Jace learned one important thing by the next morning:
St. Alaric Academy woke early, but its rumors woke earlier.
By the time he stepped out of his dorm building with Liam and Mira, the school was already buzzing with whispers.
"That's him—"
"The boy Allison stared at."
"The one who didn't stand for Theo."
"He grabbed Vincent's wrist yesterday."
"Is he insane or just fearless?"
Jace ignored them.
But the stares weren't ordinary curiosity anymore.
Some held admiration.
Some held envy.
And some—were cold, sharp, watching him like prey.
Liam tugged on Jace's sleeve nervously.
"W-We really should walk faster."
"Why?" Jace asked, not slowing.
"Because elites don't forgive humiliation."
"And you humiliated one of Theo's circle yesterday."
"And now… people are looking at you like you declared war."
Jace shoved his hands into his pockets. "Let them look."
Mira bit her lip. "I just don't want you getting hurt because of us."
Jace paused.
Looked at her.
Then said simply—
"They pushed you. Not the other way around."
Mira's eyes softened.
Liam muttered, "You're going to be the death of us."
The Calm Before a Storm
As they approached the main courtyard, the atmosphere changed. Elites stood in groups, whispering, glaring. There was a subtle space left in the center—almost as if they were waiting for something to happen.
"Jace," Liam whispered. "This is bad. The courtyard doesn't go silent like this unless—"
A voice cut through the air.
"All students stand for the prince of St. Alaric."
Liam froze. Mira froze.
The elite students straightened immediately.
Then Theo arrived.
His tailored navy blazer, gold-embroidered crest, and sharp posture made him look like royalty indeed. Students bowed slightly as he walked past.
But Jace stayed still.
Theo's steps slowed.
For the first time, he looked Jace in the eyes—not from a balcony, not from across a hall, but face-to-face.
"You again," Theo said softly.
Jace didn't answer.
Theo tilted his head slightly. "The scholarship boy with a pride problem."
"It's Jace," he replied. "Not 'scholarship boy.'"
Murmurs erupted.
No one spoke to Theo like that.
No one.
Theo studied Jace with eyes sharp enough to cut.
"You embarrassed one of my people yesterday," Theo said. "You should apologize."
Jace shrugged. "Tell him not to push girls."
Gasps scattered through the courtyard.
Theo smiled.
A small, cold, dangerous smile.
"In my school, you don't get to lecture me on how it works."
"In my world," Jace replied, "you don't get to bully people and call it rules."
The courtyard went completely still.
Theo's smile faded.
"So you're not just arrogant. You're stupid."
Liam almost fainted. Mira covered her mouth.
Theo stepped even closer until the space between them was almost nonexistent.
"Let me give you advice as the prince of this academy," Theo said quietly. "Know your place."
Jace's eyes didn't waver.
"I decide my place."
Thunderous silence.
Theo's jaw tensed.
His friends behind him clenched fists.
A fight felt seconds away.
But then—
A clear female voice rang across the courtyard.
"Seriously, Theo? Picking fights this early in the morning?"
The entire courtyard turned.
Allison was approaching, hair pulled into a loose ponytail, blazer draped over her shoulder like she owned the world. Her expression was unreadable—bored, irritated, amused.
Theo turned stiffly.
"Allison. This doesn't concern you."
"It does if you're blocking the pathway," she said lazily. "Move."
Theo flinched internally—only slightly—but still.
Allison's eyes drifted toward Jace for a moment.
Not fear.
Not confusion.
Something almost… entertained.
Then she walked past them, brushing lightly against Jace's shoulder as she passed.
"Try not to die," she whispered.
The Warning
Classes passed like a blur, but the tension didn't fade. Students whispered even louder than before. Elites glared harder.
By lunchtime, Liam and Mira were practically glued to Jace's sides.
"We need to lay low," Liam said. "You need to lay low."
"Why?" Jace asked while reading his timetable.
"Because," Liam hissed, "Theo doesn't forgive anyone. Ever."
"He'll try something," Mira whispered. "Something big."
Jace put the timetable away. "Let him try."
Mira wanted to argue—but then something strange happened.
An older student walked past Jace's table, dropping a folded note beside him without looking.
Jace unfolded it.
Only three words were written:
"Meet me. Alone."
Below the message was the location:
Block C — Upper Terrace.
Liam grabbed the paper. "No. No. No! This is a trap!"
Jace stood.
"Stay here."
"Jace!" Liam yelped. "You can't just—"
But Jace was already walking away.
The First Move
The Upper Terrace was quiet, isolated. Wind brushed lightly through the open-air hall. Jace stepped forward calmly, his footsteps echoing.
Then a voice emerged from the shadows.
"So you came."
Jace stopped.
Theo walked out—not with friends, not with guards.
Alone.
He approached Jace with slow, confident steps.
"I thought you'd run," Theo said.
Jace raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Most people do."
"I'm not most people."
Theo exhaled sharply. "Obviously."
He stopped an arm's length away, crossing his hands behind his back.
"You don't belong here," Theo said quietly. "Not with your status. Not with your background. Not with people like us."
"My background isn't your business," Jace replied.
"Oh, but it should be," Theo said. "Because the more attention you attract, the more I'll have to push back. For the sake of order."
Jace didn't blink. "Is that a warning?"
"It's a promise."
Silence stretched between them, thick and crackling.
Then Theo added—
"I don't care who you are. If you keep breaking the hierarchy of this school… I will break you."
Jace stepped closer.
"You can try."
Theo's eyes sharpened.
"So be it."
He turned and walked away.
But just before leaving, he said without looking back:
"Your friends will suffer before you do."
Jace froze.
Theo continued walking.
Smiling.
The Quiet Vow
Jace returned to the cafeteria.
Liam and Mira jumped to their feet the moment they saw him.
"What happened?" Liam asked. "Was it Theo?"
Jace didn't answer immediately.
He looked at them—two ordinary scholarship students living in fear every day. Two people who didn't deserve to be threatened.
His fists tightened.
"They won't touch either of you," he said quietly.
Liam blinked. "Jace—"
"I'll make sure of it."
Mira stared at him.
There was no fear in his eyes.
Only resolve.
Strong.
Sharp.
Unshakeable.
Theo might have declared war.
But Jace?
He wasn't planning to lose.