Chapter III: Shadows In Crimson

The moon hung low over Kurenai Gakuen, its pale glow filtered through the high, arched windows of the Academy’s labyrinthine halls. The building seemed alive tonight, pulsing with anticipation as whispers of the Crimson Council’s trial rippled through the student body. For the elite students, the stakes were simple: emerge victorious, or risk losing everything.

In the shadows of the East Wing, Raven Solace moved like a phantom. The dim light played off her jet-black hair, the crimson streaks glowing faintly as if they burned with her energy. Her polished boots made no sound against the marble floors, and her crimson eyes were razor-focused. She held the coin tightly in her gloved hand, a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips.

Raven wasn’t just a participant in this game. She was the storm others feared, the hunter everyone hoped wouldn’t cross their path. And tonight, she was determined to prove why.

Elsewhere in the academy, Cy Vance leaned against a cold iron railing that overlooked one of the courtyards. The faint hum of the night breeze ruffled his onyx-black hair, and his soft red eyes gleamed in the moonlight like molten rubies. He spun his crimson coin between his fingers with practiced ease, letting its metallic chime cut through the silence.

“Don’t tell me you’re sitting this one out, Vance.”

The voice was sharp, arrogant, and familiar. Cy didn’t even bother turning to face the speaker.

“Ah, Kano,” Cy drawled, his voice smooth and dismissive. “I was wondering when someone would come looking for me. Let me guess—you’re here to make an alliance?”

Kano, a third-ranked student with sharp green eyes and a penchant for brute force, stepped into the light. His leather gloves creaked as he adjusted them, his weapon—a serrated chain whip—resting casually over his shoulder.

“Alliance? Don’t flatter yourself,” Kano sneered. “I just wanted to see if the great Cy Vance was as overrated as I’ve heard.”

Cy turned his head slightly, a lazy grin spreading across his face. “Overrated? Now, that hurts. And here I thought I was everyone’s favorite underdog.”

Kano’s expression darkened, his chain whip slithering down like a viper ready to strike. Cy pushed off the railing, standing upright with fluid grace. His collapsible staff rested at his side, but he didn’t reach for it. Not yet.

“Careful, Kano,” Cy warned, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. “I might be lazy, but I don’t take kindly to interruptions.”

Meanwhile, deeper in the Academy, Raven slipped into an abandoned library. The shelves stretched to the ceiling, filled with ancient texts and forbidden knowledge. The scent of dust and leather filled the air, but Raven wasn’t here to read. She crouched low, her dagger drawn and ready. Her crimson eyes scanned the room, searching for movement.

A faint sound—a footstep, no louder than a whisper—drew her attention. She tightened her grip on her blade, her heartbeat steady.

“Come out,” she called, her voice calm but commanding. “If you think you can catch me off guard, you’re even dumber than you look.”

A shadow peeled away from the corner, revealing a figure clad in black. It was Aerin Kuroda, another elite ranked sixth—quick, lethal, and known for her poison-laced needles.

Aerin smiled, her movements serpentine. “Raven Solace. I was hoping we’d meet. I wanted to see if all the hype around you was justified.”

Raven rose to her full height, her crimson eyes narrowing. “You should have hoped for something else, then.”

The tension between them was suffocating, the room electric with the promise of violence.

Cy vs. Kano

Back in the courtyard, Kano snapped his chain whip with a deafening crack. The serrated edges sparked as they scraped against the iron railing, and the air between him and Cy shimmered with raw tension.

Cy yawned dramatically, stretching his arms. “You always this loud? Or is it just for me?”

Kano snarled, launching the whip in a vicious arc toward Cy. But Cy was faster. With a fluid motion, he flicked his wrist, and his collapsible staff extended, the razor-sharp edge slicing through the air.

The whip struck the staff with a metallic clang, sparks flying. Cy sidestepped effortlessly, his movements almost lazy, but his eyes burned with focus.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Cy taunted, spinning the staff in his hand like a baton. “I expected more from someone so desperate to prove themselves.”

Kano growled, yanking the whip back and lunging forward. This time, Cy didn’t dodge. Instead, he stepped into the attack, the edge of his staff catching Kano’s weapon mid-swing. The force sent a shockwave through the air, but Cy held his ground, his smirk never faltering.

“Let me teach you something,” Cy said, his voice low and cutting. “The difference between a winner and a loser isn’t strength. It’s control.”

With a sudden burst of speed, Cy twisted the staff, disarming Kano in one smooth motion. The whip clattered to the ground, and before Kano could react, Cy brought the blunt end of his staff to his throat.

“Lesson over,” Cy said, stepping back and letting the staff retract.

Kano stumbled, his face pale with rage and humiliation. Cy turned on his heel, walking away without a backward glance.

Raven vs. Aerin

In the library, Aerin lunged, her needles flashing in the dim light. Raven moved like water, her dagger slicing through the air with deadly precision. The clash of metal echoed through the room, a symphony of violence.

Aerin’s attacks were relentless, her movements unpredictable. But Raven was calm, controlled, every strike deliberate.

“You’re fast,” Aerin admitted, her voice breathless. “But you’re not invincible.”

Raven smirked, her crimson eyes glinting. “No, I’m just better.”

With a sudden burst of speed, Raven closed the distance between them. Her dagger flashed, and Aerin barely managed to dodge. But Raven wasn’t aiming for her directly.

Aerin froze as she realized too late—Raven’s blade had severed the straps of her weapon pouch. The needles spilled to the floor, useless.

Raven pressed her dagger to Aerin’s throat, her expression cold. “If you ever think of coming after me again, I won’t stop at disarming you.”

Aerin swallowed hard, nodding. Raven stepped back, lowering her weapon.

The Crimson Thread Draws Them Together

Later that night, as the moon climbed higher into the sky, Cy and Raven crossed paths in the academy’s central garden. Neither of them spoke at first, their eyes meeting in the dim light.

“You had fun tonight,” Raven said finally, her tone unreadable.

Cy smirked, slipping his hands into his pockets. “You could say that. And you?”

Raven tilted her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “It’s always fun when someone else does the hard work for me.”

Cy chuckled, the sound low and rich. “Careful, Solace. If you keep being this charming, people might start thinking you like me.”

Raven’s smile widened, but her eyes remained sharp. “Don’t flatter yourself, Vance. I just enjoy watching you play the fool.”

As they parted ways, the unspoken tension between them lingered in the air, a promise of something yet to come. For now, the game continued, but both Cy and Raven knew—this was only the beginning.

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