Outside the headmaster office.
The door next to which Calum stood was massive, carved and decorated with all five house beasts, their forms crafted from polished metals and embedded gemstones.
Calum pushed it open, stepping inside.
The office was mess. Books were everywhere—stacked on shelves, piled on the floor. And strange kinds of objects filled the gaps between them: glass orbs, jars of colorful liquids.
And in the center of it all sat Headmaster Marty behind a wooden desk, his face filled with barely controlled anger. And when he looked at Calum.
"Calum Warden." The name came out harsh. "Do you think, you're a noble. So, you can do whatever you want in my academy? The nerve of you, brutally injuring another student like that.”
But before Calum could respond—that he'd not planned to—the Headmaster grabbed a thick book from his desk and threw it, hitting Calum in the face.
SLAP.
"If you're planning to give me excuses, don't bother." The Headmaster continued, rising from his chair."I don't want to hear it. We've already decided your punishment."
He snapped his fingers once and from the door behind Calum two guards stepped inside, walking straight to him and grabbing both his arms in tightly.
"You are suspended for One month," the Headmaster declared. "Don't show your face here until that time has passed. Guards—remove him from the grounds."
Immediately they dragged Calum out. To which, he didn't resisted. He simply let them pull him along through the corridors while students began gathering to watch.
Word had spread quickly, and soon a crowd followed at a distance—Phoenix Tower students, classmates, even John and Jena standing near the back with pale faces.
But none of them said anything.
Not the people who'd called themselves his friends just hours ago. Not the housemates who'd congratulated him. Nor his own family members. Not even John, who owed him everything.
They all just watched in silence.
Calum understood why. The world was never about friendship, love or loyalty—it was always about power. The Headmaster had ordered, and to go against him would mean risking their own futures. Who would throw it away for someone else?
No one.
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This was where all the kinds of illusions shattered and reality showed its face. And Calum had always known this, so he didn't even look at them as he passed.
One of the guards leaned close, as he tightened his grip. "Kekh, brat. If it weren't for your status, you'd have been expelled already."
His voice lowers."But I'll be waiting for the day you will do it again, you fucking noble."
They reached the gates. And without warning, the guard threw Calum forward. He stumbled and fell on the ground.
"Get out!!"
Calum stood slowly, brushing the dust from his clothes. He turned and looked back towards the gate, where guards were shouting at students to return inside. But there, standing apart from the crowd, was James.
He met Callum's eyes and gave a small nod, then turned and walked away.
Watching him leave. Calum took a deep breath and smiled.
"Finally…… I'm out"
The gates closed behind him and Calum began walking down the empty road.
ONE WEEK AGO
The library was nearly empty that evening. Only Calum sat alone at a corner table, surrounded by books that he had read completely.
Footsteps approached from behind him,
“Jame’s.” Hearing his name james glanced around to make sure they were alone before pulling out the chair across from Calum and sitting down without invitation.
"You wanted to talk, Calum," James said, keeping his voice low.
Calum closed the book in front of him and looked up, meeting James's eyes directly. "I want to get outside the academy for a few weeks.”
“ WHAT!" But before James could say anything more.
“And I need someone on the inside to make sure things go according to what I want."
James' eyes widened, intrigued.
"Okay, wait, why would you want something like that?"
But Calum continued his words.
"Your family—the Fords—they're minor nobility, aren't they?” James raised an eyebrow “ Heh, don't worry, what I mean is that your family isn't quite powerful enough to move up and not weak enough to be stuck in the middle."
James's expression hardened slightly, but he didn't deny it.
Calum leaned forward, "Help me with this, and in future, I'll help your family….The Warden name still carries weight, even if I'm the third son. One word from me in the right ear, one recommendation to the right person, and your family could rise. Or at the very least, your family could secure advantages they wouldn't get otherwise."
For a long moment, James said nothing. He was only twelve, but he understood how power worked. His father had taught him that much.
Nobles didn't rise through hard work—they rose through alliances, favors, and knowing when to take calculated risks.
Finally, James nodded slowly. "Alright. What do you need?"
Calum smiled. “I need a target. Someone rash minded, someone with poor self-control, someone who can be provoked into attacking me publicly."
"Nolan," James said immediately, and there was a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "He's perfect. But I have a question?"
He paused after seeing the look on Calum's face.
“I am not asking why do you want to go outside but it's—why do you need someone who hits you, how will this help you?”It was a genuine question.
“Mmm, as expected from the Ford family or…the Fox family.” James smiled at this comment.
“Well, it's easy,” Calum then broke down the plan, finally giving James the answer along with the important information.
…….
“ After that, the headmaster can only suspend me for weeks, and he will do it.”
“Why”
Calum leaned back in his chair.“Because he hates nobles and the reason for it is that there was a time, he was once called the bastard of the Traven Family.”
“How did you..,” But Calum stopped him and said with seriousness.
“Let's not waste the time, tell me about this Nolan now.”
James thought for a moment.
“He is a commoner and ah,” his eyes lit up. "Jena. He's been following her around like a puppy for weeks, but If she showed interest in someone else—"
"Especially if that someone was me." Calum finished.
After this conversation they started their work immediately.
First James introduced Calum and John to the group where Nolan and Jena were also part of.
And then they all started wandering around the academy, and with Calum's handsome face and noble manners he showed as if interested in Jena and James also worked here in his own ways.
IN THE CAFETERIA.
When Calum had asked about the prince and princess that afternoon, he already knew about them. But he asked anyway, and knew Jena would answer it and she did.
Her eyes had lit up when he thanked her—sincerely, with that slight bow of his head which nobles gave to those they respected—or loved, her cheeks had flushed red.
Perfect, Nolan watched the entire thing with growing jealousy in him. The seed was planted and all it needed now was time to grow and atleast to be harvested.
THE COMMON ROOM.
When Nolan had dropped to one knee in front of Jena and confessed his love.
Calum waited as he knew the show was about to start. And when Jena's gaze landed on him and didn't move away, and Nolan followed her gaze and saw where she was looking.
The next—the first punch hit Calum square in the face. Then came the second and the third. He let them land. He needed the common room to see this, every witness to watch Nolan lose his mind and start a fight for no reason at all.
Only then did Calum fight back and when he did, he broke Nolan’s nose and knocked out a tooth— leaving enough damage that would require infirmary and couldn't be ignored. He needed the punishment to be guaranteed.
It was a risky game but he played it well.
