The Extra's Rise

I returned to Avalon City.

Two nights at the Creighton estate had felt like a full-blown saga. The same could be said for my time at the Mount Hua sect.

Rachel and Seraphina had made their feelings painfully clear.

Which meant that now, only Cecilia and Rose remained.

And, conveniently enough, I was about to meet both of them at the Tower of Magic.

Cecilia's presence there made perfect sense—she was Charlotte Alaric's disciple. The Tower wasn't directly under the control of the Slatemark family, which naturally made the Emperor nervous. He wanted influence over it, and what better way than through his daughter? Of course, Cecilia wasn't just a political pawn—she had thrived under Charlotte's tutelage, growing into a spellcaster on par with Rachel.

Rose, on the other hand?

I had no idea why she was there.

I spent one night at home before heading to the Tower, catching up with my parents and Aria. A brief return to normalcy before diving back into the ever-growing chaos of my life.

The Tower of Magic loomed ahead as I arrived—a sleek, imposing structure rising a full kilometer into the sky, its surface gleaming under the morning sun.

Stepping inside, I moved toward security for verification.

The receptionist, a neatly-dressed woman, greeted me with a polite smile—one that quickly flickered into surprise as her eyes darted to the screen in front of her.

Then, just as quickly, she composed herself.

"Please make your way to the top floor," she said, handing me a black card.

"This will grant you access." She bowed slightly before adding, "I hope you enjoy your time here, Master's disciple."

I nodded. "Thank you."

Taking the card, I stepped into the elevator, tapping it against the reader before selecting floor 200.

The ride was smooth and unnervingly fast. A few seconds later, the doors slid open, revealing the highest level of the Tower—a space that served as both the research hub and personal quarters of the Tower Master.

Charlotte was already waiting.

"You're here," she said as I stepped inside her office.

"Greetings, Master," I said, bowing.

Charlotte sighed dramatically. "Honestly, I forgot how incredible you are."

Then, before I could react, she was suddenly right in front of me, closing the distance with the kind of speed that made my instincts scream.

I flinched. Which only made her smirk.

"You're already the most fascinating person I've seen," she mused, "aside from that boy."

I narrowed my eyes. "That boy?"

"Lucifer Windward," she said.

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I could've guessed.

For a split second, something in me bristled. 'So I'm still second to him, huh?'

I shoved the thought away. 'Not worth thinking about.'

"So, Master," I said, refocusing, "what exactly will I be doing here?"

Charlotte leaned against her desk, tilting her head slightly. "You're aiming for Integration-rank soon, aren't you?"

I nodded.

She smiled. "I ran a full analysis of your Gift. Based on my findings, you'll be able to cast six-circle spells the moment you complete the first stage of Integration."

Charlotte continued, her expression sharp. "I'll be teaching you a method of six-circle casting that very few people in the world can use. But you can."

She let the words settle before adding, "Of course, you're not strong enough to apply it just yet. But in a few months…"

She trailed off, her meaning clear.

I would be.

"And since I am a generous master," Charlotte continued, waving a hand lazily, "I've made sure you won't be completely miserable here."

She smirked. "You have two very close friends here to keep you company. Rose Springshaper and Cecilia Slatemark."

Charlotte leaned back, looking entirely too pleased with herself. "Your rooms are on floor 100—the highest level for guest quarters. And, conveniently, only the three of you have rooms there."

I blinked. "Just us?"

"Just you," she confirmed. "Consider it an exclusive club. A very dangerous one, if I may add."

I exhaled, already sensing the incoming chaos.

Charlotte gave me a knowing look. "Anyway, I'll give you today to settle in and relax—training starts tomorrow."

"Understood. Thank you, Master," I said, bowing.

She waved a hand dismissively, already turning back to her work.

Taking the cue, I stepped out of her office and made my way to the elevator.

You're right—I completely flipped them. Let's fix that and keep their personalities consistent.

The ride down was as smooth as ever, and as soon as the elevator doors slid open, I stepped onto floor 100.

The space was… impressive.

Unlike the sterile, polished hallways of the rest of the Tower, this level was more personalized. The lighting was softer, the walls lined with faintly glowing runes, and the entire area had the feel of a private penthouse rather than a training facility. A large common lounge stretched out before me, with sleek furniture and a floor-to-ceiling window that offered a stunning view of Avalon's skyline.

And, of course, waiting for me in the middle of it all was Cecilia Slatemark.

She was lounging on one of the chairs, arms draped lazily over the backrest, her long golden braid spilling over her shoulder. Her crimson eyes flicked to me the moment I stepped inside, glinting with their usual amused sharpness.

"Well, well," she drawled, lips curling into a knowing smile. "Look who finally made it."

I sighed. "Not even thirty seconds in and you're already teasing me."

Cecilia grinned. "You did keep two beautiful girls waiting, Arthur. That's very rude."

Before I could respond, another figure appeared from one of the side halls—Rose Springshaper.

Unlike Cecilia's casual amusement, Rose's expression was calm, her sharp brown eyes watching me with quiet assessment. Her long auburn hair was tied into a simple ponytail, and her posture was straight, disciplined, every movement measured.

"Arthur," she said, her tone steady, professional. "Welcome to the Tower."

I nodded. "Good to see you both."

Cecilia leaned forward slightly. "Oh? No dramatic declarations of how much you missed us? No 'I couldn't survive a moment without you, Cecilia'?"

I rolled my eyes. "I just got here."

Rose crossed her arms. "Charlotte said training starts tomorrow, so use today to rest."

Cecilia's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Yes, rest. Not strategizing how you're going to confess to me, Seraphina, and Rose all at once. Not thinking about how unfairly beautiful I am."

I exhaled slowly. "I am resting. Or at least I was trying to."

Cecilia just laughed. "Come on, check out your room. You'll like it."

I walked down the hall to the door labeled with my name, scanned my hand on the panel, and watched as it slid open with a quiet hiss.

Inside, the room was nothing short of luxurious.

A massive bed dominated the center, complete with some of the softest-looking sheets I'd ever seen. A desk sat in one corner. Thermostat on the wall adjusted the temperature to perfection.

And the view—

An entire wall was glass, giving me an unobstructed look at Avalon's skyline. The city stretched out beneath me like a sea of shimmering lights, reminding me of just how far I'd come.

I let out a slow breath.

For the first time in weeks, I had a moment to myself.

No training, no fighting, no complicated emotions—

Just a moment of quiet before the storm.