Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece-Chapter 115: The Crown Princess [2]

The morning air in Solvayne Academy carried the usual energy of students moving between classes. Footsteps echoing down long marble halls.

Bits of chatter rising and falling in every direction. But today, it felt different. Heavier.

There was a tension in the air. Like everyone was holding their breath.

Kyle kept his head down as he walked through the main corridor, hands buried deep in his pockets.

The polished marble floor reflected the soft glow of mana-lamps overhead. But even that usual shine felt dull today.

Around him. Groups of students huddled together. Whispering in tight circles, their voices lowered but urgent.

"—heard it was a massacre—"

"—only three made it out alive—"

"—they say Princess Eleanora was there—"

Kyle didn’t react. He didn’t need to. He’d heard enough.

He pushed forward, weaving past students without making eye contact.

The last thing he wanted was to be dragged into some half-true gossip about what had happened.

He reached the elevators at the end of the hall and pressed the button. As he waited, his mind wandered again.

’How am I going to get into the forbidden section?’

The library’s restricted archives weren’t accessible to just anyone.

He’d need a faculty pass, or at the very least. A way to bypass the wards.

Maybe if he—

The elevator chimed softly, and just as the doors began to open. A presence joined him.

He glanced sideways.

Serena Blackthorn stood beside him.

Her arms were crossed over her uniform, and her sharp amethyst eyes stared straight ahead. She hadn’t made a sound when she approached.

The two stepped into the elevator together. The doors slid shut behind them with a soft hiss.

Silence filled the space.

Kyle shifted slightly, feeling the weight of her presence. She always gave off a cold, distant air. But this was different.

Then, without looking at him. She spoke.

"Were you on that train?"

Her voice was calm. Flat.

Kyle didn’t look at her. "Why do you think that?"

She finally turned her head. Studying him with that unreadable gaze of hers. "Just a feeling."

He didn’t reply.

Didn’t nod.

Didn’t deny it either.

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.

Serena walked out first. Her footsteps light but firm. Kyle followed, thoughts still circling.

’Does she know something? Or is she just guessing?’

He brushed the thought aside as they entered Classroom A1.

Reo was already there. Slouched in his usual seat at the back of the room.

Normally. He’d be cracking jokes or talking loudly about some wild story.

But now, he just sat there. Tapping his fingers quietly against the desk, his eyes distant.

Kyle dropped into the seat beside him.

"You okay?" he asked.

Reo blinked like he hadn’t noticed him. Then gave a small, tired smirk. "Yeah. Just tired after, you know..."

He trailed off.

Kyle didn’t push. They both knew what he meant.

Before either of them could say anything else. A burst of energy blew into the room.

"Morning, sunshine!"

Luna’s voice was loud and cheerful as always. She flopped into the seat on Kyle’s other side.

Her short white hair bouncing with the motion. But as soon as she saw their faces. Her smile faded a bit.

"Whoa. Why do you two look like someone died?"

Reo let out a soft snort. "Morning to you too."

Luna raised an eyebrow. "Seriously, though. You both look awful. Especially you, Reo. You’re never this quiet."

Reo shrugged and looked away. "Didn’t sleep much."

Luna frowned, clearly unconvinced, but didn’t push it. She leaned back in her chair, arms folded.

"Well, you’ve probably heard the rumors, right?" she asked in a low voice.

Kyle tensed slightly. "What rumors?"

Luna glanced around before answering. "About the train massacre. People are saying Princess Eleanora was on board... and only three - four people made it out alive."

Kyle tried to keep his voice casual. "Probably just rumors about Eleanora. You know how people love to make things sound bigger than they are."

Luna nodded slowly. "Yeah, maybe. But still..."

She paused. As if thinking of something else, then her expression lit up. "Oh! Speaking of the princess—"

The classroom door slid open with a soft sound.

All three turned to look.

Eleanora stepped inside.

She looked calm. Composed. Her pale blonde hair was tied neatly behind her back, and her uniform was spotless.

Her eyes scanned the room briefly and locked onto Kyle’s for half a second.

Then she looked away and took her seat beside Serena near the front.

Luna let out a low whistle. "Guess the rumors were fake. She looks totally fine."

Kyle didn’t respond. He kept his eyes on Eleanora’s back.

A moment later. The door opened again.

Aurelia, strode into the classroom with her usual commanding presence.

The soft clack of her heels echoed off the stone floor, and the students immediately straightened in their seats.

Her icy blue eyes swept across the room, sharp and calculating. Like a hawk eyeing every movement, every twitch.

The quiet chatter that had been bouncing between desks died in seconds.

"Good morning," she said, her voice crisp and no-nonsense.

But this time, she wasn’t alone.

A second figure followed her in, and just her presence made the room shift.

She was tall and graceful. Her long jet-black hair tied neatly in a high ponytail that swayed with each step.

Her eyes. Deep, sharp, and crimson, seemed to cut through the air.

She wore a black academy coat, trimmed with silver. The emblem of Solvayne stitched over her chest.

Kyle felt the tension beside him rise, and when he glanced to the front row.

He saw Eleanora stiffen in her seat. Her hand froze halfway through writing. Her face, usually calm and composed, showed a flicker of surprise.

"No way..." Eleanora whispered under her breath, eyes locked on the new arrival. "What is she doing here?"

Aurelia stepped aside, giving the girl space. "This is your new assistant professor. She’ll be joining us from today onward."

The girl moved forward smoothly, her back straight, her chin slightly raised.

There was a quiet confidence in the way she carried herself. Like someone who had nothing to prove because her name had already done it for her.

"Anastasia D’Argent," she said, her voice calm, smooth, and strong.

"I graduated from Solvayne last year, specializing in advanced combat and mana theory. I look forward to working with you all."

The moment she said her name, the classroom exploded with whispers.

"D’Argent?! Like... the D’Argent?"

"Isn’t she the Crown Princess?"

"She’s the older sister of Eleanora, right?"

"What is someone like her doing back here?"

Kyle didn’t join in. But his eyes narrowed slightly. He watched Eleanora from the side.

Her face was hard to read now. Cold and collected. But her hands, tightly clenched around her quill, gave her away.

’So... she’s Crown Princess.’

Aurelia didn’t let the buzz go on for long. Her gaze snapped toward the class, and with one sharp look, the room fell silent again.

"Enough," she said. "Open your textbooks to page 243. We’ll begin with elemental convergence theory."

The rest of the class went on quietly, but tension lingered in the air like smoke.

———

[After Class]

Luna dragged her feet as they left the lecture hall. Letting out a long groan.

"Ugh, I hate practicals. Why can’t we just stick to theory forever? Books don’t make you sweat or throw magic at you."

Kyle walked beside her, quiet. Reo followed a step behind, his hands in his pockets. Eyes a little distant.

Then, as if someone flipped a switch in her head, Luna’s whole face lit up.

"But did you see her? Anastasia D’Argent! She’s not just anyone. She was Rank 1. Not just once, but every year she was here! They say the gap between her and whoever was second was huge. Like, embarrassingly huge."

She leaned in a little. Lowering her voice like she was telling a secret.

"There’s a rumor she once took down an entire mercenary squad by herself during her second-year mission. Real mercs."

Kyle said nothing. His eyes stayed ahead, distant.

Reo didn’t react either. He just kept walking, jaw tight.

Luna slowed down when she noticed the silence. Blinking between the two. "...You guys okay?"

Kyle gave a small nod. "Yeah. Just tired."

They turned the corner and passed through a set of reinforced doors.

Stepping into the academy’s massive indoor training arena.

The place was enormous, easily the size of four football fields.

The ceiling stretched high above. Lined with glowing mana crystals that gave off a steady white light.

Groups of students were already scattered across the field. Warming up or checking their gear.

"Instructor Hale’s class today," Luna said, looking around.

"He always makes us run the full course before sparring. My legs are gonna die."

Reo exhaled hard through his nose. "Let’s just get this over with."

Luna opened her mouth to say something else. But closed it again when she saw the look on Kyle’s and Reo’s face.

They headed toward their designated group zone in silence.

The training had begun. But some wounds weren’t the kind that healed with time.

———