The door to Classroom Delta slid open with a soft hiss. Morning light filtered through the high windows, casting a golden glow across the rows of seats. Kael stepped inside, his boots echoing against the tiled floor.
Silence fell.
Every pair of eyes turned to him.
He hesitated at the threshold. His instincts screamed to keep his head down, move quickly to his usual seat near the wall. But something stopped him.
A glowing holo-display on the central wall, rotating slowly, framed with sharp silver edges. At the top, in bold white text:
RANKINGS: GROUP TWO — Updated
Varyn Sol Renna Ivek Jaro Tal Feyla Aerin Zane Morrix Derren Vesk Solis Jin Kael Strix Lira Nomé Benit Tros
A low murmur rippled through the class.
"Wait… Kael?"
"That can't be right."
"Wasn't he dead?"
"Number eight? How!?"
He stepped further in, back straight, heart pounding in his chest.
Then came the clattering of a chair. Feyla stood, her long aqua-blue braid swinging behind her as she walked over without hesitation. Her eyes, bright and calm, studied him.
"Congrats," she said, softly enough that only he could hear.
"You look… different now."
Kael blinked. "Do I?"
She gave a small smile and nodded. "Less like a blank. More like someone finally awake."
She turned and gestured for him to walk with her toward the next class — Combat Tactics in the east hall.
He followed.
And behind them, whispers turned to plotting.
In the Shadows
At the far side of the room, behind the third column, Torrin leaned forward over his desk. His lip curled. A deep heat coiled behind his eyes.
"He's not a blank," muttered one of his cronies.
"Maybe he's been hiding something."
Torrin cracked his knuckles, jaw tight.
"Then it's time we find out what. Everyone loves a little fall from grace…"
He didn't shout. He didn't rage.
But the storm in his tone was enough to send a chill through the two boys beside him.
"We let him have his moment. Then we make sure it's his last."
A Step Forward
As Kael and Feyla walked through the corridor, he kept glancing down at his hand. His fingers didn't glow, and the warmth around his wrist had faded for now. But that didn't matter.
He could feel it — change.
Not just in his stats or his strength, but in how people looked at him. Not with pity or laughter.
With curiosity.
And fear.
"Are you watching, Nathan?"
[Always.]
[They're starting to see you. Now let's make sure they remember.]
Kael didn't answer.
He just stepped into the next room, head held high.