Crimson Vale Academy
Chapter 27: Zodiac Paradox

Chapter 27: Zodiac Paradox

Class 1—D

The morning sun spilled through the tall windows of Class 1-D. Its golden light reflected off the smooth, white tiled floor, making it gleam like polished crystal. The sound of loud voices echoed off the walls, sharp and chaotic. Kairon stepped into the room, his black shoes tapping softly against the tiles as his sharp eyes scanned the chaos unraveling before him.

In the middle of it all, Lucien sat calmly in his chair, arms resting behind his head, his usual lazy smirk on display. Surrounding him were Kei, Meira, Sena, Torin, and Caden—each of them fuming.

"You’ve got some nerve showing your face, Lucien!" Kei roared, his voice echoing like a war drum.

"Because of you, we lost a hundred points!" Sena added, crossing her arms with frustration. "Do you even know what that could’ve cost us?!"

Lucien brushed his messy dark hair back with a casual hand, that smirk never leaving his face. "It wasn’t up to me. I fell sick, so I had to drop out." He leaned back, calm and smug. "Besides, you all passed, didn’t you?"

Kei stepped forward, his hand twitching with the urge to throw a punch. "You...!"

But before it could escalate, a calm but firm voice sliced through the tension like a blade.

"Let’s not fight now. What’s done is done," Riven said as he stepped forward, his silver hair catching the light. His voice was steady like a breeze . "All’s well that ends well."

The others exchanged reluctant glances before backing off, returning to their seats one by one.

Kairon made his way to his usual spot, sliding into his chair quietly. He barely sat down when a familiar voice reached his ears.

"Good morning," Aria said, seated beside him, her voice low and composed as always.

"Morning," Kairon replied, offering her a small nod. He was about to ask how she was doing when the door swung open.

Miss Elira walked in, her heels clicking on the tiled floor, her presence immediately commanding silence. Her blue coat fluttered behind her like a flame.

"Stand!" Riven shouted instinctively, and the class obeyed with military precision, chairs scraping briefly before silence fell once more.

"You may sit," Elira said, her voice clipped but warm.

Once the students settled, she clasped her hands in front of her.

"There won’t be any class activities tomorrow," she began, pausing for dramatic effect, "because you’ll all be given a break at the recreational facility."

A cheer exploded through the room like a bomb of joy.

"Finally!" Caden exclaimed.

"Let’s goooo!" Torin added, nearly flipping his chair in excitement.

Only Aria remained unfazed, still seated calmly under the soft flicker of the ceiling lights, her eyes trained on the floor as she muttered, "Another meaningless break."

Kairon spoke plainly, his tone even."Don’t be so serious. Even if you don’t need it, others do."

She glanced around at the others’ excited faces, then looked away. "Guess I have to accept it then."

Kairon’s expression remained calm."Your permission isn’t needed. It’s happening either way."

Aria narrowed her eyes. "You..."

But before their banter could continue, Miss Elira exited the classroom, and with her gone, the class erupted in joyful noise again—laughter, plans, and endless chatter.

---

Student Council Room

The scene shifted.

Inside the elegant and dimly lit student council room, Kael sat calmly on his leather chair. Behind him stood Juan, her silver-blonde hair tied in a low bun, a thin book open in her hands.

"For the Hunter’s Test..." she began, reading in a monotone, "the winners were Class D."

Kael leaned back, eyes sharp like steel as he muttered, "So, what will you do next, Kairon?"

---

Rooftop – Later That Day

Wind howled softly across the school’s rooftop, lifting Kairon’s bangs as he gazed out toward the horizon, where the sun was just beginning to fall behind the academy’s distant towers.

Footsteps echoed.

"I found you," Ivy said with a small smile, stepping beside him, her blond hair swaying.

"We passed the test," she added.

Kairon nodded slightly. "Yes."

Ivy folded her arms. "I still don’t get how Aria was able to eliminate all the Class C students... alone."

Kairon’s gaze didn’t shift. "Who knows?"

A pause.

Then Ivy’s voice turned curious. "Can I ask you something?"

Kairon finally looked at her. "Sure."

"If you had to choose between me and Aria... who would you choose?"

The breeze quieted. The sky dimmed.

Kairon answered, voice calm as ever, "Who knows?"

Ivy smirked sadly. "I already knew. You’d probably choose her over me. Oh well... I better get going."

She turned, walking away without looking back.

Kairon stared after her in silence. Then, softly under his breath, he said, "I’ll choose the one who’ll be of use to me."

---

Room 6 — Ren’s Room

Ren sat with perfect posture, a sharp glint in his eye as he handed a folded paper to Miya. Albert stood nearby, watching in silence.

"This is the deal I made with Class A," Ren said.

Miya unfolded it—and her eyes widened. "They’re giving us 1,000 points every month till graduation?! That’s..."

"A perfect setup," Ren replied.

"But... how did Adams even agree to this?!"

"I offered him something he couldn’t refuse. Everyone wants to ascend to Platinum Rank—Class S," Ren said with a satisfied smirk.

Miya’s tone turned serious. "What about the predator from that night? Did you see who it was?"

Ren’s smile faded slightly. "No. The darkness was too thick. But it wasn’t Adams. Some of Class A’s students were marked too."

"Then that leaves... Class B?"

"No," Ren said sharply. "Not even Ken or Lizzy could pull something like that off. This reeks of Class D."

"Class D? Are you sure?"

Ren’s eyes narrowed. "It’s without a doubt someone from Class D."

---

July 1 — Recreational Facility

The crystal-clear pool sparkled under the summer sun. The tiled ground around it shimmered with heatwaves. Laughter filled the air.

Kairon stood at the edge in uniform, hands in his pockets, watching the others enjoy the break.

Ivy leapt into the pool in a one-piece swimsuit, splashing water everywhere. Caden turned bright red, his eyes locked on her as droplets sprayed across his face. He looked down to find Lucien swimming like a shark in the deep end.

"Hey!" Caden called.

Lucien didn’t respond, swimming further away without looking back.

Meanwhile, under the shade of a parasol, Aria sat with her book. Her eyes never left the page.

Suddenly, the school speakers crackled to life.

"Announcement: All students will receive an email shortly. It contains details about your next test."

Static. Then silence.

"What?!" Kei yelled.

"A test? Right after giving us a break?!" Sena added.

Caden grinned. "Well... it is Crimson Vale."

Kei looked at him. "What does that mean?"

Caden shrugged. "You asked who welcomes people with a test at the start of a term. I just answered."

"You—!!" Kei shouted, chasing him around the pool as the others laughed.

But the girls remained quiet... wary.

Kairon approached Aria. "First they give us a break. Then this?"

"Crimson Vale loves its surprises," Aria replied.

BEEP.

Everyone’s phones rang at once. Kairon checked his.

> Meet me at the Teacher’s Conference Room by 8:00 PM. Late arrival will result in penalties.

Kairon’s eyes sharpened. Without a word, he walked off.

---

Teacher’s Conference Room – 7:50 PM

Knock. Knock.

Kairon entered. Seated already were Juro and Caden.

"You too, huh?" Juro said. "Got a different email like us?"

"Seems that way," Kairon replied, taking a seat near the front.

Moments later, the door opened again.

Meira strolled in, popping gum and tapping her phone. Her eyes met Kairon’s—and she instantly turned away.

"She’s still mad from what happened in the jungle," Kairon thought, unfazed.

Then came the teacher. He wore a long black coat and square-rimmed glasses.

"I am Mr. Alex," he began. "This is about your Special Test."

With a flick, a holographic screen erupted from his device, casting blue light across their faces.

"This test," he said, "is called The Silent Negotiation Test."

The screen shifted, showing shifting booths, students in groups, moving through glass rooms.

"No speaking allowed. Each group is given secret objectives that may conflict. Your only tools: facial expressions, gestures, props... or writing."

The room fell dead silent.

"You pass only if you achieve your mission," he continued. "Failure to complete it—even if your team succeeds—means you fail."

He swiped again.

"Students will be grouped by Zodiac signs."

Group Aries flashed: 4 from Class D, 4 from B, 3 from A, 3 from C.

"You’re enemies, but you’ll need each other," Mr. Alex said. "Figure it out."

Then came the layout.

20 transparent booths.

All soundproof. All monitored.

Rotations every 10 minutes.

Five teams, 4 students per group, 4 booths per rotation.

Test lasts three days.

"Each envelope includes your mission, a pen, and scorecard."

The items flashed onscreen:

Emotion masks

Colored cards

Partner tokens

Fake currency

Kairon leaned back, arms folded. "Another complicated test," he muttered.

Crimson Vale... always full of surprises.

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