t.

  “It’s mine to win. Yours to lose. It has to be that way.”

  Rin tried to twist away, but his grip tightened.

  “I need to become the next . That’s right — everything that nerd said?” He jerked his chin toward Eddie. “It’ll be Deal with it. That’s the world you’ll live in.”

  His eyes widened further — unhinged.

  “And don’t even think about getting in my way.”

  He lifted his fist.

  Rin’s eyes widened, pupils shrinking.

  He slammed his fist into her cheek — a sharp, suffocating jolt of pain — and his hand stayed over her mouth, stifling the cry that tried to escape.

  Then he released her harshly and stood, breathing heavy, before walking off without a backward glance.

  “Jerk!” Eddie shouted, stumbling to his feet while clutching his bleeding nose. He spun around instantly, reaching a trembling hand toward Rin.

  She was lying on her side, palms pressed to her cheek, small whimpers leaking through her fingers.

  “Rin! Are you okay?!” Eddie dropped beside her, too worried to wait for an answer. He grabbed her shoulder gently and helped her sit up.

  Rin’s tears streamed down her face as she nodded, though her chin quivered with each breath.

  “I can’t believe that guy!” Eddie snapped. “The absolute on him! We need to get him back—!”

  “N-No!” Rin cut him off, voice cracking behind her palms.

  She slowly pulled her hands away.

  Her cheek was already swollen, flushed red and rising fast. The skin puffed so much her right eye was forced half-closed.

  But her expression—

  Her expression wasn’t hurt.

  It was darker.

  “It’s fine,” she whispered. “We’ll kick his butt in the race. Starweaver or not… he’s in way.”