CHAPTER 31: The Thirty-First Fracture

We were still eating—five days left until the fight.

I glanced across the table at Alric, curiosity scratching at the edge of my mind.

“So… I’ve been wondering. You’re strong—our fight proved that. But are you the strongest student at this academy?”

Alric paused, fork hovering midair, a piece of roasted chicken glistening with sauce. Then he gave a short, humorless laugh.

“Not even close.”

That caught me off guard.

“Seriously?”

He leaned back, arms crossed now, his expression unreadable.

“I like to act superior. Keeps people from asking too many questions. But there are two students here who could wipe the floor with me—without even trying.”

Saaya and I exchanged a look.

“Two?” I blinked. “But… you’re absurdly strong. Even unsealed. And we’re not counting Yuuka, right?”

“No. Yuuka’s on her own tier,” Alric said. “I’m talking about real students. Both of them are about to graduate—probably out on their Final Path. The academy sends top students on journeys before they leave: magical refinement, personal mastery, all that.”

Saaya leaned forward, interest sparking in her eyes.

“So they won’t be around for the inter-academy brawl?”

“Doubt it,” Alric said, voice carrying a note of disappointment. “Would’ve been nice to have Karna on our side.”

“Karna?” I repeated, filing the name away.

He nodded.

“One of the two. People come from every corner of the world to study here. Floating nations, bloodline dynasties, elemental clans. Karna’s from a nation where strength is law—but he doesn’t follow their path. He fights to protect, not to conquer.”

Saaya tilted her head, thoughtful.

“That’s… rare.”

“He is,” Alric said quietly. “He’s the kind of person who’ll throw himself into a fight to save someone he just met. Gentle as they come outside battle. But once he’s in it…? He becomes something else entirely.”

A moment passed. I broke the silence.

“What about the second one?”

Alric hesitated, eyes darkening.

“Avalon.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“That’s… not a name you forget.”

“No. And she’s not someone you can forget. Her power’s… hard to explain. From what I’ve seen—and what little anyone actually knows—she’s never been touched in combat. Not once.”

“Never?”

Alric shook his head slowly.

“Apparently, she generates a defense field—some kind of visible barrier that reacts on instinct. But it doesn’t just block. It reflects, redirects… distorts. You can’t break it unless you have an attack that can pierce the eleventh dimension.”

I blinked.

“The eleventh dimension?”

Alric’s smirk returned, but this time there was a chill behind it.

“Yeah. That’s the rumor. Most people can’t even perceive that level of space—let alone strike through it.”

I clapped my hands together, breaking the weight of the conversation.

“Well, we’ve still got time,” I said, rising from my seat. “Let’s go find Lyra. If there’s even a chance Karna could return early, it’s worth the ask.”

Saaya nodded, already on her feet.

Alric hesitated, then sighed and pushed back his chair.

I knocked twice.

“Enter,” came Lyra’s voice—cool, controlled.

We stepped inside. The principal sat behind a desk that looked like it had swallowed half the academy’s secrets. Her eyes barely glanced up as she signed a document with a floating quill.

“Make it quick,” she said without looking. “I have more important things to do than entertain visitors.”

I squared my shoulders.

“Lyra, we want to know if it’s possible to contact Karna. We need him as our fourth for the inter-academy brawl.”

At last, Lyra looked up, her gaze sharp enough to cut through stone.

“How do you know who Karna is?”

Her eyes flicked to Alric, who shifted awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Uh… I might have mentioned him once or twice,” Alric mumbled.

Lyra’s smirk was cold.

“You might have mentioned him. That sounds about right.”

She folded her hands, voice dropping an octave.

“Final Path students are effectively cut off. If I can even reach him, he may not respond. And if he does, don’t expect him to come running because a bunch of students asked nicely.”

Saaya stepped forward, voice firm but hopeful.

“We understand the odds. But it’s worth trying. We’ll take whatever chance we get.”

Lyra’s eyes flicked between us like a calculating hawk. Then she nodded slowly.

“I’ll send a message through the sanctioned channels. But that’s as far as I can go. Don’t mistake my effort for a promise.”

She waved a hand dismissively, already reaching for another stack of papers.

We exchanged looks. No guarantees, but at least there was a chance.

Alric dropped onto the nearest chair, exhaling.

“Well, if Karna doesn’t show, who else are we supposed to call up? I’m drawing a blank here.”

I met Saaya’s eyes.

“We’ll figure it out.”

The days slipped away as we searched—every corner of the academy, every familiar face, hoping to find someone willing and able to join our team.

We pitched the idea, made offers, even begged a few… but each time, the answer was the same:

“No thanks.”

“Too busy.”

“Not trying to get crushed.”

It wasn’t just rejection—it was defeat wrapped in excuses. No one wanted to be the fourth name on a losing team.

With each passing day, the frustration grew. Saaya’s gaze hardened. Alric’s confidence slipped. And I… I started wondering if we’d already lost before it began.

But giving up wasn’t in the plan.

So, we took a break. And more importantly—we got food.

The cafeteria was half full, the air thick with the smell of roasted meats and spices. Trays clattered. Students murmured. But all of it faded beneath the irritation boiling in my chest.

“UGHHH, THIS IS POINTLESS!” I groaned, slamming my tray onto the table and collapsing into the seat.

“Calm down, Sukara,” Saaya said, gently taking my hand.

“We’ll find someone.”

I glanced at her hand wrapped around mine—and the anger cracked, just a little.

Alric looked up.

“So… are you two dating yet?”

We both froze.

My face went red.

“Uhh—well—I mean…”

I scratched the back of my neck.

“It’s not really official or anything, we’ve just been—”

“Really?” Alric cut in, smirking.

“Could’ve fooled me. You think I didn’t notice how she looked at you during our fight? Like the rest of the world didn’t exist.”

Saaya glanced down, then quietly turned to look at me.

In a soft voice, barely above a whisper, she said,

“I mean… I guess we can make it official?”

I blinked at her.

Her golden hair framed her face, her eyes steady and full of quiet fire. She gave me a small, unsure smile that hit harder than any battlefield moment ever could.

“Yeah,” I said. “Let’s make it official, Saaya.”

She leaned into me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I held her, warmth blossoming in my chest.

Alric laughed.

“Finally.”

But then—everything shifted.

The air behind us stilled. Too quiet. Too sharp.

Alric’s laughter trailed off as a shadow loomed behind him.

He turned slowly—just as I looked up.

A student stood there. Not one of ours.

He wore a crisp white uniform with black trim, a slim tie neatly knotted at his throat, and a silver crest pinned to his chest—foreign, unfamiliar.

His short blond hair was combed back with military precision, and his piercing blue eyes locked onto me like a sniper.