Chapter 58: Lessons in Caution
Second Year – Week Seven
The midday sun filtered through the high-glass domes of the Soul Academy's Ranking Hall. Students clustered around translucent soul-screens, gossiping and arguing as the board updated with pulsing golden text.
"Whoa… look at that. Cassandra Ikemba just dropped to Rank 38," someone whispered near the board.
Karen, Marie, Jim, and Leslie stood together a few meters away, watching the data shift.
"Wasn't she Rank 34 just yesterday?" Jim muttered.
Marie leaned closer. "She's been bouncing between mid-thirties all week. That's not like her."
"She's still top 50," Karen said, but her voice held a flicker of confusion. "Why would she let her rank drop?"
As if summoned by the conversation, Cassandra Ikemba appeared at the edge of the room, descending the steps like royalty through a crowd of lesser nobles. Students instinctively parted for her. She was dressed in her signature violet-black uniform, her long coat trailing behind her like a storm cloud.
She stopped before them, arms folded. "I see you've been watching the board again."
Jim folded his arms too. "Hard not to, with you playing ping-pong in the rankings."
Cassandra tilted her head with an amused expression. "Do you think it's accidental?"
Karen raised a brow. "You're doing it on purpose?"
Cassandra's violet gaze swept over them. "Let me explain something to you four, since it seems no one else will."
She walked a few steps closer to the rank board, then gestured with two fingers toward the names between Rank 20 and Rank 50. Her voice was cool and direct.
"Everyone in this bracket—everyone—is between the 8th and 9th Spirit Cycle. Some are already in the 10th. The top 20? Entirely 10th Spirit Cycle students. And the top 10? They're above that—Master Class candidates."
Leslie frowned. "Then how are you holding your place?"
Cassandra glanced sideways at her, the corner of her lips twitching. "Simple. I only accept matches I can win, and I surrender duels that don't benefit me."
Jim blinked. "You surrender on purpose?"
Cassandra turned fully to face them. "Yes. A strategic surrender is better than a humiliating defeat. Moving recklessly through the rankings is foolish. It draws the attention of enemies you aren't ready to face."
Karen narrowed her eyes. "So… you're stalling?"
"I'm positioning," Cassandra corrected. "Do you know what happens when a 6th Spirit Cycle goes against someone at the peak of the 9th? You break. You crumble. And the board forgets you ever tried."
Marie crossed her arms, contemplative. "So we should just give up?"
Cassandra's eyes glittered. "No. You prepare. You build your strength quietly. Then, when you climb, you climb with intent—fast and hard."
She turned to leave, but paused briefly, glancing back over her shoulder.
"Karen, you're at 92 now. Keep pushing if you want, but don't touch the top 60 until you're at least 7th Cycle. Or you'll hit a wall you won't break through."
With that, she walked off, her aura folding around her like a velvet curtain.
The group stood in silence for a few moments.
"…She's terrifying," Marie muttered.
"Yeah," Jim said. "But she's not wrong."
Karen stared at the board a bit longer, thoughtful. "Then let's focus on improving ourselves. Training. Strategy. We push to top 70. Nothing higher for now."
Leslie smiled. "Calculated climbing."
Jim cracked his knuckles. "Fine. But when I hit 7th Cycle, I want top 50."
Karen smirked. "Then let's make sure we all get there together."
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