Chapter 314: Homecoming[1]
A low snigger echoed across the terrace.
"Right. Traffic," Anthony purred, a sly smirk spreading across his face as he momentarily activated his telepathic ability.
His eyes ignited for the briefest of moments, he lips curling into a playful grin.
Before him, the world abruptly transformed became a plethora of thoughts, emotions and ardent desires.
In this state, he felt the unmistakable spike of quiet anticipation radiating off Edmund’s mind.
"Traffic has nothing to do with a certain, dare I say, exquisite, stunning, Talented young woman who happens to be returning soon? Did I forget to mention we have to pick up your jaw in her presence?"
Kelia rolled her eyes.
"Leave him alone, Anthony. Unlike you, some people actually have manners."
"I have exquisite manners!" Anthony protested, gesturing smoothly toward himself.
"I am the epitome of charm and consideration. Ask Amanda."
Amanda rolled her eyes, completely ignoring him.
While the group fell into their familiar, comfortable bickering, Samantha felt Lucian shift slightly beside her.
All across the sprawling campus, the evening preparation for the Festival of Shadows kicked into high gear.
High above the pathways, light banners flickered to life, transitioning from the soft golden hues of late afternoon to rich, pulsing shades of obsidian, violet, and deep crimson.
Holographic displays projected floating countdown timers above the central plaza, surrounded by rotating crests of the various academy discipline branches—the sleek, crossed daggers of the Assassin Great Houses contrasting with the intricate, geometric crests of the Talented.
On the lower terrace grids, teams of technicians finalized the setup for the public combat arenas.
Translucent force-field generators hummed softly as they underwent stress tests, sending occasional ripples of blue light across the open air.
Near the perimeter pathways, logistics drones hovered gracefully, delivering crates of decorative lanterns and catering supplies.
Groups of students, dressed in a mixture of academy uniforms and sleek, modern formal attire, moved in laughing clusters down below.
Several Student Council representatives, identifiable by their crisp white armbands with integrated interface strips, swept through the crowds with visible exhaustion, furiously tapping away at transparent screens to coordinate incoming arrivals.
"Look at that mess down there," Cassius remarked, leaning over the edge to watch a group of second-year Assassins try—and fail—to discreetly rig a decorative banner with a mild shock trap for the incoming lower years.
"The Council’s going to have a heart attack before the opening gala even starts.
"Serves them right," Xander said cheerfully.
Samantha let her eyes wander across the bright, bustling scene. A few hours ago, the noise and color would have felt overwhelming—but standing here, surrounded by the familiar warmth of the squad, it didn’t feel like a hallucination anymore.
"It really is huge this year, isn’t it?" she murmured.
"It has to be," Lucian answered, his voice low enough that only she could hear over the banter of the others.
𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
"After the Dark Maestro Incident, the Council needed to prove that Pyreptar hasn’t lost its footing."
"The Heads of the Great Houses are coming. Representatives from the Brotherhood, select mundane observers... and of course, those looking for signs of weakness..."
"And are they going to find any?" Samantha asked, turning her head slightly to look at him.
Lucian’s lips curved into a faint, dangerous predatory line.
"Not from us."
Well said, dark and brooding," Xander interrupted, having somehow slunk over without making a sound, throwing an arm around Lucian’s shoulder—a move that earned him a sharp glare, though Lucian didn’t actually push him off.
"The Festival of Shadows is our home turf. The masquerade, the discipline exhibitions, the combat grids... It’s going to be legendary. Plus, I heard the catering is gonna be to die for!Seriously!"
Of course, your primary concern is the food," Ananda noted dryly.
"Food is morale, Amanda! An army marches on its stomach," Xander retorted smoothly.
Then, his expression shifted, his bright eyes darting toward the main transit gate’s edge where a large shuttle was smoothly descending onto the glowing landing pad.
"Speaking of arrivals... look who made it through the security check."
The entire squad turned their attention toward the landing pad.
The shuttle’s sleek, dark-tinted doors slid open with a soft hiss.
A stream of students and visiting dignitaries began to disembark, flanked by academy security bots and high-ranking staff members.
Edmund stepped closer to the stone balustrade. He didn’t say a word, but the subtle tension in his posture gave him away immediately.
"Is that...?" Kelia squinted, leaning forward.
"No," Warren said smoothly, his refined sensory perception catching the details long before the others.
"That’s the advance escort from the Vance family. Official delegates and luggage transports."
The Brewers and the Vance family were undoubtedly two of the oldest Talented lineages in existence and also fierce rivals.
Xander sighed, dramatically leaning his head back.
"Ah, the suspense is killing me. Edmund looks like he’s about to jump off the terrace to check the passenger list."
"I am perfectly capable of reading the list on my terminal," Edmund replied coldly, though his fingers tapped a rhythmic, impatient pattern against his side.
"We all know who you’re waiting for, Edmund," Anthony teased in a sing-song voice.
"Cool your horses lover boy!
Edmund gritted his teeth, closing his eyes while the rest of the group fought tooth and nail to hold back their laughter.
A sudden beep drew his attention to his comm link, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Her transport was delayed by an atmospheric storm. She won’t be here until tomorrow morning."
"Ooooh," Anthony began then suddenly choked, letting out a quiet pain groan.
Amanda let out a sigh, pursing her lips.
Samantha felt a sudden, sharp intake of breath catch in her throat. Her head snapped toward Edmund.
"Tomorrow?" Samantha asked, her voice dropping all traces of its former melancholy, rising with a sudden, clear intensity that made the rest of the squad go quiet.
"Are you sure?"
Yes," Edmund confirmed, nodding once.
"I received an encrypted message: ’Tomorrow at eight in the morning," Edmund said stoically.
She wouldn’t want anybody to make a grand scene at the landing bay, though I doubt Xander will honor that."
"Hey! I am a pillar of discretion!" Xander protested, though the mischievous glint in his eyes suggested he was already planning something entirely obnoxious.
" She’s going to be so relieved to see you, Sam," Kelia said warmly, stepping over to bump her shoulder against Samantha’s. I know," Samantha said.
She turned back to look out over the central plaza.
The Festival of Shadows was three days away. The air was filled with the scent of crushed leaves, ozone, and the distant hum of floating machinery.
For the first time since stepping out of the dark, Samantha didn’t feel like a ghost wandering through a hallucination.
She gripped the stone balustrade, feeling the cool, solid granite beneath her palms, and let out a long, quiet breath.