The academy had gone quiet.
Most students were already asleep.
The corridors that were usually filled with voices and footsteps were now almost completely empty. But as always Roy was still awake.
He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the black envelope on his desk.
"If you want answers about your past, come to the eastern training grounds after midnight."
He had read the message at least ten times.
Every time, the same questions returned.
Who sent it?
How did they know about his past?
And most importantly...
What did they know?
Roy looked toward the clock.
11:47 PM.
He sighed.
"This is probably a terrible idea."
He stood.
"But I'm going anyway."
---
Roy quietly left his room.
He wore a dark academy tracksuit and carried no weapons.
As he walked through the dormitory corridor, he made sure not to make unnecessary noise.
The academy's security system was impressive.
Magical—no, Nexis-powered barriers surrounded several restricted areas.
Roy could see faint lines of energy running along the walls.
"Getting caught would be annoying."
He reached the exit.
Before stepping outside, he stopped.
A thought crossed his mind.
"Maybe I should tell Leo."
Roy considered it.
Then shook his head.
"No."
If this really involved his past, he didn't want anyone else involved.
Especially Leo.
Roy stepped outside.
The cold night air hit his face.
The academy looked completely different at night, the massive towers were covered in darkness, with only a few windows illuminated.
Roy looked toward the eastern side of the campus, where the training grounds were located.
He began walking.
---
****
The eastern training grounds were much farther from the main academy buildings than Roy had expected.
The area was surrounded by tall trees.
Unlike the main training grounds, there were no instructors here.
No students.
No lights.
Just pure silence and darkness.
Roy stepped into the clearing.
"Hello?"
No response.
He looked around.
"Whoever called me here, I'm here."
Nothing.
Roy frowned.
"Seriously?"
A sudden sound came from behind him.
Tap.
Roy turned.
Nothing.
He activated a small amount of Lightning.
Blue sparks traveled across his fingers.
"Come out."
A voice finally answered.
"You're too impatient."
Roy immediately turned toward the trees.
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
A black cloak covered most of his body, from his muscular features he could tell it was a male
His face was hidden.
Roy narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you?"
The figure didn't answer.
Instead, he said:
"You really don't remember do you?"
"Remember what?"
"Anything?"
Roy's expression hardened.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The figure laughed quietly.
"Interesting."
They took another step forward.
"You've been living with that woman for years."
Roy's eyes narrowed.
"My foster mother not that woman mind how you address her" Roy spoke with some angry in those words
"--"
Roy's Lightning intensified.
"Don't talk about her."
The figure stopped.
"Why?"
"Because you don't know her."
The figure laughed.
"You'd be surprised."
Roy stepped forward.
"Tell me who you are."
"Not yet."
"Then why the hell did you bring me here?"
"To see whether you would come."
Roy's expression changed.
"So this was a test?"
"Partly."
Roy clenched his fist.
Lightning crackled around it.
"I don't have time for games."
The figure raised one hand.
"Then perhaps this will interest you."
A small object flew toward Roy.
He caught it, it was a pendant.
Roy stared at it.
It was old the metal was worn, and a strange symbol was engraved into its surface.
The moment Roy touched it...
His head suddenly hurt.
He dropped to one knee.
"Ah—!"
Images flashed through his mind.
A dark room.
Fire.
Someone shouting.
A woman's voice.
"Take him and run!"
Then—
Nothing.
Roy grabbed his head.
"What... was that?"
"--" The figure remained silent.
Roy looked up.
"You know what this is."
"Yes."
"Then tell me!"
The figure shook their head.
"You're not ready."
Roy stood up.
"Stop saying that."
His Lightning began spreading across his body.
"Tell me!"
The figure suddenly released their own Nexis.
The entire clearing changed.
Roy's eyes widened.
The pressure was enormous.
He instinctively stepped backward.
"This person..."
He is strong, much stronger than him.
The figure raised their hand.
A dark wave of energy spread through the ground.
Roy immediately activated Lightning.
CRACK!
He disappeared.
The dark energy passed beneath him.
Roy appeared behind the figure.
"Lightning—"
Before he could finish—
The figure turned.
BOOM!
Roy was struck and sent flying.
He landed several meters away.
He quickly rolled and stood.
His chest hurt.
"What was that?"
The figure looked at him.
"You're still too weak."
Roy's expression darkened.
"Don't underestimate me."
Lightning exploded around his body.
The figure smiled.
"Good."
Roy charged.
His speed increased.
He threw a punch but the figure blocked.
Roy attacked again.
Blocked.
Again.
Blocked.
Roy changed direction.
He tried to strike from the side.
The figure moved effortlessly.
Roy's frustration increased.
"I can't touch him."
He stepped backward.
The figure didn't pursue.
"You rely too much on your Lightning."
Roy clenched his fist.
"I know."
"No."
The figure looked at him.
"You've only just begun to realize it."
Roy didn't answer.
The figure continued.
"Your Lightning is powerful."
They pointed toward Roy.
"But your body hasn't caught up with it."
Roy looked down.
He knew that was true.
The figure raised their hand.
"You want answers?"
Roy looked up.
"Yes."
"Then become stronger."
Roy's eyes narrowed.
"That's it?"
"Not quite."
The figure threw something toward him.
Roy caught it.
Another black envelope.
"Your next answer is inside."
Roy opened it.
A single location was written on the paper.
Old Northern Training Hall.
Roy looked up.
"Where is that?"
The figure had already begun walking away.
"Ask Kenneth Void."
Roy froze.
"Wait!"
The figure stopped.
Roy's voice became serious.
"Why should I trust you?"
The figure looked over their shoulder.
"You shouldn't."
Then they disappeared into the darkness.
Roy stood alone.
He looked down at the pendant in his hand.
Then at the letter.
"Ask Kenneth Void."
Why the principal?
What did Kenneth know?
And why was someone secretly giving Roy information about his past?
Roy put the pendant into his pocket.
"I'll find out."
---
The next morning, Roy entered Class 1-A like nothing had happened.
Leo immediately noticed.
"You look exhausted."
Roy sat down.
"Didn't sleep well."
Leo stared at him.
"Why?"
"Couldn't sleep."
Leo frowned.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the answer you're getting."
Leo sighed.
"Fine."
Roy opened his notebook.
He tried to focus on class.
But his thoughts kept returning to the previous night.
The pendant.
The mysterious figure.
The vision.
And Kenneth.
The instructor began teaching.
"Today we'll discuss advanced Nexis circulation."
Roy forced himself to pay attention.
"Nexis flows through the body in patterns."
A diagram appeared on the board.
"Improper circulation can cause energy loss, reduced control and physical strain."
Roy looked carefully.
The diagram suddenly reminded him of something.
The way Lightning moved through his body.
He had always pushed it outward.
But what if...
He could circulate it differently?
Roy quietly began experimenting.
He moved a tiny amount of Nexis through his arm.
Instead of releasing it, he brought it back toward his core.
The spark disappeared.
Roy frowned.
"Again."
He tried.
This time, the Lightning remained stable.
His eyes widened.
It worked.
For the first time, he had successfully circulated Lightning without immediately releasing it.
The instructor noticed him.
"Roy."
Roy looked up.
"Yes?"
"Would you like to demonstrate?"
The class turned toward him.
Roy sighed.
"Sure."
He stood.
The instructor pointed toward the training platform.
"Show us your Nexis circulation."
Roy stepped forward.
He concentrated.
Lightning appeared around his arm.
Instead of letting it escape, he guided it through his body.
The energy moved from his arm toward his chest.
Then back down.
The class watched.
The Lightning remained stable.
The instructor's expression changed.
"Excellent."
Roy smiled.
He had discovered something new.
A new way to use his power.
But then—
A sharp pain suddenly hit his chest.
Roy's expression changed.
The Lightning became unstable.
CRACK!
He immediately stopped.
The instructor walked over.
"Are you alright?"
Roy nodded.
"Yeah."
"Don't push yourself, without efficient control you lose control ."
Roy returned to his seat.
Leo whispered.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
Roy looked toward the window.
He couldn't explain it.
But for a brief moment...
When the Lightning had circulated through his body, he'd felt something else.
Something buried deep inside him.
Something that didn't feel like Lightning.
Roy closed his hand.
"What is happening to me?"
---
After class, Roy headed toward the principal's office.
He stopped outside the massive doors.
He stared at them.
Kenneth Void.
The mysterious figure had told him to ask Kenneth about the Old Northern Training Hall.
Roy raised his hand.
Before he could knock—
"Come in."
Roy froze.
Then slowly opened the door.
Kenneth was sitting behind his desk.
He looked up.
"Roy."
Roy stepped inside.
"I need to ask you something."
Kenneth's expression remained calm.
"About what?"
Roy stared directly at him.
"The Old Northern Training Hall."
For the first time since Roy had met him...
Kenneth's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Roy noticed.
A moment of silence filled the room.
Kenneth slowly stood.
"Where did you hear that name?"
Roy didn't answer.
Kenneth's eyes narrowed.
"Roy."
His voice became much more serious.
"Who told you?"
Roy remained silent.
Kenneth walked around the desk.
"That place has been abandoned for years."
Roy looked at him.
"Why?"
Kenneth didn't answer.
Instead, he stared at Roy for several seconds.
Then he said:
"Because something happened there."
Roy's heart began beating faster.
"What?"
Kenneth's expression darkened.
"Something that should have remained buried."
The room became silent.
Roy stared at him.
"What happened?"
Kenneth looked toward the window.
"I'll tell you."
He paused.
"But first..."
His eyes returned to Roy.
"...tell me exactly how you heard about it."
Roy realized something.
For the first time, Kenneth Void looked genuinely concerned.
And whatever had happened at the Old Northern Training Hall...
It wasn't just another piece of academy history.
It was connected to Roy.