The hallway outside the library was dimly lit, the walls lined with trophies of the academy's past glories. Leaning against a bust of the First Founder was a girl who looked like she was carved from moonlight. She wore the same elite uniform as Arthur, but hers was modified with silver embroidery that indicated a high rank in the Astro-Divination Department.
Her hair was a deep, midnight blue, and her eyes—clear and silver—seemed to see through the walls, and perhaps, through Arthur's skin. Her name was Seraphina Frost, known as the "Ice Oracle."
"A beautiful performance, Arthur," she said, her voice like the chime of crystal bells. She didn't move, yet the air around her felt still, as if time itself was slowing down. "Leo is an idiot, but even an idiot can be dangerous when his pride is scorched. You didn't just insult him; you dismantled his ego."
Arthur stopped, his expression neutral. He didn't offer her the fake smile he gave the Director. Seraphina was too sharp for that. Instead, he maintained a cold, professional distance.
"Observation is a hobby of yours, I assume?" Arthur replied, his crimson eyes meeting her silver ones. "Or did the stars tell you that a 'Lightning Freak' would be entertaining today?"
Seraphina straightened up, walking toward him with a grace that suggested she wasn't entirely touching the floor. "The stars are silent about you, Arthur. That's what makes you interesting. In a world governed by fate and spiritual roots, you are a blind spot. A void."
She stopped just inches away, her scent—of winter air and old parchment—filling his senses. "I saw what you did to the heat. You didn't block it. You sent it somewhere else. That wasn't Lightning, and it wasn't a standard Earth-bound technique."
Arthur's heart slowed, a predatory calm settling over him. He could kill her here, but that would be messy. No, a mind like hers was a tool. Or a threat to be managed.
"You should be careful, Seraphina," Arthur whispered, leaning in just as he had with Leo, but without the malice—replaced instead by a terrifying, dark curiosity. "Looking too closely into a void is a good way to fall in. And I don't think even your 'Astro-Divination' can find someone once they are truly lost."
Seraphina didn't flinch. Instead, a small, genuine smile touched her lips. "Then it's a good thing I've never been afraid of the dark. I want in, Arthur. Whatever game you're playing with the dimensions... I want to see the end of it."
Arthur watched her for a long moment, calculating the risks. A partner with the gift of prophecy? Or a spy sent by the higher-ups? Either way, she was now on his board.
"The end isn't something you want to see, Seraphina," Arthur said, turning away. "But feel free to follow. Just try not to get stepped on."