Karn settled into a comfortable chair in the heart of the university's library beside Ellie. Glancing around, he noticed shafts of sunlight streaming through the ornate windows. These beams painted dappled patterns on the polished wooden floors and the time-worn bookshelves. The ambiance made it feel like they were drawing the curtain on their fourth week of classes.

"Time's flown by," Karn murmured, not intending his voice to carry.

From a nearby table, Ellie looked up from her book, her face brightened by a wry smile. "It really has. Just a few more days, and we'll get those shiny white books."

Karn rolled his eyes. "Can't wait," he replied, dripping with sarcasm.

Ellie playfully nudged back, "Well, not all of us have a fancy book of our own."

The lightness in Karn's expression dimmed, reminding him of his book now secured within the Elementlet enclave. He felt incomplete without it. Though he currently felt a sense of loss, he had to admit, the past few weeks hadn’t been entirely unpleasant.

A smile touched his lips as the memory of Master Parlin's Spirit Class drifted into his mind. He could still recall the whispers of excitement and anxiety that had filled the hallways as students discussed the unexpected exam for her sprit classes.

And on the day, Karn remembered the anticipation as the students divided into their distinct groups for the test. The Royals, with their embroidered sashes, chatted casting snide glances at the other assembled students. Their conversations, punctuated by occasional laughter, had an underlying tone of superiority.

Master Parlin's figure appeared under the morning sun as she commanded attention without uttering a word. Her face, usually calm, held a trace of mischief. "Today," she began, her voice firm and echoing, "you will be tested not on what you think you know, but on how deeply you understand."

The vast university grounds were transformed into an arena of challenge. Each student was tasked to locate specific stones, camouflaged among a sea of ordinary rocks. These weren’t just stones; they held a fabricated essence of spirits.

As the students dispersed, Karn glanced to the girls, each wearing expressions of confidence. With a quick nod, they all moved as one with purpose but without urgency. They took slow, deliberate steps through the gardens, their eyes scanning, but their senses more attuned to feel than to see. They remembered Master Parlin’s proclamation, "You will feel them before you can see them! We aren’t their masters. We’re all collaborators."

Karn's fingers gently grazed the leaves, felt the moisture of the soil, and traced the contours of smooth pebbles in the gardens. Immersed in the moment, a rush of memories enveloped him. The fresh aroma of crushed grass filled his nostrils, and a stray strand of Hope's hair brushed against his face as she knelt beside him. For a fleeting moment, his gaze lingered on Hope's soft lips. Shaking away the distraction, he refocused, reminding himself of the task before them.

He remembered seeing Marcellas and Baron, their confidence evident in their brisk steps and sharp glances. Their impatience was unmistakable, as they would forcefully pick up stone after stone with determination, hoping to command it to reveal its secret.

In contrast, Karn had approached a serene pond surrounded by wildflowers. He knelt down, his fingers gently sifting through the water-worn stones at the edge. It was there he felt it—a faint but distinctive pull. As his hand closed around a seemingly ordinary stone, it warmed to his touch. An ethereal light emanated from within, and when he turned it over, inscribed on its flat surface was a code—a dance of symbols and ancient script.

The hours went by, and by the time the shadows began to lengthen, Karn's group had discovered several such stones, each with its unique code.

The courtyard later buzzed with a mix of excitement and frustration. The Royals, Marcellas, and Baron in particular, seemed uncharacteristically subdued. Their once-distinct overconfidence had been tempered, replaced by anger and shame.

Upon announcing the results, Master Parlin's gaze was firm yet compassionate. "To control is not to understand," she had said, addressing the Royal sector students. "You will need more time, more guidance, before I can allow you to proceed."

Karn chuckled, the memory bringing a twinkle to his eyes. He glanced at the book cradled in his hands, penned by his own tutor, Master Waverly. The university's Headmaster had personally chosen Master Waverly to guide him through the intricate maze of traveling events and the two had quickly found themselves becoming fast friends. As Karn delved into the manuscript, a smirk spread across his face upon encountering a particularly colourful phrase. The cheeky choice of words his tutor used to describe the fusion of complex events was both crude and hilariously unorthodox for a teacher.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Master Waverly certainly has a way with words," Karn remarked, flipping through the pages with a mix of admiration and curiosity.

Out of all the memories he had of the past few weeks his lessons with Event Master Waverly stood out. Young and dynamic, Waverly was more than just an instructor. He was a beacon of knowledge in the vast sea of event application. An energetic scholar, he had a reputation for getting into what many perceived as arguments. To onlookers, his exchanges often seemed like loud, raucous shouting matches. Yet, Karn saw them differently. To him, these weren't mere arguments; they were in depth heated discussions into deep topics of exploration, brimming with Waverly's passion.

This eagerness, however, did come at a cost. Most students were wary of the Event Master, choosing to keep their distance lest they find themselves in one of his infamous debates. This exclusion left Waverly with few close companions among his peers, a situation Karn found all too familiar. He couldn’t help but draw parallels between Waverly and his friend Charles. Both men, with their intense interests, often pushed people away unintentionally.

With every intense lesson, Karn recognized a bit of his own relentless drive in Waverly's teachings. Each session chipped away at the barriers, pulling the dream of entering the book within arm's reach.

But for all the progress in the classroom, the university's corridors held their own mysteries. The Royal sector students, notoriously boisterous and openly disdainful of Karn and his circle, had fallen eerily silent. Karn had expected confrontations, maybe a sly remark or two. Instead, he faced a dense wall of silence.

The hushed whispers and growing unease within the university grounds were hard to ignore. Word had it that the guards stationed at the university had been abruptly recalled by the Brancourt parliament to take control of the uprising in Sorina. Such a move only heightened the general feeling of instability.

Additionally, even though food remained scarce, there were murmurs about an old man cloaked in mystery leaving carts brimming with provisions. The tales reminded Karn of the stories of a certain British folk hero. However, deep down, he suspected the benefactor to be Maze. Though the old man never took credit, both he and Charles had been noticeably occupied lately.

His nights became restless, the once comforting hum of the university's magic now sounding more like murmured cautions.

He shook his head, attempting to dispel his anxiety. “Focus on the present, Karn,” he muttered to himself.

“I’m thinking of heading back to the Amber sector,” Ellie remarked, adjusting her bag. “Hope and Ralina left earlier, and with the guards gone, I’d rather not walk back in the dark.”

Karn nodded, appreciating the sentiment. “Let’s go. It’ll be good to stretch my legs after all that… reading.”

As they exited the library, the evening chill seemed to invigorate them. Ellie, her eyes glinting with mischief, nudged Karn. "So, about that 'fiery' conversation with Master Waverly yesterday?"

Karn laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Word travels fast, huh? We were deep into the intricacies of event-casting for flight. Let's just say some traditional theories don't take kindly to being challenged."

Ellie's eyes twinkled. "Sounds like you've left a memorable impression."

Karn mouth flew open, but he was distracted by movement in the courtyard. Master Parlin stood engrossed in a hushed conversation with a lone shrouded figure whose stances radiated tension. Karn and Ellie stealthily edged closer, finding cover behind an ornate statue.

"...since last night," the figure murmured, a troubled look crossing his face.

"This information must remain contained," Master Parlin responded, her tone firm. "We can't afford a panic."

Though much of their discussion was veiled, the phrases 'Master Waverly' and 'missing' pierced Karn's consciousness. Sharing a glance with Ellie, he felt a knot of worry forming.

But now wasn't the time to act impulsively.

Ellie gently tugged at Karn's sleeve. "We should head to the Amber sector and share this with the others."

Karn agreed silently, the weight of the situation pressing on his mind.

Ellie and Karn hurriedly made their way towards the exit, but their path was obstructed by unfamiliar men in armour. The new collection of sentinels, donning Royal sector sashes guarded the universities entrance. Their eyes darted about, scanning each student with a keen intensity as they came and went. They seemed to be searching for someone, or perhaps some group.

Ellie leaned closer to Karn, her voice barely above a whisper. "They might be looking for us."

Karn shot her a glance, nodding. As they attempted to blend in and make an inconspicuous exit, their fears were seemingly confirmed. At the main gate, two guards stopped a pair of students that bore a striking resemblance to them. But upon noticing that the students wore sashes not of the Amber sector, they were released.

Karn's eyes darted to the formidable new enforcers and to their belted weapons. "Damn it," he hissed, quickly grabbing Ellie's hand and steering her into a side alleyway. "These guyhand,an trouble."

Ellie glanced back nervously, "Do you think they're here because of our rows with the Royal students?"

"It sure feels like it," Karn's eyes darkened with realization. "Marcella wouldn’t stoop to this, or would she?"

Ellie frowned, catching on, "You think she gave our names to the authorities?"

Karn shrugged.

“That bitch,” Ellie whispered.

He nodded, urgency in his voice, "We need to move fast."

Navigating the twisting side streets, Karn's pulse quickened, a gnawing dread settling in his chest. Each turn seemed to reveal more guards, their presence a clear indication of their route to the Amber sector. Just as the familiar outline of the gate appeared, suggesting safety, it vanished behind a wall of guards emerging from the alleys.

"Karn of the Amber sector," declared a guard, a smug grin spreading across his face. "You're being arrested on suspicions tied to Master Waverly's disappearance."

Ellie's gaze met Karn's, her eyes reflecting the same shock and disbelief he felt.