The academy halls were quieter than usual after the small test. The buzz of anxiety had shifted into exhaustion, and most students walked slower, talking in low tones or simply dragging themselves back to their dorms. Even those who usually filled the air with chatter seemed content to rest their voices for once.

Arios moved at his normal pace, but his attention wasn't on the conversations around him. His eyes scanned ahead, lingering not on students but on the teachers stationed near the stairwells and corridors. He had developed a habit of noticing patterns, and the more he looked, the more small irregularities stood out to him.

Instructor Garron, in particular, had caught his attention.

Garron wasn't unusual at first glance. He was an earth-element instructor, broad-shouldered with a plain presence that blended easily into the academy staff. He gave straightforward lessons, never went out of his way to either favor or punish students, and had the kind of strict but consistent personality that rarely drew complaints.

But Arios noticed details most others ignored.

Every few days, usually in the evenings when classes ended, Garron disappeared from his usual routes. He didn't head to the instructors' lounge or the staff offices. Instead, he slipped into less-used corridors, areas that led toward the meeting halls.

And more than once, Arios saw him speaking with one of the student council members.

The meetings weren't long. A few minutes at most. Nothing about them was openly suspicious—just a quiet exchange, usually ending with Garron nodding slightly before going on his way. To most observers, it would have looked like routine communication between faculty and the council. But Arios had seen enough manipulation already to know when something wasn't simple.

Especially when Chase's name kept lingering in his mind.

Chase wasn't subtle. He was ambitious, manipulative, and always searching for leverage. Arios had already seen how Chase attempted to control narratives, especially regarding Amelia. If Chase had found a way to push an instructor into cooperating, it would explain too much.

The problem was proof.

Right now, Arios had none. Garron's meetings could have been nothing more than official updates. The student council had authority to liaise with faculty on class performance, budgets, or disciplinary matters. Nothing about that was illegal.

But suspicion had already taken root.

Later that evening, Arios sat in the dorm's common room with Lucy and Liza. Lucy was hunched over her notes again, though this time she wasn't panicking. She was simply determined to reorganize what she had learned during tutoring. Her lips moved silently as she wrote.

Liza, stretched across the couch with her legs dangling over the armrest, was tossing a small mana crystal up and down like a toy. Each throw caught the dim lamplight, scattering faint sparks against the ceiling.

Arios leaned back in his chair, arms folded. His mind wasn't on either of them. It was replaying the image of Garron speaking in hushed tones to the council member.

"You're staring at nothing again," Liza said suddenly, not looking at him as she caught the crystal with one hand.

Arios blinked once, then shifted his gaze to her. "I'm thinking."

"You always say that," Liza replied. "Thinking about what?"

Lucy glanced up from her notes, curious as well. "Is it about the test results?"

"No." Arios shook his head. "It's about Garron."

Both girls paused.

Lucy tilted her head. "Instructor Garron? What about him?"

"He's been meeting a council member frequently," Arios said. "Always in quiet corners. Not public places. It's unusual."

Liza sat up a little straighter, lowering the mana crystal into her lap. "And you think it's suspicious?"

"Yes." Arios's tone didn't waver. "It's not proof. But it's enough to make me wonder. If Chase is trying to build influence, Garron would be a useful piece to control."

Lucy frowned, tapping her pen against the page. "But Garron doesn't seem like the type to get involved in politics. He's strict, but fair. Why would he cooperate with Chase?"

"That's the question," Arios said simply. "Pressure. Leverage. Or maybe something else."

Liza raised an eyebrow. "You're jumping to conclusions. Maybe Garron is just passing along information about class standings. Isn't that what the council is supposed to monitor?"

"It's possible," Arios admitted. "But the timing and frequency don't fit. If it were only routine, it wouldn't need to happen this often."

Lucy chewed her lip. "So… what are you going to do? Watch him?"

"Yes." Arios's answer came without hesitation. "I'll observe first. No confrontation. No accusations. Just observation. If he's being pressured, it will show eventually."

Liza leaned back again, smirking faintly. "You really don't let anything slide, do you?"

"No," Arios said.

Then,

The following day, Arios adjusted his schedule. Instead of returning to the dorm after classes ended, he lingered in the corridors near the staff wing. He kept his distance, blending into small groups of students or pretending to study his notes while leaning against the wall.

Sure enough, Garron appeared.

The instructor moved with his usual heavy stride, carrying a folder under his arm. At first, he walked toward the staff lounge. Then, halfway there, he glanced around once before shifting into a side hall.

Arios followed at a measured distance, careful not to draw attention.

Down the hall, Garron stopped. A figure was waiting—one of the student council members. Arios noted the posture, the precise way they held their arms, the lowered tone of voice. He couldn't hear the words, but he didn't need to. The body language alone told him the conversation wasn't casual.

The exchange was brief. Papers changed hands. Garron gave a short nod, almost reluctant, before turning away. The council member left in the opposite direction.

Arios narrowed his eyes.

That wasn't routine. Routine didn't look like tension in the shoulders or curt nods that carried weight. Routine didn't involve hiding in side halls.

Something was happening.

****

Back in the dorm, Arios summarized what he saw. Lucy listened wide-eyed, gripping her quill tightly. Liza crossed her arms, thoughtful for once.

"So, documents," Liza said. "That makes it even more suspicious. Garron doesn't usually deal with paperwork outside class assignments."

"Exactly," Arios said. "And the way he reacted—it wasn't cooperative. It was cautious. Almost reluctant."

Lucy leaned forward. "Then maybe he really is being pressured."

"Maybe," Arios agreed. "But I still don't know why. That's the missing piece."

Liza tapped her chin. "If Chase is involved, it's probably something messy. He doesn't care about rules unless they work in his favor. If Garron has something to lose, Chase could be using it."

"Or," Arios added, "he could be using Garron as a bridge. Faculty have authority the council doesn't. If Chase wanted influence over punishments, permissions, or access, Garron would be a useful tool."

Lucy's eyes widened. "Like… controlling who gets expelled or disciplined?"

"Yes."

The thought hung heavy in the room.

Then,

The following days reinforced Arios's suspicion. Garron met the council member again. Always in quiet places. Always with short, weighted exchanges. Sometimes it was papers, sometimes only words, but the pattern never broke.

Arios didn't confront him. Not yet. The risk of alerting Chase was too high. Instead, he stored every detail, every timing, every sign of unease.

And with each observation, the unease in his chest grew.

If Garron was compromised, then the academy's balance wasn't just threatened by student politics. It was leaking into the faculty itself. And once that line blurred, control of the academy could shift into hands that cared nothing for fairness.

Chase's hands.

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