The rumor didn’t spread loudly.

  It crept.

  Like smoke seeping through cracks, it lingered in whispered conversations, half-finished sentences, and the uneasy glances exchanged between students who trained too hard and slept too little.

  Kaoru noticed it first during morning patrol.

  “Did you hear…?”

  “They say it makes your body feel lighter.”

  “No pain. No fear.”

  “…But he collapsed afterward.”

  She stopped walking.

  The hallway around her continued to move, students flowing past in disciplined lines, but Kaoru turned her head slightly toward two first-years whispering near a window.

  “What are you talking about?” she asked calmly.

  They froze.

  One of them swallowed. “N-nothing, Vice President.”

  Kaoru’s gaze sharpened—not threatening, just focused. “If it’s nothing, say it clearly.”

  The two exchanged looks.

  “…There’s something going around,” the other finally said. “A drug. Some upperclassmen are using it before combat practice.”

  Kaoru felt a chill crawl up her spine.

  “What kind of drug?”

  They hesitated again.

  “People are calling it Ashveil.”

  The student council room was dimly lit that evening.

  Only four people were present.

  Miyazuki Ashen sat at the head of the table, fingers steepled beneath her chin. Kaoru stood across from her, posture straight. Beside Kaoru leaned another council member—a tall boy with short dark-blue hair and sharp, disciplined eyes.

  Renji Kurogane.

  Third year. Enforcement division. Sword specialist.

  “So it’s confirmed,” Miyazuki said quietly. “Ashveil has reached Fiester.”

  Renji clicked his tongue. “Of all places…”

  Kaoru crossed her arms. “What does it do?”

  Miyazuki didn’t answer immediately.

  She reached into a folder and slid a document across the table.

  “Temporary enhancement,” she said. “Heightened strength, dulled pain, increased reaction speed.”

  Kaoru skimmed the text.

  “And the cost?”

  “Muscle degradation,” Renji said. “Hallucinations. Addiction after three uses.”

  Miyazuki added, “And eventual nervous collapse.”

  Kaoru’s jaw tightened.

  “This close to the survival camp…” she muttered.

  Miyazuki nodded. “Exactly why we can’t let it spread.”

  Renji straightened. “Give the word. I’ll handle it.”

  “You won’t,” Miyazuki replied flatly. “You’ll assist.”

  Her crimson eyes shifted to Kaoru.

  “You’re leading tonight’s patrol.”

  Kaoru met her gaze without hesitation. “Understood.”

  The academy after curfew felt like a different world.

  Lanterns cast long shadows across stone paths. The wind carried distant echoes—training grounds settling, leaves rustling, the faint hum of magic barriers.

  Kaoru and Renji moved silently across the rooftops.

  “East wing dorms,” Renji whispered. “Reports say someone’s been slipping out after lights-out.”

  Kaoru nodded. “I’ll take the front. You circle.”

  They dropped down soundlessly.

  The moment Kaoru landed, she sensed it.

  An off rhythm.

  Footsteps—unsteady, hurried.

  She turned just in time to see a student stumble out from behind the storage building, clutching something small and dark in his hand.

  “Stop,” Kaoru said.

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  The student froze.

  He was a second-year. Sweat soaked his uniform, pupils dilated unnaturally. Veins faintly darkened along his neck.

  “…Vice President,” he slurred. “You shouldn’t be here.”

  Kaoru stepped closer. “Drop it.”

  He laughed—a sharp, broken sound.

  “You don’t get it,” he said. “This stuff… it makes everything quiet.”

  Renji appeared behind him. “Ashveil,” he muttered. “Damn it.”

  The student’s expression twisted.

  “You think you’re better than me?” he snarled. “You council types… always watching.”

  He raised his hand—

  And crushed the vial.

  Dark ash-like powder burst into the air.

  “Renji!” Kaoru shouted.

  The student inhaled deeply.

  The change was immediate.

  His posture straightened. His breathing slowed. The tremor vanished from his hands.

  Then he smiled.

  “I feel amazing.”

  Kaoru drew her sword in one smooth motion.

  “So do I,” she said coldly.

  The student moved first.

  Too fast.

  Kaoru barely deflected the strike as his fist slammed toward her head, the impact sending a shock through her arms.

  “He’s enhanced,” Renji shouted, drawing his own blade. “Don’t underestimate him!”

  “I won’t,” Kaoru replied, sliding back.

  The student laughed, eyes unfocused. “You’re slow.”

  He lunged again—this time Kaoru sidestepped, her blade flashing as she slashed across his arm.

  Blood sprayed.

  He didn’t even flinch.

  “Pain’s gone,” he said dreamily. “Isn’t that great?”

  Renji closed in from the side, blade aimed low.

  The student twisted unnaturally, kicking Renji back with enough force to send him skidding across the stone.

  “Renji!”

  “I’m fine!” he growled, forcing himself up. “Focus!”

  Kaoru adjusted her grip.

  No hesitation. Disable, don’t kill.

  She stepped forward deliberately.

  “You think this makes you stronger?” she asked. “You’re burning yourself from the inside.”

  The student’s smile cracked. “Worth it.”

  He charged.

  Steel rang against steel—Kaoru parried, twisted, and drove her pommel into his ribs. Renji followed up instantly, striking the student’s leg and forcing him to stagger.

  For a moment, it worked.

  Then the student screamed.

  A raw, animal sound.

  Dark veins spread across his face as his body convulsed.

  “…It’s eating him,” Renji whispered.

  Kaoru didn’t respond.

  She moved.

  One clean strike to the back of the neck.

  The student collapsed.

  Silence fell.

  Kaoru stood over him, chest rising slowly.

  Renji exhaled. “That was too close.”

  Kaoru stared at the unconscious boy. “…This is just the beginning.”

  They handed the student over to academy security before dawn.

  By the time Kaoru returned to her dorm, the sky was already lightening.

  She sat on her bed, sword resting against the wall.

  Her body ached.

  Her thoughts wouldn’t settle.

  Ashveil… the survival camp… abandonment.

  Too many things converging at once.

  She lay back, staring at the ceiling.

  “…Rainforest,” she murmured, thinking of Itsuki.

  Different terrains. Different dangers.

  Eventually, exhaustion claimed her.

  Kaoru closed her eyes.

  And drifted into uneasy sleep.