The moon hung low above Crimson Eye Academy, a thin red ring glowing faintly around it — a rare phenomenon the seniors whispered about. They called it the Watcher's Ring.
Most thought it was superstition. Kael wasn't so sure anymore.
He sat alone by the dorm window, watching that strange light flicker in the sky. His uniform jacket hung half-buttoned, collar rumpled, his thoughts louder than the night breeze.
Tomorrow was the Pairing Trials — the event that would decide every student's future team and training path. Fail it, and you were cast aside into the "Neutral Wing," where advancement was rare and respect, nonexistent.
He clenched his badge, the numbers etched on it still faint from wear. His roommate, Ryn, was already asleep — a light snore breaking the silence. Kael envied him.
Sleep felt impossible.
Across the campus, the training fields shimmered with faint lights — some students still practicing, their awakened eyes glowing in the dark. Others meditated, conserving every drop of focus. The tension in the air was so thick you could taste it.
A quiet knock came at his door.
Kael blinked. "...Who's there?"
The door slid open slightly, revealing a girl with silver streaks in her dark hair — Aria Valen. Her crimson-tinted eyes held calm fire, the kind that saw through people.
"I thought you'd still be awake," she said, stepping in lightly. "You're shaking."
He forced a smile. "Just… thinking."
"About failing?" she teased, leaning on the doorframe.
Kael chuckled softly. "Something like that."
Aria crossed her arms. "You know, most people dream of joining Crimson Eye. But they forget — this place eats the uncertain alive. If you want to stay, you can't just survive. You have to fight the system."
"Fight the system?" Kael repeated, frowning.
She nodded. "You'll understand soon enough. Just promise me one thing." Her gaze softened. "Don't let anyone tell you where you belong. Not even them."
Before he could reply, she turned and disappeared into the hallway's shadows.
Kael sat there, heart thudding.
He didn't know who "them" was — but he knew one thing.
Tomorrow, everything would change.
Outside, the Watcher's Ring pulsed once, bathing the academy in crimson light.