Chapter 13

Adrelo lay in bed, staring at the ornate ceiling of his dormitory. His thoughts swirled chaotically, replaying the encounters he'd had recently.

First, there was Lucien, whose sharp gaze seemed to pierce right through him. Then, Celine, with her poised demeanor and piercing intensity.

Adrelo sighed, rubbing his temples. It was exhausting enough trying to avoid being noticed. Now, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that things were just beginning.

‘Ah right, Xaviel’

“Who’s next?” he muttered to himself, staring at the moonlight filtering through his window.

He rummaged through his memories of the novel, trying to recall the sequence of events. After Xaviel’s arrival, another key character had entered the stage, the famed son of the Head Mage of the Magic Tower: Cielros Alexis Nevrine.

Cielros was a standout character, not only for his magical prowess but also for his striking appearance. His long, silvery hair shimmered like moonlight kissed by dawn, an inheritance from his illustrious family. As the sole heir of the Nevrine bloodline and the only son of the Head Mage, Cielros carried immense power and influence.

Adrelo frowned. In the novel, Cielros was charming and playful, often using his charisma to disarm others. But beneath that exterior lay a fiercely competitive streak. Adrelo vividly remembered how Cielros clashed with the second prince, Luxecio, over who was the stronger mage. Both were immensely gifted, and their rivalry had provided some of the novel’s most intense moments.

“He’s in another league,” Adrelo muttered, his stomach knotting at the thought.

Cielros was also one of the male leads who would eventually vie for the female lead’s affection. His relationship with her had been one of teasing camaraderie, laced with unspoken tension. The thought of their dynamic now made Adrelo shudder.

“If Cielros is showing up soon, then the female lead isn’t far behind,” Adrelo whispered to himself, dread creeping into his voice.

****

The Next Morning

Adrelo woke to the sound of a distant commotion. At first, he groggily assumed it was the usual noise of students going about their morning routines. But as the minutes ticked by, the noise grew louder, excited chatter, hurried footsteps, and even the occasional cheer.

He groaned, sitting up in bed. “What’s going on now?”

Curiosity got the better of him. Throwing on his uniform, he made his way to the common area and then out to the academy courtyard.

The sight that greeted him made his jaw drop.

A crowd of students had gathered near the entrance gates, their excitement palpable. Whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd as a carriage adorned with intricate magical sigils rolled to a stop.

Adrelo’s heart sank as he caught sight of the figure stepping out.

The boy’s presence was magnetic. His long, silvery hair glimmered in the morning sun, and his confident stride was both elegant and commanding. Cielros Alexis Nevrine had arrived.

Adrelo sighed, leaning back against a pillar to avoid drawing attention to himself. “Of course, it’s him,” he muttered bitterly.

Watching Cielros greet the professors and wave charmingly at the crowd, Adrelo felt a chill run down his spine. This wasn’t just a grand entrance, it was the start of something bigger.

The arrival of Cielros meant the story was accelerating. The presence of key characters like Xaviel, Celine, and Lucien would naturally draw the female lead into the academy soon.

Adrelo ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling up. “I don’t have time to get caught up in their mess,” he muttered. But even as he said it, he couldn’t shake the feeling that avoiding them entirely was becoming an impossible task.

From his hidden vantage point, he caught a brief glimpse of Cielros looking his way. For a moment, their eyes met, and Adrelo’s breath hitched.

The playful smirk that spread across Cielros’s face sent shivers down his spine.

“Great,” Adrelo muttered, ducking his head and slipping away before anyone could notice him. “Just great.”

****

Adrelo's footsteps echoed in the quiet hallways as he hastily made his way through the academy, desperately trying to avoid any more interactions with Cielros. The last thing he needed was to attract the attention of a person like him—especially knowing that Cielros’s family was close to the royal family, which meant his background was likely filled with gossip about Adrelo’s own.

Heart pounding, Adrelo turned a corner, desperate for an escape. That’s when he saw the door with a sign he hadn't noticed before: The Harmonic Sanctum.

‘Harmonic Sanctum? Like music room or something?’

He stood still for a moment, unsure, but something about the sign tugged at his mind. It was as if the name itself beckoned him. As he walked closer, a sense of nostalgia flooded his chest. The room beyond seemed to hold an unspoken promise of peace—something Adrelo felt he hadn’t known in years. With a deep sigh, he pushed the door open.

Adrelo stepped inside the room, his breath catching at the sight. It was breathtaking. The space was vast, and the walls were lined with shelves full of instruments, some familiar, others completely new to him. The room felt warm, bathed in golden light filtering through the tall windows. There was something almost sacred about it.

He paused, staring at the array of instruments before him. Violins, cellos, harps—so many that Adrelo couldn’t even begin to identify them all. But his eyes were immediately drawn to the large grand piano sitting in the corner, its polished surface reflecting the light in a way that almost seemed ethereal.

It’s been so long…

A heavy sadness weighed on Adrelo’s chest as memories flooded back—memories of his childhood and his family. He remembered his father, a renowned pianist whose hands danced over the keys as effortlessly as breathing. He remembered his older brother, always the more gifted one in music, following in their father’s footsteps while Adrelo quietly watched. He remembered his mother’s voice, angelic and soothing, ringing in his ears every night as he fell asleep.

Adrelo blinked, suddenly feeling a lump in his throat. He had once been so close to this world—the world of music. His mother had tried to teach him to sing, and his father had insisted he learn the piano. He had even won competitions as a child, his voice sweet and clear. But as time passed, his heart had gravitated elsewhere, toward art—toward the paintings and sculptures his uncle had introduced him to.

But the music still lingered in him, a part of his past he couldn’t escape.

Adrelo walked over to the grand piano, his fingers brushing the cool ivory keys. His heart felt heavy, the weight of his memories pulling him back to a time when things were simpler, when he wasn’t caught in the whirlwind of this strange new life.

Without thinking, his fingers began to move, hesitantly at first, but then with more confidence. He played a song his older brother had taught him—a melody that had always carried an undertone of bittersweet longing. His fingers moved faster, his heart pouring into the music as he let go of all the thoughts that had been clouding his mind.

The music was more than just notes and rhythms. It was an expression of all the emotions Adrelo had bottled up over the years—his longing for his family, his confusion about his place in this world, and the grief he still carried deep inside.

Each note was filled with the weight of his thoughts, and the melody seemed to fill the entire room, creating a space where the world outside didn’t exist.

Unbeknownst to Adrelo, the room had begun to warm, a soft golden light seemingly drawn toward him as if responding to the emotions in his music. His features softened in concentration, and his playing took on a deeper, more haunting quality.

Outside the room, a figure stopped in their tracks. The sound of the piano drifted through the door, and it stopped them cold. The melody was unlike anything they had ever heard before—so full of emotion, it seemed to transcend the usual beauty of music. It wasn’t just a tune; it was a reflection of the player’s soul.

The figure lingered, mesmerized by the music, unsure whether to enter or not. This was no ordinary melody—it had layers, complexity, and emotions hidden within it that seemed to pull on the heartstrings. Though there were many talented musicians in the academy, none could produce such a captivating and unique sound.

The figure slowly moved toward the door, trying to peek through the crack, but Adrelo was so absorbed in his playing that he didn’t notice. His focus was entirely on the piano, the tears that welled in his eyes threatening to fall as he lost himself in the melody.

The figure outside finally stepped away, unable to tear themselves away from the music but also reluctant to interrupt the intimate moment. They knew they would never forget what they had just heard.

Meanwhile, Adrelo finished the piece, his fingers slowing until they were still. The room, which had been filled with warmth and light, returned to normal.

Adrelo sat there for a moment, his heart racing, his hands resting lightly on the keys. He took a deep breath and let out a sigh, his eyes blinking rapidly as he tried to regain his composure.

The music had taken something from him. It had opened a door to his past, one he wasn’t sure he was ready to face.

****

After finishing the last note, Adrelo slowly withdrew his hands from the piano keys. He sat there for a moment, letting the lingering echoes of the melody wash over him. His heart was still heavy, but for a fleeting moment, the music had given him a sense of peace—something he hadn't felt in a long time.

With a final sigh, he stood up from the piano, wiping a stray tear from his cheek. He cast one last glance at the room, now calm and still. It felt like a place he could return to whenever he needed a moment of solitude, a place where he could be himself, away from the eyes of the academy and the pressure of the novel's fate.

"I’ll come back,"

Adrelo muttered quietly to himself, walking towards the door.

"When no one else is around."

As Adrelo made his way back through the halls to his class, his mind wandered back to the events of the morning. He had been so caught up in the music and his own emotions that he hadn’t thought about what came next. But now that he was back in the busy corridors of the academy, reality came rushing back.

He entered the classroom just as Milo was approaching him, his usual bright smile lighting up his face. Milo was always full of energy, and it seemed like he had something to say.

"Hey, Adrelo!"

Milo greeted him enthusiastically, practically bouncing in place.

"You won’t believe what I heard! Cielros is here! He arrived just this morning! Can you believe it?"

Adrelo blinked, the name bringing a familiar tension to his chest. He had been trying to avoid thinking about Cielros, but now that the topic was on the table, there was no escaping it.

"Mm."

Adrelo merely hummed in acknowledgment, his voice quieter than usual. He didn’t feel like talking much. After everything that had happened earlier, he just wanted to fade into the background. He was already mentally exhausted.

Milo continued to chatter excitedly about Cielros’s entrance into the academy, not noticing Adrelo's subdued response.

"He’s got this amazing reputation, you know! He’s the son of the head of the Magic Tower, and his magic’s supposed to be legendary! They say he’s already in the top ranks of the students here! Just like Xaviel, only... cooler, I think."

Adrelo nodded absently, his mind drifting back to the earlier scene in the Harmonic Sanctum. Cielros, the son of a prestigious family, was bound to be another thorn in his side, just like Xaviel. But he couldn’t afford to focus on them too much. He had to figure out how to carve a new path for himself—one that wasn’t defined by the trashy version of the character in the novel.

Milo finally paused, noticing Adrelo's lack of enthusiasm.

"Hey, are you okay? You’re kinda quiet today. You don’t look like you're paying attention."

Adrelo gave a small shrug, trying to mask his unease.

"I’m fine. Just tired, I guess."

Milo raised an eyebrow but didn’t push the issue. Instead, he grinned, leaning in conspiratorially.

"Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret. Word is, Cielros is looking for a rival to challenge. Guess who might be the perfect person for that?"

Adrelo didn’t respond, instead nodding off as if the conversation had taken a turn too far into unfamiliar territory. He was far more interested in figuring out his next steps than dealing with challenges from anyone else—especially not someone like Cielros.