The Creighton family—one of the seven superpowers of the world. A dynasty that ruled half of the Northern continent with the kind of quiet, unshakable authority that came from generations of undeniable dominance.
Like the other superpowers, their bloodline had produced Radiant-rankers every two generations, an unbroken legacy of power. But unlike most, they didn't rely on brute strength, monstrous bloodlines, or warrior traditions. No—the Creightons were spellcasters.
And they were the best.
Better than the Tower of Magic in the Slatemark Empire, better than any academy, sect, or order. The Creighton family had single-handedly crushed the idea that mages were weaker than warriors—and they had done so for centuries.
And now Rachel, the second princess of that family, had just invited me into their estate.
I considered her offer carefully, mentally calculating how this might fit into my broader plans.
"Why do you…" I began, genuinely curious about her motivation.
Rachel scratched her cheek, looking vaguely embarrassed, as if she had just suggested something completely normal and not wildly out of place. "I know you probably want to meet your family over the break," she said, a little too casually, "but honestly, if you have time, come to the Creighton estate."
She turned and started heading for the exit—only to pause mid-step, pivot, and walk straight back to me.
"By the way," she asked, "what kind of relationship do you have with Kali Maelkith?"
An interesting question. My dealings with Kali were useful but private – not something that needed to become common knowledge.
"Relationship?" I replied evenly.
"Yeah," Rachel said, her voice light but her curiosity anything but subtle. "She came out of your room in Ophelia."
Instantly, I felt every single gaze in the room sharpen.
Some with intrigue. Some with amusement. Some—like Ian's—gleaming with outright entertainment.
Cecilia, still lounging at her desk, let out a slow, delighted chuckle.
"Nothing of consequence," I replied with a dismissive shrug. "Just discussing tactics from the Mock War."
A simplified truth that revealed nothing of substance. Let them interpret it however they wished – misconceptions could be useful diversions.
Rachel raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching slightly.
"Oh right," Lucifer suddenly chimed in from behind me, his voice perfectly smooth. "You were the one who eliminated her, weren't you?"
The way he said it made it sound far more suspicious than it actually was.
Rachel considered that for a moment, then smiled.
"Alright," she said, as if deciding to drop the matter entirely. "Come to the Creighton estate, okay?"
Before I could respond, she reached into her pocket and handed me a small sapphire plaque.
The moment it touched my palm, I felt a flicker of golden mana seep into my skin.
Rachel's mana.
Her Gift.
I closed my fingers around it, analyzing the faint pulse of energy lingering in the object. This was no mere invitation – it was an official sanction from a Creighton princess. Potentially useful.
Then, before I could comment, Rachel turned on her heel and departed, her golden hair catching the light as she disappeared through the door.
Ian looked entirely too entertained.
Lucifer just smiled knowingly, which was somehow more telling than if he had outright laughed.
As I examined the plaque in my hand, I noticed Seraphina staring at it intently.
She wasn't saying anything. Just watching.
I met her gaze evenly, curious about her interest.
Seraphina didn't tilt her head in amusement like Cecilia, or grin like Ian. She just stared, her expression as blank as ever, doll-like in its complete lack of emotion.
Her silence was more intriguing than any reaction could have been.
Then, without a word, she simply stood up, turned around, and left the classroom.
I watched her go, then looked back at the plaque in my hand.
Interesting.
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"Wow, you got a fancy plaque from a princess," Rose said, completely deadpan, pretending to be utterly impressed. "How cool. Arthur, moving up in the world."
She clapped with exaggerated slowness, her expression deliberately blank.
"You should be on stage with that performance," I replied dryly, leaning back in my chair. "The drama department is missing real talent."
Rose grinned, dropping the act. "Okay, jokes aside," she said, "why the long face about it?"
"It's not the invitation itself," I said, turning the small sapphire plaque over in my fingers, feeling the weight of it. "It's what comes attached. Rachel basically handed me a free pass to the Creighton estate. That's not just a casual invitation. It's a deliberate move."
"Well, are you going to go?" Rose asked, her gaze curious as she popped a piece of fruit into her mouth.
"Probably," I admitted. "It aligns with certain interests."
If I wanted my Beast Will, I needed to get to Isle of Azure Breeze, a remote island off the Northern continent's coast. And getting there would be infinitely easier with Rachel's assistance—not just because of her strength, but because of her family name.
A Creighton princess could open doors that would otherwise remain firmly shut.
Rose narrowed her eyes, then grinned mischievously. "Oh, I see. Don't forget this lowly being when you start dating a mighty princess, Sir Arthur Nightingale." She pressed her hands together in mock reverence and bowed her head with exaggerated deference.
I flicked a grape at her, which she caught effortlessly. "Your loyalty has been noted and will be rewarded appropriately in my new regime."
"I demand at least a duchy," she replied without missing a beat. "And exemption from taxes."
"Bold of you to assume you'd get anything more than court jester," I countered.
"Please," Rose scoffed. "You're Rank 1 now. A princess gave you a plaque to her palace. Kali Maelkith, daughter of a major Western family, came to your room in the night. And yet—"
"Ah, so the rumor mill is functioning efficiently as always," I interrupted, more amused than concerned. Academy gossip was as inevitable as breathing – getting worked up about it was pointless.
"Oh, that?" Rose said, innocence personified. "Everyone knows, Arthur."
"Of course they do," I replied, rolling my eyes. "Let me guess – Ian's network?"
She tapped her chin, mock thoughtful. "His friend probably saw her coming down from your floor."
"The beauty of incomplete information," I said with a slight smirk. "People always fill in the gaps with the most entertaining possibility."
Rose studied me for a moment, then tilted her head. "So nothing happened? Just... tactics?"
"Just tactics," I confirmed, taking a sip of my drink. "Though I won't deny that fact that I simply don't care about rumours."
Rose laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible. Most people would be mortified by these rumors."
"I'm not most people," I replied with a shrug. "And neither is Kali. Let them talk."
"So fearless," Rose teased, reaching over to steal a pastry from my plate. "What's next after conquering the academy rankings? World domination?"
"One step at a time," I replied with a smile. "First the Creighton estate, then we'll see."
Rose's eyes glinted with amusement. "Well, when you're ruling everything, remember who your real friends were."
"Don't worry," I assured her. "I keep excellent records."