Chapter 274: Back In The Nocturne Family Mansion (Golden Ticket 2/3)

Words : 1083 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

Chapter 274: Back In The Nocturne Family Mansion (Golden Ticket 2/3) Ethan stepped back from the scanning ring, eyes still locked on the flickering screen even as the system powered down. The red text hadn’t disappeared right away—it lingered for a few seconds longer, pulsing once more as if to be sure he saw it, then faded entirely, leaving behind a blank interface and a heavy silence that weighed more than any words could. He didn’t need to turn to know that the entire room was watching. No one said anything, but he could feel it—quiet glances from students who didn’t want to get involved, mixed with curiosity, uncertainty, and maybe a little unease. They’d all seen it. Whatever that system detected, or didn’t detect, wasn’t normal. Everly leaned in from her row just behind him, her breath brushing lightly against his neck as she spoke low. "So... that’s not normal, right?" Ethan didn’t move. "No idea," he muttered. But even to himself, his voice didn’t sound like it usually did. Not sharp. Not grounded. It was more like someone who had just stepped onto unfamiliar ground and hadn’t quite found their balance yet. Evelyn, who had barely blinked through the entire scan, was still watching the spot where the display had been. She hadn’t pulled out a tablet or taken notes. She didn’t need to. The way her mind worked, if she saw something once, it stayed. And the expression on her face didn’t show concern—it showed thought—quiet, deep calculation. Ethan didn’t ask questions. And no one else dared to. Not with that kind of system message still echoing in their heads. — Their next class of the day brought something different. Not easier exactly, but less personal. Tactical Holography and Team Simulations. It was the kind of class where everything had clear outcomes: execute a plan, adjust your strategy, and survive the scenario. There were no bloodline scanners or strange red alerts. Just a digital battlefield and the expectation to function like a team. The classroom itself was a descending amphitheater, five tiers surrounding a glowing hex-grid field at the center. Mana runes shimmered across the floor like a living map, constantly shifting to simulate new terrain layouts and structural conditions. Projection barriers could be raised or collapsed, and illusionary opponents created just enough tension to keep people sharp. You didn’t relax in a place like that, but at least you knew what kind of pressure you were dealing with. Their team was randomized by system protocol. Ethan. Evelyn. Everly. There were three more students: a South Coast ice user named Tael, who had a sharp jawline and a colder attitude; a mid-ranked sensor student named Yulan, who carried his equipment like it weighed nothing; and a quiet defense-type girl with a towering frame who introduced herself only as Brell. They barely had time to exchange nods before the side door slid open with a quiet hiss. Sera Valcrest walked in. She didn’t speak right away. She didn’t need to. Her presence alone sent a shift through the room—subtle but total. She wore light field armor over her standard academy uniform, a crimson-edged badge with silver inlay clipped neatly to her shoulder. She took a long glance across the classroom. Then folded her arms and said, evenly, "You’re being evaluated." That was it. And somehow, that was all it took for the room to fall into complete silence. Moments later, the first scenario loaded: urban environment, low visibility due to mana-fog, multiple exits, and one target to extract. Distortion fields layered over alley structures made orientation difficult, but the mission was clear. Ethan didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, took the lead, and coordinated their team’s position with barely a word. Evelyn adjusted their movement angles, scanning for patterns in the fog distortions. Everly set up distraction pulses along the far route, drawing away several false-flag targets. Their execution wasn’t flawless, but it worked. They reached the objective and extracted the civilian with zero casualties. The next scenario was faster and harder. It involved a warped terrain overlay, partial map data, unknown enemy numbers, and three team members who were marked as "wounded" from the start. The grid shifted beneath their feet—uneven sloping ground with slick mana layers that made balance an issue. Early on, Yulan’s sensors jammed, leaving a hole in their awareness zone. Brell rotated forward without being asked, placing herself in the line to absorb incoming force. Tael iced one flank, Evelyn changed position mid-route to shore up their backline, and Everly used a feint maneuver to draw the simulated hostiles to higher elevation. They got through. Battered, disoriented, but alive. When the scenario ended, Sera Valcrest walked across the hex-grid field. She didn’t look at everyone—just their group. She stopped directly in front of Ethan. "You’re not average," she said. The tone wasn’t harsh. It wasn’t soft either. It was the kind of voice that had already decided something and didn’t need to explain it. "Stop acting like it." Then she turned and left without another word. The door closed behind her with a soft click. Ethan stood there, unmoving. He wasn’t tense. Wasn’t even confused. Just quiet. Because that strange thing—whatever had been stirring in his chest earlier—was back. And this time, it didn’t fade. It settled into his ribs like something waking up for good. — Far away, the Nocturne mansion remained still beneath the warm afternoon sun. Rays filtered in through high windows lined with sheer curtains, casting golden ribbons across the polished floors of the upper parlor. The air smelled faintly of dried citrus peel, polished wood, and something older—a scent like old incense that lingered in the corners of old halls and private temples. Lilith sat reclined near the center of the room, posture relaxed but poised, her silver-white hair loosely draped over one shoulder. One hand rested on a porcelain cup. She hadn’t sipped from it in a while. To her right, Isabella lounged sideways in an armchair, one leg dangling off the edge, flipping a blade between her fingers out of habit. Seraphina sat proper and clean-cut on the far sofa, reading a slim report across a glass display. Liliana stood beside the window, watching the grounds below without speaking.Correct content is on . Then came a knock. Soft. Polite. But with weight. Elowen stepped in. Barefoot, as always. A sage-colored dress whispered against the floor behind her. In her arms, she carried a small wooden box—unmarked but unmistakable.

Chapter 274: Back In The Nocturne Family Mansion (Golden Ticket 2/3)

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