As she walked through the exit tunnel, arms still loose at her sides, a voice cut through the noise.
"Yuxin."
She stopped.
Looked up.
Blanche.
Arms crossed. Eyes sharp. Cold fury dressed in nobility.
Vila stood next to her. Silent as usual.
"I called for your help. And you were here—fighting in some underground brawl?!"
Yuxin scoffed, pulling off her gloves.
"Oh, sorry, Lady Equinox. I forgot I'm supposed to kiss paperwork and wait politely in the corner while you host your royal investigation."
"This isn't about status—"
"No, it's about you acting like the only way to dig through shit is with a gold-plated spoon."
Blanche stiffened.
"You could've said something. You refused to even explain why—"
"Because it's not your business."
Yuxin's voice was sharp now.
"Just like you wouldn't understand what this place really is. You think I'm just down here for fun?"
She jerked her head toward the ring behind her.
"It's chaos. It's dirty. It's dangerous. But people talk when they're bleeding. They slip when they're high on ego. This place? It leaks more secrets than the Council Hall ever will."
Blanche's eyes narrowed.
"So you've been investigating."
"In my own damn way," Yuxin muttered.
She turned to leave—then hesitated.
Glanced toward Vila.
"Didn't expect you to tag along with her."
Vila met her gaze evenly.
"Neither did I."
Pause.
"But she's not wrong."
Yuxin blinked once. Looked away.
"Tch."
She spat to the side and walked past both of them, mumbling under her breath.
"Damn Council types... always acting like they know everything."
The tension still lingered in the air—thick with adrenaline and unresolved egos.
Yuxin had barely turned away when—
"Okaaaay wow, drama much? That was like, ten layers of emotional trauma in three minutes. Do you two always argue with that much eye contact? Because I rate it a solid 8.5 for stage presence."
Yuxin froze.
The voice was high-pitched, fast, and full of way-too-much-energy-for-the-room.
She turned slowly.
Rea Caelumotris was leaning against a pillar with a cup of something steaming and zero sense of self-preservation. Her ribbons were slightly crooked, and she had a cracker sticking out of her mouth like a cigarette.
"Anyway, Shadow Baroness? Sick nickname. Also I totally bet on you by the way, got five mana chips outta this so really—thanks for that. Oh and Blanche—loved the passive-aggression, very queen-core, but maybe try breathing between syllables next ti—"
"Huh!!?"
The sound cut through like a blade.
Yuxin's glare hit her full force—a look that could stop heartbeats. Cold. Sharp.
Like shadow itself had just gotten annoyed.
Rea blinked.
Paused.
Froze.
Then slowly backed up half a step, hands up like a guilty cat caught on a kitchen counter.
"...aaaaand I'm just gonna... mmhm. Reset my vocal output. Recalibrating. Haha."
Her ribbon twitched.
"...Maybe... less talking. Temporarily."
Blanche sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Vila raised one eyebrow.
Yuxin turned her head slightly toward them, still staring at Rea.
"Okay.
Who the hell is this yapping gremlin?"
Rea blinked again. Then gave a tiny wave, still behind Blanche.
"Hi. I'm Rea. Chaos minor. Support role. Cameo nightmare. Your worst headache—probably."
"She's Silas's sister," Blanche added, deadpan.
"Of course she is," Yuxin muttered.
Blanche rubbed her temple as the last echoes of the fight faded behind them. The pit still buzzed with murmurs and adrenaline, but her attention was elsewhere.
Rea kept pacing beside her, still whispering mini-commentary like she was narrating a sports show only she could hear.
"Honestly, that last kick? Cinematic. Absolutely disrespectful. Loved it. Ten outta ten."
Blanche exhaled sharply.
"We're leaving."
Vila nodded.
"Agreed. Too much attention now. Kael might've noticed."
"We'll reposition and reassess," Blanche said, already walking toward the upper exit.
But then she paused, turning slightly.
"Where's Yuxin?"
Vila scanned the crowd.
Rea shrugged.
"She was just—oh. There she goes."
Across the ring floor, Yuxin pushed through a group of noisy students, grabbed someone by the wrist, and yanked them toward the exit like she was dragging a sack of vegetables.
It was—
"Ruka?" Blanche blinked.
Indeed, Tanaka Ruka was being half-dragged, half-waddled behind Yuxin—clearly overwhelmed, eyes wide, coat slightly crooked, and looking like she'd seen five crimes in under ten minutes.
Yuxin stopped beside the group, still holding Ruka by the wrist.
"Found her."
"I—I didn't mean to stay—Yuxin said it'd be short—but then there were fists—and walls—and someone screamed—and—"
"Why were you even here?" Blanche asked, gentle but puzzled.
Ruka looked down.
"Yuxin asked me to come."
Pause.
"She didn't really ask."
Yuxin just grunted, letting go of Ruka's arm.
"She needed fresh air. And to see what real danger looks like."
"I thought we were going to get dumplings," Ruka muttered.
Rea's eyes lit up.
"Wait—there were dumplings?! I missed dumplings?!"
Blanche shook her head, already turning away.
"We'll talk later. Let's just get out before someone starts asking questions."
The group began to move, blending into the stairwell shadows as the noise behind them picked up again.