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Chapter 33
~Spring’s POV~
"Good morning, Noxshade Academy," a smooth voice sang from the intercom. "This is your student council vice president with a quick update. Intra-School Activity Week begins today!"
I barely spared a side glance as I kept walking.
"Sign-ups are now open for all friendly matches and trials. Indoor gas include spell chess, elixir relay, and summoner’s bluff, while our outdoor events feature illusion races, beast-tag, and the classic elental duel ring."
"Seriously? Who would be dumb enough to partake in high-risk gas?" I muttered under my breath.
"Oh! And don’t miss this sester’s surprise showcase. That’s all for now, play fair... or at least look like you are."
I rolled my eyes and kept walking.
But then—ping!
And again.
And again.
All around , phones were chiming with notifications as everyone started bringing out their phones and looking at it.
I stopped for a mont as I felt my own phone buzz in my bag. The students nearby were already unlocking their screens, eager to see what was happening with great enthusiasm.
"Another alert?" soone muttered behind .
"Oh shiii... Fuck off, I am definitely side bettering."
"Hush, not so loud, idiot," another student corrected the third.
My gaze locked on them and they lifted their heads to see . Imdiately, they scurried off before I could ask them what was going on.
Tsk!
"What’s going on?" I asked the nearest person, so fae boy with glowing shoes and a mouth full of sugar crystals.
He looked up, eyes wide and glittering. "Underground Gas just launched," he whispered like it was forbidden.
"What?"
"The real gas," he said, lowering his voice. "Organised by the student council, totally separate from the school’s official events. No rules. No teachers. Just duels, dares, illusions, and chaos. Side betting’s where the real fun is: predicting outcos, ranking contenders, gambling credits, favours, power tokens..."
My phone buzzed again.
He continued, "It’s mostly anonymous. Half the school watches. The other half bets. That cute announcent from earlier? Just a smokescreen. Right after the official stuff ends, first-sester tests hit like a dragon to the face as well, so yeah, like throwing candy at a baby and taking it back. Also, underground gas are how people... prepare."
The information all felt like brain overload as I watched him explain. But just as I thought I’d be free of their useless gas, another chi.
I groaned as I pulled out my phone and unlocked the screen.
[Incoming Challenge: You’ve been selected for a duel.]
Opponent: Savage Sly
Category: Public Match — Hall A
My brow arched. "Savage Sly?" I murmured.
The boy gasped loudly like he’d seen a ghost and then he shook his head.
"Oh no. The demon princess picked you." My brows furrowed deeply. "If you have another chi, it ans the top ten pro gars just challenged you to a duel."
"I don’t get. Wait. Who is... Savage Sly?"
"Savage Sly, the demon princess, is none other than Madelyn Priece."
As soon as he said that, I lifted my gaze when I sensed a familiar presence, and there she was across the hallway.
Savage Sly.
"No matter what you do, do not duel with her or you lose and beco her house pet."
I blurred his words at the back of my mind and focused on the girl before .
Her hair was pulled up into a whip-tight ponytail. Dark lipstick. Combat boots. Spiked cuffs. Standing at the far end of the hallway, arms crossed, phone in hand.
Her eyes t mine, and even from across the crowd, I could see it: the subtle fear in her eyes, probably from our last encounter.
Behind her, a girl placed a hand on her shoulder and pressed, as if to subtly reassure her. Madelyn tilted her chin, trying to mask her emotions.
"Ga on, bitch," she mouthed and walked away but instead of being worried like the worried little fae pumpkin, my eyes narrowed and I let myself smile.
"Ga on."
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~Spring’s POV~
The lunchroom was already bustling by the ti I walked in—tal trays clattered, voices overlapped, and the sll of garlic bread and greasy fries filled the air.
I was halfway to my usual quiet corner when I spotted Eva flailing her arms like a traffic flag.
"Spring! Over here!" she called, waving so wildly she almost knocked over her soda.
I blinked once. Twice. Then sighed.
"Soone’s had sugar," Jade muttered inside .
I made my way over. Eva scooted to make space between herself and Chloe, while Nari patted the empty spot like she owned the whole cafeteria bench.
"We saved this for you," Eva said brightly, cheeks flushed with glee.
"Clearly," I murmured, settling in. "What’s gotten you so... sparkly?"
"She saw the list," Nari said, leaning in conspiratorially.
"The what?"
"The Gas list," Chloe chid, flicking her rune bracelet. "The interschool activities. This is Eva’s first sester, so she’s geeking out."
Eva nodded furiously. "I didn’t know schools did stuff like this! Combat duels, elental races, spell puzzles—it’s like a fantasy RPG. I LOVE it."
I tilted my head. "It’s just a distraction."
Nari blinked. "Distraction?"
I picked up my soda and took a long sip. "The school uses it to exhaust students with excitent. Once the finals of the gas end, they dump surprise assessnts on us."
"Rude," Eva muttered.
"Smart," Chloe corrected.
"So," Nari asked, scooping mashed potatoes, "you’re not playing?"
"Of course not," I said coolly. "I don’t fight for the Student Council’s amusent."
"Okay... but what if soone challenges you?" Chloe asked.
I paused mid-sip and slowly set the can down. "Reject it and... oh no. I won’t reject it."
It was then that the realisation hit . For a mont, I had forgotten my challenge with SS.
All three girls froze. Their heads turned toward in sync.
Chloe leaned in. "Wait. Did... did soone challenge you?"
I sighed and stabbed a piece of honey-glazed chicken with unnecessary aggression. "Yes. they did."
Eva gasped like I’d just revealed a plot twist. "By who?"
I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I tilted my head slightly to the side... and smiled.
Their eyes followed mine across the cafeteria to where she was.
Madelyn.
Sitting at a separate table with her hair curled, her lip gloss glowing, and her laughter as fake as her sympathy.
I didn’t need to say her na.
But I did anyway.
"The Savage Sly."
Chloe’s fork dropped with a clatter. "No way."
Nari’s jaw literally fell open. "Wait—wait, wait, wait. You’re telling that she challenged you? Like, actually challenged you?"
Eva blinked, confused. "Who is she?"
Chloe turned to her with wide eyes. "Savage Sly is..."
"Madelyn Prierce," I finished for Chloe.
"Yes. It’s her underground alias. She’s one of the undefeated senior champion of the dueling league," Chloe explained.
"She’s a monster," Nari added. "Reputation-wise. She earned her nickna through cheating."
Eva went still.
And then... I saw it.
That light in her eyes?
It flickered out. Her hands trembled as she picked at the crust of her sandwich, and her back curved inward, like she was shrinking.
"Eva?" I asked. She didn’t answer but her aura changed.
It was fear.
I felt it like static on my skin.
Jade’s voice dropped in my mind. "That reaction is fear."
I turned toward Eva again. Her lips parted as if to speak... but no words ca.
"Shit," I whispered under my breath.
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