Cedric's Sudden Realization
The memory of the golden mask and the Black Owls gnawed at Cedric's mind like a persistent shadow. His fingers clenched around the black feather in his pocket, its edges sharp against his skin.
If they came for me… they might come for Aveline too.
The thought struck him like a bolt of lightning.
Without hesitation, he broke into a sprint, his boots pounding against the cobblestone pathways of the academy. Students yelped and jumped aside as he barreled past, his dark cloak billowing behind him. The female dormitory loomed ahead, its ivy-covered walls glowing faintly under the afternoon sun.
She has to be safe. She has to be.
Aveline's Room – The Tsundere's Wrath
Cedric didn't bother knocking. He threw open the door to Aveline's quarters with enough force to rattle the hinges.
Aveline, who had been in the middle of polishing her sword, Stormfang, nearly dropped it in surprise. Her silver eyes flashed with fury as she whirled on him.
"Cedric! What in the seven hells are you doing—"
Her words died as she took in his expression—his breath ragged, his dark eyes wild with urgency.
For a moment, silence stretched between them.
Then Cedric's shoulders slumped.
"…Nothing."
Aveline's eyebrow twitched.
"You barged into my room like a deranged bull and have nothing to say?"
Cedric rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling foolish. "I just… wanted to make sure you were alright."
Aveline's cheeks flushed pink. She turned away sharply, her long silver hair swaying. "Idiot. I don't need you checking on me. I'm the heir of the Leonheart family—I can handle myself."
Cedric smirked. "Right. My mistake."
He turned to leave, but not before catching the faintest hint of a smile tugging at Aveline's lips.
Tsundere.
Vivienne & Luna – The Teasing Duo
As Cedric stepped into the hallway, he nearly collided with two figures.
"Oh my~ If it isn't my darling Cedric!"
Vivienne, the academy's most notorious flirt, fluttered her long lashes at him. Her crimson lips curled into a mischievous smirk as she twirled a lock of her golden hair around her finger.
"If you wanted to meet me, you should've just said so~" she cooed, leaning far too close for comfort.
Beside her, Luna crossed her arms, her muscular frame towering over both of them. Despite her intimidating build, her emerald eyes softened as they landed on Cedric.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," she said bluntly.
Cedric sighed. "Something like that."
Vivienne giggled. "Oh? Did our dear Aveline reject your heartfelt confession?"
"There was no confession," Cedric deadpanned.
Luna smirked. "Sure there wasn't."
Cedric groaned and pushed past them. "I don't have time for this."
Vivienne called after him, "Running away so soon? How cruel~"
Luna added, "Come find us later. We'll beat the stress out of you in the training yard."
Cedric didn't look back, but he couldn't help the small grin that tugged at his lips.
Those two are going to be the death of me.
Headmaster Orlan – Fortifying the Academy
Cedric didn't stop until he reached the grand doors of the headmaster's office. Without waiting for permission, he strode inside.
Headmaster Orlan, an elderly man with a long white beard and piercing blue eyes, looked up from his desk. His expression was unreadable, but the air around him hummed with latent power.
"Cedric," he said calmly. "To what do I owe this… energetic visit?"
Cedric wasted no time. He slammed the black feather onto the desk.
"The Black Owls are inside the academy."
Orlan's gaze darkened.
For the next hour, Cedric recounted everything—the assassins, the golden mask in the village, the corrupted monsters. Orlan listened in silence, his fingers steepled beneath his chin.
When Cedric finished, the headmaster exhaled slowly.
"This is worse than I feared."
He stood, his robes rustling as he moved to the window overlooking the academy grounds.
"Effective immediately, I will reinforce the barrier around the academy. No one enters or leaves without my direct permission."
Cedric nodded. "What about the students? If the Black Owls are already inside—"
"Then we root them out," Orlan said, his voice like steel. "But quietly. Panic will only make this worse."
Cedric clenched his fists. "Understood."
Orlan turned back to him, his gaze piercing. "And Cedric? Watch your back. If they marked you once, they'll do it again."
Cedric smirked, though there was no humor in it. "Let them try."