---
Location: Academy Noble Tower — Observation Hall
Too many windows. Too much light.
Smells like old money, pride, and judgment.
I've been here before — in another life.
Last time I cried.
This time I walked in like I owned the floor.
"Let's see how badly this goes."
---
Three women waited.
Not one looked pleased.
✦ Eirene Val'Solan
Paladin-blooded. Fire Vein. Straight-backed, proud, already judging me with her arms crossed like she's posing for a stained-glass window.
✦ Selis Virein
Scholar tactician. Never smiles. Eyes like scalpel steel. She's not looking at me — she's assessing me.
✦ Valeria Nightmoor
Shadow-dancer. Pure mystery. Leaning against the wall like she might stab me, seduce me, or nap. Possibly all three.
Great. It's the support group for People Who Regret Being Engaged to Me.
---
Selis speaks first.
"You disobeyed the Academy."
"You accessed a forbidden Codex."
"You broke a soulchain."
"You subdued an instructor ranked six tiers above you."
"...Are you malfunctioning?"
"If I am, at least I'm interesting now."
---
Eirene steps forward.
"I remember you crying the last time you were here."
"Good," I say. "That makes one of us."
---
Valeria raises a brow.
"Did you hit your head, Caius?"
"Repeatedly. But apparently that was the fix."
---
The room falls quiet.
Three glares.
Three unreadable expressions.
"If I die here, at least it'll be in good lighting."
---
Selis walks a slow circle around me.
"Your aura's changed. Not just stronger — it's... colder."
"You're wearing someone else's soul, aren't you?"
I stare back.
"No. Just finally fitting into mine."
Eirene scoffs.
"You're acting like you're some tragic antihero."
"Antihero's too generous. I'm more of a professionally disappointed ghost in a boy's body."
---
Valeria chuckles. Soft. Dangerous.
"I'll admit... it's more fun watching you now."
"Wasn't aware I was a spectator sport."
"You are when you're bleeding and stubborn. Which is always."
---
They expected me to beg.
To apologize.
To cry.
Instead, I stood tall and offered them something they never got from me before:
Distance.
Dignity.
Choice.
---
"I'm not here to change your minds," I say.
"I'm not here to chase your forgiveness.
Or ask for a clean slate."
"I remember what I was."
"I just stopped pretending I had to stay there."
---
That silences them.
Even Selis — who probably has a psychological profile of me hidden in her sleeve.
---
Eirene shifts her weight.
"You're still reckless."
"I know."
"Still arrogant."
"Growing on it."
"Still weak."
I grin slightly.
"Want to duel about it?"
---
She doesn't answer.
Which means… she's thinking about it.
---
Selis sighs.
"We'll be watching you."
"You always were."
Valeria gives me one last look — amused, curious, and dangerous.
"You're a new story now, Caius.
Let's see if I feel like reading it."
---
I turn and leave.
Door closes.
Silence.
"Could've gone worse."
Could've died.
Could've begged.
Instead, I walked out standing.
Void bless progress.