Morning sunlight spilled across Aurevale Academy, washing the stone halls in gold. Bells rang from the tower, echoing through the courtyards as students hurried to class.
Kael walked through it all quietly, hands in his pockets, eyes sharp as ever. His calm expression hid a thousand calculations. Every step, every glance, measured.
Same halls. Same faces. But after last night… everything feels sharper.
A faint bruise hid under his sleeve — a small reminder of the Syndicate ambush. He didn't heal it. Pain kept him focused.
The dining hall buzzed with noise — clinking plates, laughter, and the smell of fresh bread. Kael sat at his usual corner, trying to disappear into the background.
"Oi, look who's pretending to be a ghost again," Ryn called out, sliding his tray across from him with a grin.
Kael didn't look up. "Maybe if I stay quiet, you'll go away."
Ryn gasped dramatically. "Cold. And here I thought we bonded when you threw me into the dirt last week."
"That was a lesson in balance," Kael said, sipping his tea.
"Yeah, well, my back still remembers it." Ryn leaned back in his chair, unfazed. "Anyway, rumor says the instructors are planning inspection rounds today. Better hide that 'mysterious loner' act before they make you do speeches."
Kael raised a brow. "I'll take expulsion over that."
Tessa plopped her tray beside them, already rolling her eyes. "You two are hopeless. Ryn talks too much, and Kael talks too little."
"Balance," Kael said simply.
Ryn laughed. "See? That's teamwork right there."
Kael almost smiled. Almost.
The training field shimmered under the late morning sun. Students practiced in pairs, wooden swords clacking as instructors shouted corrections.
Kael stood opposite Ryn, holding a practice sword loosely at his side.
"You ready to lose again?" Ryn smirked.
"You're very confident for someone who falls every ten seconds," Kael said.
Ryn charged, swinging too wide. Kael ducked, sidestepped, and tapped Ryn's back with the sword's edge.
"Again," Kael said calmly.
"You didn't even give me a chance!" Ryn groaned, rubbing his back.
"You had a chance," Kael said. "You used it poorly."
Laughter rippled through the nearby students. Ryn grumbled but smiled anyway.
From the sidelines, Elara watched quietly, a faint smile playing at her lips. Her golden eyes reflected the sunlight — and curiosity.
Ryn went in again, faster this time. Kael defended, twisted, and swept his leg out just enough to make Ryn stumble — but not fall.
"Better," Kael said.
"Really?" Ryn asked hopefully.
"No," Kael replied.
Tessa laughed from the benches. "You walked into that one, Ryn."
"Yeah, yeah." Ryn slumped, sweat dripping down his forehead. "I'll beat him one day."
Kael smirked faintly. "When I'm asleep, maybe."
After training, Kael headed to grab his things. That's when he saw it — a folded piece of parchment slipped under his bag.
He opened it quietly. The handwriting was neat but rushed.
They are inside the academy. Watch the shadows.
Kael's relaxed posture stiffened. He looked around — students laughing, talking, completely unaware. But the air felt different.
He pocketed the note, face unreadable.
So they made it past the city gates already… the Syndicate moves fast.
That night, rain returned to Aurevale. Kael sat by the dorm window, watching droplets streak down the glass.
Behind him, Ryn and Tessa argued over cards again.
"You're cheating," Ryn accused.
"I'm just better," Tessa replied, smirking.
Kael leaned against the wall, half-listening, half-lost in thought.
He could almost hear Master Ardyn's voice — calm, firm, echoing in his head:
"You can't live in the dark forever, Kael. Even a shadow needs something to protect."
He'd brushed off those words before. But lately… he wasn't so sure.
Lightning flickered faintly over his fingertips as he clenched his hand. He let it fade quickly before anyone noticed.
If I start caring about them, I'll make them targets.
Still, he couldn't deny the small comfort in hearing laughter nearby — something he hadn't felt in years.
Beyond the academy walls, under the cover of rain, two figures stood on a rooftop overlooking the towers.
Their cloaks bore the faint insignia of a serpent coiled around a dagger.
"The girl's inside," one said, voice cold. "But she's being watched."
"The assassin?"
"Yes. The one they call Stormblood."
The other smiled beneath his hood. "Then we start with him. The Syndicate doesn't miss twice."
Lightning flashed, reflecting off wet stone.
Inside his dorm, Kael looked up suddenly — his eyes glowing faintly blue in the dark. He felt the storm before it came.
"So they've found me," he whispered.
Outside, thunder rolled across the horizon.The calm was ending.