The ancient oak behind the east training grounds loomed dark against the twilight sky. I arrived early, scanning the area for potential threats before positioning myself with my back to the massive trunk. The enrollment ceremony had been predictably pompous—all grand speeches about tradition and excellence while conveniently omitting the Guild''s corruption and cruelty.


    I didn''t have to wait long. ise Rostova emerged from the shadows, his footsteps deliberately heavy to announce his presence.


    "Knight," he acknowledged with a curt nod.


    "Rostova," I replied, studying him carefully. "You''ve changed."


    A humorless smile crossed his face. "Seclusion can do that to a person. Three months in a cultivation chamber with nothing but pain and determination forpany."


    "Three months doesn''t exin your advancement tote-term Military Marquis."


    His eyes narrowed. "You can sense that, can you? Interesting." He paced a few steps, clearly debating how much to reveal. "Let''s just say I found a benefactor with resources beyond your imagination."


    "And what does your benefactor want in return?"


    "The same thing I want—to be the strongest." He stopped pacing and faced me directly. "Which brings me to why I called you here. That white-haired freak with Hayward. What do you know about him?"


    I weighed my options before answering. "His name''s not really Xander. He''s the Heaven Swallowing Python in human form."


    ise''s eyes widened briefly. "A transformation pill? Those are..."


    "Extremely rare and valuable," I finished. "The Guild must have invested heavily in him for a specific purpose."


    "Me," ise said with absolute certainty. "They brought him here to humble me."


    I almostughed at his self-importance. "Not everything revolves around you, Rostova. The Python and I have history. He''s here for me."


    "Then he''ll have to wait his turn." ise''s fingers flexed, energy crackling visibly around them. "I want you to deliver a message to him. Tell him I''ll be waiting at the Northern Peak tomorrow at dawn. If he''s as powerful as he ims, he should prove it."


    I studied his face, trying to understand his game. "You''re challenging a Peak Form Military Marquis? Even with your advancement, that''s suicide."


    "Just deliver the message," he snapped. "Unless you''d prefer I make a public spectacle of it?"


    "I''m not your messenger boy."


    His expression darkened. "Consider it payment for the information I''m about to give you. The girl you''re looking for—the Ashworth princess—she''s being held in the Serpent''s Veil."


    My heart stuttered. "The what?"


    "The Serpent''s Veil. It''s one of the lesser Mystic Realms controlled by the Guild. Not as heavily guarded as others, but nearly impossible to ess without proper authorization."


    I kept my expression neutral despite the surge of hope. "And how would you know this?"


    A smirk yed across his lips. "My new benefactor has connections. Deep ones." He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "The entrance is hidden beneath the academy''s main library. A portal disguised as an ordinary doorway, guarded by enchantments that only respond to specific energy signatures."


    "Why are you telling me this?" I asked bluntly.


    "Because I want chaos," he replied without hesitation. "The Guild has maintained its stranglehold on power for too long. If you manage to free the girl and escape, it will create exactly the kind of distraction I need for my own ns."


    Before I could press him further, he turned to leave. "Remember my message for the serpent. Dawn tomorrow."


    I watched him disappear into the gathering darkness, his motivations still unclear but the information too valuable to ignore.


    ---


    The next morning, I made my way to the academy''s grand library under the pretense of researching cultivation techniques. The massive building housed thousands of scrolls and books, most of them worthless propaganda authorized by the Guild. The real knowledge—the dangerous texts—would be hidden away from regr students.


    Just as I''d expected.


    I weaved through the towering shelves, noting the cement of Guild guards disguised as librarians. Their postures and watchful eyes betrayed their true purpose.


    "Lost, Mr. Knight?"


    I turned to find Broderick—Xander—watching me with predatory interest. Unlike yesterday, he was alone, dressed in the academy''s formal robes that did little to disguise his inhuman grace.


    "Just familiarizing myself with the resources," I replied evenly. "Though I''m sure you know all the best hiding ces already."


    His eyes shed dangerously. "Careful. We''re not in the wilderness anymore, where you can hide behind rocks and tricks."


    I noticed faint bruising on his neck and scratches along his forearm that hadn''t been there yesterday. So even in human form, he healed slower than in his natural state. Interesting.


    "I have a message for you," I said, deciding to fulfill my bargain with ise despite my better judgment. "Rostova wants to meet you at Northern Peak. Dawn tomorrow."


    Broderick''sugh was soft and menacing. "Does he now? The little ant wants to challenge me directly?"


    "That''s the message." I turned to leave, but his hand shot out, gripping my wrist with inhuman strength.


    "Don''t walk away from me," he hissed. "You and I have unfinished business."


    I looked pointedly at his hand until he released me. "You''re right. We do. But this isn''t the ce."


    "Soon," he promised, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Very soon, I''ll show you what I''ve learned since ourst encounter. The Guild has taught me... interesting techniques for making humans suffer without dying."


    "I''m sure they have," I replied coolly. "By the way, you should put some salve on those bruises. Transformation pills may give you human form, but they don''t perfectly replicate human healing abilities."


    His expression shifted to surprise, then fury as he realized I''d been analyzing his weaknesses. Before he could respond, I walked away, leaving him seething.


    As I exited the library, I spotted a familiar figure waiting at the bottom of the grand staircase—ise Rostova, looking impatient.


    "Well?" he demanded without preamble.


    "Message delivered. He seemed amused rather than intimidated."


    ise''s eyes gleamed with something close to madness. "Perfect. That arrogance will make his fall all the sweeter."


    "You realize he''s not just stronger than you—he''s a different species entirely? His physical capabilities—"


    "I know exactly what he is," ise cut me off. "Which is why I''ve spent three months preparing specifically to kill him."


    This caught me by surprise. "You knew about him before yesterday?"


    A shadow crossed ise''s face. "The Guild has been developing their pet project for years. My... benefactor has been tracking their progress."


    Pieces began falling into ce. ise wasn''t just challenging Broderick out of pride—this was something deeper, more calcted.


    "Who exactly is this benefactor of yours?" I asked.


    His smile was cold. "Someone who recognizes the value of disruption. Speaking of which—the information I gave you about the Serpent''s Veil. Are you going to use it?"


    "Perhaps."


    "Don''t wait too long." He leaned closer, voice dropping. "They''re elerating their timeline. Whatever they''re nning for the Ashworth girl, it''s happening soon."


    My blood ran cold. "How soon?"


    "Three days. Maybe four." He straightened, his momentary seriousness reced by his usual arrogant demeanor. "But that''s your problem, not mine. I have a snake to skin tomorrow morning."


    As he walked away, I couldn''t shake the feeling that I was being manipted into someone else''s scheme. But if Isabelle was truly in this Serpent''s Veil, and if they were nning something for her in mere days, I had no choice but to act.


    ---


    The Aegis Academy''s registration line stretched across the courtyard, filled with ordinary applicants waiting their turn while aristocratic scions like Dashiell ckthorne waltzed through special entrances with minimal scrutiny. I''d deliberately chosen themon route to avoid drawing attention, despite having Jackson Harding''s rmendation that could have granted me preferential treatment.


    As I waited, I mentally mapped the library''syout based on my morning reconnaissance. The hidden entrance to the Serpent''s Veil would likely be in the restricted section, possibly behind one of the massive bookshelves that seemed too ornate for their purpose.


    "Well, look who''s still alive."


    The familiar voice sent a surge of hatred through me. I turned slowly to face Dudley Lowell, looking every bit as smug and vicious as thest time we''d crossed paths.


    "Lowell," I acknowledged coldly. "Still hiding behind Guild protections, I see."


    His smile didn''t reach his eyes. "And you''re still pretending to be relevant. How''s that working out for you?"


    Several students nearby edged away, sensing the hostility between us. Dudley stepped closer, lowering his voice.


    "I heard about your little crusade to find the Ashworth girl. Touching, really. But you should know—she''s been quite useful to the Guild. Her blood has remarkable properties."


    My hands clenched into fists at my sides. "If you''ve harmed her—"


    "Harmed her?" Heughed. "Oh no, she''s far too valuable for that. But I can''t say the same for your other friends. How is Evelyn Norton these days? Still struggling with those nasty wounds that won''t heal?"


    The mention of Evelyn—the young alchemist from the Celestial Apothecary Guild who''d nearly died helping me—nearly pushed me over the edge. She''d barely survived the poisoned de meant for me, and her recovery had been agonizingly slow.


    Brought to you by *.


    "You''re a dead man walking, Lowell," I stated tly. "You just don''t know it yet."


    His hand drifted to the ornate dagger at his waist. "Big words from a man who couldn''t even protect a simple alchemist girl. What makes you think you can save the Ashworth princess when you couldn''t save Evelyn?"


    Something in my expression must have warned him he''d gone too far. His hand tightened on his dagger, but he took a step back.


    "We''re on academy grounds," he reminded me, ncing at the nearby guards. "Starting something here would be... unwise."


    "I don''t need to start anything," I replied evenly. "Your time wille soon enough."


    Before he could respond, amotion erupted at the front of the line. Students scattered as a powerfully built young man with dark hair and fierce eyes shoved his way through the crowd, scanning faces until his gaze locked onto mine.


    "Liam Knight!" he bellowed.


    I recognized him instantly—Frederick Cohen, the promising young fighter I''d met during my time with the Celestial Apothecary Guild. What was he doing here?


    Frederick pushed toward me, ignoring protests from those he shoved aside. When he reached me, his expression was a mix of relief and urgency.


    "Finally found you," he said, breathing hard. "I''ve been searching everywhere—"


    His words died as his gaze shifted past me andnded on Dudley Lowell. The transformation was instant—Frederick''s face contorted with pure hatred, his body tensing like a predator about to pounce.


    "YOU!" he snarled, lunging forward.


    I reacted instinctively, grabbing Frederick''s arm and physically restraining him as he tried tounch himself at Lowell.


    "Let me go!" Frederick struggled against my grip. "That''s the bastard who nearly killed Evelyn! Let me tear him apart!"


    Dudley''s face paled as he backed away. "We''ll continue this another time, Knight," he said before turning and disappearing into the crowd.


    Frederick continued to strain against my hold, his rage giving him surprising strength. "Why did you stop me?" he demanded. "You know what he did!"


    "Not here," I muttered, maintaining my grip. "Not now."


    Around us, students stared openly, while Guild guards began moving in our direction. Thest thing I needed was to draw official attention before I could locate the entrance to the Serpent''s Veil.


    "He poisoned her," Frederick hissed, his voice breaking. "She still can''t use her right arm properly. She cries in her sleep from the pain."


    The raw emotion in his voice told me everything I needed to know about his feelings for Evelyn. I tightened my grip, forcing him to look at me.


    "I know," I said quietly. "And he''ll pay for it. But getting yourself executed by Guild guards won''t help Evelyn."


    Slowly, the fight drained from Frederick''s body, though the hatred in his eyes remained undimmed as he stared in the direction Dudley had fled.


    "I came here looking for you," he said finally. "Pavillion Master Valerius sent me. She said you might need backup inside the academy."


    I rxed my grip cautiously. "Mariana sent you?"


    He nodded. "She said to tell you that ''the serpent has more than one head.'' Does that mean anything to you?"


    It did. If Mariana had discovered something about the Serpent''s Veil, it confirmed ise''s information while suggesting additionalplications.


    As the guards approached, I made a quick decision.


    "Follow my lead," I murmured to Frederick before turning to address the nearest official with a respectful bow. "My apologies for the disturbance. My friend just received some troubling news from home and lost hisposure momentarily."


    The guard looked skeptical. "Fighting is strictly prohibited on academy grounds."


    "There was no fight," I assured him. "Just a momentary outburst. It won''t happen again."


    After a tense moment, the guard nodded curtly and moved away, though I noticed he stationed himself where he could keep an eye on us.


    Frederick''s breathing had slowed, but his eyes remained fixed on the direction Dudley had disappeared. "I''m going to kill him," he stated with quiet certainty.


    "Get in line," I replied, equally determined. "But first, we need to focus on why we''re both here. Isabelle Ashworth."


    His expression shifted. "The Serpent''s Veil. Pavilion Master Valerius discovered it three days ago."


    "And the multiple heads?"


    "Multiple entrances," Frederick confirmed, lowering his voice. "And multiple guardians. The library is just one way in. There''s another through thebat training arena—less heavily guarded but more technically challenging."


    I processed this information, recalcting my approach. With Frederick''s help, I might be able to create a diversion at one entrance while infiltrating through the other.


    "How much do you know about what they''re doing to Isabelle?" I asked quietly.


    Frederick''s expression darkened. "Enough to know we need to move quickly. The Guild is preparing for something big. Some kind of ritual extraction that will..." He hesitated.


    "That will what?"


    "That might kill her," he finished grimly. "They''ve been harvesting her blood in small quantities, but whatever they''re nning next is different. More...plete."


    My world narrowed to a pinpoint of cold fury. "When?"


    "Three days from now. During the new moon."


    The same timeline ise had mentioned. Whatever game he was ying, his information had been urate.


    "Then we have two days to n," I said with deadly calm, "and one day to execute."


    Frederick nodded, his own anger now channeled into determined focus. "I''m with you. Whatever it takes."


    As we moved back into the registration line, I caught sight of Broderick watching us from across the courtyard, his inhuman eyes tracking our every movement. Tomorrow morning, he would face ise Rostova at the Northern Peak, potentially eliminating one threat from my path.


    But I couldn''t count on that. I needed to be ready to move regardless of the oue—ready to descend into the Serpent''s Veil and finally bring Isabelle home.


    The storm I''d been preparing for was about to break, and this time, I wouldn''t be the only one caught in its fury.