Chapter 6-10: The Howling Winds

Wordless, he tumbled back and got out of the range of the flames. The crimson mana surrounding the flames clearly belonged to Serana. It had no smell, but he could feel the heat radiating from it.

"What in the Moon's name are you doing Serana?" Lena shouted, motioning to grab the young noble's arm. Serana shook her off, then glared at Ren, who still remained on one knee after his tumble. "I don't remember letting you leave." She hissed between her clenched teeth.

"I don't remember needing your permission." Ren answered, slowly rising on his feet. "If the Fourth has no issues with me leaving, then you do not have the power, nor authority to stop me."

"Alright, stop. Both of you." Alicia's voice echoed as her mana covered the courtyard. Serana's flames were instantly doused as the younger girl flinched. Ren took a few steps back. He could feel Alicia's dark red mana choking him. It was difficult to breathe.

"Now, you will explain what happened. All three of you." She said, glaring at them one by one. Ren hesitated.

"I already told you-" Serana started to shout, but her sister cut her off. "Lena, I'm listening."

Her mana didn't dissipate, though she did withdraw it a little to give Ren some breathing room. Ren took a few deep breaths and nodded at Lena, who shot him a fearful look.

"Well," She started with the time they were being assigned to classes. Ren clenched his fists beneath his cloak as she spoke. He didn't want to listen to all this.

As Lena spoke, Serana expression got darker and her face even more red with anger. She looked like she was about to explode. Alicia listened to the whole story with an ice-cold expression.

"Ren, anything you'd like to add?" She asked. He sighed and shook his head. Lena's telling was near perfect. She'd not left out a single detail. "What about you, Serana?" She asked, this time glancing at her sister.

"Plenty." The younger sister hissed. "But first, I need to ask; what is he to you, Sis?" She glared at Ren as she spoke. If looks could kill, Ren was fairly sure he'd be dead by now.

"He's a good friend of mine." Alicia replied, without missing a beat. "And I don't like to see my best friend and my sister hate each other."

Ren shook his head but remained silent. It was reassuring to hear Alicia say that, but he felt like all he was doing was creating more trouble for her.

"He cost me my place in Class I!" Serana shouted.

"Serana, please just stop." Lena said with fearful eyes. "Fourth, please."

"I cost you nothing!" Ren shouted. He met Serana's gaze. "Just drop it already!"

Alicia flinched and stepped back. "Ren?" She said carefully. She knew Ren's power, at least some of it. "Fine, we'll drop it." She said quickly.

"What-" Serana started to shout again, but Ren cut her off.

"If you have an issue with me, then resolve it with me! Don't go running to your sister and don't mix your stupid noble politics into our class dynamic!" A breeze blew his hair back. His purple eyes stared into Serana's eyes.

"Fine!" She shouted, seemingly not noticing the breeze. She tightly grasped the shaft of her spear. "Then, I challenge you to a duel!" She shouted.

Ren hesitated before touching the hilt of his tachi. "Fin-"

"No!" Alicia shouted. Her voice echoed in the courtyard. "I will not allow this."

Ren shot her a dark glance while Serana prepared to protest. "But I-"

"Ren, I'm sorry for her actions, but I cannot let her fight you. Not now." Alicia said with a cold, dark expression. "Not after what I heard from him and the Tenth." She meant Yu, that much was clear.

"You don't trust me?" Ren asked after a short moment. Alicia flinched, but didn't respond. Ren clenched his fists. "Alicia?" He asked with a catch in his voice. He could feel a lump in his throat. His heartbeat quickened.

The Fourth remained silent as she averted her gaze. Ren felt something inside of him break. What was this pain in his chest? The mark on his heart throbbed as he took deep breaths to calm himself down. It took him a few seconds to regain his composure at least a little. "I see." His voice cracked. "In that case," He stepped forward, placed his hand on his throbbing heart and bowed. "Fourth," He said, then straightened his back and left the courtyard, leaving the three women behind.

His long steps carried him to the dorms. "Ren?" He heard Mirielle call his name as he pushed the door and stepped inside the building. She was holding a rather thick book. "I was hoping to ask for your help." She asked, fiddling with her hair. She was clearly embarrassed. "Princess Iris said you'd know the most about magic theory and inscriptions."

Ren forced a smile and nodded. "I know a bit." He said as he closed the door. "What is it that you wanted to ask?" It took effort to be kind. He just wanted to go and sleep, but Mirielle was a good person and she didn't deserve to be sucked into the drama Serana created.

"I was hoping you could help me decipher a ritual circle." She said sheepishly. She seemed ready to bolt off if he declined. Ren took a breath and nodded. "I can try." He gestured upstairs. "It'd be difficult with all the noise here though. Do you mind coming to my room?" He hesitated. "Or I could come to yours, if you and Princess Iris are ok with it."

"No, that's fine. I think her highness wants some time alone." Mirielle said with a faint smile.

They walked upstairs and headed to Ren's room. He opened the door and let Mirielle pass, then closed the door behind them. He unhooked the sheathe of his tachi from his belt placed it on its hook on the wall.

"So," He said, gesturing at the chair. "What does the ritual circle look like?"

Mirielle smiled as she took her place on the chair. "It's this one." She took a piece of folded paper from between the pages of her book and gave it to him. "It's ancient. I didn't want to bother the instructors with it. I thought I could figure it out on my own with some help from the library, but I still couldn't figure it out." She sounded a little upset.

Ren took the piece of paper. "if it's a layered inscription, then it's naturally difficult." He unfolded the paper.

The inscription was drawn beautifully with ink. It was clear and easy to see. There were no smudges or anything. He smoothed the paper before attempting to read it. "Let's see." He mumbled as he sat on his bed. He placed the paper on the sheets.

"Oh." He mumbled as he traced the runes. "This'll take a while…"