Semua Bab THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME : Bab 131 - Bab 140

The air in Thornecrest Academy had turned sharp. It clung to the skin like static, electric with tension. Sunlight poured through the high, cathedral-style windows, casting white bars across the polished floors. It was exam week. The building, typically a buzzing hive of elite ambition and polished pride, now resembled a cathedral of silence.No laughter, no footsteps, no gossip whispered behind hands. Only the sterile rustle of paper and the steady, desperate scratch of pens filled the void.In the largest examination wing, rows upon rows of students bent over their desks like penitents, brows furrowed, mouths set in grim lines. Some mouthed formulas to themselves. Others scribbled with frantic intensity. A few had gone pale from the pressure.For most, this was a war zone. A trial by fire that would decide whether they rose or fell in the hierarchy of Thornecrest.But for House Six, it was something else entirely.In

House Six was enjoying the rare peace that came with a near-end to midterms.The storm of exams had nearly passed, with only one day left, and the members were settled in their dorm, basking in the quiet. The kind of quiet that only came when every brain cell had been wrung dry and the only thing left to do was exist.Their house master was nowhere to be found, having disappeared to do… well, whatever it was that Xavier did when he wasn’t micromanaging their lives. Probably glowering into a teacup somewhere.Mika yawned loudly. “When midterms end, I’m gonna sleep for twenty hours straight.”“Make it thirty,” Miriam muttered, tossing a chip at her. “But only after you stop stealing my snacks.”“I don’t steal,” Mika said, fake-gasping. “I borrow permanently.”“You ‘borrowed permanently’ my entire stash of chocolate last week.”“I don’t recall.”Samuel didn’t even look up. “That’s because she replaced it

The day had finally arrived. After weeks of anticipation, the students of Thornecrest Academy gathered in the grand dining hall, their faces a mixture of nervousness, excitement, and determination. The air was thick with anticipation—today was not just any ordinary day. It was the day the Thornecrest Trials began, a day where the academy’s brightest would face off in a test of intellect, power, and skill.The students sat at their assigned tables, some too focused on the upcoming challenges to eat, while others whispered amongst themselves, strategizing for the trials ahead. The grand hall was filled with the hum of conversation and the clatter of utensils as everyone prepared for what was about to unfold. The headmasters were seated nearby, exchanging occasional glances but offering no comfort. Their silence was enough to remind everyone of the gravity of the day. The usual warmth of the morning breakfast had been replaced by a cool, almost om

The dining hall buzzed with tension, filled with the murmurs of students discussing the upcoming Grand Tribunal. Long banquet tables stretched across the room, separating the houses. House Masters sat amongst their students, offering last-minute advice—or, in some cases, threats.At the center, House Six occupied their usual spot. Unlike the others, who were poring over legal theories and pre-trial strategies, they weren’t even pretending to be concerned.Joy sipped her juice, completely at ease. Mika was demolishing a plate of fries. Samuel was sharpening a knife, the rhythmic scraping of metal on stone setting some students on edge.Miriam, seated across from him, adjusted her glasses, already deep in thought. Fiero was leaning back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the table in an absentminded rhythm.And Moses? Headphones on. Eyes closed. Arms crossed. Classic.At the head of the table, Xavier Peterson exhaled dramatically, lo

The air inside the High Courtroom grew heavier as Chancellor Warwick’s words settled.Excitement crackled through the audience. Even those who had already lost leaned forward, eager to witness this final clash. House Phantom, the cunning scholarship students who thrived on uncovering hidden truths. House Six, the untouchable and rising rulers of Thornecrest, whose dominance was unquestioned.For the first time that afternoon, the match felt personal.Xavier Peterson exhaled, lazily stretching his arms. “Ah, this should be fun.”Professor Rhys Calloway, House Phantom’s House Master, shot him a sharp look. “We don’t play games, Xavier. We win with intelligence.”Xavier grinned. “That’s cute.”Calloway ignored him, adjusting his glasses as his students took their seats at the defense’s table.The Case: The People vs. Lord Benjamin Aldric (Treason Case)“The charge,” Chancellor Warwick continued, “is treason against