"I'll say it again—sorry about earlier," Noel muttered. "But it was necessary."
"Necessary in what way?" Elyra snapped. "You could've just told me on the way instead of dragging me into this place."
They stood in a narrow back alley behind the Class A dormitories, tucked between tall stone buildings whose mossy walls glistened faintly under weak mana-lamps. The ground was uneven, littered with puddles and the occasional crunch of gravel underfoot. The air smelled faintly of damp stone and something less pleasant—like discarded potions or neglected cleaning charms.
Elyra looked painfully out of place here.
She was still dressed from the party: a deep crimson jacket hung neatly over her shoulders, covering a slim-cut blouse of dark silk. Her trousers were tailored, noble-made, tucked into soft leather boots with silver trim. She wore a thin chain around her neck that glimmered faintly beneath the moonlight—simple, elegant, unmistakably expensive.
And now she was scowling at him like she wanted to knock his teeth out.
"That option wasn't possible," Noel said, steady. "Even if I would've preferred it."
"Alright, so what's this serious thing you needed to tell me?"
"I found something. Something important," he said. "It's about... you know, our situation."
Her expression immediately shifted—shoulders squaring, eyes sharp.
"Talk."
Noel took a breath.
"I've been doing some things on my own. Like just now—I followed someone back from the party."
Elyra's eyes narrowed. "You were at the party?"
"Same one you were at," he said. "You didn't see me."
"Get to the point. If it's important, don't waste time."
He hesitated for only a second.
He still didn't know how giving her this information would ripple through the story. But he'd already changed so much. If he could pull off the first act—The Bloody Banquet—maybe he could keep improvising after that.
'If I get through the Banquet... I'll figure out the rest.'
"It's Professor Caldus," he said quietly. "He's involved."
Elyra didn't answer immediately. Her face remained unreadable. Silent. Thinking.
Finally, she replied.
"...It was to be expected. I knew they had someone on the inside. I just didn't know who exactly."
"That's it?" Noel asked, surprised. "You're not more shocked?"
"What do you want me to say? It's obvious. The real question is—what's his role in all this?"
Noel sighed, but under his breath he muttered, "If I don't do something, a lot of people will die at the banquet."
Elyra caught it.
Her gaze turned sharp again. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean. That's why we're investigating them, isn't it?"
She didn't respond right away.
Her silence told Noel everything.
'Shit. I went too far.'
Then she said, "What do you mean 'a lot of people will die'? How do you even know there's going to be a banquet? The academy hasn't announced anything. It's never even held one before. There's no precedent for it in the school's history."
Cold sweat broke down Noel's back.
He'd fucked up.
'They're investigating these students for totally different reasons.'
He swallowed hard. "Then why are you investigating them?"
She looked at him like the answer was obvious. "Because I'm the Vice President of the Student Council. I'm supposed to ensure rules are followed. When students sneak out at night, it's my job to know why. And obviously, someone gave them access to the tunnels beneath the enchantment labs."
Noel cursed internally.
'Of course. Of fucking course.'
If she'd known what he knew, if she really knew about the attack beforehand—she would've stopped it. There would be no 200 dead. No tragedy.
'FUCK!!!'
That was the only thing bouncing through Noel's skull.
Now what?
Tell her everything?
Try to twist the story?
Lie?
'No use. Elyra's too sharp. She'd know if I lied.'
She looked him over carefully.
Then softened—just slightly.
"You're drunk, aren't you? Is this some shitty joke? You really shouldn't drink like that. I know finals are over, but take care of yourself. You don't seem like someone who handles alcohol well."
Noel chuckled weakly.
"Yeah. Heh... you're right."
But then his tone shifted.
"But the thing about Caldus? That part's real."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I'll handle it," he added. "Please, let me take care of that part. And... again, sorry for pulling you into this alley. You should get that arm looked at in the infirmary. I didn't mean to grab you that hard."
She said nothing.
Just nodded once, distant.
Then turned and walked off.
Noel stood there alone in the alley, watching her disappear into the dormitory courtyard.
He leaned against the wall, exhaling.
'She's gone. And I lost him.'
The redhead had vanished. Probably long gone by now. Still—he had enough.
He had names.
Connections.
Locations.
And in that moment, the memory finally came back.
The book. The story.
The two phases of the Banquet.
The attack squad—four enemy combatants. One incredibly strong. Marcus and his friends fought them and managed to win.
But then—after the fight...
The bombs.
Planted beforehand.
They went off just as the students thought they'd survived.
The real tragedy.
'How the hell did I forget the most important part?'
Noel felt his legs growing heavier.
'I'm wiped.'
'Shower first. Then strategy.'
He returned to the dorm, climbed the stairs, and shut the door behind him.
Stripped off his clothes, stepped into the bath, and let the hot water wash away the night.
'I'm alone in this now. Can't drag anyone else into it.'
'They'll fight Caldus when the time comes.'
'But the bombs...'
He closed his eyes.
'I'll figure it out tomorrow.'