The Arcseal Ceremony had ended.
But its aftermath had only just begun.
Kael wandered through the palace garden corridors alone, the cold breeze brushing through his robes as the sky began to deepen into a soft gold. The murmurs hadn't stopped since the ceremony—nobles, students, and even high-ranking elders whispering behind closed fans and jeweled masks.
"Two SSS-class talents?"
"Who would've guessed it was the Ice Duchess's son all along?"
"But Ravian still has three…"
Kael didn't care.
He wasn't here for applause.
He was here to rewrite the script of this world—starting with the characters fate had assigned to someone else.
He turned a corner and stopped.
A wall of heat swept through the hall ahead—gentle, but unmistakable. Magic crackled faintly in the air like smoke coiling around candlelight.
A girl leaned against a marble pillar with arms crossed, crimson robes flowing like embers in motion. Her scarlet braid hung over one shoulder, and her amber eyes glowed with challenge.
Elara Ignara.
First daughter of House Ignara. Flameblood of the southern front.
SS-class Flame Affinity. S-class Combat Artistry. A duel prodigy with a temper that left nobles trembling.
And currently—staring straight at him.
"You're not what I expected," she said flatly, pushing off the pillar.
Kael raised a brow. "Disappointed?"
Elara shrugged. "Maybe. You were supposed to be nothing. I was prepared to ignore you."
She stepped closer, heat rising with each step.
"But now? You're a problem."
Kael didn't flinch. "Because of what I awakened?"
Elara stopped just a few feet away. "Because of how you looked when you did."
He tilted his head. "How I looked?"
"You weren't shocked. You weren't excited. You weren't even proud." Her voice was sharper now. "You looked like you expected it. Like you'd been waiting for everyone else to catch up."
[Bond Link System Notification:]
[Affection Detected: Elara Ignara – 15% → 22%]
[Status: Challenge Affection | Type: Competitive Attraction]
[Warning: Emotional combustion potential high.]
Kael smiled slightly. "Maybe I was."
Elara stepped even closer. Too close. Her flame-touched mana curled through the air around him, licking at his frost.
And yet… it didn't burn him.
Their auras collided softly—fire against ice. But instead of clashing, the magic pulsed. Like it recognized the tension. Like it wanted more.
Elara's brows pulled together as her body shivered—just once. Her mana faltered slightly, and she scowled.
"What… are you doing to me?"
Kael said nothing.
He didn't need to.
[Compatibility Sync Detected: Mana Signatures in Resonance]
[Elara Ignara Bond Link Potential: 57%]
[Warning: Unexpected emotional fluctuation accelerating bond conditions.]
Her lips parted as if to speak—but another voice cut through the corridor.
"Elara."
Ravian.
Golden, polished, perfect.
He strode toward them from the opposite side of the corridor, his aura shining with soft light. His eyes were on Kael.
But not with amusement.
Not with curiosity.
With warning.
Elara blinked, her body tensing. She stepped back instinctively—just half a step—but enough for Kael to feel the shift.
Ravian reached her side.
"We have training," he said quietly. "We shouldn't waste time here."
Elara hesitated.
Then nodded.
But before she left, her eyes flicked back to Kael.
Just once.
Just long enough.
[Affection Update: Elara Ignara – 22% → 30%]
[Bond Link Status: Building.]
As they walked away, Kael remained still.
Watching.
Calculating.
Amused.
So Ravian wanted to guard his harem now.
He was welcome to try.
But Kael had already lit the first spark.
And unlike fire… ice never burns out.