Chapter 23: Let Them Watch

Noah stepped out of the Practical Magic lecture hall, the sun shining down from the sky overhead. A breeze carried the scent of morning leaves and dry earth, but he barely noticed it. His mind was spinning. Rituals. He’d known they were important. Knew that they were the only way to climb from FFF to FF and beyond. But what he hadn’t known, what none of the summoning speeches or student briefings had told him, was just how complex they were. They weren’t just "cast a spell and get stronger." There were Ascension Rituals, designed to push a mage from one rank to the next. There were Enhancement Rituals, used to temporarily or permanently boost attributes like strength or agility. Even rarer and disgustingly expensive were Conversion Rituals, capable of altering affinities or fusing new elements into one’s magical core. Each had its own set of materials, conditions, time limits, and in some cases... environmental requirements. And that wasn’t even the worst of it. They were expensive. Insanely expensive. The stronger the ritual, the rarer the materials. Sometimes, the components weren’t just rare, they were nearly mythical. Shards of crystallized moonlight. Scales from dream serpents. Blood of beasts that only appeared during eclipses. Noah rubbed his temple. ’So much for just showing up and growing stronger.’ He hadn’t realized how much privilege was embedded into advancement. How many of the nobles probably already had vaults with most of what they needed, just waiting for them to rank up. And then there was that word. Monolith. It had come up at least three times during the class. Offhanded. Casual. As if it were something every kid knew about the same way he once knew what a shopping mall was. But he wasn’t from here. Still, he could guess. From the way the Professor had mentioned them, "certain ritual materials can sometimes be harvested from the Monoliths, provided you have the strength to clear them", he’d caught the tone. And the meaning. Monoliths weren’t towers or libraries. They were dungeons. Places filled with magical creatures and deadly traps. Places where students went to hunt, test themselves, and gather resources. Sometimes alone. Sometimes in groups. Always at great risk. But risk came with reward. And if the Monoliths held the materials for his ascension... then he’d have to go in. He didn’t have a noble house to buy his way forward. No network to fund his rise. All he had was his strength, his wits, and the will to climb higher than anyone else. As he walked across the courtyard, his eyes drifted to the horizon, past the trees that ringed the academy, to the mountains far beyond. ’If Monoliths are what I think they are...’ His fingers curled into fists. ’Then that’s where I’ll find the path forward.’ One ritual at a time. One monster at a time. Until no rank or gate could ever hold him back again. A voice broke through the spiral of his thoughts, jolting him back to reality. "Hey," Arlo said beside him, "we’ve got time before Enchantments starts. Both buildings are near each other, and near the cafeteria too. Wanna grab a snack?" Noah blinked, pulled from his thoughts. "Snack? We can get snacks?" Arlo chuckled, adjusting the blindfold over his eyes. "Yeah, just not for free. They’re not covered by our Stone-tier nameplates. You’ve gotta pay." Noah instinctively touched the pouch of gold coins nestled in his pocket. The one he’d taken from Damien Krell. He thought about it. He could probably afford it. A snack wouldn’t put much of a dent in it. But then again... he didn’t know how much ritual materials cost yet. He didn’t know how long he’d have to make those coins last. As if sensing his hesitation, Arlo grinned. "Don’t worry, I’ve got it. My treat." Noah looked at him, raising a brow. "Didn’t take you for the generous type." "I’m not." Arlo said with a wink. "I’m just curious how many pastries it’ll take to make you spill your secrets." Noah shook his head, but said nothing. They made their way toward the cafeteria. The campus was still busy with students heading to and from class, but the moment the two boys entered the cafeteria, a shift ran through the air. Heads turned. Voices rose. Whispers hissed like sparks across dry grass. "That’s him." "Yeah, that’s the one fighting Ben later." "Noah Webb, right? The one with the FFF-rank and the Fireball?" "Didn’t he win a B-rank spell token already?" "And I heard he beat Damien Krell. That guy’s got E-rank spells!" "I heard he roasted him." "Heard he barbecued him." "Ten silver says Ben wins anyway. A-rank spells are no joke." "You’re crazy. How long can a FFF-rank student use an A-rank skill? I’ll take that bet." Noah and Arlo walked straight through the chatter, heading to the snack line. Arlo turned slightly, smirking. "So? How does it feel? The eyes. The rumors. Your new popularity." Noah shrugged. "Let them watch." "Seriously?" "I want them to see it with their own eyes. I want them to see what happens when someone from Stone tier doesn’t bow." Arlo nodded slowly, impressed. "That’s either really noble... or a little unhinged." Noah chuckled. "Maybe it’s both." They reached the front of the line. Arlo paid without blinking, buying two steaming meat buns and a pair of chilled fruit flasks. The cafeteria worker looked surprised, but said nothing. They found their usual table in the corner, quiet, near the windows, away from the more expensive booths in the Gold and Silver sections. Noah sat, taking a bite out of his bun. It was spiced, warm, and better than anything he expected the school to serve. "Alright," Arlo said through a mouthful of bread, "I’ll admit it. The snacks are worth the gold." Noah gave a small hum of agreement. The whispers hadn’t stopped. Some students still glanced over at them, eyes flicking between awe, curiosity, and doubt. Twenty minutes till the next class. Twenty minutes before another lesson, another climb. And several hours before a duel that a third of the school would be watching. Noah leaned back in his chair. He wanted them there. All of them. Let them see the outcome. Let them witness what happens when the ones they threw at the bottom started to rise.