She let out a quiet, teasing chuckle.

Eran's eyes glinted. "I suppose they flee so early," he said lightly. "Perhaps a kingdom needs no audience.. only loyalty."

Miyu tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing with amusement. "And you already have mine."

The words lingered in the air long after she said them. The last of the whispers from the hall faded, leaving only the echo of quiet footsteps and the faint hum of mana crystals lighting the corridor. For a heartbeat, it was only the two of them, silence threading between their breaths.

Eran pushed off from where he leaned, closing the distance between them until their shadows merged on the floor. His tone came low, threaded with that faint teasing calm only he carried.

"Just as I have yours," he said, then tilted his head slightly toward the empty corridor ahead. "Perhaps," he added, his voice lowering even further, "you have theirs too… which makes it even more fitting—a king pretending to be a weakling."

Miyu let out a soft laugh… low and alluring. Her eyes glimmered faintly as she stepped closer. "You're always a step ahead, Eran," she murmured, her voice carrying both warmth and pride. She leaned in, pressing her full curves lightly against him—gentle, and deliberate, offering herself more. "Now you understand," she whispered near his ear, "why I call you my noble and king."

Eran's gaze lowered, with a faint smile tugging at his lips. He reached up, brushing a stray lock of her silken hair back from her face, "Makes me think, I've got a promising Queen all to myself." he murmured.

Miyu drew a slow, steady breath... almost a sigh, her violet eyes glimmering under the hall's soft mana glow. "Well," she said, her voice still carrying a mix of pride and warmth, "that makes us even."

Her gaze lingered on him for a heartbeat longer before she tilted her head slightly, "I guess you heard what Professor Girzar said earlier… about going to the Disciplinary Committee headquarters?"

Eran's expression eased into something thoughtful, his hands sliding into his robe pockets. "Yeah," he replied quietly, eyes still on her. "Seems they're serious about it this time."

Miyu nodded once, the faint shimmer of her mana line tracing under her wrist as she lifted her hand toward him. "See," she said softly, revealing the faint mark where her Nexus Core had been detached, "I took it off. Needed to restrain a little of my mana back. If I didn't, my mana would flare too wildly once the duel starts."

Eran's gaze flicked to her wrist, then back to her eyes, studying her with a quiet focus. The air between them tightened again, a shared current neither of them spoke aloud.

"I'll try not to go too hard in the duel," Miyu said after a pause, her tone dropping almost to a whisper, "not when everyone's watching."

Eran smirked faintly, tilting his head. "Oh?" he murmured. "And here I thought you'd enjoy showing off a little."

Miyu's lips curved into a dangerous smile — a queen's smile. "Maybe I would," she said. "Perhaps if i have the chance against others, but not when i'm with you Eran."

Eran couldn't help the low chuckle that slipped from him, that quiet confidence returning to his features. Having Miyu as his harem, as his noble, he thought, was already a step further than anyone could dream of.

His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer... the grace in her posture, the faint shimmer of violet mana still flickering around her wrist.

Miyu turned slightly, catching the look in his eyes, and for a moment her expression softened. "In a few hours," she said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "we're to sign the transcript at the Disciplinary Committee before sundown."

She paused for a moment... half teasing. "So, I guess you'll be ready before then, Eran?"

Eran tilted his head slightly, letting his smirk lingered. "You make it sound like I've got a choice," he said, with quiet amusement. "Not when Professor Girzar already made the final announcement."

Miyu's lips curved, her violet eyes narrowing playfully. "Hmm… fair enough," she replied, brushing her fingers across the wrist where her Nexus core once sat. "Still, it doesn't change the fact that we have to show up soon enough. The Disciplinary Committee won't wait on anyone, not even me."

Eran let out a soft breath, his tone almost teasing. "And here I was hoping nobles had their own rules."

A short laugh slipped through as she stepped a little closer, her robe brushing faintly against his arm. "We do," Miyu said, her voice low and amused. "But this time, we play by the academy's."

For a moment eran's gaze dipped in thoughts, then slowly let out an amused smirk, "Guess I'll make sure not to keep my queen waiting."

"Good, hope to see you soon, Eran" Miyu gave a faint reply with an amused smile, turning with the smoothness of a trained noble, her robe sweeping lightly as she began walking down the corridor.

Eran watched her go, his hands sliding back into his pockets, eyes narrowing slightly with that same calm, unreadable expression. But beneath it, the thought flickered like fire; Every step forward, brings me closer to what i want.

The mana lamps along the hall flickered faintly as he followed her path toward the exit, their footsteps echoing through the quiet academy corridor.

***

Later in the day, the sun had begun to dip behind the spires of the academy, casting long golden shadows across the courtyard. The entrance to the Disciplinary Committee Hall swelled with movement and murmurs... nobles gathering in elegant clusters, their robes lined with shimmering crests of their houses.

Whispers fluttered through the air like restless mana.

"Did you hear? They're really signing the duel transcripts today."

"Yeah… the list's sealed by Girzar himself."

"And I heard Miyu's name was the first to reach the top register."

Eran walked in from behind, his steps unhurried yet precise. His gaze lifted toward the wide archway before him.. carved marble and rune engravings that glowed faintly blue, pulsing with the academy's crest. A faint exhale slipped from his lips.

He hadn't been wrong. This wasn't just a hall, it was a sanctum of authority itself. The ground where order met power. The true disciplinary heart of the hierarchy.

As he crossed the threshold, the air shifted.. thicker, heavier with mana pressure that demanded respect. The nobles that filled the hall glanced back momentarily, their expressions mixed with pride, curiosity, and disdain. Some whispered softly, their tones dripping with mock amusement.

"Look… the commoner showed up."

"Hmph, bold of him to even step foot here."

"He must really think he can stand against Miyu."

Eran ignored the noise, his gaze steady as he passed through them. The polished floor mirrored his stride, his shadow blending with the faint golden sheen of the mana lamps. Ahead, a long table stood beneath the academy insignia.. six senior enforcers seated behind it, the scroll of names unfurled before them, glowing with binding magic.

He could already sense her before seeing her — Miyu, standing at the front of the line, her silken violet hair catching the light as she leaned slightly against the marble rail, composed and regal.

For a moment, her gaze shifted, catching him, that same faint curve playing at her lips, silent and knowing.

Gradually, one after another, each student stepped forward to sign in.

Of course, Miyu was the first. Her name was etched at the very top of the register.. bold, precise, and glowing faintly with violet mana as the quill ink sealed her crest. The faint hum of the binding spell followed, marking the completion of her signature.

Whispers rippled immediately through the hall.

"She really signed first…"

"Of course she did. She's Miyu."

"Guess she's already marked to win."

Miyu straightened, her robe swaying lightly as she turned. The faint blue light from the mana torches caught along the curve of her hair. Her gaze drifted again... locking briefly on Eran standing a few paces behind the rest. For a fleeting second, her lips curved into a soft, private smile no one else noticed. Then she turned, walking with that same quiet poise toward the outside entrance, her presence leaving a hush behind.

Gradually, the line moved forward again. Each noble stepped up in turn, signing their names upon the glowing transcript, the air thick with pride and unease. The faint scratch of quill against parchment echoed beneath the vaulted ceiling, sealing one crest after another with shimmering light.

From where Eran stood at the back, the mana glow from the transcript reflected faintly in his eyes. He could hear their whispers.. sharp, mocking, and layered beneath false laughter.

"The commoner's still here?"

"Hah, waiting for his turn to get crushed."

"Let him sign. It'll make his defeat official."

Eran said nothing. His arms remained folded, his expression calm, unreadable.. until the quill floated back to the center once more, glowing softly in invitation.

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