Dan sat on the edge of the pavement, one knee bent, arms draped over it, as he watched the quiet courtyard. The distant hum of chatter from other students filled the air, but none of it seemed to reach him. His gaze flickered now and then, focused yet distant, like he was piecing together a puzzle only he could see.

On a nearby bench, Celia sat with her usual poise—straight-backed and thoughtful, her dark hair swaying slightly in the breeze. She exuded an air of calm control, though her eyes gleamed with the sharpness of someone always two steps ahead.

"We're missing something," she said, her voice breaking the silence. Her tone was matter-of-fact, but there was a hint of frustration underneath. "That fight wasn't just about basketball."

Dan tilted his head slightly, not bothering to look at her. "Obviously." He sighed, tapping his fingers against his knee. "Jaxon and Kael were the perfect pawns. Hot-headed, competitive, and easy to provoke."

Celia turned her head slightly, arching a brow. "You think someone set them up?"

"Not think. Know," Dan replied, voice flat. "Too many coincidences."

Before Celia could press further, the sound of approaching footsteps drew their attention. Luck and Miria came into view, walking side by side. Luck's expression was as unreadable as ever—calm, detached, and utterly composed. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, his eyes scanning the area with quiet precision. Miria, on the other hand, carried herself with the same composed grace as her sister, though there was a distinct sharpness in her gaze.

Miria glanced at the two seated figures and broke the silence. "Still piecing it together?"

"Trying to," Celia replied, shifting slightly on the bench. "We're waiting on Levy and Ashton to report back."

Luck leaned against a nearby post, his presence subtle but commanding. He didn't say anything, merely observing. Dan, sensing the growing tension, sighed. "They're supposed to be gathering intel. Hopefully, they'll bring something useful."

Right on cue, Levy strode up the path, her steps light but purposeful. She spotted Dan first, a grin breaking across her face as she waved. Her blonde hair shimmered in the afternoon sun, and her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Well, well," she said with a teasing lilt. "Look at this little detective squad. Solving mysteries now, are we?"

Dan raised a brow, smirking slightly. "Got anything worth our time? Or just here to gloat?"

Levy laughed, placing a hand on her hip. "Relax, Dan. I've got news." Her gaze shifted to Celia, then to Miria—and she froze. Her eyes widened in surprise, darting between the two.

"Wait... what?" Levy blurted out, pointing between Miria and Celia. "Hold on a second. There are two of you."

Miria blinked, confused. Celia, meanwhile, remained perfectly composed. "Levy, meet my sister. Miria Princer."

"Sister?" Levy echoed, still staring. "You guys look like clones. It's kinda creepy." She laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. "No offence."

"None taken," Miria replied coolly. "We're used to it."

Levy turned to Dan, eyes wide. "Did you know about this?"

Dan shrugged. "Not my business."

Before Levy could process further, her gaze shifted to Luck, who had remained silent throughout the exchange. Something about him caught her attention, and she tilted her head. "And who's this?"

Celia glanced at Luck. "Luck Starborne. Philips House."

Dan added casually, "He's with Miria. And me."

Levy's eyes lit up with recognition. "Oh, you're Luck. Heard about you from Lila. Didn't think you'd be so... quiet as she said."

Luck gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. "I prefer it that way."

Levy chuckled. "Fair enough. Anyway, about the fight," she said, shifting gears. "Ashton and I poked around. Talked to some people. Turns out, Jaxon and Kael didn't just randomly blow up. Their friends—Jaxon's especially—were riled up beforehand. Someone planted the idea that Kael was trash-talking."

Celia's eyes narrowed. "Who?"

"That's the thing," Levy said, folding her arms. "No one knows for sure. It's like the idea just appeared. Ashton thinks someone stirred the pot deliberately."

Dan exchanged a glance with Luck, his eyes narrowing. "Someone skilled. Someone who knows how to push buttons without being seen."

Celia's gaze sharpened. "Any suspects?"

Levy hesitated, then shrugged. "Nothing concrete. But Ashton thinks someone from Hampden might be involved. There were a lot of whispers coming from your house, Miria."

Miria's expression didn't change, but her eyes grew colder. "Noted."

Dan leaned back, his voice low. "It's subtle. Too subtle for amateurs. Only one person I know operates like that."

Miria tilted her head. "Who?"

Dan didn't answer directly, but his eyes flickered toward the figure sitting down beside him: Luck, sitting at the edge of the sidewakl, quietly observing. He didn't engage, didn't act—just listen.

Luck looked back at Dan's gaze but said nothing.

Levy noticed the exchange and frowned. "What's with the ominous silence?"

Dan smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Nothing. Just thinking out loud."

Miria, sensing the tension, decided to press later. "We'll need more information." She turned to Celia. "Keep an eye on your house. We'll do the same."

Celia nodded. "Agreed."

Levy stretched, looking far too pleased. "Guess this little mystery isn't solved yet. I'm in, by the way. This is way more fun than my usual day."

Dan rolled his eyes. "You say that now."

Luck finally spoke, his voice quiet but firm. "This isn't over. We'll find the truth."

Miria gave him a sidelong glance, intrigued by his certainty. She didn't push, but the wheels in her mind were already turning.

As the group dispersed, Dan lingered behind, watching Luck for a moment longer.

"Not yet," he muttered under his breath. "But soon."

Luck's voice cut through the silence. "Are you walking back to the dorm?."

Dan nodded in a slow, deliberate motion. "Yeah," and they walked in the same direction towards the dorms.

As Dan and Luck walked in silence, the weight of the events from the courtyard still hung in the air. The rhythmic tapping of their shoes against the pavement was the only sound that broke the stillness, and yet Dan couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't adding up.

His voice finally broke the silence. "So... were you involved in all that mess back there?" He kept his tone casual, but his eyes were fixed ahead, trying to read Luck's expression.

Luck didn't respond immediately, his steps steady and unfazed. He glanced at Dan briefly, his face an unreadable mask. "No," he said simply, his voice calm and unwavering. "Why?"

Dan paused for a moment, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "I'm just wondering. You always seem to be in the right place at the right time. You didn't happen to have any part in orchestrating that little debacle, did you?" His gaze was searching, but there was no accusation in his words, just a hint of curiosity.

Luck's expression didn't change, and he gave a slight shrug. "I don't like to get involved in things like that. Not my style."

Dan nodded slowly, though he didn't seem entirely convinced. "Right. Just checking. I have a feeling whoever is behind this is a lot more calculating than we realise."

Before Luck could respond, the sound of rapid footsteps reached their ears. They both turned, and from the corner of their vision, Lilly appeared, her hair bouncing lightly with each step as she sprinted towards them, a bright grin plastered on her face.

"Heyyy, Luck!" she called out enthusiastically, slowing down as she reached them. She skidded to a stop, her eyes twinkling. "Some people in my class told me what happened. That was... intense."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Luck raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, but he said nothing, simply watching her.

She turned to Dan, her expression shifting from playful to more curious as she looked him over. "Wait, who's this?"

Luck nodded toward Dan with a slight gesture. "Dan. He's in Hampden House. Just like Levy."

Dan gave a half-smile, not saying anything as they exchanged a glance. He wasn't surprised by the interaction—it seemed to be part of the social dynamics at this school.

Lilly nodded thoughtfully, her eyes darting between the two of them. "Huh. You two don't exactly look like you're in the same house, if you don't mind me saying." She smiled again, as if that was some sort of odd compliment.

The three of them started walking again, and Lilly jogged lightly to keep up. The conversation turned to the situation back in the courtyard, and Lilly was quick to connect the dots as they walked.

"Okay, okay, I get it now. The fight wasn't random. Someone wanted Jaxon and Kael to go at each other. And I bet they were just pawns in this whole game." Lilly's tone was more serious now; her eyes were focused and sharp.

Dan shot her a look. "Exactly. We're dealing with someone who knows how to pull strings without being seen."

Lilly nodded again. "Got it. So, what do we do about it?"

Dan glanced at Luck, who remained quiet, his expression unreadable but thoughtful. "We need more information. You're in a good position to ask around in your class. See if anyone's heard anything that might lead us to the person who stirred the pot."

Lilly looked from one to the other, then smiled mischievously. "Sure thing. I'll ask around. No problem."

As they continued down the path toward the dorms, Luck's voice cut through the conversation. "It's not right to ask other houses for help when it's just our houses involved."

Lilly chuckled softly, a glint of confidence in her eyes. "Don't worry about it, Luck. I owe you one, remember?"

Dan glanced over at Luck, his brow furrowing slightly in curiosity. He couldn't quite place it, but something about the way Lilly said it felt off—like there was something more to that 'debt' than she was letting on.

Luck raised an eyebrow, the faintest hint of interest in his gaze. "Owe me? For what?"

Lilly just winked at him, her smile playful but knowing. "This morning, silly. Don't worry about it."

Dan, who had been walking beside them, turned his head slowly to glance at Luck, now keenly aware of the dynamic between the two. He didn't speak, but he couldn't help the feeling that there was more to Lilly's words than she was letting on.

Luck, sensing the shift in the air, simply remained quiet, the mystery of it all lingering between them like an unsolved puzzle.

"Alright," Lilly said as they reached the dorm entrance. "I'll let you two get some rest. I'll talk to you soon, Luck. Dan, I'll let you know what I find out."

With that, she gave a little wave and turned, walking away as Dan and Luck entered the dorms.

Dan glanced at Luck one more time, the question still hanging in the air.

"Yeah," he said quietly, "we'll see what happens next."

Dan and Luck walked back to their dorm, the weight of the day's events still hanging over them. The mystery of the fight and the hints that someone had orchestrated it were on both of their minds. But as they neared the door to their room, they heard something they weren't expecting.

Laughter. Giggles. The kind of sound that clearly didn't belong in their dorm.

Dan and Luck exchanged a quick, confused glance. It was coming from inside.

"Who...?" Dan started, but Luck didn't answer, his brow furrowing slightly. They approached the door and, after a brief pause, pushed it open.

The scene that greeted them was absurd.

Jaxon Ember, the tall, imposing figure, was lounging on Dan's bed, sprawled out like he owned the place. Finn Oak and Ivy Thistle were seated casually at the desk chairs, completely at ease, as if they'd been there for hours. And to Dan's further confusion, Lila Hart was sitting comfortably on Luck's bed, flipping through a book with a casual grace.

The giggling immediately stopped as they entered, and all eyes turned toward them.

"Hey, everyone," Luck said, his voice cool and collected as always, betraying none of the surprise that Dan was clearly feeling.

Dan, on the other hand, was frozen in place, eyes wide. His gaze first landed on Jaxon, who was still lazily lounging on his bed. The sight of the tall guy completely taking over his personal space was... unsettling, to say the least. Dan couldn't help the sceptical look that crossed his face.

"Luck," Dan said, his voice a little more strained than he intended. "Why is there a giant on my bed?"

Luck remained unfazed, his expression neutral as always. "I don't know. I didn't invite anyone."

"You didn't?" Dan's eyes flickered between the group of intruders, utterly perplexed. "So... how did they get in?"

"Well, clearly, they have access to our dorm now," Luck replied with a deadpan tone, still not breaking his gaze from the group. "Which is a problem I'll be addressing shortly."

Dan was about to respond, but Finn Oak was the first to speak, his voice light and friendly. "Welcome back, Luck." He gave a small grin, clearly enjoying the discomfort Dan was feeling.

Jaxon turned his head to look at Dan, arching an eyebrow. "And who's this?" he asked, his voice casual but with an underlying curiosity.

Dan's reaction was instinctual. He folded his arms, looking at Jaxon with the same level of detached indifference he always had. "Dan." He didn't bother with any pleasantries, his gaze cold and unwavering—keeping things blunt, simple, and as unemotional as possible. "I'm the guy who's supposed to be sleeping in that bed," he added, gesturing toward the uninvited guest on his mattress.

Jaxon let out a small laugh, unfazed by Dan's bluntness. "So you're the guy with no taste in roommates, huh?"

Dan's smirk was almost imperceptible. "Not my choice."

Lila, who had been silently observing the exchange, piped up next. "Well, this side of the room is... boring," she remarked casually, giving Luck's desk a critical look. "Is this how you always live, Luck? A bit too minimalist for my taste."

Luck's response was immediate. "We don't have the XP points to spend on decorating."

Dan nodded along in agreement. "Exactly. We're saving our resources for more important things."

The room fell into a brief silence, as if no one really knew how to respond to that. Finn, clearly trying to change the subject, leaned forward in his chair.

"Speaking of which," Finn said, with a sly grin, "What's the deal with that old woman in the picture on your desk, Dan? She looks like she's watching you."

Dan's eyes narrowed, and he glanced at the photo. The old portrait, which had been hanging there since he moved in, seemed to be the topic of endless curiosity. Dan's lips curled slightly, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "That's my grandmother," he replied flatly before adding, "Don't ask."

Ivy snickered under her breath. "Is she a family member, or just a... 'simplist'?"

"Minimalist, Ivy," Finn corrected her, clearly finding amusement in her confusion.

Dan and Luck both sighed in unison.

"We really don't have the XP points for that either," Luck said dryly, clearly not amused by the constant stream of distractions.

Jaxon stretched, sitting up. "So what's going on, guys? What's this meeting about?"

"We're trying to figure out the mess that happened earlier," Finn explained. "Things don't add up, and we're brainstorming ideas."

"Right," Luck said, though his attention seemed to be drifting elsewhere. "We'll deal with it later."

The mood in the room grew a little less tense as everyone resumed their discussions, but Dan couldn't shake the feeling of intrusion. How had they gotten in? Why were they staying in his room without any notice?

As the conversation continued, Dan stood in the corner, silently weighing his options. He'd need to figure out how to get his space back. And maybe... just maybe, this whole situation wasn't just a random mess after all.

Luck narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the room full of intruders. It was bad enough that they had taken over his space without asking, but now they were all sitting around like it was a casual get-together.

"How exactly did you all get access to our room?" Luck asked, his voice calm, though there was an edge of curiosity.

The response came in perfect unison, as if they had rehearsed it:"We got keys made with pride and happiness!"

Luck's eyebrow twitched slightly. "Keys made?" he asked, his tone disbelieving. "How did you manage that?"

Dan, who had been standing at the door, arms crossed and his face turning steadily more red with frustration, shot a glance at Jaxon, who was still sprawled on his bed like he owned the place. "How are you just sitting there?" Dan muttered through gritted teeth, eyes narrowing. "Why is there a giant in my bed? And who gave you the right to invade someone's personal space like this?"

Finn, ever the smooth talker, leaned back in his chair, looking perfectly at ease. "After all, this is our meeting place, right?"

Lila froze for a second, as if the realisation just hit her. Her eyes widened. "Wait," she said, her voice gaining a sharp edge. "Are you implying we shouldn't have gotten these keys?"

That was the last straw for Dan. His frustration exploded. "That right! You can't just gain access to someone's dorm without permission—especially just barging in when no one's around!" His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "What kind of people do that?"

The group exchanged amused glances, but then, as if on cue, they all pulled their keys out of their pockets.

"Nuh-uh, it's mine," they said in unison, tucking the keys away.

Dan's jaw clenched. But then his eyes caught sight of Ivy, who, with an air of nonchalance, slid the key down the front of her shirt. The sight was enough to make Finn's face turn a deep shade of crimson, his usual calm demeanour slipping away as he blushed heavily.

"Damn, Ivy?!" Finn blurted, his voice panicking, as he tried to avoid eye contact with her.

Ivy simply smirked, completely unfazed by Finn's reaction, while Jaxon let out a low chuckle at the spectacle.

It was clear that no one was taking Dan's frustration seriously, but before he could retort, there was a knock at the door.

Luck opened the door expecting to see someone he recognised, but what greeted him was the last person he expected—Miria.

"Miria?" Luck blurted out, taken aback by her sudden appearance. "How do you know where my dorm is, and what are you doing standing in front of it?"

Miria raised an eyebrow, not at all fazed by the question. But then, from inside the dorm, the sound of lively conversation and quiet giggles drifted into the hallway. Her eyes briefly flicked toward the noise before she sighed with a knowing expression.

"Never mind," she said, turning to leave.

"Stop, wait a minute," Luck quickly called out, a hint of irritation in his voice. He stepped forward, closing the door behind him with a soft thud, as if he were trying to block out the chaos inside.

Miria paused, her face unreadable as she glanced at him. "You've put in a lot of effort for minimal results," she said dryly. "But I will tell you one thing." She leaned in slightly, her voice lowering. "I believe there to be one witness. Someone in Hampden."

Luck's eyes narrowed as he tried to process what she was implying. "A witness? Who?"

Miria turns to Luck and says, "Our girl named Lydia in Hampden might know something."

Lydia sat at her desk, a textbook open before her, though her eyes weren't fully focused on the words. Her mind kept wandering, thoughts tangled in the aftermath of the day. She sighed quietly, flicking a loose strand of hair behind her ear and turning another page, trying to drown out the unease gnawing at her thoughts.

The silence of the room was broken by the soft buzz of her phone vibrating on the desk. Lydia didn't move at first. She had learnt to ignore the constant barrage of notifications—messages, reminders, updates. But as the phone buzzed again, the feeling of anxiety settled deeper into her chest.

She glanced at the screen.

the words blurring in her vision for a moment. The implications of the messages were clear. She felt a mix of dread and sorrow well up inside her, her pulse quickening as the weight of her involvement in this situation began to settle in. She hadn't asked for any of this, but here it was—about to unfold in a way she couldn't ignore.