Chapter 67 Fool's game

Words : 1836 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

He gave into the anger. He had to at least have a word with Micah before he could settle down. Noah stood outside the towering gates of the top 25 student dorm area, eyes scanning the surroundings. The special dorms were built with extra security, finer furnishings, and a general sense of exclusivity. The students who lived here weren't just any year three students—they were the top of the academy, the elite, the ones who'd earned their positions through sheer skill, ruthless determination, and, often, power. His stomach twisted. Micah Reed, ranked number five, was probably holed up inside one of those rooms right now, blissfully unaware of the storm Noah was about to bring.@@@@ 'Should I confront him directly?' Noah wondered. 'He's gotta know what I'm here for.' But the moment he thought about it, a rush of tension flooded him. Would Micah just deny it, laugh it off, and twist the truth? Maybe he'd even use this as an opportunity to make a deal with the higher-ups and throw Noah under the bus. The temptation to storm in there was almost unbearable, but he wasn't stupid. A direct confrontation wouldn't just make the situation worse—it could give Micah the perfect excuse to turn things around and make Noah's life even more hellish. And who knew how far he was willing to go to save his own skin? As he lingered by the gate, mulling over his next move, Noah spotted a girl walking past him, heading toward one of the rooms. His eyes narrowed instinctively, and his mind started to churn. The girl seemed to be around his age, a first-year from what he could tell. 'Who is she?' he thought, his gaze flicking to the dorm entrance. And then, as if the universe were mocking him, the door to the room opened. Micah—number five stepped out. His usually confident, aloof demeanor was even more smug as he greeted the girl and ushered her inside. Noah felt a wave of anger rise up in his chest, burning hotter with each second. 'Micah's here playing house while I'm facing war crime accusations?' His fists clenched. 'This bastard thinks he can just act like nothing's wrong while I'm getting thrown under the bus for trying to save his and everyone's ass?!' Without another thought, Noah turned to leave, rage bubbling in his chest, the weight of the situation making his decision for him. He needed to think. He needed to cool down, process this properly. But just as he was about to storm off, someone's presence halted him mid-step. Lucas Grey—number one. "Thought you'd be holed up somewhere, after what happened." The words stung more than Noah expected. The whole damn situation was so messed up that he didn't have the energy to be offended. Lucas knew too much. He'd been with Noah through thick and thin—fighting the Harbingers together, seeing the true extent of Noah's abilities, knowing he wasn't a first-generation student. And Lucas, being the quiet type, had kept that secret to himself, even after all the chaos. Noah remained silent, though. Lucas had kept his word about not revealing anything. But how much longer could that last? "I should've known I'd find you hanging around a place like this," Lucas continued, grinning as if nothing was wrong, his calm demeanor belied by the worry in his eyes. "You've got a thing for top-tier dorms now?" Noah didn't even respond. His focus was more on the other person accompanying Lucas—an unranked year 3 student, impossibly beautiful and blonde like something out of a modeling shoot. She looked effortlessly stunning, her long hair flowing, her posture graceful. She didn't even seem to notice Noah at first—at least not until she caught sight of him and threw an intrigued glance in his direction. Lucas noticed her distracted gaze and nudged her gently. "Hey, calm down. This is Noah Eclipse, the one who survived a category 3 beast attack on his first outing, remember?" Noah didn't even bother with a reply, eyes narrowed as he ignored the woman's curiosity. Another one of Lucas' fans, he thought bitterly. No time for this. He didn't need to waste his thoughts on some beauty pageant contestant right now. She raised an eyebrow, a slight smile pulling at the corner of her lips. "Ah, so you're the one with the reputation," she said, her tone a mix of curiosity and slight amusement. "Not bad for a first-year. I've heard all sorts of things." She paused, her gaze lingering on him, clearly expecting Noah to react. "Do you have something to say, or...?" Noah muttered, his voice more terse than he intended. He didn't have the time to entertain her right now, not with all the madness that was happening. Albright sighed, adjusting in his seat. "It's a misunderstanding. He's under suspicion of hiding abilities. We can't risk his actions going unchecked, not when his abilities could potentially endanger this entire academy." Miss Brooks's eyes narrowed even further. "You're telling me that a student you've known for how long—since his admission—could be hiding abilities? You don't believe that, Commander. And you know it." Her voice dropped, just enough to carry weight. "I think it would be best if you left the boy alone." She leaned forward, her gaze now unwavering. "Certain students should be avoided, even by a commander like yourself. You don't want to cross the wrong people, Albright. You've been around long enough to know exactly what I mean." At this, Albright finally looked up, his face taut with frustration. He stood abruptly, leaning over his desk with his hands planted firmly on the wood, his knuckles white. "What are you implying, Miss Brooks?" His voice was tight, controlled but sharp. "What are you really suggesting here?" Miss Brooks didn't flinch. In fact, her lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. She rose from her seat slowly, walking toward the door, her gaze still fixed on Albright. "I'm suggesting that you might want to pay closer attention to the boy's name. Noah...Eclipse. You know what that means, don't you, Commander?" She gave him no time to respond. Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel and walked out, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. The door closed behind her with a soft thud, leaving Albright standing there, thoroughly confused. His mind whirred, trying to process the implications of her words. What was it about Noah Eclipse's name that triggered something in his gut? His brow furrowed as he walked over to the window, staring out at the sprawling academy grounds, lost in thought. Something wasn't right, but the pieces didn't quite fit. Not yet. ---- The night had descended on the academy, the air thick with an eerie stillness. Most students were already tucked away in their dorms, the quiet broken only by the occasional murmur of the wind. In a dark, shadowed alley at the farthest wing of the academy, Commander Albright stood with a cigarette in hand, his eyes narrowed as he watched the scene unfold before him. A student struggled against two hulking figures dragging him towards Albright. The student whose body was trembling was dragged forward by two hulking figures, the unmistakable build of third-year students. They were the kind of students whose size and demeanor made them seem almost like grown men, but they acted under orders without question. They threw the smaller figure down at Albright's feet with force, the student barely able to keep himself upright after the beating. His face was hidden beneath a rough burlap sack, only his ragged breathing and the sound of his foot shuffling on the ground betraying his panic. Albright took a long drag from his cigarette, the red glow briefly illuminating his stern features. He exhaled a cloud of smoke and looked down at the quivering figure with disgust. "You pathetic waste of space," he sneered, his voice cold as ice. "All you had to do was provide me with real information on Noah Eclipse. But no. You failed. You couldn't even do that. Now, because of you, I look like a damn fool!" His voice rose, frustration evident in every syllable. He spat on the ground, the anger burning just beneath the surface. "I ordered the kid's arrest today on a flimsy premise, no real proof, and you... you're the one who made me look like an idiot." The student, still unable to lift the sack from his head, whimpered. His voice cracked as he begged, "I'll... I'll do better, sir. I swear, next time, I'll get you what you want. Just—please—don't—" Albright raised a hand, cutting him off. His eyes glowed with cold authority as he leaned down. "What I want from you now is evidence. I want something concrete on Eclipse. Do you hear me? Not your worthless excuses. I want the truth. Get me something I can use, or next time, you won't leave this alley with just a few bruises. Understand?" The student nodded weakly, his whimpering stifled by the weight of his fear. Albright stood up straight, tossing his cigarette to the ground and grinding it beneath his boot. He began to walk away, his thoughts swirling with frustration and bitterness. As he moved through the alley, he couldn't shake the thoughts that had been gnawing at him all day. 'The Albright family has always been prestigious. My father was a respected figure, my grandfather a legend. I worked my way up to where I am now, earning the title of commander at this academy. But Adrian... my son... that boy is a disappointment. Class 1B, not 1A. What a disgrace to our name.' He clenched his jaw, his footsteps quickening with irritation. 'And now, someone like Noah Eclipse—a first-year—has the gall to rise above him? Eclipse, a first-year—someone beneath my son—outshining him in the eyes of everyone? They're treating him like he's more important than Adrian, like he's some sort of hero.' Albright's hands balled into fists at his sides as he continued walking. 'I won't let this boy eclipse Adrian's future. Adrian should be the one leading the academy, not some random nobody with a ridiculous name. They're treating Eclipse like he's the next big thing, but he's nothing. Just a fleeting star in the night. Adrian, however... Adrian will shine, and no one will take that away from him.' Albright's anger flared, his thoughts a swirling storm. 'Noah Eclipse won't outshine my son. I'll crush him if I have to. Adrian is meant for greatness, and no one—no one—will stand in his way.'

Chapter 67 Fool's game

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