POV: Mason Reed
I watched Caleb like he was a ticking bomb wrapped in mystery. The tension hung in the air, but before I could even blink, the moment passed. Caleb continued walking, as if Ashwin didn't exist—like he hadn't just shattered the air with his silence. The crowd, on the other hand, didn't share the same level of composure. Everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something to explode. But Caleb? He just… didn't care.
"Did he just… ignore that guy?" I asked, half-laughing at how smooth it was.
Tessa, who had been quiet for far too long, finally let out a small, exasperated sigh. "That's Caleb for you. Master of ignoring the world like it's his personal game of 'Who Can Be the Most Mysterious.'"
"Seriously, though," I said, still processing what I'd seen, "does he have any magic? Or is he just here for the family name?"
Tessa shot me a sideways glance. "Honestly? No one knows. There are rumors, but no one has confirmed anything. He's like… the dark horse of the Hayes family. You never know what he's thinking, and you sure as hell don't want to get on his bad side." She leaned closer, lowering her voice like we were about to discuss state secrets. "Some say he's got the most dangerous power of all: the power of pure indifference."
I snorted. "Dangerous? More like terrifyingly boring."
Tessa shot me a playful glare. "You don't get it. Indifference is deadly. It's like being a walking enigma. People who don't react? You can't read them, and that's the scariest thing of all."
"Sounds like you've got a crush on the guy," I teased.
Tessa turned bright red. "What? No!" She threw her hands up in defense. "I mean, I've been around him long enough to know it's better to keep a safe distance. Besides, who needs that kind of emotional baggage? I like my drama in more manageable doses, thank you very much."
I couldn't help but laugh. "You've got a point there. Drama's a lot easier to handle when you can see it coming."
Tessa grinned. "Exactly. That's why I like to stick with the fire users. At least they light up the room. Literally."
Just then, I saw Logan making his way back across the courtyard, his dagger now twirling lazily in his hand. He was back to being the picture of effortless charm—except now he was staring right at me.
"Uh-oh," Tessa muttered under her breath. "Here comes Mr. Confidence."
"Is it just me," I said with a raised eyebrow, "or does he look like he's about to flirt with everyone in the room?"
"Probably. He does that," she said, exasperated but amused. "Just don't fall for his act. It's all smoke and mirrors."
Logan reached us with a grin that could probably make anyone's heart skip a beat. "Well, well," he drawled, looking me over like I was a new puzzle to solve. "The new guy, huh? Mason Reed, I presume?"
I leaned back, crossing my arms, trying my best to exude that effortless cool I'd spent years perfecting. "That's me. And you are… Logan, right?"
He chuckled. "You've got it." He waved his dagger in the air like it was a greeting. "You know, I'm usually pretty good at reading people, but you… you're a bit of a mystery, Reed. Fire users tend to make a bit of a splash, but you? You're more like… a quiet ember. Still hot, though."
I raised an eyebrow. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"Maybe." Logan's grin widened. "I just like the challenge. You seem like the kind of guy who doesn't make a fuss… until he does."
Tessa snorted, clearly not impressed. "Logan, please. You're just looking for someone to duel with. And for the record, Mason here doesn't need to be challenged by you."
"Oh, Tessa," Logan said with a mock pout. "You wound me. I'm just trying to make friends."
"Making friends with fire isn't as easy as it sounds," I said dryly, stepping away from the fountain to stretch my legs. "But hey, if you're offering me a duel, I guess I'll think about it. Or not."
Logan laughed. "Oh, I like you. You've got that spark, Reed. Definitely the drama type." He turned to Tessa. "We might have a contender for my favorite new person."
Tessa rolled her eyes. "Just don't burn anything down, okay?"
"Hey, no promises." I flashed her a grin.
As Logan walked off, still twirling his dagger and casting glances back at us, Tessa turned to me with an exasperated sigh.
"I'm just saying," she muttered, "you should be careful. He's got that thing about him. You know—charming, dangerous, gets away with whatever he wants. And everyone falls for it. Except for me, of course."
I raised an eyebrow. "Sure, Tessa. Whatever you say. I'm just here for the ride. If the fire's going to catch, I might as well be standing in the middle of it."
Tessa smirked. "Well, if you're going to go down in flames, at least do it with style."
I grinned back. "That's the plan."
And as we made our way back through the winding halls of Ardenmoor, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement creeping up on me. This was just the beginning, and I had a feeling things were about to get a whole lot more interesting.