The second invitation wasn't subtle.
It arrived as a summons.
A crest burned itself into the academy airspace—massive, domineering, impossible to ignore. Students stopped mid-step as the pressure rolled across the grounds like a warning growl.
Lena stiffened beside me.
"…House Kharvel," she said. "High nobility."
Ren grimaced. "That's not an offer. That's a declaration."
The message followed seconds later, echoing directly into my consciousness.
Report immediately. Noncompliance will be noted.
I exhaled slowly.
"Well," I said, "this one skipped manners."
House Kharvel's delegation occupied an entire wing of the academy—temporarily claimed, aggressively decorated with crimson banners and gold-edged sigils meant to intimidate.
No neutrality wards.
No truth-binding runes.
They didn't bother hiding it.
A woman waited at the center of the chamber.
Tall. Armored. Her presence pressed down like a blade laid flat across the throat.
"Sit," she said.
I didn't.
"That's strike one," she continued calmly. "I am Lady Seraphine Kharvel."
"I know," I replied. "You made sure everyone did."
Her lips curved—not in amusement.
"You've attracted attention," she said. "The wrong kind."
"And you're here to fix that?" I asked.
"To own it," she corrected.
She waved a hand.
Behind her, a projection flared—documents, contracts, sealed edicts.
"House Kharvel will claim you," she said.
"You will act under our banner."
"You will accept oversight."
"And in return—your enemies will disappear."
Disappear.
Not protected from.
Erased.
"And if I refuse?" I asked.
She stepped closer.
The air tightened.
"Then you will be declared an uncontrolled anomaly," she said evenly.
"Your protection withdrawn."
"Your allies… reclassified as collateral risk."
Lena's mana flared beside me—sharp, furious.
"That's not a deal," she snapped. "That's coercion."
Lady Kharvel finally looked at her.
"And you," she said, "are irrelevant."
That was a mistake.
I moved.
Not to attack.
Just one step forward.
The floor cracked beneath my foot.
"Let's be clear," I said quietly.
"You don't get to threaten people near me."
Her eyes narrowed. "You think you have leverage?"
The blade whispered.
"She believes dominance is inevitable."
I smiled faintly.
"That's what makes this easy," I said.
I turned and walked toward the exit.
Lady Kharvel's voice hardened. "If you leave, House Kharvel becomes your enemy."
I stopped at the doorway.
"No," I said without turning.
"If you come after me…"
I glanced back just enough for her to see my eyes.
"You'll become an example."
Silence slammed down.
For the first time, uncertainty flickered across her expression.
I left.
The pressure lifted the moment we crossed the ward boundary.
Ren let out a breath. "That was… bad."
"Worse than bad," Lena said. "They won't forgive that."
I nodded.
"Good."
The blade pulsed, satisfied.
"Hostile faction confirmed. Escalation likely."
I looked up at the academy towers, where nobles watched from behind sigils and stone.
"Let them escalate," I murmured.
Because House Veyrin wanted to use me.
House Kharvel wanted to own me.
And now—
They both knew I would accept neither.