Prince Cassius didn't react immediately..

Then, slowly, he tilted his head just enough to acknowledge her.

"It's fine, Aria," he murmured back.

His tone was calm. Controlled.

But there was an edge to it.

"That piss-haired Hero is the least of my concerns right now."

He paused.

"No—scratch that. That fucker ruined my entrance. I will deal with him later."

Aria's lips twitched in what might have been amusement.

"Noted, my lord."

Cassius exhaled slowly, his fingers drumming against the armrest of his chair.

"Tell me," he said quietly. "Why the hell is the Snow Guild taking orders without my permission?"

Aria's expression shifted—just slightly. Her playful demeanor faded, replaced by something more serious.

"It seems they had a change of leadership about a month ago," she said. "The new head has been operating in secret. They've hidden the transition from official records."

Cassius's jaw tightened.

"And I'm only hearing about this now?"

"Luna went underground after Snow's death," Aria explained. "She only managed to get word to me this morning. I was waiting for the right moment to inform you."

"The right moment?" Cassius repeated, his voice dangerously soft.

"Yes," Aria said, meeting his gaze evenly. "Because you were too busy ogling Lyralei Valen, weren't you?"

She pouted.

Just a little.

Cassius sighed.

His body relaxed slightly, and his left hand moved—almost unconsciously—to take Aria's right hand in his.

She stiffened immediately, her face flushing bright red at the contact.

"Sometimes," Cassius muttered, his thumb brushing absently against her knuckles, "you're so annoying..."

Aria didn't pull away.

"And tell me," he continued, his tone shifting back to business, "what the hell is going on with the Sun-born? Why did he show up looking like a dog?"

Aria took a moment to compose herself before answering.

"No clue," she admitted.

"You're curious about him all of a sudden?" Aria asked, her tone turning slightly accusatory. "You didn't even greet him when he arrived."

"Just a hunch," Cassius said quietly. "Something is going on. And that fool is involved somehow."

He leaned back in his chair, his free hand rubbing his temple.

"Such a mood killer," he muttered. "Things are already going off-script from the start..."

He was silent for a moment.

To kill snow?.. He must be atleast Above 6 in mana circuit…. a

"Advance aura user as well" rave whispered ...

Aria followed ... "Indeed he just barged in challenged snow to "Heart Duel" ... .and started a massacre of top brass of the snow guild.."

"And of such person we have no profile of ??..."

"That means .. RVF must be behind this"

"Investigate as much as possible about this….and while at it... investigate why the Sun-born arrived the way he did."

The trusted guardian and vassal nodded following the prince's instructions…

Back in the Sun Empire section of the orientation hall...

Prince Agni sat in the center of a row of seats reserved for Sun Empire heirs and nobility.

His eyes were closed.

His mouth was slightly open.

A thin line of drool was beginning to form at the corner of his lips.

He was asleep.

Lyralei stared at him with an expression somewhere between disgust and resigned acceptance. She reached over and touched his shoulder, giving him a gentle shake.

"Agni," she whispered urgently. "Get up."

No response. Just peaceful snoring and more drool.

From the stage, Professor Helena Brewmaster—the Academy's Alchemy instructor—shot a glare in their direction that could have melted stone. The stocky, no-nonsense woman clearly did not appreciate students sleeping through the orientation ceremony.

She looked around at the other students—all paying attention, all presenting themselves properly, all clearly understanding the importance of this moment. Then she looked back at her sleeping fiancé,

The orientation continued around them, voices droning on about academy rules and expectations, while Prince Agni dreamed peacefully through it all.