Chapter 42: Let’s Go Ruin Someone’s Day

Noah walked through the quiet halls of the dorm building, his satchel slung over one shoulder and his thoughts a storm of calculations and possibilities. What he’d seen and overheard in the library played again and again in his mind. Leo Hargreaves, scheming. Galahad, blackmailed. An illegal trip into an E-rank monolith on the seventh day. He reached his door, unlocked it, and pushed it open. Arlo was already there, lounging on Noah’s bed with a book resting on his chest like he owned the place. He looked up from the pages, his blindfold as pristine as ever. "Welcome back." Arlo said with a lazy grin. "Still got two hours before our glorious expedition into the wild skies to murder helpless birds. You ready?" Noah dropped his satchel onto the table with a tired grunt. He didn’t even bother asking how Arlo had gotten in. Between him and his cousin, Juniper, personal boundaries apparently didn’t exist. Instead, Noah turned and leaned on the desk. "Arlo," he said, "would you want to clear a monolith with me?" Arlo immediately sat up straight. "What rank?" "E." "Who else is going?" Noah crossed his arms. "Leo Hargreaves. Two of his lackeys. And Galahad." Arlo whistled, tilting his head. "The Galahad?" "Yeah." A long pause followed, Arlo’s expression unreadable beneath the strip of cloth over his eyes. Then he gave a single nod. "Alright. I’m in." Noah raised a brow. "Just like that?" Arlo stood, dusting off his pants. "I might find something useful for my advancement. Worst case, I sell whatever we kill. Gold’s gold." He paused, then added with a smirk, "Plus, I’d love to see Leo’s face when we walk in." "About that," Noah said, standing upright. "We’re not part of the group yet." Arlo blinked. "We’re not?" "Nope. But we’re going to be." A grin stretched across Arlo’s face. "Oh?" "We’re going to blackmail Leo." Arlo’s smile grew wider. "I love it." Noah grabbed his coat. "We should go now. Get it done, then lunch. Then bird hunting." "Perfect plan." Arlo said, already halfway to the door. "Let’s go ruin someone’s day." Noah and Arlo stepped outside the room with matching grins, making their way outside into the open air. The soft sunlight bathed the campus grounds as they made their way towards the second-year male dorm for Silver-tier students. Compared to their own dorm, this one looked like it belonged in a different world. The building rose higher, built from the same polished white stone that most of the academy buildings were made of. The windows gleamed like they were being polished every twelve hours, and flowerbeds lined the path leading to the entrance. It was like a palace made for noble scions and highborn heirs. Noah narrowed his eyes at the luxury, saying nothing. Arlo, beside him, whistled low. "Someone’s tuition money is getting rinsed properly." He said. At the doors, they spotted a student walking out. He was tall, wearing a silver-trimmed uniform and carrying a book under one arm. Noah stepped forward. "Hello." He said politely. "We’re looking for Leo Hargreaves. Do you know where his room is?" The student looked them up and down, his eyes landing on the dull stone-colored trim of their uniforms. There was a flicker of amusement in his gaze, but he shrugged. "Third floor." He said. "End of the hall. Right side." Noah nodded in thanks, and the boy walked off without another word. They entered the dorm and stepped onto the floating lift pad near the stairwell. The enchantments flared to life beneath their feet, and with a soft hum, the lift carried them upward. The ride was smooth, swift, and completely silent. On the third floor, they stepped off and started toward the end of the hall. Halfway there, a second-year student stepped into their path. His eyes narrowed as he noticed their uniforms. "What are Stone-tier rats doing here?" He said, voice in a growl. "Are you bringing your filth into Silver territory now?" Noah stayed quiet, but Arlo grinned, clearly amused. "Oh, we thought we’d drop by and contaminate the air." Arlo said. "Seems to be working." The second-year’s face twisted, and his hand moved toward the blade strapped to his waist, but then another voice interrupted. "Enough, Alen." Leo Hargreaves appeared from the room at the end of the hallway, hands in his pockets and a lazy smirk on his face. His glasses gleamed as he looked between Noah and Arlo. "What are you two doing here?" Noah stepped forward. "I’ve got private business with you." Leo raised a brow. "Private, huh?" Then he grinned wider. "Are you finally here to sell me that B-rank spell?" He stepped aside, gesturing to his open door. "Come on in. Let’s talk." Noah and Arlo walked down the hallway and stepped into Leo’s room with the same confidence they’d worn since leaving the Stone-tier dorm. The air inside the room was cool and smelled faintly of something citrus. The walls were painted a clean, elegant white, and the floors were polished stone with actual carpeting, which sat thick, plush, and a pleasant dark blue over the floor. There was a wardrobe bigger than the entire closet in Noah’s broom-closet room. Bookshelves filled with... well, books, lined one wall, and a small table was already set with refreshments, likely delivered by staff. It was the kind of room that screamed privilege. Noah wasn’t sure if this was how it is in all Silver-tier rooms, but he could admit that he wouldn’t mind living like this. Arlo walked to a chair near the table and plopped down, his blindfold tilting slightly. "Not bad." He said. "I could get used to this." Leo didn’t sit. He stood by the desk, hands in his pockets, that same smug grin pasted on his face. "Well? How much do you want for the B-rank spell?" He asked. "What affinity is the spell in? That would... affect the price." "We’re not here to sell any spells, Leo." Noah said. "Then, why are you here? What do you want?" Leo asked, a slight frown appearing on his face. Noah folded his arms, grinning darkly. "We want in."