Arthur walked with measured steps across the stone-paved courtyard of the Academy. The towering spires cast their shadows long and deep, merging with the crimson hues of dusk until the courtyard itself felt like a mystic arena. Ancient runes glowed faintly on the cobblestones, while the hushed whispers of students echoed like a restless murmur in his ears. Behind the mask, his breath remained calm, yet the seal in his pocket beat against his heart like a war drum.
A staff member approached him quietly.
"Douglas R. Barker is expecting you," he said, gesturing toward the tall staircase.
The doors were massive, carved of oak and adorned with bronze inlays. When Arthur stepped inside, the sight struck him: towering bookshelves reaching toward the heavens, and at the chamber's center, a massive sphere pulsing with mana crystals, bathed in the scarlet glow of the setting sun.
At the far end of the hall sat Douglas R. Barker, draped in his long cloak. Between his white hair, his sharp eyes gleamed, piercing through the mask to the blue glow within.
"So, you've come," Douglas said. His voice, though aged, was still strong and resonant. "They recognized the seal I gave you. But not everyone here is a friend. The Academy is far more dangerous than it appears."
Arthur stood silently before him, then drew the seal from his pocket and placed it on the desk.
"Why give this to me? It belongs only to the highest ranks. Handing it to an outsider… will draw too much attention."
Douglas was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.
"Because there are enemies in this Academy, Arthur. Not only outside—inside. Some will go so far as to trample the lives of students without hesitation. To stop them, sometimes you need someone who walks in the shadows. Someone like you."
Arthur's eyes narrowed behind the mask.
"So you trust me."
"No." Douglas's reply was sharp as steel. "I trust no one. But your presence will serve as balance within these walls. That seal will protect you—but it will also mark you as a target."
The air in the room thickened. The mana crystals trembled faintly. Arthur slipped the seal back into his pocket and drew a steady breath.
"I understand. Then I will not hesitate to step into the abyss."
A brief smile curved Douglas's lips. He turned his head and motioned to an attendant.
"Call Donna Lonberg."
The doors swung open, and a woman entered with long strides. Her black hair was tied neatly back, and she wore a dark violet training uniform. The moment her aura filled the hall, the air quivered. Donna Lonberg was famed not only for her martial prowess, but also for the charm that unsettled minds and hearts alike. When her eyes fell on Arthur, it was as though they pierced straight into his chest.
"A masked stranger… in Barker's chambers. Interesting," she said, her voice soft yet cutting.
Douglas straightened in his seat.
"Donna. This man is now a guest of the Academy. You will arrange one of the teacher's lodgings for him."
A mocking smile touched Donna's lips. She circled Arthur slowly, her gaze lingering as if testing him. A subtle allure laced her aura; most men would already have buckled under it.
Arthur remained expressionless behind his mask. His eyes were cold, his voice steady.
"You may measure me as much as you wish. But I have no time for these games."
For a moment, Donna was taken aback. Then she smiled.
"So, you're not easily swayed. Good. Barker made the right choice."
Douglas cut in: "Take him to the quarters. Tomorrow he will learn the Academy's rules. But never forget, Arthur… this is no school. It is a battlefield. Every step you take will be watched."
Arthur gave a silent nod. Donna gestured toward the exit.
As they walked under the looming shadows of the towers, Donna cast him a sidelong glance.
"Most men crumble under my gaze. But the eyes behind your mask… they're like ice. Tell me, Arthur, what made you so cold?"
Arthur's answer was brief.
"My past."
Donna pressed no further. They crossed a stone path beyond the courtyard, arriving at the teachers' quarters—nestled within a quiet garden, far from the soaring towers. The walls were reinforced with runes, radiating waves of calming mana.
"This is it," Donna said, opening the door. "You're part of the Academy now. But remember… not everyone here is your friend."
Arthur answered with a faint smile behind his mask.
"I look forward to learning who my enemies are."
The door shut behind him. His first night at the Academy had begun.
Ren — The Inner Voice
"Why… why does this cold feeling linger inside me?"
Ren sat up in his bed. The dorm room was quiet, the only sound the wind rattling against the glass panes. His friends were already fast asleep, yet his mind refused to rest.
He had been feeling a strange pressure for some time now—as if unseen eyes were watching him from the corners of the room. It was the same chilling unease that had haunted him since his very first step into the Academy.
"Is it only me? Or… is there really something here?"
His fists clenched. Unease gnawed at him, but mingled within it was a faint, inexplicable anticipation. Sparks flickered in his chest, his heart tightening.
"When did this feeling begin? Was it when I saw someone in the crowd? No… not someone—something. An aura brushed against mine. Cold, sharp, and yet… familiar."
Ren drew in a deep breath and fixed his gaze on the ceiling.
"There are many strong people in this Academy. But this… this is unlike anything I've felt before. Someone powerful. Maybe… an enemy. Maybe a thread of fate."
Questions whirled endlessly in his mind, quickening his pulse.
"Everything is changing. And I must be ready. Whoever it is—when they stand before me, I will not look away."