I woke up with a feeling of calmness.
I turned to the side and found Ark hugging my arm tightly, still asleep.
I smiled and closed my eyes, just to stay in this moment for a bit longer.
I will admit I wasn't expecting things to turn out like this so soon into the school year.
Sure, I would have expected to find friends I could train and go on adventures with, and face some sort of potential mass casualty event eventually. Hells, finding a boyfriend was expected too, but this happened months before I expected to encounter anything close to just one of those.
Now I have an entire adventuring party, friends, a boyfriend, and facing against a god all within a week of arriving at this academy.
It's a little crazy when you stop to think about it, including how we all got along together so fast. But it's not like I don't know about them working behind the scenes, trying to manipulate me through others. But I can deal with them. Their plans always fail when I'm involved.
Once I defeat this god, I can use it as a favour and get to them and cause all their plans to fall apart, and they would never try this sort of shit again.
But that is a problem for another day. Right now, I can relax and bask in this moment of peace and happiness.
Eventually, Ark stirred beside me. His fingers twitched against my arm, and then he blinked sleepily up at me.
"Mornin'," I said softly.
He blinked again, then flushed. "…Morning," he mumbled, voice thick with sleep.
I chuckled and gently ruffled his hair.
We got up, slowly, both reluctant to break the quiet. As we dressed, Ark tugged his shirt over his head just as a *tap tap tap* came from the window.
We both froze.
Ark turned to me, puzzled. "That sound again?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Same as last time…"
Another *tap tap*, more insistent this time.
I crossed the room and unlatched the window.
Another paper bird fluttered inside the moment I opened it. It landed on my desk and unfolded itself with a soft rustle of enchanted creases.
Ark stepped up beside me, his head tilting slightly. "Another letter?"
"Yeah," I murmured, already recognizing the magic woven into it. Same signature as before.
I read it aloud:
"To Jackson Drovas,
Recent developments have altered the circumstances regarding a certain matter you brought to my attention. I would appreciate it if you and your companions, Araki, Zek, Orin, and Ark, could report to the Guild as soon as your schedule allows, preferably before the day's end.
The situation concerns—"
I stopped.
Just for a second.
Then I continued readin, more slowly this time, switching to silent reading, eyes flicking over the rest of the message.
'…Aaron... was he able to find out something about him?' I thought.
Ark was watching me, so I cleared my throat and continued, raising my voice slightly.
"Should your current obligations prevent you from arriving before the conclusion of classes, that is acceptable. I will remain available throughout the day and into the evening. However, please send a confirmation of your intended arrival time in advance.
I await your response.
— Zareth, Guildmaster of Raventhorn"
I folded the letter shut.
Ark hesitated. "Is it serious?"
I didn't answer right away.
Instead, I closed my eyes and contacted Volt.
^Volt,^ I called. ^Any visions regarding shadows or mass casualties yet? Anything that might mean the shadow is going to act today?^
He responded quickly. ^I haven't been able to get any visions regarding shadows other than the Raven, and even his are off. But… I lose sight of many students after Thursday or Friday. My guess is that's the soonest it might act. Nothing earlier. At least for now...^
^Thank you,^ I replied.
I turned to Ark with a small smile. "No, nothing bad. Not urgent. Zareth probably just wants to talk about a job for all of us. Something official." I lied. Ark gets anxious easly, so I didn't want to worry him this early in the day.
He relaxed slightly but still looked uncertain. I gently squeezed his hand.
"I promise. We've got time."
I sat down at the desk, grabbed a sheet of paper and a pencil, and jotted down a quick response:
I flipped the page over and drew a precise circular rune in mana-infused chalk and began folding.
The parchment fluttered as it took shape into a small paper bird.
Before animating it, I raised a quick silence barrier around myself.
I closed my eyes and whispered to the parchment bird, "Zareth, Lust Devil of Isolation."
The bird twitched, then lifted off from my palm and shot out the window toward the city, leaving a faint trail of light in its wake.
I dropped the silence barrier.
Ark glanced at me from where he'd been tying his sash. "Why'd you use a soundproof spell just for that?"
I gave a grin. "Certain rules prevent me from answering that question."
He tilted his head and asked, "…What could be so secretive about sending a letter?"
I stayed silent.
"...You're not going to give me an answer, are you?"
"Nope," I said with a smirk.
Ark groaned but let it go, shaking his head with a smile.
Once we were fully dressed and ready, I opened the door and stepped into the hallway. The dorm was still quiet—most of the others were either still asleep or sluggish.
I knocked on the door to Orin and Zek's room.
Orin opened it first, yawning. "Jack? Something wrong?"
"Morning," I said. "The Guildmaster sent me a letter. He wants to talk to all of us during lunch today at the Guild."
Zek, appearing from behind Orin's legs, said, "Thanks for actually telling us this time, instead of vanishing without a word."
I held up my hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, fair. My bad."
They both nodded and started getting ready.
Next stop: Araki's room.
I knocked.
He opened it, eyes still heavy with sleep. "Hey, Jack."
"Morning. Just came to let you know that the Adventurers' Guildmaster wants to talk to the five of us around 2."
Araki nodded curiously and said. "Got it. Thanks for the heads-up."
But before I turned to leave, something caught my eye.
A deck of cards lay on one of the beds, slightly scattered, the back design painted in dark blues and golds. I blinked.
"…Is that a tarot deck?"
Araki turned, saw where I was looking, and frowned. "Huh? Oh—yeah, that's Nex's. Something wrong?"
"No," I said quickly. "Just surprised. Those are rare around here."
Nex looked up from his desk. "You know what they are?"
I nodded. "Do you?"
He shook his head. "Not really. I bought them at the market a few days ago. The shopkeeper said they were from a travelling merchant. Said tarot decks bring good luck. But I haven't figured out how to use them yet."
I chuckled. "That's… a bit of a mistranslation. They don't bring good luck. They reveal your fortune. Whether good or bad."
Nex blinked. "Like… an oracle?"
"More or less, though it's more up to interpretation rather than a clear message. Each card has a meaning. Normally, they're used by seers, but anyone can learn. Though… they don't always cooperate with just anyone."
Araki crossed his arms. "You know how to use them?"
"I do," I said with a small nod. "And I know what most of the cards mean. But I'll show you another time—we've got class soon."
The two of them glanced at the clock.
"8:20?!" Nex panicked. "We haven't even eaten yet!"
I smirked. "I'll keep the lesson for another time."
Nex grabbed his jacket and asked quickly, "Would you be able to read my fortune later? im not sure i would be able to do much with them."
I raised a hand. "No fortune reading from me."
He frowned. "Why not?"
I turned slowly, let my smile fade, and met his eyes with a completely flat expression.
"Because bad things happen when I try to see other people's future or others try to see mine."
The room fell quiet.
"…Got it," Nex said nervously.
I nodded and turned away.
But before I left, I glanced over my shoulder. "What class do you two have at nine?"
Nex rubbed his eyes. "History with Professor Barinous."
"We got the same," Araki added.
I paused, then grinned. "Oh, good. You won't need me to teach you then."
They blinked at me.
"Why not?" Araki asked.
"Because our history teacher is an expert on ancient legends and mystical artifacts," I said, "including how to use things like tarot cards."
They both lit up at that.
"Even if it's history?" Nex asked.
"Especially if it's history," I said.
Then I turned and walked back down the hallway toward Ark's room, the last echoes of the conversation fading behind me.
*phew*, "I don't want to risk getting dragged into another trial now of all times. They're the entire reason I missed the entrance exam last year." I mumbled to myself.