Jack was batting with Ace, Deuce, and (Y/n). He would try to throw his punches at them but Deuce and (Y/n) would punch back. Ace was tired from the fighting so he stayed back with Grim. Jack was about to go after Deuce, but (Y/n) was able to grab his attention. She would easily dodge his punches. She grabbed his arm and gave it a small twist. Before he could react, (Y/n) kicked him in the legs to lose his balance. (Y/n) then threw him over her shoulders with all her strength and slammed him into the ground. Jack groans in pain. He was about to get up but (Y/n) quickly pinned him down. "Do you yield?" She smirked at him. Jack was stunned at (Y/n). She was smaller than her and here she was, able to flip him over her shoulders and pin him down. She just earned his respect. "Yeah, I'm done..." Jack slowly nodded his head.

(Y/n) got up and held out her hand for Jack to take. He takes her hand as she helps him up. "You sure can fight." He said. "I have Sheeva to thank for that." (Y/n) smirked. Grim runs up to (Y/n) and jumps on her shoulders. "It's like every one of your punches rattled me to the core..." Ace pants as he walks over to them. "Yeeesh...Maybe we got a little carried away. Uuuugh. At this point, I don't even care about makin' the stupid team." (Y/n) playfully rolled her eyes. "Now that the right is over. It's time to honor your bend of the deal."

"All right. The path ahead is clear. I'll tell you what I know." Jack nodded. "The path"? The path to what?" Ace asked.

"The path my heart's telling me to walk." Jack placed his hand on his heart. "Remember, I'm betraying my own dorm here. But I can't be quiet any longer! I don't care how strong the foe—I wanna face them with my own two fists!" Jack clenched his fist. "I've been training hard for this tournament. I was excited to see how far I could go. But these cowardly schemes are making me sick! A triumph won through treachery means nothing! I wanted to claim victory on the back of my own strength and skill, and fight to defend it!" Jack finished his rant.

"I think I preferred talking to his fists." Ace spoke out honestly. "From what I'm hearing, it's about your skills against everyone's?" (Y/n) asked. "I get it! I know exactly what he means!" Deuce raised his hand excitedly. "That's not a good sign." Grim shook his head as he climbed on (Y/n)'s head. "Ruggie's signature spell—It makes its target copy Ruggie's movements. Since he's making the same movements as the person he's controlling, he's able to make it look like an accident on their part." Jack explained. "Huh. So that's how he was able to get Grim to trade without getting caught. He just put out his hand, and Grim put out his." Ace looked over at Grim. "That did explain why Grim made that trade." (Y/n) reached out and patted Grim's head. "That lousy, rotten...! Aaargh! Now I'm angry again! Food grudges never die!" Grim whines. "Wait, hold on a minute. If he was mirroring the movements of someone about to fall down the stairs, surely someone would have noticed that?" Deuce questioned.

"Ruggie didn't cause these accidents by himself. Most of Savanaclaw was probably in on it too." Jack revealed. "Myah?!" Grim stood up on (Y/n)'s head. He lost his balance but she caught him in time. "Like you said, someone would have noticed if he was near the targets and also mimicking their actions. I believe he escaped notice by surrounding himself with a wall of his dormmates." Jack scratched his head. "The whole dorm was in on it? But why?" Deuce looked at Jack before he turned to Ace and (Y/n). "Well, duh. How well they do at the Spelldrive tournament could make or break their careers. If that's their motive, well, it isn't hard to understand where they're coming from." Ace shrugged his shoulders as he explained. Jack turned to Ace and growled. "Grrrrr..." Ace takes a step back from Jack. "Dude! Don't bare your fangs at me! I'm just connectin' the dots!" Jack calmed down since he knew Ace was right. "Hmph. If they're not willing to show what they're capable of now, what does the future even matter? I'm most disappointed with our housewarden, Leona Kingscholar. He has incredible talent, but refuses to even use it!" Jack resumed growling in anger.

"Yeah, for as lazy as that guy is... He seemed insanely strong." Grim added as he allowed (Y/n) to hold him. "Right?! Why would you possess such power and not even hone it? I despise guys like him! The way he played when I saw him three years ago... It blew my mind. That was the reason I came to this school. I thought if I joined Savanaclaw, he and I would be tearing up the Spelldrive field together." Jack exclaimed as he paced around a bit. Ace moved closer to (Y/n). "Yo, (Y/n). He's pretty harsh when he talks about his own housewarden, but I'm starting to think..." He whispered to her. "I can that Jack has respect for Leona." (Y/n) whispered back. "All these "accidents" are just an incidental part of the plan. They're hunting bigger prey here." Jack stopped his pacing and turned back to them. "Bigger prey?" Deuce questioned. "Malleus Draconia, the Diasomnia housewarden. He possesses monstrous power. He led Diasomnia to victory two years running. He's the reason we were knocked out of both tournaments without scoring a single point. The older dorm members won't ever forgive that." Jack revealed.

"Without a single point...? For a dorm that usually wins the tournament, that had to hurt." Deuce wince with sympathy. "You know it. Our greatest moment of shame—broadcast to the whole world in real time. The upperclassmen want to redeem themselves, but the way they're doing it is despicable." Jack shook his head at the memory. "So this all comes together on the day of the tournament." Ace said. "Yep. And that's why I need to stop them!" Jack nodded with determination.

"I believe I've heard enough." Riddle stepped out of his hiding spot and walked over with Cater following behind. "Hello, Housewarden Rosehearts. Cater." Deuce turned to them. "I cannot allow such an important tradition to be tarnished by personal grudges." Riddle glares as he crosses his arms. "So what's the sitch, Riddle? We got a plan?" Cater looked over at his housewarden. "As we have no proof of Leona's machinations, nor of Ruggie's assaults, we cannot take this to Crowley." Riddle stroked his chin. "Without solid evidence, that sort of accusation would never stick to someone as sly as Leona." He added. "So you're saying we need to catch him in the act?" Ace suggested. "Yes. And I have a suggestion to that end. First—" Jack paused Riddle from speaking more. "Stop. I've told you what I know, but that doesn't mean I'm plannin' to join your merry band."

"What? C'mon, Jack, even after all we've been through together? The smiles and the tears?" Cater tried to reason with Jack. "Savanaclaw is my dorm, and I'm gonna be the one to settle this. Seeya." Jack turned to walk off. (Y/n) stopped him by blocking his path. "Jack! Do you believe that you take on your own down by yourself?!" Jack glares down at her. "What'd you just say?!" Grim whimpers in (Y/n)'s arms. Forgetting that she still holding him. "Ouch. Been a while since you've let someone have it like that, (Y/n)." She patted his head to calm him down. "It's true, though. You versus your entire dorm? Can't say I see the odds favoring you." Deuce agreed with (Y/n). "Please, Jack. After all, wolves hunt better in packs." (Y/n) smiled at him. Jack blushed a little at her. "...... All right, fine. I'll hear you out. But I'm not committing to anything. If I don't like the sound of your scheme, I'm out." He turned his head to hide his blush from her. "Man, this guy is impossible." Ace shook his head as he rolled his eyes. "Funny, I was just thinking how much he reminds me of you and Deuce." Cater joked as he nudged Deuce's shoulder. "Then, if I may continue explaining my plan? The first step is..." Riddle continued to explain his plan to stop Savanaclaw step by step. Everyone listened carefully as Jack listened to see if he would join them or not.

Riddle finished explaining as he waited for everyone's opinion. "Huh. That's actually not half bad, dude." Ace admitted. "That is quite the plan, Housewarden Rosehearts!" Deuce nodded. "Sounds like 'ol Cay-Cay has a lot of prep work to do before the big day!" Cater gave a thumbs up as he pulled out his phone to get the plan started. "Thank you, Cater. Take care not to raise any suspicions." Riddle added. "So, H-B-U, Jack? You heard Riddle's plan. Are you in? Or out?" Cater turned to Jack. "There's nothing cowardly about it, at least. I suppose we can work together this one time." Jack agreed to join them. "Really feelin' the trust there, Jack." Grim flattened his ears to his head. "Cool beans. Let's all get back to our dorms for today. I know I'm about ready to keel over." Ace rubbed his head from exhaustion. "Yeah, and I'm starving!" Grim kicked his little legs as he still was in (Y/n)'s arms. "Let's get going everyone." (Y/n) said as the rest of the freshmen agreed.

"Hold on a moment, freshmen." Riddle stopped the freshman from moving forward. "Because of the information it yielded, I am going to overlook your flagrant violation of rule #6: "No fighting on campus." But rest assured that if it happens again, it will cost you your heads. Are we clear?" Riddle warned with a terrifying glare.

"Yes sir, Housewarden Rosehearts." Grim, Deuce, and Ace mumbled in fear. "Yes, Riddle. I apologize." (Y/n) lowered her head in shame. "...Yeah." Jack muttered. "Very well. Let us return to our dorms." Riddle turns to leave as Cater follows. "Man, I thought he looked like a wuss, but your housewarden is one scary dude." Jack whispered for Riddle not to hear him. "You ain't wrong. Mistake him for a friendly hedgehog and you'll quickly learn he's actually a furious porcupine." Ace agreed quietly. "Alright, everyone, let's get some rest for the Spelldrive tournament!" (Y/n) smiled. "Can we still get food, please!" Grim gave her his "please" face. "Yes, we'll get food." (Y/n) giggles as she petted his head.

In Savanaclaw Dorm, Leona and a few of his dorm mates sat in their dorm's lounge. He glares at Ruggie for what has happened to him.

"Ruggie, what's this I heard about you gettin' chased around by the Heartslabyul kids at lunch?! What's worse you let that princess herbivore catch you!!! You idiot! I told you a thousand times to make sure you didn't leave any evidence behind!" Leona growled in frustration. "I... I didn't! That was some kind of a fluke. As for that princess, she's stronger than she looks! You don't need to worry about a thing, Boss. They've got no evidence whatsoever. Cross my heart and hope to die!" Ruggie defended himself as he crossed his heart. "Hmph. Anyway, I secured the cooperation of that creepy squid at Octavinelle, but it didn't come cheap." Leona takes a seat on one of the benches. "If you idiots mess things up on tournament day, I am gonna fry you up and eat you myself." He glares at his dorm mates and Ruggie.

"The main dish is coming along nicely." Ruggie smirked.

"Don't worry. We're gonna have those Diasomnia jerks pleading for mercy on tournament day!"

"I do look forward to watching this all play out. Oh, how the world will praise us when they see you standing over a battered Malleus Draconia! Maybe some top corporate recruiters will even take an interest in a little ol' hyena like me." Ruggie was giddy as he rubbed his hands together.

"Even the pro leagues will be scouting you!"

Leona smirked at Ruggie and the rest of the Savanaclaw students. "Look at all'a you—celebratin' when you've only just sunk your claws into your prey."

"You're gonna be the most famous of all, Leona!"

"Everyone in the Sunset Savanna is gonna have some second thoughts about who should be the next king!"

"Succession ain't got nothin' to do with ability." Leona muttered. "Huh?" Ruggie couldn't hear what he said. Leona just waved him off. "Nothin'." He then lets out a yawn. "I'm headin' to bed. All of you, scram." He dismissed everyone. "Yessir. Sleep well, Housewarden." Ruggie gave a playful salute as he and the other Savanaclaw students called it a night. Once he was alone, Leona lay on the bench as he looked up at the night sky. "As if conquerin' this school is gonna fix anything in the real world..."