On a lighter time of night, Bright was heading toward the library when Bessia intercepted him in one of Sparkshire's main corridors, her golden hair catching the lamplight in ways that reminded him she'd transformed from a combat-worn healer to someone who actually looked like she could fake the part of a noble student.

"Bright! Perfect timing," Bessia called, gesturing him over. "I want you to meet someone."

Standing beside Bessia was young woman who immediately captured his attention despite—or perhaps because of—her petit stature.

Red hair fell in flowing waves past her shoulders, vibrant enough to seem almost luminescent in the Academy's artificial lighting. Her face carried a perky innocence that suggested a sheltered upbringing and naive worldview, delicate features arranged with aristocratic precision that spoke to generations of selective breeding.

Noble, Bright identified immediately. A High-tier one from his assertion based on her bearing and grooming.

Then she spoke, and the innocent appearance shattered completely.

"Bessia, who is this handsome friend of yours?" Celestine Aurin asked with absolutely no shame. "Is he for sale? I would like to purchase you."

Bright felt butterflies erupt in his stomach—a combination of attraction and complete bewilderment at the opening statement that treated him like a commodity rather than person.

What—

"Now why would you say that, Celeste?" Bessia interrupted, her tone carrying exasperated affection. "You look like a pimp now and this is just your first meeting with him."

Celestine's expression shifted to mortification as she apparently realized how her words had sounded.

"I meant—" she started, her cheeks coloring. "That came out wrong. I wasn't trying to literally purchase—I just meant he's very attractive and I was just attempting some sophisticated banter but I clearly failed completely and now I sound like I'm trafficking people which is absolutely not what—"

"Breathe," Bessia suggested kindly. "Try again. With an actual introduction this time."

Celestine took a visible breath, composing herself with effort that suggested this wasn't the first time her mouth had betrayed her intentions.

"I'm Celestine Aurin," she said more carefully. "Bessia's roommate. A First-year. And I apologize for opening the conversation with what sounded like a human trafficking proposal. That was not my intent."

"Bright Morgan," Bright managed, still processing the whiplash between the innocent appearance and the absolutely chaotic introduction. "Also first-year. From the north. And… no offense taken? I think?"

"House Aurin," Bright added after moment's processing. "As in Captain Selene's house? The mercenary contractors?"

"My father's organization," Celestine confirmed. "Which makes me sound like a mob princess but I promise the family business is completely legitimate military contracting."

That barely helps, Bright thought but didn't say.

"Bright here was somewhat our squad leader," Bessia explained to Celestine. "The one I mentioned who coordinated our defense during that holiday nightmare."

"Oh!" Celestine's expression brightened with genuine interest. "Bessia told me about that. About how you held your defensive positions while everyone else was panicking. That's genuinely impressive capability."

"It was a squad effort," Bright deflected, uncomfortable with the direct praise. "Everyone contributed."

"He's being modest," Bessia said. "He set up mostly everything and made many decisions that kept us alive when the situation was completely chaotic."

Can we please stop talking about Clear Light's Eve? Bright thought. Can we discuss literally anything else?

"Anyway," Bessia continued, apparently reading his discomfort, "I wanted you two to meet because Celestine's been observing the first-year social dynamics and noticed some concerning patterns."

"Concerning how?" Bright asked, his tactical awareness engaging despite awkwardness.

"Groups forming," Celestine explained, her earlier embarrassment transforming into analytical focus. "Not just study groups or normal social clustering. Organized factions with a clear leadership and exclusion criteria. Specifically targeting outpost recruits and common candidates."

She leaned against the corridor wall, her perky innocence replaced by political sophistication that suggested her noble education had included institutional dynamics.

"Some nobles seem to be building a network," Celestine continued. "Minor nobles, wealthy merchants' children, anyone who wants to align with what they perceive as the winning side. They're systematically isolating commoners through social pressure. Nothing overt enough to trigger instructor intervention, but coordinated enough to be a deliberate campaign."

That matches what I've been sensing, Bright thought. The uncomfortable atmosphere. The way some candidates avoid interacting with some recruits. The subtle exclusion that had felt like some natural social dynamics but had too much consistency to be organic.

"It's a bit odd and weird," Bright said carefully. "I've noticed a tendency for noble students to cluster separately. I assumed it was just their natural affinity to each other rather than an organized effort."

"Well it's both," Celestine replied. "Having the same interest provides a foundation."

"Why are you telling me this?" Bright asked. "Not that I don't appreciate the information, but you're noble yourself. A High-tier house. Why warn us paupers about our coming problems."

Celestine's expression shifted to something more serious.

"Well House Aurin's business model depends on meritocracy," she explained. "We hire the best fighters regardless of birth. We promote based on capability rather than connections. Father's entire philosophy is that talent matters more than titles."

"Plus—" She added with return of earlier awkwardness. "—Bessia's my friend. And she talks about her squad. And you all survived things that make the Academy challenges look trivial. Seems stupid to exclude people with proven capability just because they lack some noble pedigree."

Surprisingly principled, Bright assessed.

"I appreciate the warning," Bright said. "And the introduction. Even if the opening was slightly traumatic."

"I will never live that down," Celestine muttered. "Bessia's going to remind me about this 'purchasing you' comment for the rest of my Academy career."

"Absolutely," Bessia confirmed cheerfully. "That's what friends are for."

They talked for a few more minutes—Celestine providing additional details about the noble network, Bright sharing observations about what he'd noticed, Bessia mediating between Bright's and Celestine's social awareness.

She's strange, Bright thought, watching Celestine gesticulate enthusiastically while explaining some nuance of noble house politics. One moment she was precise, incisive. The next, reckless and wild. It felt like watching two minds fight for control of the same body.

All and all she was genuine. She actually cared about things beyond her self-interest. That was absolutely rare in Central from what he'd seen so far.

Eventually the conversation wound down, obligations pulling them in different directions.

"It was nice meeting you," Bright said. "Despite unconventional introduction."

"I promise next time I'll lead with something less trafficking-adjacent," Celestine replied. "Maybe just a normal greeting. Revolutionary concept, I know."

"I have faith in your ability to achieve basic social competence," Bright said with a slight smile.

"Your faith is misplaced but appreciated," Celestine returned.

They separated—Bessia and Celestine heading toward the dormitories, Bright continuing toward the training facilities where he'd arranged to meet Duncan.

That was… interesting, Bright thought.

Either a genuine ally or a snarky manipulation. Time will determine which.

He filed the encounter away, and shifted focus to his upcoming practice session with Duncan.

Time to see how this new core actually functions in a controlled environment.

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