“Oh sh*t… not them,” I muttered under my breath, stiffening mid-step.

  It was the Yuhana family vehicle.

  The rear window slid down.

  Adina Yuhana leaned out, waving energetically.

  “Clumsy Nour! Why are you standing there? Get in! Let’s talk!”

  Childish. Innocent. Overflowing with energy, as always.

  Behind her sat Neptunidon Yuhana, head of the Yuhana family.

  Massive frame. Stone-carved face. Cold, abyssal eyes.

  He felt like a Thalassian version of my father.

  I straightened immediately, adopting the composed demeanor expected of a noble child.

  “Good morning. And isn’t that my dear opponent? What an honor.”

  I slid in beside Adina, hoping the faint scent of seaweed cigarettes clinging to me had faded.

  Then—

  “HAHAHA!”

  A booming laugh shook the cabin.

  “I’m looking forward to that fight,” Neptunidon said. “I have high hopes for you, little Ghadhanvar.”

  We learned at school that Thalassians grow slowly, but they don’t really stop growing. With age, they just keep getting bigger, much like crocodiles and certain snakes that continue growing as long as their nutrition allows it.

  Their males are noticeably bigger and rougher-looking.

  Adina was my age, yet she was significantly smaller than me and far more childish-looking.

  Her older sister, my teacher, on the other hand, was nearly the size of a young human woman.

  Their father was simply the normal height of a tall Thalassian at his age.

  Which was still terrifying.

  “What an honor, sir,” I replied, forcing warmth into my smile. “Though I must apologize in advance. I won’t be going easy on your daughter just because you’ll be watching.”

  “HAHAHAHA!”

  The second burst of laughter was even louder than the first.

  I nearly wet myself this time.

  “That’s the spirit! You truly are Ghadhanvar’s son. Pity your parents will miss this show.”

  My pulse skipped.

  To think I had laid a hand on his elder daughter just hours ago…

  Adina punched my arm playfully, her small fist landing without real force.

  “Oh please, don’t flatter yourself, brat. Don’t hold back!”

  The exact same line her sister had used before I burned half her face in the marsh.

  A smirk escaped me at the irony, along with a faint replay of the marsh training from earlier.

  A mistake.

  Across from me, one of Madame Yuhana’s fingers paused for the briefest second above her board. Just a fraction. Then it resumed.

  I’d heard she was a Psycho-Sage level, and that little reaction just about confirmed it.

  Her gaze lifted slightly.

  It certainly felt possible that she sensed my fresh memories.

  Cold crept into my veins.

  I forced myself to avoid thinking about last night and, of course, anything related to Teacher Yuhana.

  I forced myself to keep my mind empty, focusing only on trivial and casual conversation.

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  The vehicle slowed.

  “Alright, children,” Neptunidon said. “We’re here. Head to class. I still have matters to discuss with the principal.”

  We stepped out.

  As I adjusted my bag, my eyes drifted briefly toward Madame Yuhana.

  A faint shadow of a smile touched her lips.

  She raised one finger before her mouth. Silence.

  My heart dropped.

  I turned too quickly and nearly stumbled.

  “Easy there, jumpy!” Adina chimed brightly, bursting into a bubbly little laugh. “Already scared of me? Relax! You’re my friend. I know how much of a clumsy loser you are. I’ll go easy on you!”

  She winked.

  Inside my head:

  "Stupid girl, don't wink in front of your parents!"

  “Spare me the huffing and bluffing,” I replied evenly. “Show me what you’ve got on the field.”

  She beamed. “Alright. You asked for it, my dear.”

  Dear? Calling me that before your family?!

  She ran ahead to join her friends, leaving me in this awkward situation after being suspiciously friendly with me.

  “Young Ghadhanvar.”

  Neptunidon’s voice was calm. Controlled. Terrifying. Even his attempts at cheerfulness were frightening.

  “It seems my daughter has developed quite the pleasant relationship with you.”

  I forced a polite smile.

  “That is kind of you to say, Lord Yuhana. Your daughter is a wonderful and friendly person. I understand your concern as a father, though. Allow me to assure you that she is far too innocent and kind-hearted for anything inappropriate.”

  But in my mind,

  "But her older sister certainly isn’t."

  That was where I slipped.

  Not in words.

  In thought.

  For a fraction of a second, fresh memories surfaced, uninvited and far too vivid. Last night in the inn, her teasing voice and laughter, this morning’s training, the way she looked at me, they all rushed back at once.

  The kind of thing Psycho magic catches first.

  Madame Yuhana inhaled softly.

  Subtle.

  Almost amused.

  She tilted her board slightly toward her husband, as if showing him something to distract him.

  But her eyes flicked toward me again.

  Smiling.

  I bowed slightly.

  “I’m taking my leave, Lord Yuhana.”

  I turned to walk away.

  Then suddenly,

  A mature woman’s voice flowed directly into my mind.

  “Impressive. You managed to hide the freshest layer of your mind longer than I expected… little noble.”

  Cold ran down my spine as I stiffened.

  “Don’t stop walking. Don’t look back,” she ordered calmly.

  “Your little secret with my dear, foolish step-daughter is safe… for now. You should be grateful I am in a generous mood today. Just never forget whose daughter will stand on that field against you.”

  I continued walking, maintaining a normal composure, the echoes of her telepathic voice still ringing inside my head.

  My heart didn’t pound. It simply stopped.

  Teacher Yuhana always said she was a creep. Now I finally understood why.

  Moments later, as I was walking down the main corridor, something slammed into my back, a metallic box, and before I could react, chains burst out of it, coiling around me like a python and locking tight.

  "Hey— what the?"

  The more I struggled, the tighter they pulled.

  After a moment, I realized it wasn’t a single chain but several, all feeding from the same box pressed against my back.

  "Hoho, look what we got here."

  That obnoxiously cheerful voice. That jerk.

  "Good morning, clumsy Nour," the pesky shorty added.

  "Good morning, Shorty Woulner," I shot back. "New toy of yours?"

  "Hohoho, you sure can say so, my ol’ pal! My latest invention, the Spider-Metallic-Grid-Grip!"

  I stopped struggling and gave him a deadpan look.

  "Bruh… you serious? The what-grid-grip? Dude, that name is even worse than the Switch-Wrench-Ratchet Screw. Seriously, man, do you huff glue while naming your inventions?"

  "Oh, shut it, you!" he snapped. "I don’t wanna hear that from someone named Noureyn? Ghadhanvar!"

  "That’s rich coming from Woulner Bjarnkrog. You’ve got the ugliest name in the school."

  "You dare? I’ll show you the wrath of the honored descendants of the great Bjol—"

  Clink.

  The chains loosened. The box rattled, then dropped to the floor.

  "Wha— what? How?!" the dwarf shrieked.

  "You gave me enough time to escape your trap, shorty." I stepped free as his little toy clattered uselessly. "You forgot I’m a chemio-mage, loser. Give me a few drops of aqua regia and a little time, and your precious grid-grip is out for the season. But it’s not bad, actually."

  I nudged the ruined device back toward him.

  "It’s good, though. But it won’t work in the fighting exam today. It only worked because you ambushed me."

  He sighed dramatically, stuffing the broken contraption into his massive backpack.

  "You heartless freak… what did you do to my beautiful art…"

  Then he straightened up and joined me.

  "This one’s still under development. I’m using my dear Tectonia for the fight. That arrogant electro-elf won’t stand a chance. I’ll put that pointy-eared wimp in his place."

  I laughed and bumped his shoulder.

  "Oh dear, how romantic. A geo-dwarf and an electro-elf, how historical."

  He looked up at me with a crooked smirk.

  "Oh, I’m quite sure about that, dear friend. Plenty of house lords are here. They’re curious about you. After what happened with your siblings these past few years… you made it in the end, huh?"

  "Ugh. For crap’s sake, don’t remind me. And stop comparing me to my siblings. It’s insulting."

  "Touchy today, are we?"

  The mechanized echo of a voice followed by the sharp click of heels came from a nearby door.

  "Good morning, little ones. Ready for today’s exam?"

  She stood before us, a petite humanoid robot with polished silver limbs and softly glowing optic lenses, calling us “little ones” despite being shorter than Woulner.

  "Good morning, Ms. Vinni," we replied in unison.

  "I guess I’m ready," I said.

  "Absolutely ready!" Woulner declared.

  "Glad to hear that, my children."

  Then she tilted her head slightly toward Woulner.

  "Dear Woulner, I know it’s exam day and you’re probably busy, but would you be a sweetheart and give me a hand for a moment?"

  "Yes, ma’am!"

  Ms. Vinni was a new robo-contractor, still unfamiliar with our world’s ways. Woulner had naturally taken to offering himself as her unofficial mechanical assistant, in other words, her pet.

  "Dear Ghadhanvar, forgive me for borrowing your friend for a few minutes."

  "Not at all," I said with a grin. "He’s not that important anyway."

  Woulner was already inside her office, inspecting maintenance equipment, completely ignoring me. He’s a good friend, but this shorty just can’t stop drooling over mechanical scrap.

  Alright.

  Time to put the final touches on my plan to defeat Adina.