The dining hall incident spread through the academy faster than wildfire.
By the time Soren reached the Hall of Resonance, everyone already knew:
He'd hit someone.
And it wasn't him who threw the punch.
The fox sat on his shoulder, unusually quiet.
Kael walked beside him, jaw tight.
Lira stayed close, frost‑wolf pacing protectively.
Aldric followed behind, for once not smirking.
Soren whispered, "I didn't mean to do it."
Kael answered, "We know."
Lira added, "They'll understand."
Aldric muttered, "They won't."
Soren shot him a look. "Why are you like this."
Aldric shrugged. "Honesty."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The Hall of Resonance Is Already Waiting
The moment Soren stepped inside, he knew something was wrong.
The instructors weren't standing casually.
They weren't discussing.
They weren't even pretending to be calm.
They were positioned like a containment team.
Seraphine's phoenix was fully ignited.
Veylan's nightmare‑wolf growled low.
Arcturus stood at the center, cloak still, expression unreadable.
Soren stopped cold. "Oh no. Oh no no no. Why do you all look like you're about to arrest me."
Arcturus spoke first. "Vale. Sit."
Soren sat immediately. "Okay. That was a little too fast. I'm scared of myself."
The fox pressed against his cheek.
The Verdict
Arcturus didn't waste time.
"After this morning's incident, the academy has revised your restrictions."
Soren's stomach dropped. "Revised how."
Seraphine unrolled a scroll.
A long scroll.
A scroll that hit the floor.
Soren stared. "That's not a revision. That's a lifestyle."
Seraphine read:
"Restriction One: You are no longer permitted to attend communal meals."
Soren blinked. "I'm being banned from breakfast?"
"Lunch and dinner as well."
"I'm being banned from FOOD?"
Veylan corrected, "You will eat in isolation."
Soren clutched his hair. "I'm being quarantined like a magical disease."
Aldric muttered, "Accurate."
Soren glared. "Stop— actually no, that one's fair."
Restriction Two: Escort Protocol
Seraphine continued:
"Restriction Two: You must be escorted by two instructors at all times."
Soren stared. "TWO? Why two?"
Veylan answered, "In case one of us gets possessed."
Soren slapped his own face. "I hate this place."
Kael stepped forward. "He's not dangerous."
Arcturus didn't blink. "He is unpredictable."
Soren pointed at himself. "I am RIGHT HERE."
Restriction Three: No Physical Contact
Seraphine read the next line.
"Restriction Three: Students are forbidden from physical contact with Vale."
Soren froze. "WHAT. WHY."
Veylan answered, "Because emotional influence strengthens through proximity."
Soren turned to Kael. "I can't even high‑five you?"
Kael shook his head. "Not for now."
Soren turned to Lira. "Hugs?"
Lira winced. "Not allowed."
Soren turned to Aldric. "I wasn't going to hug you anyway."
Aldric shrugged. "Good."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox chirped and nuzzled him.
Seraphine added, "Your bond is the only exception."
Soren hugged the fox dramatically. "THANK YOU."
Restriction Four: Night Surveillance
Arcturus spoke this time.
"Restriction Four: You will be monitored during sleep."
Soren blinked. "Monitored HOW."
Seraphine answered, "A resonance ward will track your emotional spikes."
Soren stared. "So you're putting a magical baby monitor in my room."
Veylan nodded. "Yes."
Soren covered his face. "I'm going to die of embarrassment before Rhyxos kills me."
Restriction Five: No Unsupervised Training
Seraphine continued:
"Restriction Five: You are forbidden from any form of combat, spellcasting, or physical exertion without instructor oversight."
Soren blinked. "Physical exertion? Like… running?"
"Yes."
"Jumping?"
"Yes."
"Walking briskly?"
Veylan nodded. "Preferably not."
Soren stared at the ceiling. "I hate this place."
The Real Reason
Arcturus stepped closer.
Everyone went silent.
"Vale," he said, "these restrictions are not punishment."
Soren blinked. "They feel like punishment."
"They are protection."
"Protection for who."
Arcturus didn't hesitate.
"For everyone."
Soren's breath caught.
Kael tensed.
Lira's eyes softened.
Aldric looked away.
Soren whispered, "You're scared of me."
Arcturus answered, "We are scared of what is inside you."
The symbol on Soren's chest pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Like it agreed.
Soren whispered, "I hate this place."
The fox pressed its head to his cheek.
And for the first time, Soren didn't know if the fox was comforting him…
…or guarding him.