The aftermath of the chaotic battle between Pari and Princess Lyris Starhaven had left the area outside Ebonvale Academy in shambles. The cobblestones were scorched and cracked, thick smoke hung in the air, and the once-bustling streets surrounding the academy had turned into a swarming mass of onlookers. Pedestrians, students, and even merchants had abandoned their tasks to gawk at the ruined gates and the remnants of what could only be described as a disaster.

  Princess Lyris, ever composed, stood at the center of it all, her technomancer battle suit still gleaming under the fractured sunlight. The sleek bck pting streaked with golden circuitry clung elegantly to her form, giving her the aura of a warrior queen. Her horns, adorned with delicate ptinum filigree, curved with a regal sharpness, while the faint scales along her cheekbones shimmered under the light. Despite the chaos, she maintained her poise, her vender eyes, flecked with molten gold, focused intently on the communication device still clutched in her hand.

  Her live stream, as always, remained active, and the chat was a torrent of comments.

  “You’re amazing, Princess!”“That Shifter thing was terrifying!”“What even WAS that battle?!”“Did Rynn do anything, or was he just watching like always?”

  Lyris’s lips quirked into a small, wry smile as she addressed her audience directly. “My dear viewers, your support is what fuels me. Pari—what she has become—is a cautionary tale, one that demands our attention and study. And as for Rynn...” She paused, letting the suspense build, her tone dropping into something almost conspiratorial, “...he observed. As fmboyant as ever, of course.”

  The chat exploded with ughter, but before Lyris could continue, the Messenger Guild news crew forced their way into the fray. Their cameras gleamed, their microphones glowing faintly as they positioned themselves in the center of the attention. The lead reporter, a wiry Ratkin with quick, darting eyes, wasted no time. He strode toward Lyris, microphone in hand.

  “Princess Starhaven,” he began, his tone sharp and demanding, “the world demands answers about what transpired here today. Can you confirm the nature of this Shifter—Pari, was it? What exactly happened? And do you consider Rynn Yogini complicit in the destruction?”

  Lyris didn’t miss a beat. She turned her vender gaze on the reporter, her serene expression not wavering in the slightest. “I appreciate your interest,” she said smoothly, the faintest edge of steel beneath her otherwise diplomatic tone. She raised her communicator, tilting it slightly toward the camera crew. “But if you truly want answers, everything you need to know is on my live stream. My people have seen it all—from my perspective.”

  The reporter blinked, momentarily caught off guard. “Your Highness, surely our audience would appreciate—”

  She cut him off with a measured, graceful flick of her wrist, gesturing to the device in her hand. “The record speaks for itself. I see no need to repeat myself.”

  The crowd murmured approvingly, some smirking at the Ratkin’s sudden hesitation. The tide of attention shifted toward the academy gates, where Rynn Yogini leaned zily against the bckened metal, arms crossed, a self-satisfied grin pstered across his face.

  “Well, if you’re done grilling royalty,” Rynn drawled, pushing himself off the gate with a dramatic flourish, “how about you come to the real star of the show? The one everyone’s really interested in.” He stepped forward, his coat catching the breeze just enough to add to the theatrics. “Let me guess, you want to know what I think about all of this, don’t you?”

  The reporter, seizing the opportunity, pivoted immediately. “Rynn King,” he started, microphone extended, “how do you justify your apparent inaction during this conflict? Many have accused you of merely spectating while chaos unfolded.”

  Rynn’s grin widened, his sapphire eyes sparkling with amusement as he pced a hand over his chest in mock outrage. “Spectating? Please.” He turned to the crowd, addressing them more than the reporter. “Do I look like the kind of guy who just stands around?”

  The ughter that rippled through the audience only emboldened him. He paced dramatically, making sure his voice carried. “Here’s the thing—it’s all about timing. Sure, I could’ve jumped in, thrown a few punches, maybe even stolen the show. But why rob you all of the spectacle of Princess Lyris’s incredible transformation?” He gestured grandly toward her, earning a faintly amused look from the princess herself. “And Pari? Let’s just say, she had some unresolved feelings to work through.”

  The Ratkin reporter tried to regain control of the interview. “But do you believe that allowing the conflict to escate was the right choice? Lives were lost—”

  “Lives were also saved,” Rynn interrupted, his tone shifting slightly, though his grin didn’t waver. “You think I didn’t see the way Lyris stepped up? The way she handled herself out there?” He turned back to her, giving a low, theatrical bow. “A true leader. Honestly, I’m impressed.”

  Lyris raised an eyebrow, her communicator still buzzing with comments, but she said nothing, letting Rynn take center stage.

  “Now,” Rynn continued, facing the reporter again, “if you want to talk about the real story here, maybe you should ask the people who were actually here. You know, the pedestrians, the onlookers. They’ve got the perspective you’re looking for. Me? I just work here.” He fshed a grin, gncing toward the academy gates.

  The reporter hesitated, his eyes narrowing. “You’re suggesting we interview the crowd?”

  Rynn cpped his hands together once, the sound sharp and decisive. “Exactly! Let’s hear from the people who almost got blown to bits. And hey—why not wait until after css hours? Give the students a chance to unwind before you shove a microphone in their faces.”

  The crowd murmured in agreement, several students nodding enthusiastically. The reporter, clearly flustered but not defeated, jotted down a note and nodded. “Very well. We’ll gather statements. But this story isn’t over, Rynn.”

  “Of course it’s not,” Rynn quipped, turning back toward the academy with a zy wave. “But I’ve got csses to attend, so you’ll have to wait for the sequel.”

  The crowd burst into ughter, and even Lyris allowed herself a small smile. As Rynn strolled back toward the academy, his coat billowing dramatically behind him, Lyris turned back to her live stream, her expression thoughtful as she read the incoming flood of comments.

  One message stood out, highlighted in bold: “Do you think Rynn’s always like this?”

  She smirked slightly, addressing her viewers. “Oh, absolutely. That man lives for the chaos.”

  The courtyard, scarred with cracked cobblestones and scorched earth, was being carefully avoided by students as they scuttled to their next csses under the watchful eyes of faculty members. The academy’s towering gates framed the scene like a spectacle, drawing murmurs from pedestrians, guards, and lingering onlookers in the streets. It was a day that left the campus buzzing, and not for the right reasons.

  In the heart of it all sat Pari, crouched near the edge of the battlefield in her Bunnykin form, clearly still shaken from her votile transformation and the chaos she had unleashed. Her fur had returned to its soft, golden hue, but her silver eyes seemed dim, and her posture spoke of exhaustion. Teris Val’Quen knelt beside her, his hands glowing faintly with healing energy as he worked to stabilize her. His meticulous ste-gray fur, usually pristine, looked ruffled and unkempt as he concentrated on weaving steady mana into her.

  “Don’t move yet,” Teris instructed, his tone calm but firm, though his ears flicked slightly with unease. “Your body is still recovering.”

  Pari nodded weakly, lowering her ears as she mumbled, “I… I didn’t mean to lose control.”

  “You didn’t mean to throw a lifeless maid at a princess either, but here we are,” Mira Dusktail quipped as she knelt beside her, her auburn tail swishing nervously. Mira’s usual pyful smirk was absent, repced by concern barely masked behind humor. “Just promise me you won’t eat anyone else, okay? That was… hard to watch.”

  Pari flinched, her silver eyes avoiding Mira’s.

  “Hard to clean up, too,” Sylvia Brightmane interjected dryly from behind them, crossing her arms. Her regal golden fur, immacute despite the chaos, seemed to glint faintly under the fractured sunlight. Sylvia’s emerald eyes, sharp and calcuting, shifted briefly toward Teris. “She’s stable now, right?”

  “Yes,” Teris confirmed, his tail flicking absently as he stood up and brushed his hands together to dispel the mana residue. “But that state she entered—the Gnawkin Craze—if it happens again, she could destabilize further. And if she does…” He hesitated. “I don’t think I’d be able to hold it back next time.”

  Pari bowed her head, her ears drooping, and Mira reached over to squeeze her shoulder lightly, offering silent reassurance.

  Meanwhile, at the academy gates, Aelor Ven’Dral, his stately Deerkin antlers catching the soft rays of light, was directing students away from the scene, his composed demeanor anchoring the order amidst the chaos. “You’ve all seen enough,” he called out evenly, his authoritative tone cutting through the murmurs. “Back to your schedules. The academy will handle the aftermath of this incident. Move along.”

  The students reluctantly obeyed, some casting lingering gnces toward the courtyard as they filed back toward the main building. Aelor’s presence, calm yet commanding, kept the flow moving, even as whispers of disbelief buzzed among the crowd.

  The rge oak doors to the main building swung open suddenly, revealing Aric Tamsin, the academy’s dean. A stoic Ratkin with sleek, well-groomed bck fur streaked with gray, Aric carried an air of authority that demanded respect. His sharp gold-rimmed spectacles glinted as he descended the steps toward Princess Lyris Starhaven, his posture upright and dignified despite the fractured state of the courtyard.

  “Your Highness,” Aric began, his voice smooth and resonant, the kind of voice that could command silence in the rowdiest lecture halls. He csped his paws behind his back, bowing slightly. “On behalf of Ebonvale Academy, I extend my sincerest apologies for the chaos you’ve witnessed today. Rest assured, we will take every necessary measure to ensure an incident like this is not repeated.”

  Princess Lyris, still wearing her dragon-themed technomancer battle suit, inclined her head gracefully. Her vender eyes, flecked with molten gold, met his gaze with steady resolve. “The chaos isn’t a failure, Dean Tamsin,” she replied evenly, her voice carrying the weight of both diplomacy and regality. “It’s a reflection of the unique individuals your academy harbors. There is much to learn here—not just for me, but for Fleecehaven as well.”

  Aric’s gaze flickered briefly toward Pari, his unease evident despite his composed demeanor. He studied her for a moment too long, his sharp eyes clearly assessing the risk she posed. Pari shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, her ears fttening slightly.

  The moment was broken by the sharp sound of Rynn Yogini snapping his fingers, his fmboyant energy cutting through the tension like a knife. He strode forward, his sapphire eyes gleaming with mischief as his coat swished dramatically with each step. “Alright, enough gloom and doom,” Rynn announced, his smirk widening. “Pari, let’s talk about your little wolfkin episode.”

  Pari’s ears perked slightly as she looked up at him, her silver eyes wide. “Master Rynn?”

  Rynn tilted his head, his smirk deepening. “You might need to stay in your wolfkin form more often,” he said casually, as though he wasn’t suggesting something utterly insane. “Control it. Master it. Learn to harness the Gnawkin Craze state.”

  The courtyard fell silent at his bold suggestion.

  From the sidelines, Zeta King cpped her hands, her turquoise eyes sparkling with amusement. “Utterly bold. Utterly brilliant,” she remarked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “But no, Rynn, I will not be your watchdog.”

  Rynn turned to her, his smirk morphing into a pyful pout. “Zeta, come on. I need a little backup here.”

  Zeta smirked, crossing her arms as she leaned against the academy gates. “Keep dreaming, brother.”

  Rynn’s gaze shifted to Teris, his sapphire eyes lighting up with mischief. “Teris, my guy! What about you? You up for the challenge?”

  Teris froze, his ears fttening as his cheeks turned bright red. He stammered, “I—I can’t handle a wolfkin-crazed shifter yet!” He hesitated, his tail flicking nervously. “But… I’ll try. For you.”

  Before anyone could react, Eva Hold stormed forward, her Ratkin tail flicking with determination. Without hesitation, she grabbed Teris by the shoulders and kissed him square on the mouth. The courtyard froze, stunned into silence.

  When Eva finally pulled away, she grinned, her dark eyes gleaming as she looked him in the eye. “I’ll give my life for you, Teris. Just say the word.”

  Teris, practically glowing red, stammered, “A Catkin and a Ratkin… that… that would never work…”

  Rynn groaned dramatically, throwing his hands up. “Oh, give it a try already! You’re both interesting—what’s the worst that could happen?”

  Eva grabbed Teris’s arm, her smirk unwavering. “You heard him. Let’s do this together.”

  From the corner of the courtyard, Princess Lyris, still live-streaming the entire scene, tilted her camera slightly toward them, her vender eyes glinting with amusement. “Chat,” she said, her tone tinged with humor, “this is why I came to Ebonvale Academy—the forbidden love stories, the drama. It’s everything I dreamed it would be.”

  Her chat exploded with comments:

  “This is GOLD.”“Team Eva and Teris forever!”“Rynn’s meddling is pure chaos.”“Best content of the year!”

  As ughter rippled through the courtyard, even Aric Tamsin allowed himself a small, restrained smile. He adjusted his gold-rimmed gsses before turning back to Lyris. “Your Highness, welcome to Ebonvale Academy. It seems you’ve already experienced the essence of what makes this institution… unique.”

  Rynn, ever the showman, fshed a grin at the camera. “You’re welcome, world. Now, who’s ready for the next chapter?”