The cafeteria was louder than usual.
Not in a chaotic way — more like the nervous hum of people pretending they weren't about to be judged. Plates clattered. Laughter echoed. But beneath it all, the tension buzzed like static in the air.
1st year students Midterm Evaluation starts tomorrow.
At one table, a group of second-years leaned in over trays of meat and rice, voices lowered but animated.
"Gravielle's ranked first in all her classes, right?"
"Yeah, but David's barrier skills are solid too. He might edge her out."
"Doubt it. Unless someone unexpected shows up big."
Kael passed by without a glance. Tray in hand, hood halfway up. He moved like background noise.
One student snorted.
"Hey, what about Levi's roommate? The quiet one. What's his name again?"
Another laughed.
"I think his name is Quiet."
More laughter.
At the next table over, Charlotte paused mid-chew. She didn't say anything at first. Just looked in Kael's direction as he walked to the corner table, sat down, and said nothing.
"You'll see," she muttered. "He's not what you think."
Kael didn't stay long.
Later, when most of the campus was winding down, he headed into the south wing — the old training halls. Not as flashy as the main combat gyms. Less traffic. More space to think.
Inside one of the solo rooms, Kael stood before a rack of wooden practice weapons. Swords. Poles. Nunchaku. Arnis sticks. His eyes scanned them like someone flipping through memories.
He took two arnis sticks. Simple. Familiar.
And then he moved.
Strikes. Angles. Rotations. Footwork. Smooth, but sharp. Efficient.
It wasn't for show. It never was.
Outside the room, Professor Orwen watched through the viewing glass, arms folded. He said nothing. Just studied the boy inside.
"He doesn't fight like a C-rank," Orwen murmured.
"That grip... That's not beginner instinct."
His eyes narrowed slightly — not in suspicion, but something closer to recognition.
Back at the dorms, Levi tossed Kael a protein bar from across the room. It bounced off Kael's shoulder.
"Midterm starts tomorrow," Levi said, flopping onto his bed.
"You ready to disappoint everyone by not disappointing anyone?"
Kael caught the bar before it hit the floor. Raised an eyebrow.
"You trying to be motivational?"
"I'm trying to prepare the world," Levi grinned. "They've been sleeping on you so long, the alarm clock's gonna hurt."
Kael unwrapped the bar, took a bite.
"I'm not here to prove anything."
"Maybe not," Levi said, sitting up. "But you've been hiding long enough, bro."
He pointed at Kael with a lazy smirk.
"Maybe it's time they saw what I saw."
Kael didn't reply. He just looked out the window, where the academy dome glowed faintly against the night.
A little later, Kael walked the garden alone didn't expect anyone to be there.
The garden behind the studio wing was usually abandoned after hours — just low stone benches, overgrown vines, and the kind of stillness that didn't ask questions. Perfect.
But tonight, someone else had the same idea.
A girl sat on a bench beneath the lantern tree, legs tucked up, a sketchpad balanced on her lap. Black long hair down, jacket loose. Her eyes were focused on the page — until a soft meow broke the silence.
A small black cat padded away from her side… straight toward Kael.
He froze, unsure, as the cat brushed against his ankle and sat right in front of him. Its round yellow eyes stared up like it knew something he didn't.
That's when she looked up.
Not startled. Just calm.
"He doesn't usually do that," she said, voice quiet.
Kael looked from the cat to her.
"Does he bite?"
"Only if you try to act tough," she replied, closing her sketchpad gently. "You're Kael, right?"
He gave a nod. "Yeah."
"I've seen you around."
"You move like you're trying not to bother the air."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"I like quiet."
She gave a small nod. "Me too."
The cat bumped Kael's leg again and curled near his foot. For a moment, the silence felt... unforced.
"I'm Cyrhelle," she said, standing now. She hugged her sketchpad loosely. "I figured we should at least introduce ourselves before your shoes become his new home."
Kael glanced down at the cat, then back up.
"You already knew my name."
"Yeah. Still wanted to hear you say it."
"Kael Navarro."
"Cyrhelle Elsinora," she said. "I guess we're even."
They stood there for a few seconds, neither quite knowing what to say next.
Cyrhelle broke the quiet first, tucking her sketchpad under her arm.
"I should go. Cat gets grumpy when I stay out too long."
"Thanks," Kael said, after a beat.
"For what?"
"Not asking anything weird."
She paused at the garden archway.
"Maybe next time."
And then she was gone.
The cat lingered a second longer before trotting after her, tail swaying lazily.
Kael stood alone again.
But this time, the silence didn't feel so heavy.