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Arc 2: Threads of Power
After the trials of her first semester, Chloe is forced into harsher training that pushes her beyond her limits. As King Aldric and Queen Seraphina struggle to unite the kingdom, rival factions prepare for unrest. Friendships are tested, hidden identities edge closer to exposure, and the true cost of wielding power begins to surface.
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Chapter 15: Midterm Evaluation
As Chloe stepped out of the grand hall, her mind swirled with unease. The chess match with Youssef Trabelsi wasn't just a game â it was a warning. He wasnât just another instructor. He knew things. Dangerous things.
"Did I really threaten the king... without knowing it? "
She pushed the doubts away. Now wasn't the time for weakness.
In her quiet corner of the library, Chloe opened her private diary â the one she used under her covert alias, Lady Chay. A strange entry caught her eye. She didnât remember writing it.
âDid... did he say C_55 ?ââ
Before she could finish the thought, her comm-device flickered. A hologram formed â Ms. Nightfallâs face, stern as always, eyes sharp and unreadable.
âChloe. That chess match with Mr. Trabelsi... dramatic, wasnât it?â
Chloe quickly shielded the device. Fortunately, the library was empty. No one would overhear.
âIâm fine,â she said, though her voice betrayed tension. âBut the mission â Operation Closer â itâs getting harder to manage. Keeping my cover at the Royal Service University isnât simple.â
She told Nightfall about her growing suspicions of Trabelsi and the pressure of the upcoming midterms. Nightfall listened in silence.
âYouâre still young,â she finally said, then added carefully, âBut you should know... Trabelsi is part of the Secret Police. He takes orders directly from the king.â
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The door creaked.
Trabelsi stepped in, calm and casual, leaning against a bookshelf.
âC_55â he greeted smoothly. âChatting with Ms. Nightfall? Donât worry â the libraryâs soundproof. I made sure of it.â
His tone was friendly. But Chloe felt the weight behind his words.
âLet me be your guide,â he continued. âIn espionage. In survival. If you accept, Iâll train you in Animencor.â
Chloeâs pulse quickened. He had called her by her true designation â C_55.
She stood slowly, slipping a hand beneath her cloak to rest near her hidden blade. âAs Lady Chay, Iâm always ready to learn. But my time is limited.â
Trabelsi smiled. as if he knew her hidden mouve to her blade before she did
Nightfallâs voice chimed back in, startled to see both of them.
âI didnât expect this meeting to happen so soon. Youssef, is this the right moment?â
âwe can't afford waiting moreâ he replied. âHer grasp of the mission is strong. But without Animencor, C_55 wonât survive whatâs coming.â
âChloe,â Nightfall said gently, âYoussef will now serve as your Animencor master. Training begins soon â after your midterm exams.â
Chloe processed the news in silence. She had once studied Animencor but abandoned it before her five-year mission. Never did she expect a member of the Secret Police to guide her back to it.
âAnd my studies at RSU?â she asked.
âTheyâll continue,â Nightfall confirmed. âTraining will take place on weekends and during midterm breaks.â
Trabelsi gave a shallow bow. âThink of me as your mentor. But remember â this isnât optional. The king wonât tolerate another rogue spy.â
Weeks passed in a blur â lectures, field exercises, and whispered strategy sessions. Chloe gave everything. She memorized equations, practiced etiquette, and even repaired a broken kitchen pipe like a royal technician.
Then came the exam.
It was brutal â twenty pages of dense, layered questions. Chloe gripped her quill and fought her way through logic puzzles, historical codes, and memory traps. Some she conquered. Others left her guessing.
This isnât just a test of knowledge, she thought.too many questions, limited time Itâs a test survival and strategy
As dusk fell, she submitted the exam. Ninety percent completed. Ten percent unanswered. She exhaled.
Across the room, Trabelsi watched her. No words. Just a knowing look.
The next morning, the results went public.
Lady Chay â 78%.
It was the highest score in the university. The exam had been so punishing that two-thirds was considered humanly possible. Chloe had gone beyond.
The halls buzzed. Some students barely passed. Others failed outright â scores under 25%. A retake was their only hope.
Chloe didnât dwell on them. Her mission demanded more than sympathy.
Three hours later, she arrived at Whispering Woods â the site of her Animencor training.
Wrapped in her cloak, she slipped past the old castle gates and into the dense forest. Shadows shifted. The wind carried whispers.
In a quiet clearing, a single wooden cabin glowed with candlelight.
Waiting outside, arms folded, stood Youssef Trabelsi.
The real training was about to begin.