CHAPTER 18: RACE AGAINST THE RANKINGS 3

Aegis poked at her oatmeal.

"Sooo, we practicin’ again today?" Scarlett asked, to Aegis’s left.

"Of course. I need to improve," Aegis replied. She looked up at Lune, who was doing the same as she was, only several times more slowly. Lune looked up at Aegis, and Aegis turned her eyes away.

[... What is Lune’s deal?] She wondered.

"Just asking. Honestly, I’m surprised you can still even move after how I pounded you yesterday."

Aegis raised a brow, pushing away a blush.

"You wish."

Scarlett threw an arm casually around her.

"I might not be the only one wishing that, hehe."

Aegis failed to hide her blush this time. The phrase "25 cm" rang through her skull again and she wanted to slam her head into the wood.

The dining hall doors burst open. Dean Whitmore marched in, flanked by prefects. Students fell silent.

"Attention!" His voice boomed across the hall. "The Annual Autumn Gala will be held in two weeks. A formal celebration of academic excellence."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Aegis perked up.

[Right. The first major social event. Where alliances form and reputations solidify.]

"Noble students are automatically invited," Whitmore continued. "Commoners may earn invitations through exemplary performance or faculty recommendation."

Translation: "Kiss someone’s ass to get in or stay home."

Aegis’s Maid’s Earring tingled. Across the hall, Varyn whispered to his cronies.

"—Starcaller won’t get within ten feet of that gala. I’ll make sure of it."

"How?" One lackey asked.

"Simple. Let everyone know about the... dubious nature of her scores, and no professor will risk their reputation sponsoring her."

[Yeah, we’ll see about that.]

Whitmore droned on about dress codes and proper etiquette. Aegis tuned him out, already planning. The gala was crucial. Missing it meant losing face and falling behind socially. Two things she couldn’t afford if she was going to be an important force in the events to come.

"You listening?" Scarlett nudged her.

"Every word."

"Liar." Scarlett grinned. "What, too busy plotting world domination?"

"Maybe."

Lune set down her spoon.

"The gala is pointless."

Both girls turned to stare.

"It’s just nobles preening," Lune continued, voice flat. "Nothing meaningful happens."

"Except networking, romance, and political maneuvering," Aegis countered with a smile. "You know, the fun stuff."

Lune shrugged and returned to her oatmeal.

[Definitely hiding something. If you were that disinterested in parties, why would you even be in this academy?]

---

Between Artistic Expression and Strategic Thinking, Aegis had twenty minutes free. Perfect for her first singing lesson with Liora.

The practice room was tiny, just a piano and two chairs. Liora waited inside, sheet music spread on the piano bench.

"You came!" She smiled brightly.

"Wouldn’t miss it." Aegis closed the door. "Fair warning, I wasn’t lying about being terrible."

"Everyone starts somewhere." Liora patted the bench. "Sit. We’ll begin with breathing."

Aegis sat, hyperaware of their thighs touching. Liora smelled like vanilla and old books.

"Place your hand here." Liora guided Aegis’s palm to her own stomach. "Feel how I breathe. Deep from the diaphragm, not the chest."

[... Right, I have a Grace of 1. This is going to be painful.]

"Now you try." Liora moved Aegis’s hand to her own stomach. "Breathe deep. Hold. Release slowly."

Aegis tried. It felt awkward, unnatural. Her body refused to cooperate.

"Better!" Liora encouraged. "Now, scales. Just follow my lead."

She played a simple melody. Aegis attempted to match it.

What emerged sounded like a cat being strangled. By another cat. Who was also being strangled.

Liora winced but kept smiling.

"That’s... a start! Try again, but relax your throat."

They continued for ten minutes. Aegis improved from "dying animal" to "sick animal." Progress.

"You’re too tense." Liora stood behind her, hands on Aegis’s shoulders. "Here, let me—"

The door slammed open. Princess Talia swept in, yellow eyes narrowed.

"Ah, still feeding the needy, I see." Her gaze flicked between them. "You haven’t changed at all, have you, Liora?"

Liora’s hands dropped.

"Talia. What are you doing here?"

"I have the room reserved next." Talia’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. "Though I wasn’t expecting a... duet."

Aegis sighed softly.

[Right. Former childhood friends turned bitter rivals. The "flame" and "ice" of Queen of Hearts, right here, bickering in front of me. Classic route conflict.]

Aegis almost wanted to just lean back and watch it happen.

"We were just finishing," Liora said quietly.

"Were you?" Talia circled them. "Tell me, Starcaller, does she charge for these lessons? Or are you just her first of many charity cases?"

"..."

Yeah, Aegis could just leave them alone...

But she had a much more fun idea in mind.

Aegis stood, stepping between them.

"Oh my god." Both girls looked at her. "This is painful to watch." Aegis gestured between them. "The lingering looks. The way you both keep glancing at each other’s lips. "Please." Aegis rolled her eyes. "You two need to either fight properly or just make out already. This weird dance you’re doing? Exhausting."

"WHAT!?" Talia’s face went red. "How dare you suggest—"

"W-We’re not-"

"I’m merely saying, ladies, that you’re both hot and clearly have unresolved feelings." Aegis leaned against the piano. "Seriously, the sexual tension is suffocating. Just kiss and get it over with."

"There is NO sexual tension!" Talia’s voice cracked.

"Sure, sure." Aegis smirked. "That’s why you’re breathing heavy and Liora’s biting her lip."

Liora immediately stopped biting her lip.

"I wasn’t—"

"Look, I get it. Former besties, some drama happened, now you’re enemies." Aegis waved dismissively. "But this whole ’I hate you but also remember when we braided each other’s hair’ vibe? Just kiss already."

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Talia fled the room, door slamming behind her.

Silence.

"That was..." Liora stared at the door. "How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Make her run away." Liora turned back. "She never backs down from anything."

"I... like to think I know her type. Girls like her, who want to turn the world into their own personal playground, just hit them with some unexpected horniness and they short-circuit."

Liora giggled despite herself.

"That’s ridiculous."

"But also effective."

[STAT INCREASE: Grace +5 (1 → 6)]

[Basic muscle memory for performance established]

"Same time tomorrow?" Liora gathered her music. "Maybe with less... interruptions?"

"Looking forward to it."

---

They parted ways, Aegis heading to Strategic Thinking while Liora disappeared toward the library. The singing lesson had been disasters, but the Talia encounter? Pure gold.

[Two birds, one stone. Progress with Liora and flustering Talia. Today’s shaping up nicely.]

Strategic Thinking passed in a blur of military history and tactical theory. Aegis took notes on autopilot, mind already jumping ahead to evening.

Shadow magic lessons with Nazraya.

The academy felt different at night. Empty hallways echoed with every footstep. Shadows stretched longer, darker.

Aegis reached Nazraya’s classroom and knocked softly.

"Enter."

She pushed open the door and froze.

Professor Nazraya sat at her desk, black hair loose around her shoulders. Her robes pooled on the floor.

And her skirt was hiked up to her waist.

One elegant hand wrapped around her cock, stroking lazily while she read a book.

"Ah, you’re here." Nazraya didn’t look up. "I was beginning to think my pet had run off."

"..."

Aegis couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Her eyes locked on the casual display of Nazraya pleasuring herself like it was nothing.

"A shame." Nazraya turned a page. "I may have enjoyed chasing you... if only to feel your neck snap beneath my fingers."

She finally looked up, red eyes gleaming with amusement. Without breaking eye contact, she tucked herself away and smoothed down her skirt.

"Close your mouth, pet. You’ll catch flies."

Aegis’s jaw snapped shut. Her face burned.

[What the fuck. What the actual fuck.]

"I—you were—"

"Masturbating?" Nazraya stood, robes falling into place. "Yes. I find academic texts rather stimulating. Don’t you?"

"That’s not—I mean—"

"Just as eloquent as last time," Nazraya glided closer. "Tell me, did you enjoy the show? Your body suggests you did."

Aegis glanced down. Her uniform pants were tented.

[God damn it.]

"Well, regardless, how was your practice today?"

"My... what?"

"Shadow magic, pet, work with me here. Did you practice the exercises I showed you?"

"Oh. Yes." Aegis tried to focus on anything except the memory of Nazraya’s hand moving up and down. "I managed three shadow bolts before exhausting my Aether."

That was a lie. Her mana was just 10. But, she figured she should make herself less pathetic or else Nazraya’s "I want to kill her" instinct would just intensify. Like a child’s desire to smash an ant with their thumb.

"Pitiful. But expected." Nazraya stopped behind her. "Tonight, we work on efficiency. Using less energy for greater effect."

"How?"

"The same way one does anything worthwhile." Nazraya’s breath tickled her ear. "Through pain, dedication, and a complete disregard for conventional morality."

Her hands settled on Aegis’s shoulders.

"Shall we begin?"

Aegis gulped.