I knocked on the door to Silius's office and didn't wait for an answer before pushing it open.
"Alan?" Christina looked up, clearly surprised.
"Hey. Is Silius not here?"
"He left about ten minutes ago," she said. "You can wait if you want. I'm dying of boredom here anyway."
She smiled faintly.
"And it's interesting that you're the one looking for him this time."
"Want something to drink?"
"Black coffee," I said, dropping onto the couch. "If you don't mind."
"You drink too much coffee. It'll catch up with you," she said over her shoulder, already pressing the button for an americano.
"Sugar?"
"No."
"So," she said, setting the cup in front of me before sitting down beside me and cracking open a soda, "what do you need from Silius? Did he call you in?"
"No. I talked to Robert."
"Torent?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. He's willing to join us."
She paused.
Actually paused.
"…That's unexpected."
"What?" I frowned. "He never struck me as someone who enjoys being told what to do."
"True," she nodded. "But he also doesn't strike me as someone who fights for anything."
"He's indifferent."
"Only really cares about his own benefit."
Her gaze sharpened as she studied me.
"That's why it's strange. People like him don't suddenly decide to put effort into something that doesn't pay off."
"Yeah," I admitted. "I thought the same."
"But he agreed."
She leaned back slightly, still watching me.
"You really are something," she said quietly.
"I'm starting to understand why Silius values you so much."
"And why he's willing to take risks for you."
"What are you talking about?" I frowned.
"His announcement."
"It stirred things up."
She took a slow sip.
"Inside the academy, everything looks calm."
"Outside?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"It's boiling."
"Because I'm his candidate for personal bodyguard?"
"You really thought that wouldn't have consequences?"
I exhaled through my nose.
"No. Knowing my father, he's already making noise."
"And my older brother got expelled just months before graduation."
"Because of me."
"Relax," she said evenly. "Clyde doesn't make moves he can't control."
"I'm sure he already knows how to use this."
"…Yeah," I said, though I didn't fully believe it.
"Alright, I've got to go," she said, glancing at her phone as a message lit up the screen.
"You'll wait?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, and one more thing," she added, pausing at the door.
"Tell Clyde I'm ready to take care of it."
"Take care of what?"
But she was already walking out.
"He'll understand," she tossed over her shoulder.
I was left alone with cooling coffee.
By the time I finished it, it had already gone lukewarm.
The door opened again.
"Alan?"
Silius stopped in the doorway.
For a brief second, something flickered across his face.
Gone just as quickly.
His expression settled back into place.
Cold.
Controlled.
Untouchable.
"I convinced Torent to join the resistance," I said immediately.
"Is that so?" he replied, already flipping through papers on his desk without really looking at me. "And how exactly did you manage that?"
"He's not the type to care about anything."
"We talked."
"Good," Clyde said, sitting down and angling his chair slightly toward me.
"Now I'll need to speak with him myself."
"Make sure he understands what he's agreeing to."
The last part came quieter.
Almost to himself.
Then, sharper:
"Where did Christina go?"
"She got a message. Said she'd handle something."
"She told me to pass it on."
"That she'll take care of binding Torent," Silius said.
"So he doesn't become a problem."
"…I'm not following."
"You don't need to."
He didn't even look up.
"It's already been decided he'll be sent to the exhibition fights," he continued. "Which means someone will notice him."
"And try to claim him."
"I don't think he'd agree to that," I said.
"You think he'll be given a choice?"
I frowned.
"He will. There's a contract. Consent is required."
Silius finally looked at me.
Slowly.
"You're right," he said.
Then, colder:
"Tell me. When has the aristocracy ever cared about rules when those rules get in their way?"
I didn't answer.
"And that's not even the main problem," he added. "But we'll get to that later."
"Send him to my office."
He glanced at the clock.
"Seven."
"I doubt he has anything better to do," I said. "Alright."
"You're done here."
"What are you planning to tell him?"
"I'm going to convince him to do something he definitely won't like."
"I'm busy."
"You can leave."
That was it.
Conversation over.
I exhaled quietly and stepped out.
No point pushing him.
Not unless he decided to talk.
I pulled my phone out.
Five minutes until my next class.
Theory.
Useless.
I turned and headed up to the fourth floor.
The elite wing.
The library.
Time to dig into demons.
I grabbed the first book I saw and dropped into the farthest seat.
Flipped through it.
Force interaction with lesser entities.
Basic.
Useless.
I set it aside and pulled out my phone.
"Seven. Silius's office. You coming?"
The reply came almost instantly.
"Checked my schedule. I'm free."
I let out a quiet breath.
Schedule.
Right.
I could already picture him lying on his bed, doing absolutely nothing.
"Just tell me where to go. No idea where your master sits on his throne."
I stared at the message for a second.
Then sighed.
Maybe recruiting him wasn't such a great idea after all.
The guy had almost finished his first year and still didn't know where anything was.
"Student council room."
"That tells me nothing."
"Where is that again?"
I closed my eyes briefly.
Then sent him exact directions.
Which hallway.
Which door.
Which side room.
I put the phone away.
Picked up the book.
Put it back.
Grabbed another.
Then another.
Rows of shelves.
Endless.
I exhaled again.
"Yeah… you've got a lot of reading ahead of you."
After a moment, I stacked as many books as I could carry.
Arms full.
Weight digging in.
Then made my way back to the table.
Time to start digging.
Properly.
Into everything this world was hiding.