---
Two Days Later
Whispers spread across campus like wildfire.
Some students still didn't know the truth. To them, I was still Ace—the quiet, mysterious boy from Class A-4. But among my team, things had changed.
Lucian avoided eye contact. Vale was studying me like a riddle. Ryker still blushed every time I walked into a room.
Only Darius treated me exactly the same.
Darius: "You're tense."
I: "I'm hunted."
Darius: "Welcome to the club."
---
In the combat arena
Kael called us in for a "private session."
Kael: "You five. Simulation duel. No rules. Last one standing gets to decode the music box."
Ryker: "Wait, what music box?"
Kael: "This one."
He placed a small, golden box on the table. Intricate. Fragile-looking. Etched with runes. The same symbol from the Red Mirror briefcase glowed faintly on its lid.
Lucian narrowed his eyes.
Lucian: "It's a trap."
Kael: "Exactly. Let's see who can handle it."
---
The simulation was brutal.
Lucian went after Darius. Darius dodged, smirking.
Lucian: "Still a show-off."
Darius: "You missed me."
Vale unleashed smoke bombs and drones. Ryker launched himself at him like a rocket, only to get thrown into a wall.
I stayed quiet. Observed.
Then struck.
I took Ryker's stun discs, repurposed Vale's drones mid-air, and launched them back.
Boom. Lucian went down.
Vale: "Damn."
Darius: "She's good."
Kael raised a brow.
Kael: "Winner: Ashira."
---
Later
I approached the music box. Gloves on.
Kael: "Careful. The trap isn't physical."
I opened it slowly.
Inside: a spinning ballerina… with my face.
I froze.
Then a tiny voice sang:
"She dances in lies, beneath a crown of spies..."
Lucian: "It's a message."
Vale: "Encoded in the melody."
Ryker: "Creepy."
Kael looked at me.
Kael: "They know who you are. And they're toying with you."
Darius leaned in, whispering only for me.
Darius: "They're watching. Right now."
---
End of Chapter 33