Morning dawned bright over the Royal Academy courtyard, but the brightness did little to calm the chaos Lucien had prepared. Floating platforms whirled like caffeinated hummingbirds, elemental nodes zipped unpredictably, and a single fire node hovered suspiciously close to a crate of… oddly enchanted muffins.
Lucien reclined atop his golden chair, teacup in hand, swirling tea with the casual air of someone watching a trainwreck while holding a front-row ticket. "Ah… Adept IV. Chaos, rivalry, comedy, and potential property damage. The perfect combination."
Rorio, sprawled lazily at his side, licked his paw. "Mostly chaotic. Slightly delicious. Excellent ratio. When do we eat?"
"Soon, dear scholar," Lucien said with a smirk. "First… watch the stage."
Darius stood at the edge of the courtyard, his frost mana shimmering like frozen glass. Unlike the previous day, he wasn't just precise—he was calculating, plotting. Lucien's lips twitched. "Ah… the iceberg awakens. Excellent."
Ryn Althas lingered on a nearby platform, observing with calm curiosity. "He's… more dangerous than yesterday," he murmured. His gaze flicked to Aria, who glared at Darius like she wanted to spontaneously combust.
Lucien chuckled. "Danger and rivalry make comedy sharper. Watch closely, Ryn."
Rorio barked. "Mostly dangerous. Slightly heroic. Excellent snack ratio."
Lucien snapped his fingers. The courtyard erupted into motion:
Fire nodes bounced unpredictably off platforms.
Wind currents twisted in new, absurd patterns.
Ice shards darted like hyperactive needles.
Floating crates with snacks became hazards in their own right.
Kellen immediately flipped off a rogue water bubble, landing squarely in Myra's swirling wind. Myra spun with grace, then stumbled into an ice shard, which harmlessly nicked her hair—sending a small shock through her as sparks of mana fizzled.
Aria, flames flickering along her fingers, lunged at a fire node… only for Darius to freeze it mid-air, sending her skidding backward into the path of a rotating wind tornado.
"Perfect," Lucien murmured, sipping his tea. "Chaos, embarrassment, and laughter: the essence of growth."
Rorio barked. "Mostly hilarious. Slightly terrifying. Snack ratio: critical."
Ryn moved with calm efficiency, deflecting hazards, stabilizing platforms, and occasionally… deliberately nudging Aria out of danger in ways that made her blush without realizing it.
Aria huffed. "I don't need your help!"
Ryn smirked. "Of course not. But chaos is easier when you don't die."
Lucien clapped slowly. "Ah… subtle camaraderie amidst chaos. Excellent comedic timing. And… hints of sparks. Observe, Rorio."
Rorio tilted his head. "Mostly sparks. Slightly flammable. Excellent snack ratio."
The iceberg, otherwise known as Darius, finally made his move. A massive ice wall surged from the ground, splitting the courtyard in half and sending several floating platforms careening into each other.
Lucien's eyes sparkled. "Ah… escalation! Perfect! The villain finally asserts himself. This… this is entertainment."
Rorio barked. "Mostly villainous. Slightly exciting. Snacks later?"
Kellen flailed atop a spinning platform. "I just… I just don't want to die!"
Myra sighed, adjusting her wind currents to stabilize the chaos. "It's never not dangerous here."
Aria's flames flared, shooting toward Darius. "Ice cube, you are so going down!"
Darius blocked effortlessly, smirking coldly. "Predictable, but amusing."
Lucien chuckled softly. "Amusing… indeed. And now… the final ingredient: suspense."
Lucien raised his teacup dramatically. "Let's see… what happens when we remove all safety nets."
With a snap, all floating platforms began spinning wildly, hazard nodes accelerated, and several fire, wind, and ice nodes combined into chaotic collisions that threatened to engulf the courtyard.
Even Ryn, normally composed, raised an eyebrow. "He's… taking it too far."
Darius' eyes glinted. "Finally… the chaos I've been waiting for."
Lucien's smile widened. "And now… the stage is set. Tomorrow… we will find out who thrives, who falls, and who ends up covered in enchanted muffins."
Rorio barked eagerly. "Mostly suspenseful. Slightly explosive. Excellent snack ratio. Will anyone survive?"
Lucien sipped his tea, eyes glinting with amusement and a hint of malice. "Survive? Perhaps. Entertained? Absolutely. And as for the prophecy… Ryn, Darius, Aria… their threads are about to tangle in ways none of them expect."
Above the academy, faint black mana shimmered ominously, spiraling toward the courtyard like a predator circling its prey.
Lucien leaned back, golden tea swirling in his cup. "Ah… Adept IV. Chaos, comedy, rivalry… and the faintest whisper of destiny. Let's see who laughs last."
Rorio wagged his tail. "Mostly cliffhanger. Slightly terrifying. Snack ratio: uncertain. Excellent ratio."
The courtyard fell into tense, chaotic silence, broken only by the occasional pop of fire or crackle of ice.
And for the first time, even Lucien's eyes held a glimmer of anticipation.