The trio huddled near the edge of the training grounds during the short morning break, the crisp air biting at their cheeks. The first subject, The North was as grueling as the winter peak, but their minds were far from class.

  “Interesting skill,” Kana murmured, arms crossed, her gaze distant. “You think she’ll be able to keep up?”

  “She claims she can set it up in a minute,” Suri replied, rolling her eyes. “But under pressure? No chance. I say two to three minutes minimum. That’s if she doesn’t freeze completely.”

  Boris puffed his chest, fists resting on his hips. “Doesn’t matter. I think I might be a match for him this time.”

  Kana turned toward him, “Sorry. Let me handle this. You’re going to help me with something else.”

  Boris frowned, then let out a breath through his nose. That tone—there was no budging her once she decided.

  “You three are plotting something again…”

  The new voice snapped their circle apart. Rin walked over, suspicion plain on her face. Yuri trailed behind, clutching her staff close. “It’s obvious now.”

  Suri gave a soft laugh.

  Boris tilted his head toward the field. His grin faded. “Roy’s still down. Been days now. We should do something before he sinks further.”

  Kana followed his gaze. Roy sat hunched on a bench, vacant eyes staring through the bustle of the training field.

  “Well…” Kana grinned, “If everything goes well, I might just get him the best gift he could ever hope for.”

  Suri narrowed her eyes. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

  Kana didn’t answer. Not yet.

  ….

  They had planned to raid a dungeon with Leo this week. That would have been simpler, cleaner. But after Kana received the invitation from him, everything changed. Priorities had to change.

  The promised day arrived faster than any of them wanted—first night of the weekend, the sky a sheet of ink, the air sharp with winter’s bite.

  Suri crouched by the wrought-iron fence of a noble mansion. A shimmer passed over her, the air bending as her illusion wrapped around her body. With a practiced leap, she vaulted the fence, boots whispering against the stone. Her form blurred, then vanished completely into the night.

  An open window glimmered faintly ahead. She slipped inside, almost soundless.

  “You’re… here.”

  Chelle Pint stood in the middle of her room, her hair tangled from sleep, thick woolen pajamas wrinkled and clumsy on her slim frame. She hugged herself against the cold. “As you told me, I’m still wearing this.”

  Suri only gave a quiet nod. Her staff twirled once in her hand, and with a ripple of light, the illusion birthed itself.

  [Dopleganger]

  A second Chelle stepped forward. Same brown hair, same freckles dotting pale skin. Same sleepy expression. She climbed into the bed and curled up beneath the blankets, breathing with the rhythm of slumber.

  Chelle blinked, awe softening her tired face. “This is… me.”

  “My illusions can do this.” Suri winked, her voice hushed but edged with pride. “If someone checks in on you, they’ll only see you sleeping beautifully and peacefully.”

  Chelle bit her lip, then reached for a thick cloak and pulled it over her pajamas. She snatched up her staff, her hands trembling, though whether from nerves or excitement even she couldn’t tell.

  “Hold still.”

  Suri pressed a palm to her shoulder. Threads of invisible mana wrapped around Chelle’s body, anchoring to her skin like faint strands of light. “This will cover us, they will only see something beside us, an illusion trick..”

  A moment later, the window whispered shut behind them.

  With Suri carrying her aloft under the cover of illusion, they drifted across the darkened streets until two familiar shadows emerged near the edge of the district. Kana stood with arms folded, her red eyes glinting even in the low torchlight, while Boris shifted from foot to foot, impatience written on his face.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  …..

  “You’re finally here,” Boris said, lowering his spear.

  “They had some special warding in place.” Suri landed lightly, her breath misting in the cold air. She popped the cork of a small vial and gulped down its contents. “Flying with another person still burns mana faster than I thought.”

  Chelle shifted her cloak tighter and gave a small, formal bow. “Hello. I’m Chelle Pint, [Sorcerer], third year, silver class.”

  Kana’s eyes narrowed, sizing her up. “Right. First time meeting us.” She gestured lazily between herself and Boris. “I’m Kana. That grump is Boris—”

  “I know,” Chelle said, smiling faintly. “You three are… quite famous.”

  Kana’s grin sharpened. “Suri told me about your skill. Can we test it here and now? You’ll have enough mana left to use it later, right?”

  Chelle hesitated, then nodded. “As long as the test is brief.”

  She raised her staff. “[Nullify Zone].”

  A ripple of purple light spilled out, crawling across the ground until it touched Kana’s boots. Kana’s instinct flared—she called for [Dagger Assault], then [Dagger Pierce]. Nothing. Her hand remained in the air.

  Beside her, Boris let out a grunt of disbelief. He swung his spear, tried to trigger his skill, [Giant Spear]. The size remained stubbornly, no surge of size or glow. “What in the—”

  Kana tilted her head, thoughts flickering. An old memory whispered back to her—system basics she’d long since dismissed. Skills could be blocked, but only if party permissions overlapped. Otherwise…

  Her eyes narrowed as she willed the interface open.

  [Invite Chelle Pint to join your party?]

  [Yes]

  [No]

  She thought [Yes]. The system response.

  [Error: The target is already in a party.]

  Kana’s gaze snapped to Chelle. “You’re in a party?”

  Chelle blinked, flustered. “Party… well, I think so. My friends and I sometimes go to low-level dungeons as part of our preparation for the annual tournament. We must have formed one then.”

  “Looks like I don’t have a choice.” Kana folded her arms, her tone sharp, deliberate. “I’ll teach you how to leave your party. Then I’ll invite you into ours. That way your skill won’t affect us.”

  “You can do that?” Chelle’s grip on her staff tightened. “Outside a dungeon?”

  “It was an accident discovery. I guess.”

  Kana shouldn’t tell her. But he might get away again and she wasn’t sure if she could defeat him without skill. She had no choice this time.

  ….

  “Uhm… guys. Where are we?” Chelle’s voice wavered as they stepped down the last stone stair.

  The world below opened up before her.

  Unlike the sleeping capital above, the underground district was alive in the middle of the night. Lanterns strung along crooked beams bathed the cavern in amber light, as bright as midday. Stalls lined the narrow streets, hawking sizzling skewers of meat, steaming bowls of soup, roasted nuts, and drinks that smelled far stronger than any academy brew. The air was warm—humid, almost—like a hidden furnace breathed beneath the earth, so different from the biting cold above ground.

  Merchants shouted to passing customers. Blacksmiths hammered away at glowing metal, the clang ringing over the crowd. Weapons gleamed from open racks—blades, spears, crossbows—sold as casually as bread rolls. Shady corners teemed with gamblers, their dice rattling against makeshift tables. Pickpockets weaved between bodies, bold as cats in their own territory.

  Chelle stared wide-eyed. “So many people… it’s like a festival down here.”

  Boris smirked. “You mean you don’t know about the underground district?”

  “So this is it?” she breathed, eyes darting from stall to stall. “I’ve heard rumors… My parents probably know, but… is it illegal to even be here?”

  “Illegal?” Boris shrugged as a group of rough-looking mercenaries brushed past. “Everything here is. No taxes, no records, no oversight. The kingdom knows it exists, but it pretends not to.”

  “Ohh!”

  “Don’t be impressed by him.” Suri said,”It was Kana who told him last time.”

  Chelle drew her cloak tighter, uneasy despite the warmth. The air was thick with smoke and spice, sweat and steel.

  “Are… we going to meet someone here?”

  “No,” Suri said, eyes sharp as she scanned the crowd. “We’re going to sneak outside the capital walls.” She tilted her head toward Kana. “Right?”

  Kana gave a curt nod. “We can’t risk through gates. Not with someone of your status.”

  Chelle bit her lip. “Then… who are you going to meet?”

  Kana stopped, lanternlight cutting across her face, shadows carving it sharper. “An old friend.” Her tone left no space for questions. “Just follow Suri’s instructions later. Do exactly as she says.”

  The underground noise seemed to fade for a moment. A gambler’s laugh echoed, then the faint hiss of a roasting pan. And then Kana’s gaze locked onto Chelle, colder than any steel in the weapon stalls.

  “Remember this, Chelle. Whatever happens tonight—” her voice dropped, quiet but heavy, “—must be forgotten.”

  They were probably doing something reckless—dangerous even—but Chelle couldn’t bring herself to care all of a sudden. Not when her heart beat like this. Not when every corner turned into a new page of the stories she had once only read about.

  From sneaking past her house, witnessing the underground district, and now on their way outside the capital hall—this was all uncharted territory for her.

  Her upbringing as a noble had never prepared her for this—the rawness of it all. She should have been terrified. Instead, she felt… very alive.