The courtyard still buzzed faintly with the aftermath of Rynn’s duel against Hyper Fang. The cobblestones were scorched, the air heavy with the scent of magic and tension. Rynn had walked away victorious, as he always did, leaving behind a stunned academy still grappling with what they’d witnessed. But while the crowd dispersed, deeper within the biodome bs, something far more dangerous was unfolding.

  Cora had always been overlooked. She was the Bunnykin with the sweet smile, the dancer who moved like poetry, the baker whose treats brought comfort to everyone. But none of it mattered. She was invisible, always on the periphery, never the center. She had mana, skill, and talent, but it was never enough. Not enough to be seen the way she wanted to be.

  Not the way Rynn Yogini was seen.

  She watched him, studied him, memorized the way he commanded a room with his presence alone. The chaos he wielded so easily, the way the world seemed to bend around him. She was drawn to it, obsessed with it. And maybe, just maybe, she wanted to be part of it.

  But there was always a wall—a wall named Aria Velshade.

  Aria was impossible to ignore. The perfect warrior, Rynn’s devoted sword and shield. She was pristine, unwavering, untouchable. And after her mysterious disappearance, Cora had dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, she was gone for good.

  But she came back.

  Stronger. Deadlier. Even more devoted. A Battle Maid.

  Cora clenched her teeth every time she saw her. It wasn’t fair. Rynn didn’t need her. He already had too many people clinging to him—Sylvia Brightmane, Mira Dusktail, Zeta King. They were always there, orbiting him like pnets around a sun. But Aria? Aria was different. What if she wasn’t serving Rynn by choice? What if she was being controlled?

  The thought consumed her, curling around her mind like poison.

  Cora had spent years honing her craft in the academy’s bio-alchemical studies. She had access to things most students couldn’t dream of touching. And she had the mind to use them.

  She wasn’t stupid. She knew what the Gnawkin Craze did to people—the way it stripped them down to something wild, something feral. But that was the point. If she could break Aria, free her from whatever hold Rynn had on her, then maybe—just maybe—Cora could take her pce.

  So she made her move.

  The courtyard was quiet when she approached.

  Aria stood at the perimeter, her posture straight, her crimson eyes scanning the area with practiced calm. She was always like this—ready, poised, unflinching. Cora had to be quick.

  She stepped lightly, moving with a dancer’s grace, her fingers curled around the syringe in her sleeve.

  One breath.

  Two.

  Then she struck.

  The needle sank into Aria’s neck.

  A sharp inhale. A convulsion.

  Then the world exploded.

  Crimson energy shot from Aria’s veins, twisting in the air like living tendrils. Her pristine white fur flickered with unstable light, her body locking up as something unnatural surged through her. A low, guttural snarl tore from her throat—a sound that had no pce coming from someone so disciplined, so composed.

  Cora took a step back, her heart pounding. This wasn’t—this wasn’t what she expected.

  Then—

  “What the fuck?”

  Rynn’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and furious.

  Cora froze, her stomach lurching. He was standing there, sapphire eyes locked onto Aria’s writhing form. His gaze flickered to the discarded syringe, his expression darkening as realization set in.

  For the first time, Cora felt real fear.

  Rynn moved fast.

  He reached into his coat, pulling out an old talisman, the engravings fring to life with deep, ancient magic. He wasn’t pying around. He dropped to one knee beside Aria, pressing the artifact to her skin.

  The containment spell activated instantly. Tendrils of glowing red wrapped around Aria, constricting, locking down the wild energy surging inside her.

  But the Craze didn’t stop.

  The energy fought back. Hard. The talisman flickered. Cracked.

  Then it shattered.

  The force of the explosion sent Rynn flying. He smmed into the stone wall, his coat smoking, his body tensed from the impact. He coughed, shook it off, and staggered to his feet, eyes narrowing at the space where Aria had fallen.

  She wasn’t there anymore.

  All that remained was ash.

  It swirled in the air, shifting, coalescing. The magic crackled, forming something new.

  Cora, who had fled into the shadows, hesitated. She turned back, her curiosity outweighing her fear. She stepped closer, just as the ash surged toward her. It engulfed her completely, wrapping around her limbs, her face, her very existence. She screamed, but the sound was swallowed by the void. The sensation of splitting apart, of being unmade, was the st thing she knew before—

  A shape emerged from the smoke—a Bunnykin, but not the one who had been there before.

  Her fur was strawberry blonde, her body smaller, more delicate. Her silver eyes darted around, filled with something raw and confused.

  Rynn stared.

  “What in the fuck…?”

  The girl blinked, looking down at herself. Her breath hitched. Then—

  A scream.

  Panic.

  She clutched at her bare skin, trembling, eyes darting wildly.

  Then—another voice.

  “Well, this is new.”

  Zeta King stepped into view, her turquoise eyes cool and amused. Without missing a beat, she tossed a bundle of clothes at the girl’s feet.

  “Put those on.”

  The girl scrambled to dress, fingers shaking. Then she looked up at Zeta.

  “You know me,” she whispered. “Zeta, it’s me. Pari.”

  Zeta’s gaze remained unreadable. “I don’t know who you are,” she said evenly.

  Sylvia Brightmane and Mira Dusktail appeared behind Zeta, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. Mira’s fox-like ears twitched nervously as she whispered, “What the hell happened here?”

  Sylvia folded her arms, her emerald eyes narrowing as she studied the scene. “Rynn, is this another one of your messes?”

  Rynn ignored them, his focus locked on the girl—Pari. Her silver eyes met his, and something changed in her expression.

  Adoration.

  “Master Rynn,” she whispered, her voice trembling but firm. “I… I love you.”

  Rynn let out a slow, audible groan, dragging a hand down his face.

  “Great. Of course you do. That’s exactly what I needed today.”

  Pari took a step closer, her voice growing steadier. “I exist because of my own mistakes. But I want to prove myself to you. Please… let me serve you.”

  Rynn stared at her. Long. Hard. His expression flickered between irritation and something else—reluctant curiosity.

  Finally, he exhaled, rolling his shoulders. “I don’t even know what the hell you are, let alone what I’m supposed to do with you.”

  Zeta smirked. “You’re just gonna leave her hanging? That’s cold, even for you.”

  Rynn shot her a gre. “You wanna take her off my hands? Be my guest.”

  Pari, unfazed, straightened. “I don’t need anyone else. Only you, Master Rynn.”

  Rynn sighed. “This day just keeps getting better.”