Chapter 359 — Orientation I

The Great Hall of Stormhold Academy had never held this many people.

Hundreds packed the massive space. Students filled every available seat, pressed shoulder to shoulder in the aisles.

The energy and excitement crackling through the air felt electric.

Nearly a thousand new first-years had chosen Stormhold this year.

Most of them were commoners.

"Did you see the entrance exam rankings?" A girl with brown hair whispered to her friend, both wearing the crisp new uniforms that marked them as first-years. "Almost every commoner in the top two thousand applied here."

"That’s because of Damian Valcor." Her friend’s voice carried reverence mixed with fear. "The guy who fought seven demons and won. Who survived the Giants portal for two months and came out stronger. Who controls Tranquil City through the Mafia."

"The one who defeated all the Imperial heirs except Elizabeth Murdock."

"Don’t forget the revolutionary reforms. He actually gave commoners a chance."

A boy nearby leaned into their conversation, his voice dropping. "He survived another portal too. The ACC one where that president went crazy with the black cube. Led forty students out when two hundred ten died."

"He’s the Headmaster’s disciple."

"But he’s also..." The girl hesitated, looking around before continuing even quieter. "He’s the Monster... The one who ate the creatures inside that portal."

"..."

Silence fell across their little group.

Someone else spoke up, trying for casual and failing. "At least he’s on our side, right?"

"Is he though?" A Noble student turned from where he’d been eavesdropping. His expensive uniform marked him immediately. "The guy’s mind is fucked. Everyone knows that cursed art he uses is destroying his sanity. And his own adopted family doesn’t even acknowledge him properly."

"What do you mean?"

"Felix Onyx, Vice-Director of the Military Police, publicly acknowledged his granddaughter Luna Valcor. First-ranked student this year." The Noble’s smile was cruel. "But Damian? Nothing. Not a word... They know what he is."

Murmurs spread through the crowd, students processing implications.

"Luna Valcor though..." A different voice, thoughtful. "I heard her parents are big shots in the Military. Both returned to the northern frontlines recently... High-ranking positions."

"Makes sense. If Grandfather Felix acknowledged her publicly, her parents must be important as well."

"But still nothing about Damian."

"Because he’s a freak."

"Or because they’re afraid of what acknowledging him would mean."

****

Backstage

"This is a disaster."

Fiona kept pacing in the small space, her footsteps sharp against concrete. "Elizabeth’s not here. Damian’s not here. It’s been thirty minutes past–"

"And?" Edrin didn’t look up from the holographic display floating in front of him, numbers scrolling past too fast for most people to track.

"And?!" Fiona stopped mid-step. "There are a thousand students out there waiting!"

Crack

Ronan popped his knuckles one by one, the sound echoing off the walls. Scars webbed across his bronze hands, thicker than they’d been last year.

"Can you not?"

His grin was all teeth. "Getting nervous, Fiona?"

"I’m strategically concerned, which is different from–"

"That’s literally just being nervous."

Victoria watched from her spot against the wall, eyes half-closed. "Arguing about it won’t help."

"We’re not arguing, I’m simply–"

"Boss will arrive soon." Edrin’s voice cut through Fiona’s building frustration. "He was in Tranquil City handling something. He’ll make it."

"And if he doesn’t?"

Edrin finally looked up, glasses reflecting light, and said nothing. The certainty in his face answered for him.

Fiona threw her hands in the air. "You’re all completely insane."

Near the stage entrance, Ariana stood perfectly still with one hand resting on her katana’s hilt. She might have been a statue except for the way her eyes tracked every movement in the room.

"You know," Lysa said, nudging Zavier as they headed for the door, "when we got back from that portal, you disappeared for weeks into those forests without saying anything."

Zavier’s fingers stopped their drumming. His eyes found the wall and stayed there.

"Not even thank you." Her voice stayed soft but something sharper lived underneath. "Just... gone."

"Lysa, just drop it," Ariana said without turning.

"I wasn’t–"

"You saved his life... He knows it. We all know it." Ariana’s fingers shifted on her katana, barely a movement. "Some people just don’t know how to say thank you when they owe someone everything."

Zavier’s throat worked. He looked at Lysa then, actually looked at her, and whatever he saw made his face burn red before he jerked his gaze away.

Lysa’s breath caught.

Ariana glanced back at them, and her lips curved. "Although..." Her voice dropped into something almost playful. "If you two are going to keep dancing around each other like idiots, at least make it interesting."

"We’re not– there’s no–" Zavier stammered, words crashing into each other.

Lysa looked down, but her cheeks had gone pink.

"I’m just saying." Ariana’s tone went innocent in a way that meant trouble. "You’d be very suitable together. Both of you are terrible at emotional honesty."

"Ariana–"

"What? I’m being helpful."

Ronan barked out a laugh that rattled the walls. "Remember last year? Those council members looked like gods to me. Untouchable." His grin turned sharp. "Look at us now."

"They’re still strong," Lysa said quietly, grateful for the subject change. "We just got stronger too."

Victoria pushed off the wall and fell in beside Fiona as they moved toward the entrance. Her voice dropped low enough that only Fiona could hear. "Notice how they’re not worried?"

"Hard to miss." Fiona’s mind catalogued everything automatically. "After what they survived, this probably feels like nothing."

"It’s not just that." Victoria watched the way the Mafia members moved, the way they held themselves. "They’re different now... All of them."

Ariana reached the entrance first and turned back. "We’re Student Council members... All of us." She met each person’s eyes. "Time to act like it."

Ronan cracked his knuckles again, grin widening. "Fuck yeah."

They stood there for a moment, seven students who’d been nobody a year ago, about to walk out and face a thousand pairs of eyes.

Then Ariana pushed through the entrance and the others followed.

And Zavier, walking just behind Lysa, let himself look at her one more time before they stepped into the light.