The Hollow Ledger

LOCATION: HARROW VAULT — TRAINING CIRCLE #3

Gideon already hated the place.

Not because it was dark or creepy or because the glyphs on the wall glowed when you walked by like judgmental eyes.

No.

He hated it because he was here.

> "Ah, Gideon," said the voice.

Smooth. Rich. Smug.

"Still drawing glyphs like you're doodling on napkins, I see."

Enter: Cassian Vale Harrow.

Cousin. Older. Perfect hair. Wore gloves just for flair. His accent was so crisp it could probably cut cheese.

He was the kind of guy who said "indubitably" and meant it.

Gideon already wanted to trip him down some magical stairs.

Cassian smirked. "I requested this session. Grandfather agreed. Said it might be... educational."

"Yeah. For me to learn how punchable smug can be," Gideon muttered.

> "You say something?"

"Yeah. I said you look great. Love the gloves. Must be nice not having callouses from doing actual work."

---

LOCATION: INNER CIRCLE — TRAINING DUEL, SORTA

Alar Harrow stood nearby.

Not saying anything. Just watching. That was worse somehow. Silent judgment was a Harrow specialty.

Cassian stepped into the circle. Drew a glyph in the air. It hovered. Clean. Perfect.

Then another.

He chained three glyphs together.

They spun like gears. Locked. Activated.

A blast of light shot into a target dummy across the vault. It melted.

Gideon whistled. "Wow. You've been practicing... villain speeches?"

Cassian turned. "You can yield at any time. Or trip over your own chalk."

Gideon stepped up.

The Ledger hovered nearby. Glowing faintly.

He heard it whisper.

> "Break his face. Please."

"Woah. You hate him too?"

> "He smells like cologne and ambition. Punchable."

Gideon smirked.

---

THE DUEL — KIND OF

Gideon didn't start flashy. He started messy.

First glyph? Crooked.

Second? It sputtered.

Cassian smirked and did that awful head tilt thing. "Need a ruler, cousin?"

Gideon ignored him. Focused. Hands shaking.

Then... he drew that glyph.

The one from two nights ago. In the Vault. The one that worked.

> Bindroot Circle — Modified Flow

Taught by the Ledger. Dangerous. Unstable.

He moved quick. The strokes weren't clean, but they were fast. Confident. He yelled the phrase the Ledger drilled into his skull.

The glyph lit.

Then held.

It pulsed. Red and silver. The air shifted. Everyone felt it.

Even Cassian blinked.

Even Alar raised an eyebrow.

For three glorious seconds, Gideon looked like he knew what he was doing.

The glyph surged.

The energy focused.

The ground cracked slightly.

> "YES," the Ledger hissed. "THIS. THIS IS—"

BOOM.

It exploded.

Gideon flew backward like a ragdoll at a circus accident.

He hit a pillar. Slid down.

Smoke. Coughing. A bit of chalk dust in the mouth.

Cassian laughed.

Not even politely. Just full-on rich boy cackle.

> "That was... ambitious," he said, offering a hand.

Gideon slapped it away.

"You know what else was ambitious?" he wheezed. "Your entire personality."

---

AFTERMATH

Cassian walked away first. Victory obvious.

But Alar didn't move right away.

He stayed there. Watching Gideon.

And then — he nodded.

Just once.

And walked off.

Gideon sat there, still coughing.

The Ledger floated close.

> "Three seconds."

"Yeah."

> "You held it for three seconds. That's... something."

"Almost impressive?"

> "Don't get carried away."

"…Did he see it? Alar?"

> "He did."

Gideon smiled. A tiny one. Then passed out.

The Ledger hovered over him, gently closing itself.

> "Sleep well, idiot. We train harder tomorrow."