"Even shadows bask in daylight, pretending to be normal."
Arcanveil Academy was abuzz with gossip, laughter, and lighthearted magic mishaps as the first week of classes rolled forward. While most students juggled elemental theory and rune practice, the members of Hidden Crown played a double game: one in public as model students... and another in private as Kieran's loyal elite.
And today?
Today was a rare moment when they didn't need to fight monsters, sabotage dark guilds, or smuggle forbidden tomes.
Today was about… bonding.
Scene 1: Flower Crowns and Cursed Walls
Location: East Garden
Mira Solvine, the shy, tea-obsessed defensive specialist, knelt in the grass, carefully adjusting a tiny flower crown on a confused skeletal raven perched atop a branch.
"There. Don't eat that," she whispered. "It's chamomile."
Beside her, Luma Peony giggled, plucking wild daisies.
"I think it likes you."
"They all do…" Mira said nervously. "Even the ones with glowing eyes. I don't know why."
The two had formed a soft alliance: the healer and the protector. Tea parties, flower crafts, whispered talks of favorite novels.
"If I ever get cursed into a monster," Luma whispered, "you're allowed to trap me in a barrier. But only if I ask nicely!"
Mira gasped.
"Luma, I would never…!"
"What if I turned really scary?"
"I'd make the barrier pretty and invite you for tea inside it."
Scene 2: Pranks and Explosions
Location: Artifact Workshop, Sublevel B
Talia Gearwright was trying to recalibrate a rune-infused gauntlet. Emphasis on trying.
"Don't. Touch. That. Lever," she muttered.
Too late.
Nyssa Thorne, the hawk-winged prankster, swooped in, poked a blinking sigil—and triggered a mini explosion that singed the blueprint scrolls.
"You did it again!" Talia screeched.
"Not my fault your toys are sensitive!"
"They're delicate—not toys!"
Smoke billowed. Gears clattered.
And yet… they grinned.
"Same time tomorrow?" Nyssa asked.
Talia rolled her eyes but nodded.
"Yeah. Bring lunch next time, birdbrain."
Scene 3: Library Interlude with Yui and Elira
Location: Night Library Wing
By moonlight filtering through enchanted windows, Yui Nocthollow lounged in a deep reading nook with a romance novel titled "Duke of My Heart."
"...Why are dukes always secretly assassins in these?" she muttered.
Beside her, Elira Virelle skimmed magical field reports while sipping mint tea.
"Because nobility needs something to make them interesting," she replied dryly.
Yui snorted.
"Spoken like a true dethroned princess."
Elira raised an eyebrow but allowed herself a small smirk.
"And you're the assassin reading about noble pillow talk."
Their quiet camaraderie had grown. They didn't talk much during the day. But at night? They shared peace… and pages.
Scene 4: Mealtime Mayhem with Rhea and Kai
Location: Academy Mess Hall
Rhea Ashclaw was already on her third plate of roasted meat when Kaelira "Kai" Drathwyn stormed in with a tray stacked like a fortress.
"You're slow today," Kai teased.
"I was hunting someone who tried to cut the line."
"Respect."
They bumped fists and began devouring their meals in near silence, save for growls and crunches.
"Wanna spar later?" Kai mumbled through a mouthful.
"Loser buys snacks."
"I never lose."
Other students stared in awe. Rumors were spreading.
"Those two might be actual dragons.""I heard the tall one eats lava.""Do they even study?"
If only they knew.
Scene 5: Kieran's View – Hidden Room, Nightfall
Location: Crown Base – Observation Hall
Kieran watched through the system's shared vision nodes as each of his members navigated life.
Laughter. Mishaps. Training. Comfort.
He stood with arms folded, cloaked in casual robes—still wearing the mask of a quiet, hardworking student. But behind that smile, the Supreme Architect observed everything.
"They're adapting better than I expected," he murmured. "Normalcy suits them."
A soft knock echoed behind him.
Sylvie entered, holding a stack of reports.
"A noble house was tracking Mira again. I scattered their spies."
"Good," Kieran nodded. "And the expansion teams?"
"Twelve new orphan candidates identified. Rhea's already planning trials."
He nodded, gaze distant.
"Soon... we'll need more than trials. We'll need a base of operations outside the city—where our kingdom begins."
Sylvie tilted her head.
"Already thinking of a Crown City?"
He smiled.
"We're not just shadows. We're the roots of an empire.