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Lahat ng Kabanata ng First Female Alpha : Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

142 Kabanata

Chapter 21 Summoned

Ari’s POVThe summons to the Headmaster’s hall was unpleasantly formal, the kind that makes your stomach crawl and your brain scream “Oh no, trouble is imminent.” Caspian followed me, silent as ever, the quiet sort of quiet that could either mean he was planning something or judging me silently—sometimes both.The hall itself smelled faintly of old stone and incense, the sun slanting through the windows so bright it could have burned your retinas if you weren’t careful. The Headmaster didn’t bother with small talk. He had a way of silencing a room just by being present, which was a skill I simultaneously envied and hated.“All heirs,” he began, voice low but commanding, “we have identified students performing unauthorized magic within the Academy. This behavior violates the rules and cannot be tolerated. Those responsible will face immediate consequences.”I felt a spike of tension. Unauthorized magic? My mind immediately flashed to the intruders from the training ground. The fight,

Chapter 22 – Shadows and Doubts

Aria's POVWalking back to the dorms felt like trudging through quicksand. Every step reminded me that while everyone else was celebrating justice served, I was stuck wondering if I'd just watched a magic show where the real trick was still hidden up someone's sleeve.The other heirs chatted excitedly around me, their voices bouncing off the stone walls like ping-pong balls. "Finally caught those idiots," someone said. "About time," another agreed. They sounded so relieved, so satisfied, like the Academy had just solved world hunger instead of catching a few troublemakers.Meanwhile, my brain was doing backflips trying to figure out if the people who got punished today were the same ones who'd been sending me love letters signed "Your Friendly Neighborhood Blackmailer."Spoiler alert: I didn't think they were.The math didn't add up. The first intruders—the ones who knew my secret—had been too careful, too precise. They hadn't left magic traces everywhere like amateur hour. They'd sli

Chapter 23 – Tactical Retreat (And Other Lies I Tell Myself)

Aria's POVMy room felt smaller than usual, like the walls had decided to close in while I was gone. I shut the door behind me and immediately slumped against it, letting out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.Tactical retreat, my ass. This was a full-blown escape from reality.I pulled the crumpled letter from my pocket and stared at it for the hundredth time. The words hadn't changed, unfortunately. Still the same threatening message, still the same jagged handwriting that looked like someone had written it during an earthquake."Say a word about last night's fight, and you'll be exposed."Well, congratulations, mysterious letter-writer. Mission accomplished. I hadn't said a word, and I was still paranoid enough to jump at shadows.I flopped onto my bed and stared at the ceiling. The cracks in the stone looked like a map of somewhere I didn't want to visit. My brain kept replaying Lander's words: "Funny how some people always seem to be in the right place at the right time.

Chapter 24 – Detective work

Aria's POVTurns out, investigating mysterious threats is a lot harder when you're supposed to be acting like a normal student who definitely doesn't have life-threatening secrets.I'd spent the entire morning trying to look casual while mentally cataloging every heir who glanced my way for more than three seconds. So far, my suspect list included: the guy who sneezed during breakfast (suspicious timing), the heir who asked me to pass the salt (why me specifically?), and approximately half the Academy because paranoia was apparently my new hobby.This was going great."You're doing that thing again," Caspian said, appearing beside me like he'd materialized from thin air."What thing?""That thing where you look like you're planning either a heist or a murder."I nearly choked on my water. "I do not look like that.""You absolutely look like that. Riven said you looked like you were mentally undressing everyone at breakfast, but I told him you were probably just thinking about stabbing

Chapter 25 – When Training Becomes Survival

Aria's POVTraining with the knowledge that three students had vanished overnight was like trying to focus on math while someone was setting fire to your homework. Technically possible, but absolutely miserable.The instructor—Commander Blackwood, a mountain of a man who looked like he could bench press a truck—was barking orders about defensive formations. But all I could think about was how Marcus from Silverclaw had been standing right here yesterday, and now his bed was empty."Pair off for combat drills," Blackwood commanded. "Today we focus on identifying weaknesses in your opponent's stance."Identifying weaknesses. Perfect. Just what I needed when I was already feeling like a walking target with a neon sign that said "Please investigate me."I started toward Riven, figuring he'd be a safe sparring partner, but Lander stepped directly into my path."How about we partner up, Ari?" His smile was all politeness and zero sincerity. "I'm very interested in seeing your... technique."

Chapter 26 – The Hunter Becomes the Hunted

Aria's POVIf there's one thing I've learned from watching too many heirs get eliminated, it's that sitting around waiting to become the next victim is a terrible survival strategy. So instead of spending the evening having a quiet panic attack like a normal person, I decided to do something monumentally stupid.I was going to investigate Lander.The plan, if you could call it that, was simple: follow him, see where he goes, figure out what he's really up to, and hopefully avoid getting caught in the process. Easy, right? What could possibly go wrong?Everything. Everything could go wrong.But I was doing it anyway, because apparently my sense of self-preservation had taken a vacation.I waited until after dinner, when the common areas started emptying out. Lander had left the dining hall about ten minutes ago, claiming he had "research" to do in the library. Which was either completely innocent or a load of crap, depending on your level of paranoia.Mine was currently set to "maximum

Chapter 27 – Confessions and Complications

Aria's POVSleep was apparently a luxury I could no longer afford.I'd been staring at the ceiling for what felt like six hours, replaying every word of the conversation I'd overheard. Lander wasn't just suspicious—he was working with someone. Someone who wanted information about me specifically. Someone who called me a "target."And the worst part? I still had no idea who the other person was. The voice had been familiar, but I couldn't place it. Could've been any of the upper year students, or even a faculty member.Trust no one. Suspect everyone. Welcome to my new life motto."You're thinking too loud again," Caspian's voice cut through the darkness.I turned my head to find him propped up on one elbow, watching me with those annoyingly perceptive eyes."Sorry," I muttered. "Didn't mean to wake you.""You didn't wake me. Hard to sleep when your roommate is broadcasting anxiety like a radio station.""I'm not broadcasting anything.""Right. And I'm secretly a flower fairy who grants

Chapter 28 – When Bad Days Get Worse

Aria's POVMorning came with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the face, courtesy of the Academy's cheerfully aggressive wake-up bells. I'd managed maybe three hours of actual sleep, which meant I was running on fumes, anxiety, and whatever willpower I had left.Not exactly optimal conditions for dealing with whatever fresh hell today was going to throw at me.Caspian was already up, going through his morning routine with that annoyingly efficient way he had of making everything look effortless. But I caught him glancing at me more than usual, like he was trying to read something in my expression."You look terrible," he said, not unkindly."Thanks. Really what every person wants to hear first thing in the morning.""I'm serious. When's the last time you actually slept?""Sleep is overrated.""So is consciousness, apparently."I threw a pillow at him. He caught it without even looking up from tying his boots, which was just showing off."We need to talk about last night," he said,

Chapter 29 – Supervised Misery and Unexpected Allies

Aria's POVSupervised activities, it turned out, were about as fun as they sounded. Which is to say, not at all.My new shadow was a grim-faced instructor named Commander Hayes, who had apparently been tasked with making sure I didn't so much as sneeze without proper authorization. He followed me everywhere—to classes, to meals, to training—with the enthusiasm of someone assigned to watch paint dry."This is ridiculous," I muttered as we walked to morning combat practice, Hayes trailing two steps behind like the world's most depressing parade float."Talking to yourself is discouraged, Heir Ari," Hayes said in his monotone voice. "It suggests mental instability.""And following students around like a lost puppy suggests what, exactly?""Proper security protocols."I was starting to understand why some people chose hermit lifestyles.The training ground buzzed with conversation when we arrived, but it died the moment everyone spotted my new accessory. Nothing says "I'm definitely not s

Chapter 30 – Creative Problem Solving

Aria's POVSupervised studying was about as productive as trying to read during an earthquake, but it did give me plenty of time to think. And what I was thinking was this: if I couldn't move freely around the Academy, maybe I could get the Academy to move to me.It was a long shot, but desperate times called for creative solutions.The plan started forming during my third hour of pretending to care about "Advanced Pack Dynamics" while Hayes watched me like I might spontaneously combust. If someone was orchestrating the disappearances, they had to be getting their information somewhere. Student records, maybe. Class schedules. Background files.All of which were kept in the administrative wing.All of which I couldn't access while being followed around by my personal watchdog.But there were other people who could access them. People who wouldn't be automatically suspicious. People who might be willing to help if approached correctly.The trick was figuring out how to approach them wh

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