Music still echoed through the ballroom.
Glasses of enchanted wine shimmered.
Laughter and chatter of young nobles filled the air…
But Alexa sensed something was wrong.
A subtle magical aura moved between the shadows of the pillars.
And for some reason, Thalionric's gaze had never left her.
> "Dance with me, Alexa?"
That voice made several noble girls nearby turn in surprise.
The Crown Prince—openly inviting the southern duchess to dance.
Highly unusual.
> "I thought the Crown Prince preferred solitude," Alexa replied softly, even as he took her hand.
> "And I thought you preferred not being noticed," he answered just as gently.
They moved to the center of the dance floor.
Their movements were elegant… yet charged with tension beneath the surface.
> "You're hiding something," Thalionric murmured.
> "So are you, Your Highness."
> "It's dangerous to keep too many secrets in a kingdom like ours."
> "Then are you dancing with me to reveal them… or to conceal your own?"
Thalionric only gave a slight smile. But before he could answer—
BOOM.
A magical explosion sounded outside the hall.
Silence.
Then—screams.
> "Monsters!! At the academy gates!!"
A guard flew through the main doors, bloody and wounded.
Black mist began seeping into the ballroom.
From within the fog—dark creatures with glowing red eyes, fangs, and clawed limbs began crawling in.
> "Protect the noble students!" shouted one of the professors.
Alexa raised her hand on instinct.
Ice spread across the floor, forming a crystalline barrier.
But the creature tore through part of it.
Seraphina screamed and fell.
Liora tried to summon illusions to hide the students, while Eiden—stood behind Alexa, his mist magic clouding the monster's view.
> "These aren't normal beasts," Eiden whispered. "Their dark aura… it's unnatural."
Thalionric was already by Alexa's side, his magic sword drawn—
A golden blade engraved with the Arelthia crest, glowing brightly.
> "This is dark magic," he said grimly. "A black mage… may have infiltrated."
> "Why here? During a welcome ball?" Alexa asked quickly.
> "Because you're here," Thalionric whispered. "Or… because I am."
One monster managed to leap past the magical barrier, lunging directly at Alexa—
But before it could strike—
The spirit of House Zevarelis awakened.
A shimmering ice dragon emerged behind Alexa, its scales made of crystal frost. Its translucent blue wings spread wide. Its glowing eyes burned with power.
One breath of freezing mist—
The monster froze solid, cracked… and shattered into icy shards.
Everyone who saw it—stood stunned in awe.
> "That… that's the water dragon spirit…"
> "House Zevarelis truly cannot be underestimated…"
---
After the attack was repelled and the monsters vanished, the academy began evacuating students immediately.
But in a secret chamber behind the ballroom—
Lady Miraven, Thalionric, Alexa, and Eiden gathered.
> "Those monsters weren't sent by just any mage," said Miraven firmly.
"They bore a magical seal from outside Solveria…"
> "There's a traitor inside our walls," Thalionric said quietly.
> "And that person knows… exactly who their real target is."
Alexa looked at them all. Not afraid.
But resolute.
> "If they're after me… then let them come."
---
🌙 To Be Continued...