Morning sunlight slipped through the dorm window, catching the dust in soft gold. Indra sat at his desk, chin resting lightly on his hand, his gaze unfocused but sharp.
Let's see… how do I rank them now?
It was a mental exercise he'd done countless times — analyzing, categorizing, sorting everyone around him by their usefulness, their threat, their unpredictability.
Selene and Naaji, of course, weren't even part of that system. They were constants — his top priorities, his only unmovable pieces. Selene because of what she represented. Naaji because of what she was becoming.
But the rest…
He leaned back, eyes half-lidded.
Aki and Luce were always near the top. Reliable, predictable, useful.
But now… his eyes narrowed slightly.
Mira Solen. The wrench in the gears.
Nothing else mattered if someone knew his secret. If she truly saw what he thought she did — the truth of his endless lives — then she wasn't just dangerous. She was catastrophic.
Below them sat Haruka — easily next. Her hatred for Selene made her volatile, a potential disruption. She wasn't as dangerous as Mira, but she was a problem that couldn't be ignored.
Then came the rest — the background noise. Useful in specific cases, forgettable otherwise.
Veli and Tessa had some value depending on how events turned. The others… negligible. Replaceable.
He exhaled through his nose softly, closing the mental list as if shutting a book.
That's the order. For now.
A shadow moved at the edge of his vision.
"Indra."
He looked up. Selene stood in the doorway of the courtyard, her expression… off. Her usual calm was replaced with something hesitant. Maybe even embarrassed.
Indra tilted his head slightly. "You need something?"
She glanced to the side — just long enough for him to notice Aki standing several yards away, pretending to talk with Luce. The way her posture was turned said enough.
Indra's mouth curved faintly. "She pushed you to come here, didn't she?"
Selene frowned, not answering, which was answer enough.
She stepped closer, arms crossed lightly over her chest, her white hair brushing her shoulders. "I wanted to… thank you."
Indra blinked. "For what?"
"For bringing me here." She hesitated before continuing, her tone turning slightly begrudging. "If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have met Aki again."
He stared for a moment before letting out a quiet hum. "That's all?"
"Yes," she replied quickly, eyes flicking away.
"That's all."
He leaned back slightly, voice calm. "Then it's nothing to thank me for. I didn't bring you here for that reason."
Selene's eyes narrowed. "Then why did you bring me here?"
"Does it matter?"
"It does if it wasn't for me."
The faint tension in her voice caught him off guard. She didn't sound angry — more like she was searching for something.
He met her gaze evenly. "It was for you," he said, tone level. "But not just that."
Her eyes searched his face. "Then what else?"
He hesitated for a moment, then answered quietly, "Two other things. I came here for someone… and for something."
"Something?" she repeated.
Indra's gaze softened for a moment before lowering his voice, just above a whisper.
"…The Demonic General Mace."
Selene's breath caught. Her eyes widened, the calm mask breaking. "What—how do you know it's here?"
Indra's expression didn't change.
"Where is it? Who has it?" she demanded. "You said it's here—how do you know?"
"It's linked to someone in this class," Indra said smoothly. "That's all I know."
Selene's brows furrowed. She stared at him for a long moment, as if trying to tell whether he was lying.
He wasn't — not exactly.
Finally, she sighed, the tension leaving her shoulders. "You always know too much."
Indra smirked faintly. "It's a habit."
She shook her head and turned away, heading toward Aki, her expression unreadable again.
Indra watched her go, his faint smile fading.
—————
The day passed slowly. The academy courtyard filled with chatter, the usual rhythm of study and training resuming. But Indra's mind was elsewhere.
He found himself walking alone through the marble corridors, footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor.
And that's when he saw her again — Mira Solen — walking from the library with a few papers in hand.
She noticed him instantly. Her eyes widened and she tensed as if to bolt.
"Don't run," Indra said calmly.
She froze.
He approached, measured, not threatening but impossible to ignore.
"I want to talk," he said. "Just talk."
Mira's grip on her papers tightened. "About… what?"
"What you saw," Indra said quietly. "When you touched me."
Her eyes flickered with uncertainty. "I… don't know if I should—"
"Say it."
She hesitated, then finally whispered, "I saw… many fates. All of them lead to the same end."
Indra tilted his head. "Which is?"
"You dying."
Indra's mouth twitched — not a frown, but something between curiosity and amusement.
So she still can't see my true fate. Only the echoes. The lives I've already lived.
He studied her quietly. But if she's perceiving my past cycles, yet doesn't understand the Time Wheel, then whoever created it… stands above fate itself.
He smiled faintly. "I see."
Mira looked at him warily. "You're not surprised."
"Not at all," he said simply.
That clearly unsettled her.
He watched her carefully, reading the tremor in her voice, the way her hands shook slightly. She's kind, he thought. Too kind for what she sees.
She's witnessed the future deaths of hundreds, maybe thousands. She's seen the darkest outcomes — and yet she's still gentle. Still moral.
That makes her both useful… and dangerous.
He stepped a little closer, lowering his tone.
"You've seen my deaths. You've seen what I've lost. That makes you valuable. But it also means I have to decide — do I get you on my side… or kill you before you tell anyone?"
Mira's breath hitched. She instinctively took a step back.
"You're thinking too loudly," she whispered.
He stopped, eyes narrowing slightly. "Am I?"
She turned to leave.
But his voice cut through the quiet. "Mira."
She froze.
"What else is in my fate?" he asked softly. "Other than the deaths. There has to be something."
Mira's shoulders trembled slightly before she spoke, voice low.
"You're a terrible person in your fate," she said. "You use others. You manipulate people… and you're doing it now, aren't you? Trying to use me."
Indra stared for a long moment before exhaling through his nose.
Then he smiled — a small, tired smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"You're half-right," he said. "But let's make something clear."
He stepped past her, close enough for his voice to drop to a murmur.
"I'm assuming you've also seen how strong I'm destined to become. You've seen what I am now. So let's make a deal."
Her heartbeat quickened, though she didn't move.
"I'll let you live," he said calmly. "And in return, you'll keep what you've seen secret."
Mira turned to glare at him — but there was fear there, too. Not of him hurting her, but of the certainty in his tone.
She hesitated. She knew what he was capable of, not from rumor but from fate itself. She'd seen the kind of man he'd become — relentless, unyielding, willing to destroy anything in his path.
Finally, she nodded once, silently.
Indra smiled faintly. "Good."
He stepped aside, letting her go. She left quickly, her footsteps echoing down the marble hall.
When she disappeared around the corner, Indra whispered to himself,
"…You'll come around eventually, or you'll die.."
—————
Later that day, he stood before Mona's office.
The door was slightly ajar. He knocked once before entering.
"Ah, Indra," Mona greeted warmly, smiling as she gestured for him to sit. Her tone was relaxed but sharp beneath the surface — the kind that could cut through lies if she wanted to.
"What brings you here?" she asked.
Indra took a seat across from her, posture straight. "I came with some information."
Her eyes glinted. "Go on."
"I found out there are two spies," he said evenly. "Not one."
Mona's expression didn't change, but her eyes sharpened. "Two?"
"Yes. One of them is Mira Solen."
Mona blinked, surprise flickering across her features. "Mira? That's… unlikely."
Indra smiled faintly. "I know. But think about it — she's favored by the King, and she has a unique ability to perceive fate itself. Perfect cover, isn't it?"
Mona frowned, tapping her fingers against her desk. "And your proof?"
He shook his head slowly. "There isn't any. Yet."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Then why tell me this?"
Indra leaned back, his voice calm but persuasive.
"Because we can't touch her right now, even if I'm right. If she's truly favored by the King, any move against her would backfire. It's better to watch her. See if she slips. Then, you'll know I was telling the truth."
Mona watched him carefully. "You're suggesting surveillance, not confrontation."
He nodded. "Exactly."
For a long moment, silence filled the office — the faint ticking of a clock the only sound.
Finally, Mona sighed. "You're too calm for someone making accusations like that."
Indra smiled lightly. "I'm always calm."
She chuckled softly. "You really are dangerous when you talk like that."
He said nothing.
Mona folded her hands. "Fine. I'll keep an eye on her. But if you're wrong…"
"I won't be," Indra interrupted gently.
She gave him a long look before nodding.
"Alright. And what about the second spy?"
"I don't know who they are yet," he said smoothly.
"Hmm."
Mona stood, extending a hand. "Well, thank you for the information. Even if I'm skeptical, it's… helpful to know what you're thinking."
Indra took her hand lightly, smiling. "Just doing my part."
As he turned to leave, Mona's voice stopped him.
"Indra."
He looked back.
"Do you mind if we get lunch or dinner sometime?" she asked, her tone softer, almost curious. "There's… more I'd like to talk about with you."
He studied her for a moment, the faint smile returning to his lips.
"Of course," he said. "Whenever you'd like."
And with that, he left.
The door clicked softly behind him.
—————
Outside, the late afternoon sun was beginning to fade. The academy bell tolled once in the distance.
Indra walked the quiet corridor alone, hands in his pockets, the faint echo of his boots following behind him.
His thoughts moved like clockwork.
Mira's fear bought me time. Selene's curiosity keeps her cautious. Mona's trust gives me cover.
He stopped briefly at a window overlooking the courtyard, where students were laughing, training, alive.
Pieces on the board. All of them.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"Let's see how long they last."