Leo’s eyes went wide, looking around the room as if he expected someone to be listening in.
"Shhh." He placed a finger on his lips. "Keep your voice down. Do you want us to be punished?"
Noah didn’t care.
He simply made his way to a chair. He took a seat, leaning back with his arms folded across his chest as his eyes pinned Leo in place.
"To be more specific, I’m not here about the monolith itself," he continued in a normal volume.
"I want to know about the gang. The one that gave you access to the monolith."
Leo froze. His mouth opened, then closed. His hands fidgeted at his sides. "That’s... Noah, that’s not something I can just—"
"Don’t waste my time." Noah’s voice was low, but there was an unmistakable hint of something dangerous in it.
Even Leo felt his heart begin racing. He’d seen a bit of what Noah could do, when they were in the monolith together.
And he knew that if push came to shove, he’d have no chance against the man.
Noah leaned forward again, his orange eyes gleaming. "I’m sure you can imagine what I went through in there. And the changes it has done to me since."
"Do you really think I’ll sit here and play nice while you stall me?"
Leo swallowed hard, the color draining from his face. "You don’t understand. These people... they’re not the sort you go looking for."
"I’m not asking," Noah said softly, and somehow the softness carried more threat than if he had shouted. "Tell me where."
Leo’s shoulders slumped, his resistance crumbling.
He rubbed his palms on his trousers as if trying to wipe away his nerves.
"Fine. There’s a part of the capital... south side, near the river docks. Broken Lantern district. You’ll find them there."
"They run a small smuggling operation. They’re called the Ash Serpents. Whatever you want from them... that’s where you’ll get them."
Noah studied him for a long, silent moment. Then he stood. "Good."
Without another word, he walked to the door.
Leo called after him, but Noah didn’t respond.
The door shut softly behind him, the quiet click sounding like a final nail in a coffin.
The corridor outside was now empty. Noah moved through it with long strides, his mind already running ahead of him.
The Ash Serpents. That was his next lead.
Through them, he would trace the web that connected Bruno, the potion, and Snake.
He tried to create an image of the red-haired man in his mind’s eye from the description he’d been given.
If he met the man on the street, would he recognize him? He gritted his teeth at the thought.
As he crossed the academy grounds and returned to the first-year dorms, he felt the blood rushing through his veins.
There were no shadows in his head screaming for violence, but right now, he craved it more than anything else.
Snake was out there, hiding in the city’s underbelly.
Noah intended to drag him out.
[][][][][]
The seventh day of the week arrived with sunlight filtering through the thin curtains of Noah’s dorm window.
He stood before his wardrobe, fastening his shirt with a blank look on his face.
His boots followed, snug around his ankles, and he strapped his satchel over his shoulder.
He straightened, holding his worn leather cloak in his hand. He wouldn’t wear it just yet.
Instead, he slipped it into his spatial ring. He’d need it later, once he was in the capital. For something... different.
With that settled, he left his room and walked the familiar route to the cafeteria.
The moment he pushed through the double doors, a wall of sound hit him.
The place was packed, voices overlapping in a hundred different conversations.
Laughter, teasing, and shouts filled the air. After all, it was the seventh day.
Students were allowed to leave the academy today, and the excitement in the air could practically be tasted.
Noah grabbed a tray and filled it quickly, not caring for chatter or stares, then found a seat in a relatively quiet corner.
He had just begun eating when a chair scraped loudly across from him.
"Morning, partner."
Noah didn’t even look up. "Fuck off, Arlo."
Arlo grinned as if the insult was a pliment, already digging into his own food.
"Touchy as always. What’s the plan for today? Don’t tell me you’re going to hole up in a training hall the whole day. That’s boring."
Noah didn’t respond, spooning food into his mouth. Silence worked better than words with Arlo.
But Arlo never minded silence. "Lucky for you, I came prepared."
"I’ve got tickets to the colosseum fights. Prime seats." His grin widened knowingly. "Not easy to e by, you know."
That made Noah pause mid-bite. This was one of the avenues of his investigation.
If he could somehow trace the ticket seller to the people that had taken Juniper that day, it would be a win for him.
After all, if they sold it to her, then they knew where she would be.
He lowered his spoon, his gaze flicking up. "Where did you get those?"
"Wouldn’t you like to know." Arlo leaned forward, smug. "I’ll tell you... if you e with me today."
Noah sat back, chewing slowly.
Weekend tickets were notoriously hard to procure, often snatched up by nobles and merchants before moners even saw them.
The fact that Arlo had them didn’t surprise him, but the offer did tempt him.
However, Arlo was not the only noble in the academy who could get those tickets.
And that meant Noah had other options.
Not to mention the fact that he had other priorities today. Like the Ash Serpents, which could lead him to Snake.
That was his path today.
He shook his head. "Not interested."
"Oh, e on," Arlo pressed, theatrically clutching his chest. "You’ll miss me sitting ringside with some pretty girls, while you brood somewhere."
"Declined," Noah said flatly, picking his tray back up.
Arlo sighed, then shrugged, a mischievous smile wide on his face. "Well, it’s your loss."
Breakfast ended quickly after that.
Noah ignored the chatter and laughter of the other students, carrying his tray back before heading out.
The academy grounds buzzed with anticipation, groups of students forming and making plans for the day.
Some bragged about heading into the markets, and others about planned visits to the noble districts.
But Noah walked alone.
Soon, his steps carried him to the academy’s massive gates.
Students streamed out, laughing and joking as they crossed into freedom for the day.
Noah slowed as he reached the threshold.
The last time he’d walked through here, he’d left with Juniper.
The memory came, tinged with a hint of bitterness.
He could still remember the aftermath of that day, as clear as if it happened yesterday.
The incidents of that day had ended with his arrest. With accusations and suspicion cast on him as if he were the criminal.
The air outside these gates had been tainted ever since.
He exhaled, long and slow. That was then. Now was different.
His orange eyes hardened.
Drawing in a steadying breath, Noah straightened his shoulders and took his first step beyond the gates.
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