"Who?" Jett asked again, brows drawn in confusion.

Rey finally turned his gaze on Goud, eyes cool, voice casual to the point of mockery. "He's the third prince of the Goudy Empire."

"Ohhh right, he's that guy we met when we first got here, yeah?" Jett tilted his head, almost fidgeting. "Damn… it's been a while. All kinds of surprises today."

Goud's eyes narrowed, venom flickering in his expression. But instead of answering Rey, he turned to Jett, his full attention zeroing in like a blade unsheathed.

"You're the real joke here," Goud said coldly. "All mouth, no magic. You've been hiding in Rey's shadow since the moment you stepped into Verena."

Jett's jaw tensed, 'The hell's he talking about? Rey?'

"You think throwing reckless spells and acting like a wild card makes you special?" Goud sneered. "You're just noise. A background character playing hero. Without him, you're nothing."

The crowd quieted. Whispers spread like wildfire.

Jett opened his mouth… but no words came out, 'I have no idea what this kid's talking about?'

And then, Rey stepped forward.

Just one step. Quiet. Deliberate.

But the effect was immediate. The tension thickened. Goud fell silent.

Rey wasn't smiling anymore.

"I'll stop you right there," he said, soft as a whisper, but heavy like thunder about to break.

"You're right, Jett struggles,"

'Hey!' Jett wanted to say out loud but stopped.

Rey continued. "He fails a lot. He makes a mess of things. But that's his fight, not yours to belittle."

Goud scoffed, but Rey kept going.

"You say he's hiding behind me?" His tone dropped lower. "No. He stands beside me. Always has. He's earned that spot. You don't get to talk like you understand anything from your little throne of mediocrity."

Jett's eyes widened. Even Freya glanced over, surprised. Morrigan paused mid-cast. Marcella tilted her head with a faint smirk.

"Acts like a prince when he wants to, huh?" Elora murmured with a smirk of her own.

"Should you really be getting distracted right now?" Aiden asked, stepping up beside her with folded arms. "Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't you cracked like six orbs already?"

Elora elbowed him in the ribs, cheeks flushing. "Shut it."

Back near the center, Goud's lips curled. "You think loyalty makes up for a lack of talent?"

Rey's reply was calm. "Who said he lacks talent? Jett's always had more mana than most mages dream of. He just never had to learn to control it because of his lazy attitude."

'Are you backing me up or badmouthing me? Chose one.' Jett though in annoyance.

He leaned in slightly.

"If we're really going to talk about being talentless, Goud… you'd be the one dragging his score down."

The crowd gasped.

Goud's face darkened. "You willing to stake your pride on that?"

"Absolutely," Rey replied without hesitation. "You want to bet?"

Goud's eyes glittered. "Fine. If he can't pass this simple exercise in a week, both of you run a lap around the academy. Naked."

A beat of silence.

"With underwear," Rey added smoothly, grinning. "I wouldn't want anyone traumatized from seeing you in that state when you lose."

Laughter rippled through the students. Even a few instructors hiding behind spell mirrors snorted.

Goud's face flushed red. He didn't reply. Instead, he turned on his heel and pushed his way through the crowd, disappearing into the sea of students like a stone sinking beneath a stormy tide.

Jett finally exhaled, his shoulders dropping. "What the hell was that…?"

Rey didn't look at him.

"There's no avoiding it now," he said, voice steely. "I'm going to drill this into you. You're passing this, no matter what."

Jett gave a low whistle. "Why do I feel like I just got caught in a war between two royal houses?"

He nodded once, eyes sharper than before. "Then I better start working harder."

"Damn right, there no way we're losing to him." Rey said with a grin tugging at his lips. "Because if I fail because of you…"

"You'll kill me. Yeah, yeah, I know."

*****

They were all crammed into Morrigan's room, books pushed aside, cushions scattered, and the faint scent of incense still lingering from whatever spell she'd been working on earlier.

She'd promised to help.

But Morrigan was quickly realizing that promise had been more trouble than she'd bargained for.

"This shouldn't be this hard," she muttered, rubbing her temples before speaking up. "You've both got plenty of mana. The issue isn't quantity, it's control. Just do the opposite of what you've been doing so far. Focus, and push it out in small, steady successions. Got it?"

She glanced between the two offenders seated cross-legged on the floor like scolded kids.

"I never thought you'd be in the same boat as me," Jett grumbled to Elora.

She groaned, clearly just as frustrated, "It's just super hard to control."

"That's what happens when your hot-headed sister treats spells like she's throwing explosive kunai instead of casting magic. No elegance. No restraint."

Aiden, lounging by the door like he owned the place, smirked and lifted his hand lazily, conjuring a flickering flame the size of a coin."

"Some of us make it look easy," he said with mock innocence, tossing the flame up and catching it casually. "Maybe you two should take notes."

The look Elora and Jett shot him could've ignited a small war.

"That's low, man," Jett hissed. "Even for you."

"You better figure it out soon," Aiden called, already stepping out with a chuckle. "Hehe. Before your orbs start exploding again."

"He's enjoying this way too much," Jett muttered, cheeks puffed.

"He's a dead man," Elora growled, mana flaring slightly in her palm.

"Please, focus," Morrigan sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose like she regretted every life choice that brought her here.

"Maybe you're just not explaining it well," Marcella offered casually from her bed. "Let me try."

She hopped off, bare feet barely making a sound on the stone floor. Standing in front of them, she took a deep breath, her voice lifting like a dramatic stage actress.

"First," she said, holding up a finger, "feel the mana in your body."

"Check," Jett muttered.

"Then push it out nice and firm…"

Elora raised an eyebrow. "We are trying, you know."

"…and BAM!!!" Marcella shouted, punching the air like she was casting a finishing move.

At the same time, a tiny orb of blood hovered smoothly above her open palm, rich crimson swirling like liquid glass.

"Hold it there," she added with a grin, "and tell it what to do. Like you're the boss. Command it. Like this...stay!"

The bloob floated obediently in place, shimmering slightly as if responding to her voice.

Jett blinked. "Did she just… train her magic like a puppy?"

Marcella's eyes sparkled. "Exactly. Then you just tell it to get bigger or smaller."

"You just casually put that out like it normally." Jett sighed in frustration, "There's no way anyone understood what you just said."

Morrigan sighed again. "We're doomed."Jett shivered slightly and turned to his side, only to freeze when he saw a perfectly-formed shard of ice floating calmly in Elora's palm, shimmering like crystal under the light.

"No way…" he whispered. "You actually got it?"

"It just… made sense when Marcella explained it," Elora said, her voice filled with awe. "Like I'd been trying to wrestle the mana into doing something, when all I had to do was talk to it."

Marcella beamed like she'd just been crowned queen. "That's how it's done. You're welcome. I expect full payment in compliments and desserts."

Morrigan groaned, massaging her temple. "I shouldn't even be surprised. Of course that explanation worked. You are the brute type after all."

Elora shrugged without shame. "I make it work."

Jett let out a long breath. "Great. Now I'm the only idiot still blowing things up."

"That's right." Morrigan pointed a finger at him. "Which means no sleep till you get it right."

"Oh joy," he muttered, flopping back against a pillow. "This is going to be a long night."

*****

Hours later…

The candles had long burned low, casting flickering shadows on the stone walls. Spell residue lingered in the air.

Jett lay sprawled out on the floor, arm flopped over his face.

Marcella was next to him, one hand still faintly glowing red, the other gripping a half-eaten piece of dried fruit.

Morrigan had collapsed with her book open on her chest.

All three of them, utterly drained.

The room was silent… until the door creaked open.

"Hey, is Jett in..." Freya's voice cut off.

She paused, hand on the doorframe, taking in the scene: one boy, two girls, all snoring lightly on the floor like the aftermath of a battlefield.

Her lips curved into a soft smile.

"…Seems like you're really working hard."

She raised her hand gently.

[Area Heal]

A soft glow spread across the room, warm, golden light wrapping around the trio like a blanket. Scrapes faded, stiff limbs eased, and peaceful expressions returned to their tired faces.

Freya walked over to Marcella and Morrigan first. She lifted them with her light magic, guiding them to their beds and tucking them in without waking them.

Then she turned to Jett.

He stirred a little as she gently floated him off the ground, hovering like a limp doll. "Mmm...I wasn't sleeping… just… meditating…"

"Sure you were," Freya whispered with a chuckle.

The sun was already rising, golden rays spilling into the hallway as she carried him out, down the corridor and back toward their room.

*****

Back in the dorm, Ella was sitting on the bed, legs swinging as she waited.

When Freya walked in, gently setting Jett down on his bed, the little girl blinked.

"Daddy's sleeping?" she asked softly.

Freya tucked the blanket up to Jett's chin, brushing the hair out of his face.

"Yes," she said gently. "Don't disturb him, okay?"

Ella nodded seriously.

"Okay. We're heading out now. Let's head to the library."

*

*

*

Wonder what she's going there to do.

乁⁠༼⁠☯⁠‿⁠☯⁠✿⁠༽⁠ㄏ