Chapter 164: So, Are We Picking the Same Guild or Not?

Natalia’s gaze flicked sideways to Satori, whose attention remained locked on the screen above.

"Each of the five sanctioned Student Guilds, the Argent Sentinels, the Scarlet Phantoms, the Cobalt Vipers, the Verdant Strikers, and the Onyx Hounds, has only twelve open slots to fill for this year’s incoming class."

The AI’s tone shifted subtly, becoming sharper. More clinical. "Your names will be called in order of your final examination rank. You will approach the podium. The Guild representatives will then make their offers, if any. Should you receive one or more offers, you may choose your guild freely." A weighted pause hung in the air. "If you receive no offers... then I’m afraid you simply did not make the cut. Your time at New Vein Academy is over before it truly began."

The screen went dark, and the excited chatter died with it, leaving only a tense silence broken by nervous coughs and the shuffle of feet.

Shit, they still had to be

chosen

.

Half the people in this room would be walking out the door today with nothing to show for it but a better luck next time.

"What’s your rank?" she asked quietly, though part of her already knew.

A slow, infuriatingly smug smile curved across Satori’s face. "First."

Of course he was.

"Third."

Satori nodded, completely unsurprised by this news. "Emi?"

"Seventh in the Support category, twenty-sixth overall! They said my healing output was exceptional for my development stage."

"Good," Satori said with genuine approval that made something warm and possessive coil in Natalia’s stomach. "What about you, Soomin?"

The pink-haired girl practically jumped out of her skin at being directly addressed, her gradient blue eyes going wide. "Um... just ninth overall. They said my Combat Efficiency rating was very high, but my Tactical Acumen still needs significant work." She flushed, clearly embarrassed by this perceived failure.

"Well," Skylar drawled from her position leaning against a nearby pillar, examining her black-painted nails with studied disinterest, "I finished fifteenth. Not that anyone bothered to ask."

"Twenty-seventh for me," Jacob offered timidly, pushing his glasses up his nose with a trembling finger.

"Twenty-fourth," Raphael growled, his amber eyes blazing as he glared daggers at Satori’s back. "And I would’ve ranked higher if we hadn’t had to follow such a

stupid

plan."

Natalia’s eyebrow arched upward. "What plan?"

"Ask him," Raphael spat, jerking his chin toward Satori. "He almost got our entire team killed trying to play the goddamn hero."

Satori shrugged, completely unconcerned by the accusation. "Relax, we won."

"Yeah, thanks to you," Juan sighed, stretching his arms above his head with theatrical weariness. "I finished eighteenth, by the way. Would’ve placed higher if I hadn’t gotten knocked unconscious by a poison dart trap in sector three."

Natalia frowned, her attention snapping back to Satori with renewed focus. "What exactly happened in there?"

"Nothing worth discussing," he replied. His hand still rested on Soomin’s back—had been there this entire conversation, in fact—and Natalia had to actively resist the urge to telekinetically slap it away. "What matters now is that we all survived and ranked well. The next hurdle is securing our guild placements."

"Which guild are you aiming for?" Emi asked eagerly, her eyes bright with genuine curiosity as she looked up at Satori. "I heard the Verdant Strikers are really good for support-types, but the Argent Sentinels have better connections for—"

Natalia already knew the answer. Or at least, she thought she did. They had discussed this at length during their late-night planning sessions. The Argent Sentinels were the obvious, logical choice for someone with Natalia’s telekinetic prowess and family connections. Satori would be perfect there as well, especially with his growing reputation after the Gala incident. But there had been another option they had considered, something about laying groundwork for future opportunities...

"I haven’t decided yet," Satori said, and Natalia felt her stomach drop slightly. "I’ll see what offers come my way first."

Natalia’s frown deepened. That wasn’t the plan. That wasn’t what they had agreed on. They were supposed to coordinate this, choose the same prestigious guilds that would enhance both their power bases and social standing. Going in blind was reckless and unnecessary.

Before she could question him properly, Noah materialized at her side with characteristic silent efficiency. "Kuzmina-san, our team is gathering by the east wall to discuss strategies for the draft. Your presence would be... beneficial to the group’s morale and tactical planning."

Natalia hesitated, her gaze darting between Satori and her temporary teammates. She should go—it was the smart play, maintaining those connections—but something about leaving him here, surrounded by

them

, made her skin prickle with unease.

"Go," Satori said with an easy, casual wave of his hand. "We’ll talk later."

Natalia’s eyes narrowed as she watched his hand drift back to Soomin’s shoulder, fingers settling there with comfortable familiarity. "Yes," she said, her voice carrying just a hint of ice. "We certainly will." She turned to Emi. "Coming?"

Emi looked torn for a moment, her gaze bouncing between Natalia and Satori like a tennis ball. "Um, yes! Of course!" She gave Satori a small, hopeful wave. "See you later, Satori-kun!"

As Natalia walked away with Emi chattering beside her and Noah following in professional silence, she couldn’t help but glance back over her shoulder. Satori was already leading his ragtag group toward the refreshment tables on the far side of the room. Soomin remained glued to his side, pink hair catching the light. Skylar had claimed his other flank, saying something that made him actually laugh—a genuine sound that Natalia heard clearly across the distance.

The Cryo-Lich Ring felt unusually cold against her finger, as if responding to her simmering irritation. While Natalia knew intellectually that her third-place ranking guaranteed her a spot, a new and unexpected worry began to gnaw at the edges of her thoughts.

The Guild Draft wouldn’t just determine who stayed at the Academy and who got sent home in disgrace.

It would determine who stayed

together

.