Chapter 45

Valerie's decision to let it slide left a positive impression on Noah. He'd hosted tonight's gathering, just to witness a tense conflict break out between Lucius, his closest friend, and Kieran, a rising star in the world of mystic arts. If the fight escalated, no one would walk away with their pride intact. To Noah, this was all Sonia's fault. She was mediocre yet full of vicious thoughts, and he would have kicked her out long ago if not for Lucius' sake. Forcing a smile to lighten the mood, Noah spoke up. "Since we've all stepped back, let's call it even. We're lucky to be gathered here tonight, so shall we play a game?" He suggested a game of mystery boxes. The mystery boxes were prepared in advance and contained various gifts and handwritten challenge notes. As the initiator of the mystery box game, he announced, "I'll open the first mystery box." He rummaged through a large container of mystery boxes and picked one he thought felt right. Opening it, he found a thick stack