idden D

ing voice broke through Nyxoria's thoughts, dragging her

aising an eyebrow in annoyance.

and on her arm. "We should leave," Dika said softly, her ton

hat did you say, Nasa?" she asked, her voice shar

in. "You've embarrassed all of us with your arrogance. The Emperor himself..." She paused, shaking her head in disbelief. "Do you even realize how much troubl

k, her eyes narrowing. "Trouble?" she repea

here smirking like a fool, refusing to kneel before the Emperor when he asked for everyone one of u

ghtly in a gesture of peace. "Nyx, it's not worth it,"

because I didn't kneel?" she asked, her tone mocking. "Let me tell you something,

a moment, it seemed like she might back down, but instead, she straightened, her to

Oh, I'll mark them," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But

uffocating. Dika, sensing the danger brewing, stepped in again, this time mor

sigh. "Fine," she said, allowing Dika to guide her toward the door. But as t

face burning with frustration. The sound of Nyxoria's confident

said as they walked down the quiet hallway. Her voice was calm, but there was a trace of exaspera

the last classroom in the building. It was at the far end of the ha

This shouldn't be a surprise, and for the last time, she's not my

ok at her, "annoying Nasa is one thing, but the

's none of my business. Whether it's an Emperor or not

crossed her arms. "That reminds me," she said, her voice quieter now, "the way he spoke to you... it felt like there

ightly, resting her elbows on the desk. "Why didn't you read his mind to see

as been she and Nyxoria little secret since they met, b

"I could have, but he bl

r encounter with the Emperor a few minutes ago. The way he had looked at her, the raw anger and i

e, but I can't place where, I mean it's like we've met before. It's been cracking

be you are not trying enough to remember. Whatever it is

her memories, the ones she could remember, searching for a clue, a moment, a

★

d back into Principal Archmiagus office, his presence filling the space like a t

ed sharply, his tone lea

e table. "Pace," he ordered coldly. "And while you are pacing, I want you to think of nothing but ways t

wisted in dread. Meanwhile Tharros lowered himself into Archmiagus chair, the

t lingered, wrapping around him in a way

een when they were younger, an unsettling

me. He hated himself for it, but he image of Nyxoria beneath him, writhing and moaning his name as he pounded into her, in

as he tried to banish the image. It was wrong, unaccepta

voice echoed in his mind, c

at

e from his S

in shock, his breath

ed to himself, his voic

the sound vibrating throu

ing his head as if to rid himse

ere mates the moment they saw each o