Morning sunlight poured through the windows of Belgrave University, illuminating the campus with a warm golden glow. Students walked across the pathways, carrying books and coffee cups while chatting about classes and assignments.
To most of them, it was just another normal day.
But Lucas knew the truth.
Belgrave wasn't normal at all.
Hidden beneath the surface of the university were secret societies, powerful magic, and supernatural creatures. The Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose controlled much of the magical world here, while the Knights of Saint Christopher opposed them from the shadows.
And somehow, Lucas had already met both sides.
Lucas sat in the campus cafeteria, casually eating breakfast while thinking about the system's newest quest.
Ding! Active Quest — Path of the Wolf.
Objective: Learn more about the Knights of Saint Christopher.
Lucas tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
"Learning about them won't be easy," he muttered quietly.
The Knights were secretive, just like the Order. They didn't openly reveal themselves to normal students.
But Lucas had one advantage.
He had already met one of them.
Randall Carpio.
Lucas leaned back in his chair.
"That guy didn't seem hostile," he thought.
Randall had even warned him about the Order.
That meant the Knights might not automatically consider Lucas an enemy.
Still, approaching them directly would be risky.
Lucas took another bite of his breakfast while scanning the cafeteria.
Students talked loudly around him.
None of them had any idea about the hidden war happening right under their noses.
Lucas chuckled quietly.
"If they knew there were werewolves on campus…"
That thought reminded him of something important.
In the story of The Order, the Knights of Saint Christopher often hid among normal students.
Which meant several of them were probably walking around campus right now.
Lucas suddenly noticed someone approaching his table.
He looked up.
It was Alyssa Drake.
She placed her tray down and sat across from him.
"You're here early," she said.
Lucas shrugged.
"Couldn't sleep."
Alyssa studied him carefully.
"You went somewhere last night."
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you think that?"
"You look tired."
Lucas smiled faintly.
"That obvious?"
Alyssa crossed her arms.
"Did you cause trouble?"
Lucas laughed quietly.
"Not this time."
Alyssa didn't look convinced.
But she didn't push further.
Instead, she changed the subject.
"The Order meeting is tonight."
Lucas blinked.
"Another one already?"
Alyssa nodded.
"Coventry wants to start training the new initiates."
Lucas immediately thought of Edward Coventry.
The Grand Magus rarely wasted time when he saw potential.
Which meant Lucas would probably start learning more advanced magic soon.
That was good.
But it also meant becoming more involved with the Order.
Lucas stared at his coffee for a moment.
"If I get deeper into the Order…"
Then leaving them later would be harder.
Alyssa noticed his expression.
"What are you thinking about?"
Lucas shrugged casually.
"Just wondering how dangerous the Order's enemies really are."
Alyssa's expression changed slightly.
"Why?"
Lucas met her gaze.
"Coventry mentioned them yesterday."
Alyssa hesitated.
Then she spoke quietly.
"The Knights of Saint Christopher."
Lucas pretended to look surprised.
"So they're real?"
Alyssa nodded slowly.
"They're extremely dangerous."
Lucas leaned forward slightly.
"Werewolves, right?"
Alyssa glanced around the cafeteria before answering.
"Yes."
Lucas acted thoughtful.
"Have you ever seen one?"
Alyssa shook her head.
"No."
Then she added something interesting.
"But some members of the Order have."
Lucas's interest grew immediately.
"What happened to them?"
Alyssa sighed.
"Most of them didn't enjoy the encounter."
Lucas smiled faintly.
"Sounds intense."
Alyssa looked at him suspiciously.
"You seem unusually interested in them."
Lucas shrugged again.
"I'm curious."
Alyssa shook her head slightly.
"Just don't get involved with them."
Lucas didn't answer.
Instead, he finished his coffee.
Because the truth was…
He was already involved.
And deep down, Lucas couldn't stop thinking about something.
If the Knights of Saint Christopher truly opposed the Order…
Then maybe they were worth understanding better.
Not as enemies.
But possibly…
As allies.
The system responded immediately.
Ding! Quest Progress — Path of the Wolf: 10%.
Lucas smiled faintly.
Step by step…
He was getting closer to the wolves of Belgrave.