CHAPTER 151: LEAVING THE ACADEMY

Morning came too quickly for Jae. He had barely slept the night before, the king’s letter lying on the desk across from his bed like a heavy shadow.

Even when he turned away, the weight of it pressed against his thoughts, filling his chest with a pressure he could neither name nor dispel.

He rose with the dawn, washed quickly, and dressed with quiet precision, each movement deliberate. If he couldn’t control where he was going, he could at least control how he presented himself when he left.

When the hour came, he crossed the courtyard to meet Elise and Yuna. Both girls were already waiting, their faces pale in the early light.

Elise stood straight as always, her long hair tied neatly behind her, though the stiffness in her shoulders betrayed her unease. Yuna, by contrast, shifted from one foot to the other, her hands clutched tightly in front of her.

"You’re really going," Elise said first. Her tone was calm, but her eyes lingered on him in a way that was almost accusatory, as though the decision was his to make.

Jae gave a small nod, slipping his hands into his pockets. "The summons isn’t something I can ignore. You know that."

Yuna bit her lip. "But... how are we supposed to protect you if you’re all the way there?" Her voice wavered. She wasn’t asking just about his safety.

She was voicing the deeper fear: the distance, the separation, the possibility that they wouldn’t see him for weeks, months, maybe longer.

Jae let out a soft sigh, then offered the faintest smile. "I’ll be fine. The palace is safer than anywhere else, isn’t it? If anyone’s a target, it’s me here, not there."

Yuna shook her head, clearly unconvinced. "It’s not just about safe. You’re... you’re you. Things happen around you. How can I sit here knowing I can’t do anything?"

Elise’s gaze softened, though she remained composed. "You’re sure you don’t want us to come? At least for a while?"

Jae’s lips curved in something between amusement and regret. "Do you think the king would allow that? I’ll be under enough scrutiny as it is. Bringing you both along would only add fuel to the fire."

Neither girl had a counter to that. Elise lowered her eyes, and Yuna crossed her arms, chewing on her frustration. Jae stepped closer, resting a hand briefly on Yuna’s shoulder, then on Elise’s. His eyes lingered on each of them in turn

"I’ll come back," he said, his voice quiet but steady. "Don’t waste your time worrying about me. Use it to get stronger. Next time we see each other, I expect you to have caught up."

Elise let out a sharp breath, almost a laugh, though it carried no real humor. "You’re impossible."

"And stubborn," Yuna added, glaring at him through the shine of her eyes.

Jae smiled faintly. "And you wouldn’t have me any other way."

Before either of them could reply, the sound of wheels against stone drew their attention. The carriage rolled into view, black lacquered wood glinting in the light, the king’s crest emblazoned in gold on the door.

Two armored riders flanked it, their presence a reminder of how serious this summons truly was.

Jae’s jaw tightened. For all his calm words, the sight of the carriage twisted something inside him. It was no longer a possibility, no longer a distant order. It was real, and it was here.

"Guess that’s my ride," he muttered.

As the carriage came to a halt, another figure appeared, Byun. His arrival was loud as always, his boots clattering against the stones, his grin wide despite the tension in the air.

"Of course you’d be the one getting carted off to the palace," Byun said, clapping a hand onto Jae’s back. "Couldn’t just keep your head down like the rest of us, could you?"

Jae huffed, though the edge of a smile tugged at his lips. "Guess not."

Byun leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Just be safe in there, You don’t have anything to worry about, trust me."

Jae gave a slight nod. "Okay, I’ll try."

Still, Byun wasn’t content to leave things heavy. He threw his other arm around Jae’s shoulders and gestured toward the girls. "Look at them, faces so long they could sweep the ground. You’d think you were heading for execution, not luxury."

Elise shot him a withering look, and Yuna muttered something under her breath, but the faint tension in their posture eased all the same.

"Don’t let him fool you," Byun said with mock solemnity. "He’s probably going to eat better than the rest of us, sleep in feather beds, and spend his days sipping wine while we’re stuck here with dull lectures. Poor, poor Jae."

Jae chuckled, shaking his head. "You don’t even like lectures."

"Exactly," Byun grinned. "And now I’ll have to suffer them without you making things interesting. Tragic, really."

The laughter was brief, but it helped. For a moment, the heaviness lifted, replaced by the familiarity of friendship. Yet as the armored guard approached and opened the carriage door, the reality pressed back down again.

Byun’s hand lingered on Jae’s back. "Seriously, though. Take care. Come back."

Jae met his gaze, the two sharing a quiet understanding. "I will."

Turning back to Elise and Yuna, Jae paused. He didn’t like goodbyes. He never had. But he owed them something, even if words felt insufficient. "I’ll see you guys later"

Elise gave a small nod, though her lips pressed tight together. Yuna’s fists clenched, but she whispered, "You better not make me regret trusting you."

Jae smirked. "When have I ever?"

Neither answered.

With a final breath, Jae stepped into the carriage. The polished wood smelled faintly of oil and cedar, and the cushions dipped beneath his weight.

He leaned back, eyes falling once more to the figures outside. Elise stood tall despite the heaviness in her gaze. Yuna’s hand lifted slightly, as if she wanted to reach for him but held herself back. Byun gave a jaunty wave, grin firmly in place despite the solemnity in his eyes.

The guard shut the door with a dull thud. The courtyard outside grew smaller as the horses lurched forward, hooves striking rhythm against the stones.

Jae watched through the window until the figures blurred, until the courtyard itself disappeared from sight.