"So," Evander said softly.
"Are you ready to hear the terms?"
Elion inhaled slowly, letting the storm inside him settle just enough to think clearly.
Then he spoke.
"Alright… I'll hear it. What are the terms of this 'opportunity' you're offering?"
Evander didn't smile.
He didn't lean back or relax. He simply shifted his clasped hands and leaned forward, elbows on the table.
"Good. Because this is not something to take lightly."
The room seemed to be still.
Even the other three disciplinary members straightened subtly.
"If you accept what I'm offering, you'll be under the Disciplinary Committee's wing—our protection, yes, but also our expectations."
His gaze didn't waver.
"We are the only student-run authority that even the nobles tread carefully around. We maintain order. We enforce rules. And we… cultivate potential when we see it."
At that, a faint glance passed between the other three, like they weren't surprised he'd taken an interest.
Evander continued.
"But this isn't charity. I am not taking in a stray because I feel sentimental. You will work for it."
"…Work how?"
"You'll train under us. You'll follow our directives. You'll accept tasks — some difficult, some dangerous. You'll be expected to improve rapidly and consistently."
He lifted one hand and pointed directly at Elion.
"You'll prove that you're worth the trouble of shielding."
The bluntness hit like a weight, but Elion didn't look away.
Evander's tone lowered, becoming edged with gravity.
"Because make no mistake, Elion Nova, the Dawncrests won't forget what happened today. They won't forgive it. And when their retaliation comes, they won't care about fairness or academy rules."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"If you want to survive that storm, truly survive it, you need strength, allies, and status."
Elion felt his heart clench.
Strength, he could chase that. Status, he could earn that. Allies, he had none strong enough to stand against a noble house.
Evander interlocked his fingers again.
"Join us… and we make you someone the Dawncrests have to hesitate before targeting. Someone who can stand on their own ground."
A brief silence settled.
Then Evander added, almost as an afterthought, but not really:
"Refuse… and we let the academy assign you a counselor, warn you to avoid conflict, and hope your luck holds. It won't."
The blunt finality of that sent a cold prickle up Elion's spine.
Evander's eyes held his.
"So, Elion Nova. You asked about terms. These are the terms: dedication, obedience, growth, and effort. In exchange, you get the chance to climb a mountain most students never even stand at the base of."
He leaned back at last, chair creaking.
"Do you accept the path… or not?"
The question lingered like a live ember in the room.
...
The door clicked shut behind Elion.
The room held its breath for a moment.
Then Celeste was the first to speak, arms crossed, her crimson eyes half-lidded in exasperation.
"Tell me, Evander… what was that?"
Evander didn't immediately answer.
He simply leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose like he'd just finished grading a stack of terrible exams.
"There are no such terms for joining the Disciplinary Committee. Not even close."
"I know." Celeste blinked once.
Her voice sharpened slightly, though it stayed calm. "So why did you lie to him?"
Evander shrugged. Actually shrugged, like he had just bent a rule in some harmless way.
"A bit of lying never harmed anyone."Celeste raised a brow.
Liora outright chuckled, leaning back with her boots propped on the edge of the oval table.
"Evander Kletis, moral paragon of the academy, lying to kids. Who would've thought?"
Cedric groaned and facepalmed deeper.
Evander ignored them, continuing: "Besides, it'll do him more good than harm. Someone like Elion… he needs pressure. Direction. A reason to grind his teeth and keep moving. A little motivation never hurt."
Celeste pinched the bridge of her nose this time. "You terrify people, you know that?"
"Only the ones who need it."
Liora's laughter grew louder.
Cedric muttered, "We're going to get audited for this…"
Evander finally allowed a small smirk.
"Relax. The boy has potential. Real potential. And if a stern speech pushes him onto the right path, then it's worth bending the script a little."
Celeste sighed, long, resigned, but not entirely displeased.
"You could've just asked if he wanted to join. Simple."
"And where's the drama in that?" Liora actually applauded.
Cedric made a noise like he was contemplating retirement.
Celeste stared at Evander for a long moment… then conceded with a reluctant shake of her head. "Just… don't scare him so much he runs to another committee."
Evander's eyes glinted.
"If he was going to run, he wouldn't have stayed in that room for as long as he did."
Silence lingered again, thoughtful this time.
Liora smiled. Celeste softened. Cedric sighed but didn't argue.
Evander glanced at the closed door.
"He is ours now."
....
Elion leaned his shoulder against the elevator wall as it hummed downward, the soft blue lights reflecting off the metal.
For the first time since stepping into the Disciplinary Committee room, he was alone, no oppressive aura crushing him, no probing questions, no bright, evaluating eyes.
Just silence.
And in that silence, his thoughts churned.
So… I'm really doing this.
Joining the DC. Standing against nobles. Painting a bright red target on his back.
He exhaled sharply.
He needed strength. Real strength.
Not the shaky, inconsistent progress he'd scraped together so far but the kind that could silence nobles, crush schemes, and shut down the Dawncrest family if it ever came to that.
I need System Points.
More than anything.
More than ever.
And there was only one reliable way he knew to get them… even if it was ridiculous, shameless, and something he would never admit out loud if asked.
His mind wandered.
Mira…That scheming, crafty vixen. Elion would be hard-pressed to believe a word she said. He would tell her what she wanted to hear, and for now, he intended to keep it at that.
She was a manipulative, scheming woman, and Elion knew it.
And then, there was Aria…
Her intensity, her affection, the fire behind her eyes, the softness she tried (and failed) to hide from him.
He rubbed his chin.
Who am I spending the night with…?
He actually hesitated between the two. Considered. Compared. Evaluated.
With Mira, he could do as he wished, even use her all night, toy with her, and he knew she would probably not complain.
A good point farm.
And Aria, she was the kind that needed him to be gentle and patient. At least the side of her he had seen.
Because, as much as she tried to hide it, he could see the furnace in her eyes, waiting to burn everything to the ground.
His thoughts churned.
Then, slowly, a thought surfaced.
Why not both?
He froze.
Then nodded to himself, very seriously, as if he'd just made a strategic decision in a war meeting.
Yes. Efficient. Good plan. Very good plan.
The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open.
The air shifted instantly, from quiet professionalism to the familiar dull hum of the first-year floors.
Rougher walls, more scuff marks, slightly flickering lights.
Home sweet home.
"Huh. Looks like lunch is still going," he murmured, stepping out.
The corridors were mostly empty, just a few stragglers chatting, one couple arguing, someone sprinting toward the bathroom like their life depended on it.
Normal and comforting.
Elion stretched, rolling his shoulders. The pressure from Evander's aura still lingered like there were weights on his back.
Food, he decided.Absolutely, food first.
And with that, he headed straight toward the cafeteria, stomach growling lightly.
"I'm starving…" he muttered, already imagining the first bite.