Raizen walked through the academy halls the following morning, feeling the weight of the previous night's events settle in. His victory over Darius and the ambush from House Valen had sent shockwaves through the student body. People were talking. Some whispered his name with admiration, others with resentment, and a few with fear.
His system chimed softly.
[Reputation Update: Recognized Threat – House Valen and Affiliated Factions have increased hostility.]
[Reputation Update: Rising Contender – Independent Guild Members acknowledge your strength.]
Raizen exhaled. More enemies. More eyes on him. He needed to tread carefully, but at the same time, he couldn't afford to slow down.
"Raizen."
He turned to see Leon Veyron leaning against a nearby pillar, his expression unreadable. The noble's usual smirk was absent, replaced by something far more calculating.
"I hear you had a rough night," Leon said, his red eyes scanning Raizen for any visible injuries.
Raizen shrugged. "I handled it."
Leon chuckled. "That's exactly the problem."
Raizen narrowed his gaze. "What do you mean?"
Leon stepped closer, his voice lowering. "You're shaking things up too fast. House Valen won't take that lightly. If you don't align yourself with a stronger force soon, they'll keep throwing bodies at you until you break."
Raizen crossed his arms. "And I assume you're offering a solution?"
Leon smirked. "Naturally." He gestured toward the academy gardens. "Walk with me."
Raizen followed, keeping his senses alert. Leon wasn't an enemy—yet. But he also wasn't the type to help without reason.
They walked in silence for a moment before Leon spoke again. "You've got talent, and more importantly, you have momentum. But raw strength isn't enough to survive in this world. You need influence, alliances, resources."
Raizen nodded slowly. He had already begun to realize this. Strength alone wouldn't secure his future. He needed power in all forms.
Leon stopped, turning to face him. "I want to extend an invitation—to my faction."
Raizen raised an eyebrow. "Your faction?"
Leon smirked. "House Veyron isn't just a noble family. We have a network, a system, and access to resources you won't get anywhere else. Align with us, and House Valen won't be able to touch you."
Raizen considered his words. The offer was tempting, but it also came with strings attached.
His system chimed.
[New Quest: Choose Your Path]
Objective: Decide whether to align with House Veyron or remain independent.
Options:
Accept Leon's invitation and gain access to elite resources.Decline and continue building influence alone.
Reward: Varies based on decision.
Raizen smirked. "That's a tempting offer."
Leon nodded. "Take your time. But don't take too long. The game is moving, and if you don't make a move soon, someone will make it for you."
As Leon walked away, Raizen exhaled, his mind racing. This was a turning point. And he had to choose carefully.