Morning sunlight spilled over Aurevale Academy's courtyard, painting the marble floor in gold and shadow. Bells chimed from the towers, calling students to their training session.
Kael stretched lazily, pretending to yawn. "Another day of pretending to be normal," he muttered under his breath.
In truth, he'd already finished his training before dawn — fifty push-ups on one arm, blindfolded sword drills, and a ten-minute meditation on how not to stab annoying nobles.
"Blend in," Master Ardyn said."Act harmless.""Try not to kill anyone important."
Simple orders. Harder in practice.
The Training Ground
The field buzzed with energy — nobles in spotless uniforms, laughing too loudly, showing off with wooden swords. Kael joined the line of scholarship students, keeping his posture relaxed.
He noticed everything. Footwork. Grip. Timing.Most of them were terrible and are ganging against commoners.
A noble with golden hair and a smirk noticed him standing quietly. "Oh, look, the charity case finally decided to show up."
Kael tilted his head. "Sorry, I was busy trying to find your talent. Still looking."
The noble's smile faltered. A few students snorted.
"You've got a smart mouth for a beggar." He raised his practice sword. "Let's see how long it lasts."
The Duel
The noble lunged — fast but sloppy. Kael barely moved.Wood cracked as the sword whistled past his shoulder.
Too wide. Elbow exposed.
Kael sidestepped, flicking his own practice blade upward. The noble's weapon flew from his hand and landed ten feet away with a clatter.
Gasps filled the air.
Kael offered a faint smile. "Maybe start with not closing your eyes before swinging."
The noble's face burned red. "You—!" He charged again, reckless.
Kael dodged, tripped him with one leg, and lightly tapped his back with the wooden sword's edge. "Down."
The boy hit the ground, groaning.
The instructor started to speak, but stopped — uncertain if he should scold Kael or clap.
Kael gave a small shrug. "Was that too much? I was trying to make it educational."
As the crowd dispersed, a trembling boy approached him — the same one the nobles had mocked earlier. "Th-thank you for helping me. I… I didn't think anyone would—"
Kael waved him off. "Relax. Next time, just keep your guard up. You'll last longer that way."
The boy nodded eagerly. "I'll try!"
Kael smirked. "Good. Try not to die before the exams."
From under the shade of an old oak tree, Elara Veyne had been watching the whole thing — golden eyes sharp, curious.
When Kael walked past her, she spoke without looking up from her book.
"You shouldn't humiliate nobles. They tend to hold grudges."
Kael stopped. "I didn't humiliate anyone. I educated them."
Elara's lips curved slightly. "That's one way to put it."
He met her gaze briefly — unreadable, calm. "Another way is calling it 'public service.'"
She let out a quiet laugh. "You're strange, Kael."
"Thank you," he said seriously, then walked off.
She blinked, then smiled to herself. He's hiding something, she thought.
The sun bled into the horizon, dyeing the academy walls crimson. Kael walked the empty corridors, hands in pockets, expression unreadable.
He'd played the part well today — the quiet, skilled scholarship kid. No one suspected what he really was.
But the unease wouldn't leave him. The faint feeling of being watched — again.
Someone's too interested in me.
A click echoed softly behind him. Kael froze. His body reacted before thought — turning, catching the blur of movement in the corner of his eye.
A hooded figure stepped out of the shadow, dagger flashing.
"You're quick," the stranger said, voice low.
Kael sighed. "You picked the wrong hallway, friend."
The dagger flew — Kael tilted his head aside, grabbed the attacker's wrist, and twisted until the weapon dropped.
The figure hissed in pain, kicking back to create distance.
"Who sent you?" Kael asked, voice calm but sharp.
The attacker only smirked — then leaped backward into the dark. When Kael looked again, he was gone.
Not a student. Too precise. Too confident.
He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "Great. First week in class and someone already wants me dead."
Lightning flickered faintly across his fingers — a habit he'd developed when irritated.
This isn't random. Someone knows who I am.
He turned toward his dorm, the faint smirk returning to his lips.
"Guess class tomorrow might be fun."
Thunder rolled outside as Kael disappeared down the corridor, shadow melting into shadow.