Shattered Sanity

(That Same Evening, House Argent Common Hall)

The atmosphere inside House Argent’s common hall was one of celebration that evening, as practically the entire incoming batch gathered alongside their Second Year seniors following an unexpectedly successful opening day of the transfer window.

Food and drinks had been brought in from the dining hall, conversations filled practically every corner of the enormous room, while the Second Years congratulated several of the top ten recruits for successfully helping Argent secure additional students.

For a House that had entered the transfer window with exactly one hundred First Years, the opening day had gone considerably better than Cedric and the others could have realistically expected.

"Everyone, quiet down for a moment!"

Gwen eventually shouted, as she climbed onto one of the tables near the center of the common hall and waited for the surrounding conversations to gradually disappear.

"I know everyone is enjoying themselves, so I won’t keep you for too long, but before we finish tonight, there is something the House leadership would like everyone here to know."

She announced, as practically every First Year turned towards her.

"As of this evening, House Argent officially stands one recruit short of achieving the transfer target we established before the window opened."

Gwen paused briefly before raising her voice.

"We are currently one hundred and fourteen strong, and tomorrow, we intend to make that one hundred and fifteen!"

A wave of cheers immediately erupted throughout the common hall, although Gwen raised her hand and continued before everyone could become too distracted.

"However, regardless of how tomorrow’s negotiations turn out, Cedric, Marcus and I agree that we already possess an incredibly strong foundation for the coming year.

Whether we finish this transfer window with one hundred and fourteen members or one hundred and fifteen, we now possess several exceptional recruits and enough resolve to crush the competition."

Gwen’s expression hardened with confidence.

"So whether we get that final recruit tomorrow or not, I want everyone inside this room to remember one thing.....

House Argent is going to dominate every aspect of the House Championship this year!

I don’t care whether it’s academics, House assignments, Black Week, individual competitions or whatever else the Academy decides to throw at us.

Every House Point available is a House Point that Argent should be fighting for, and I expect every single person inside this room to carry that mentality from the moment classes begin.

Nobody here should be satisfied with simply performing well enough to keep pace with the other Houses.

If they earn ten points, we earn twenty.

If they win one competition, we win the next three.

And whenever someone wearing silver stands opposite another House, I want them walking into that challenge expecting to win.

Because last year, House Argent finished second by barely a few points.

But this year, we’re finishing first, and I don’t intend for the final standings to even be close!"

This time, the common hall erupted completely.

"ARGENT!"

"ARGENT!"

"ARGENT!"

Dozens of First Years joined their seniors in cheering, as cups were raised and conversations quickly resumed throughout the room with considerably greater enthusiasm than before.

Mary smiled alongside the others, although as the celebration continued, her attention occasionally wandered through the gathered crowd as she searched for one particular face.

Riven.

She glanced towards the tables occupied by the highest selections.

Nothing.

Her attention shifted towards several groups gathered around the Second Years, then towards the students standing near the entrance, although she could not find him anywhere.

And apparently, she was far from the only person who noticed.

"Where exactly is Dawnriver?"

Someone eventually asked, as the question quickly spread between several nearby groups.

"I haven’t seen him since this afternoon."

"Neither have I."

"I saw him heading towards the training grounds earlier."

Another First Year informed them.

"He was carrying that strange halberd of his too, so I’m pretty sure he’s been training."

That explanation immediately seemed believable enough.

"While the rest of us were running around worrying about the transfer window, Dawnriver probably started training already."

One student muttered admiringly.

"Maybe that’s his normal routine. You never know."

"That actually sounds like the Riven I know."

Sophia Mellow suddenly added, immediately attracting Mary’s attention.

Sophia nodded confidently as several students looked towards her.

"Even when my mother and I visited the White Castle, Riven didn’t stay with us past lunch."

She explained.

"He excused himself because he apparently had an evening routine that he couldn’t afford to miss, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s been training this entire time."

A few impressed expressions immediately appeared.

"So he trains every evening?"

"Apparently."

"Well, that’s certainly one way to become the second overall selection."

Another student remarked.

"We should probably learn something from Dawnriver instead of celebrating like we’ve already won anything."

"He’s going to be one of Argent’s greatest assets this year."

Someone else agreed.

And just like that, despite Riven not even being present to confirm whether any of their assumptions were remotely accurate, several First Years began praising his discipline and work ethic as though they had personally witnessed his supposed training routine for years.

Mary remained quiet throughout the conversation.

Because strangely enough, that description sounded exactly like the Riven she remembered.

The Riven from Ashfang had always been stubborn whenever he committed himself towards something, and Mary could easily imagine him spending hours repeating the same exercise until his body could no longer continue.

Yet Sophia’s story carried another detail Mary could not ignore.

The White Castle.

She had apparently visited Riven there with her mother.

Once again, there was another person who possessed memories of Riven Dawnriver from a life that had absolutely nothing to do with Ashfang Village.

Mary released a quiet breath.

’Maybe I really am overthinking this...’

The elders back home used to say that somewhere in the world, seven people supposedly existed with almost exactly the same face.

Mary had never particularly believed that saying.

But perhaps Riven Dawnriver was simply one of those strange coincidences.

With that thought, Mary finally stopped searching for him and returned her attention towards the celebration surrounding House Argent.

Though somewhere deep inside her heart, she still could not help but want Riven to be around her right now.

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