Chapter 83 Set up

Words : 1271 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

The evening had settled over the academy like a heavy blanket, bringing with it a chill that made Noah pull his blazer tighter around himself as he walked. The path to the elite dormitory was well-lit but quiet, most students already settled in for the night. Unlike the general housing areas with their utilitarian design, the Top 25 residence stood apart – a testament to excellence with its modern architecture and subtle security measures. The building's entrance recognized his student ID, allowing him access to an interior that immediately spoke of privilege. Polished floors, elegant furnishings, and most notably, silence. No roommates arguing about bathroom schedules here, no shared spaces cluttered with multiple personalities. Just pure, focused excellence. Following directions from a helpful junior, Noah found himself at Lucas's door. Before he could knock, it swung open to reveal the academy's number one student already shrugging on a jacket. "Perfect timing," Lucas said, stepping out and locking his door with a palm print. "Come on. We need somewhere private." They made their way to the roof access, climbing stairs that seemed to echo with each step. The rooftop offered a stunning view of the academy grounds, the various training facilities and academic buildings spread out below them like a miniature city. The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of autumn. Lucas walked to the edge, his stance casual but his energy anything but. "Did you do it?" Noah blinked, caught off guard by the direct question. "Did I do what?" "Micah." Lucas's voice was flat, controlled. "Micah Reeds. Number 5." The name alone made Noah's jaw tighten. Micah Reeds – the suspected source of Commander Albright's suspicions, the thorn in his side he'd been trying to ignore. But... "I haven't seen him since The Rave. What about him?" Lucas turned, his expression grim in the moonlight. "He's in trouble. Serious trouble." He paused, seemingly weighing his next words. "The night we were at The Rave, the academy conducted a raid on his room. They found... something. Something that could get him dishonorably discharged at best, persecuted at worst." Noah's mind raced. "What did they find?" Lucas's jaw tightened, his reluctance to answer obvious in the way he shifted his weight. The silence stretched between them like a physical thing. "What could they possibly have found that would warrant such extreme measures?" Noah pressed, frustration creeping into his voice. "And if it's that serious, why isn't the whole academy talking about it?" "It's being kept quiet because of the nature of what they found," Lucas replied, his words careful and measured. "The implications..." Noah shook his head, tired of the cryptic dance. "Lucas, what exactly was in his room?" A heavy sigh escaped Lucas as he ran a hand through his hair. "I can't tell you the specifics. Not this one. But if you want a hint – it's one of humanity's best-kept secrets. They found it on his computer." From the shadows of a nearby hedge, a figure emerged – a blonde girl moving with an unsettling combination of childlike skipping and predatory grace. Her hands were clasped behind her back, and something about her smile seemed just slightly... wrong. "Oh, hello," Sophie said, her tone suggesting she was addressing a mildly amusing street performer rather than someone who had just demonstrated telekinetic abilities. "How may I help you?" The floating hat drifted back to the girl, settling perfectly on her head at an angle that cast shadows across her face. Despite this, Sophie could see the girl's smile widen – not quite reaching her eyes. "I know what you did," the girl said, her voice carrying a sing-song quality that made the hairs on Sophie's neck stand up. "To my sweet, sweet, innocent Noah. You corrupted him with your... presence." She spat the last word like it was poison. Sophie's lips curved into an amused smile. "Cute," she said, examining her manicured nails with deliberate casualness. "And what exactly did I do to Noah?" 'Well, well,' Sophie thought, maintaining her composed exterior. 'A first-year boy causing this much drama?' The last time she'd seen anything like this was when Lucas Grey first arrived – all sharp cheekbones and sharper talent, leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake. But that seemed like ancient history now. The blonde girl – Lila, began to circle her like a deranged ballerina, each step precise yet somehow wrong. "You think you're so special," Lila continued, her voice fluctuating between sweet and venomous. "With your fancy name and your expensive car and your perfect hair. But you don't deserve him. You don't understand him like I do." Sophie watched her with the kind of detached interest one might show a moderately entertaining street performance. "Honey," she said, infusing the word with just enough condescension to sting, "if you're trying to threaten me, you might want to work on your delivery. The unstable schoolgirl act is a bit... predictable." Lila stopped her circling, head tilting at an unnatural angle. The floating smoothie drifted to her hand, and she took a deliberate sip through the straw. "Oh, I'm not threatening you, Sophie Reign," she said, her voice suddenly clear and sharp. "I'm just letting you know that when it all falls apart – when Noah realizes what kind of person you really are – I'll be there to pick up the pieces. And trust me," her smile turned razor-sharp, "it will fall apart." "I'll tell you a little secret of mine. You know what happens to pretty things that get in my way, Sophie Reign?" Her voice dropped to a whisper that seemed to chill the air itself. "They tend to... disappear. Just like that." She snapped her fingers, and somewhere in the darkness, a branch cracked with a sound like breaking bones. "And the funny thing is..." her eyes gleamed with something that wasn't quite sanity, "no one ever finds them. Not even pieces." "I protect what is mine, Sophie or is it Sophiaa?" She said with a maniacal chuckle. "...Fiercely!!" She yelled at the top of her voice all of a sudden. "He may not know it, but I will always have his back. Always protect him," With that, Lila skipped away into the darkness, Sophie's smoothie still in hand, humming a cheerful tune that somehow made the whole encounter even more disturbing. The killing intent that had been radiating from her moments before vanished as if it had never existed, replaced by an almost childlike joy. Sophie watched her go, maintaining her posture of casual indifference until the blonde disappeared from sight. Only then did she allow herself a small frown. 'Noah Eclipse,' she thought 'you certainly come with interesting baggage.' The night seemed to have gotten colder, but Sophie Reign walked the rest of the way to her hostel with her head high, her steps never faltering. After all, she hadn't gotten to where she was by letting little girls with telekinesis and obsession issues intimidate her. Still, as she swiped her key card at the hostel entrance, she made a mental note to look into this blonde girl more thoroughly. It wasn't the threats that bothered her – it was the way the girl's eyes had seemed completely disconnected from her smile. Some people were dangerous because they were powerful. Others were dangerous because they were crazy. The truly dangerous ones were both.

Chapter 83 Set up

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