Kai's first night in the dormitory was quieter than he expected. It was late, and the rest of the students were either in their rooms or out socializing. The buzz of conversations and laughter echoed faintly through the stone halls, but Kai remained in the corner of the common area, his mind still replaying the events of the maze trial.
Ten kills. The minimum required to pass.
It wasn't impressive, but it didn't need to be. For now, that was all he wanted—quiet, unnoticed survival. He didn't need to stand out or make friends. The more people noticed him, the more likely they were to catch on to what he really was.
A background character.
He ran his hand over his short sword, the metal cool to the touch. The weight of it wasn't familiar. He'd barely used it during the trial, letting time stop to avoid the real confrontation. But there were more trials coming. More opportunities to draw attention. More opportunities to mess up.
The watch on his wrist buzzed, snapping him from his thoughts. A new notification popped up.
[Dorm Assignments Complete]
[Kai Drenhaven — Dorm B, Room 304]
He already knew where he was supposed to be. Dorm B. A nondescript building that stood on the quieter end of the academy grounds. It was where the majority of the students in lower tiers or background roles stayed. Dorm A was for the elites—the ones who would end up as class representatives or top performers. Not for someone like Kai. Not for someone who planned on doing just enough to survive.
He rose from his seat and made his way through the dimly lit hallways, the occasional flicker of magic-powered lamps casting long shadows against the stone walls. The air was cooler here, and the faint hum of magic seemed to buzz just below the surface.
When he arrived at his room, he swiped his wrist over the door's scanner. It clicked open, and he stepped inside.
The room was small but functional. A bed in the corner, a desk, a wardrobe, and a small window that looked out onto the academy grounds. The walls were bare, and there was no hint of personality—just a blank canvas. Perfect.
He tossed his sword on the bed and sank into the chair by the desk. He was too tired to think clearly, but his mind kept drifting back to the trial. The way he'd moved through the maze without anyone noticing. The way time had bent to his will, making him almost invincible.
But he wasn't invincible. No one was. Not in this world.
His wrist buzzed again, and this time it was a message.
[Class A — Instructor Liora: "Meet me in the Faculty Lounge tomorrow at noon. Important."]
He frowned. Class A? He wasn't sure why a teacher from the highest class would contact him directly. Perhaps it was just a routine check. She'd been one of the teachers observing the maze trial. She'd been watching him.
A chill ran down his spine.
He knew he was being watched. He'd done everything he could to stay under the radar, but he knew that wasn't going to last forever. Someone would notice. Someone already had.
Kai ran his fingers over the watch on his wrist again, its subtle glow illuminating the otherwise dark room. It wasn't the watch that worried him, though. It was the fact that he had no choice but to keep moving forward. He couldn't let anyone figure him out. Not now. Not when everything was just starting.
He closed his eyes, leaned back, and let his mind wander as the sound of the distant conversations from the common area faded away. It was strange, really. The idea of being here—at this academy.
It was like being in a story he'd already read. A world full of characters he'd met before, only this time, he was the one who had to survive.
The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall, pulling him from his thoughts. He glanced toward the door, but it was too late. Someone was already knocking.
He hesitated for a moment before pushing himself to his feet and heading toward the door. It opened before he could even touch the handle.
A tall figure stood in the doorway, their silhouette framed by the light from the hallway. Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
It was one of the seniors—an older student, probably a second or third year. He didn't recognize them, but there was something about the way they carried themselves, a sort of quiet authority. It made him uncomfortable.
"Hey," the student said casually, his tone almost too relaxed. "You're Kai, right? Room 304?"
Kai nodded slowly, cautious.
"I'm Jace," the senior said, flashing a half-smile. "I'm with Dorm A, but we're all kind of scattered here, right? Just wanted to make sure you're settling in okay."
Kai nodded again, keeping his expression neutral. He didn't need to say much. He didn't want to say much. But he also couldn't afford to make enemies. Especially not ones that had access to all the information on the students.
"I'm good," Kai replied flatly. "Thanks."
Jace seemed to study him for a moment, his gaze lingering a little longer than was necessary. "Well, just wanted to check in," he said, his voice dropping a little lower. "If you need anything—anything at all—let me know. I'm around."
With that, he turned and left, leaving Kai standing in the doorway, still watching him as he disappeared down the hall.
Kai closed the door quietly, but the feeling of unease lingered.
There was something about Jace that didn't sit right with him. The way he acted—like he was sizing Kai up, trying to get a read on him. Maybe he was just being paranoid. Or maybe there was something more going on here than he realized.
He returned to his desk and sat down again, staring at the message on his watch from Instructor Liora. He didn't need to meet her tomorrow. He didn't need to do anything that would draw attention. But he also knew he couldn't avoid her forever.
Tomorrow was going to be a test in more ways than one.
The next morning, Kai forced himself to wake up early, even though he hadn't slept much. The quiet of the dormitory felt strange in the daylight. The halls were still empty, save for a few early risers, their footsteps echoing softly as they passed by. Kai made his way to the cafeteria, grabbed a quick breakfast, and headed toward the Faculty Lounge.
The building that housed the Faculty Lounge was one of the oldest structures on campus. It was designed to look like a gothic castle, with spires that reached for the sky and towering stone columns. The interior was just as imposing—high ceilings, dark wood paneling, and heavy curtains that blocked out most of the light.
Kai hesitated at the door, his hand hovering just above the handle. He could hear voices inside, muffled but distinct. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he knew this meeting could change everything.
He took a deep breath and stepped inside.