The room smelled of dust, old parchment, and dried mana ink.
It had become their unofficial war room—quiet, hidden, and far from the ears of anyone who mattered. The old council chamber wasn't used anymore, but Elyra had claimed it weeks ago… and Noel never asked why.
He stood near the table, arms crossed, while Elyra moved a scroll aside and laid down a thick, folded list.
"They finalized it," she said. "Twenty names. Across all three years."
Noel didn't move.
"The new S-Class dormitory roster."
She unrolled it slowly.
Neatly inked names glowed faintly under the candlelight. In a perfect, almost ceremonial order.
Selene von Iskandar
Elyra von Estermont
Seraphina of Valor
Dior of Valor
Myriel von Astralis
And then, just a few lines down—
Noel Thorne
He blinked once. But didn't react, he expected that much, maybe others don't know him but Nicolas does.
