Morning came quietly over Orundal.
Kael ran the same way he always did — half jogging, half a blur. The faint hum of Arkanum coursed through his body in delicate threads, flowing through every tendon, every bone. He adjusted it as naturally as breathing, letting just enough energy pulse beneath his skin to amplify his muscles without ever breaking balance.
It was routine now — to leave long before anyone else, to greet the farmers by the road, to clean himself in the school restroom before class began.
A ritual of control, of silence, of order.
When he finally sat down in his seat, the room was still empty.
He rested his chin against his hand, eyes unfocused, mind sifting through the previous day, the night before, and the dawn he had just left behind.
It was a habit — a mental inventory of what he might have missed.
After a few quiet minutes, he concluded two things.
First, he still couldn't open the black envelope his mother had left him.
Second, he still hadn't thanked Nyonya Lina for bringing him breakfast every morning before sunrise.
Students began to fill the room one by one, the soft murmur of voices growing into the usual chaos.
Kael didn't turn. He listened — tracking footsteps, tones, gestures — observing them the way a mathematician observes movement.
It was training, too.
Reading motion, predicting habits, mapping emotion through the tiniest shifts of posture.
Of course, to perceive that much detail, one needed more than eyes.
He sent faint trickles of Arkanum into his bloodstream — toward his eyes, ears, nerves, brain — refining his senses to unnatural clarity.
That was how people of Arka shaped their world: through focused channels of raw energy, turning observation into art, and control into power.
"Step, step, step…"
The rhythm of one particular gait cut through the noise. Kael recognized it instantly — light, even, slightly bouncing.
"Morning, Kael!"
Ruby dropped his bag on the hook beside Kael's desk, his grin easy and familiar.
Kael smiled faintly but said nothing.
"Your smile looks… different today. Something happen?" Ruby tilted his head.
"Nothing. Just… celebrating a small success."
Ruby raised an eyebrow. "What kind of success?"
"The kind that confirms a guess," Kael replied, still looking out the window. He'd correctly identified Ruby's footsteps before seeing him.
Ruby leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Hey, did you ever manage to open that envelope?"
Kael blinked, mildly startled. "Not yet."
"Then what's this 'success' you're talking about?"
"Nothing important," Kael said, lips curving in that subtle way that ended all conversations.
Before Ruby could press further—
"Hey, Kaaaeel!"
Both of them turned.
It was Setnov, clearing his throat like someone trying too hard to sound casual.
"Uh—did you happen to bring my bike to school today?"
Kael stared. "No."
The short, calm reply made Setnov fidget. He glanced around to check if anyone was watching before muttering under his breath,
"Damn it… I'm dead."
Kael's expression didn't change.
"Ah—sorry, sorry! That wasn't at you! I'm cursing my luck, not… uh, you."
Ruby raised an eyebrow. "What happened to you, Sett?"
"Eh? What's it to you?" Setnov snapped before quickly softening. "Forget it."
He turned to leave.
"You can pick it up yourself," Kael said mildly, not even looking up. "It's not my responsibility."
Setnov forced a crooked grin. "Heh… I can do that, yeah."
[ "If he didn't know how to use that damn sword, I'd flatten him." ]
He smiled stiffly to hide the thought burning in his head.
Ruby watched him go, puzzled. "What's wrong with him?"
Kael shrugged. "Come to my house if you want to find out."
That single line only made Ruby more curious. He'd never seen Setnov look so uncomfortable before. For someone who used to throw side comments every time Kael walked by, the boy now seemed… almost afraid.
---
Meanwhile, down the hallway, a small crowd had gathered near the windows.
At the center stood a round-faced boy, gesturing dramatically as if performing for an audience.
"—and then he came at us, holding his sword like some bloodthirsty beast, his eyes cold as a lion stalking prey!"
It was Rocky.
"Come on, Rock, you're exaggerating," someone said.
"I swear! Ask Setnov if you don't believe me!"
He was embellishing the story of what had happened — painting Kael as a psychopath, a monster in human skin.
By the time he finished, the rumor had already begun to spread.
"Hey! You're blocking the hallway, move!"
A familiar voice cut through the chatter.
Rocky froze.
"Eh—Siro?! You're back? You're not sick anymore?"
Siro crossed his arms. "What, you don't want me back?"
"N–no, of course not! Glad you're better!" Rocky laughed awkwardly and quickly dismissed the group. "Alright, everyone, back to class!"
The crowd scattered, leaving only echoes of the story behind.
Siro followed them in, smirking. "So, Kael, looks like you've been busy while I was gone."
Kael looked up briefly. "Nothing special."
"I heard some wild stuff outside — something about you using a sword… and maybe being a psychopath?"
Kael didn't answer. He didn't even look annoyed.
Siro chuckled. "Guess I'll see for myself."
"See what?"
"Whatever happens next. I'll come by your place after school."
"For what?" Kael asked.
"My gut says something interesting always happens around you," Siro replied, walking back to his seat.
---
The day rolled on — bell after bell, class after class, until even the sound of learning grew dull.
Kael moved through it all in quiet detachment.
Outside, Setnov was bullying Rocky again — the classic pattern of predator and prey reforming itself in miniature.
Then the final bell rang, long and low, scattering the students like birds from a tree.
As usual, most of them rode home on bicycles. Kael walked.
"Where's Kael?" Siro asked Ruby in the parking area.
"No idea. Probably went home already."
"Why didn't you go with him?"
Ruby blinked. "Why would I? We live in different directions."
"Ah… fair." Siro nodded, wheeling his bike toward the gate.
"But you do know where he lives, right? You seem close."
Ruby flushed a little, caught off guard by the word close.
"Y–yeah, of course I do."
"Then lead the way."
"Wait, what? Why?" Ruby jogged after him.
"Just to hang out!"
"Then why are you leading if you don't know the way?"
"Haha—good point!" Siro slowed down, laughing at himself.
They rode side by side, the path narrowing between rice fields that shimmered under the late afternoon light.
"So," Siro said after a while, "why are you helping me with this again?"
Ruby smiled faintly. "No reason. Kael actually told me to come by his house too."
"Oh? Then I guess thanks."
"For what?"
"For coming along. You know, with a face like mine, not many kids bother hanging out with me."
Ruby didn't reply. He knew Siro wasn't wrong.
"It's fine," Siro added quickly. "I'm used to it. Maybe that's why Kael caught my attention. Feels like I'm looking at another version of myself — just… with a different reason for being alone."
Ruby chuckled. "If you say so."
They kept talking — about Kael's odd habits, his brilliance, his obsession with training — until the conversation turned into a mix of admiration and disbelief.
The road stretched quiet and endless, green fields swaying on either side, their laughter swallowed by the wind.
"That's his house," Ruby finally pointed. "The one at the end of the asphalt."
Siro slowed, eyes widening. "Didn't even know anyone lived out here."
"Well, you've only been on the island two years," Ruby said. "Makes sense."
Siro laughed. "More like no one ever invited me anywhere."
"Hahaha… yeah, I get that."
"Wait—who's that?" Siro pointed toward the yard.
An adult stood near the porch, a sleek energy motor parked by the road.
Ruby squinted. "That looks like… Setnov's parents?"
"Do they know Kael?"
"Not that I've ever heard."
Both of them slowed, cautious.
"Think it's about what happened yesterday?" Ruby murmured.
"The story Rocky told?" Siro asked.
"Yeah. Kael told me to come by if I wanted to know more. Maybe this is it."
"Then let's go," Siro said, pushing down on his pedals, eyes sharp with curiosity.
"Something tells me Kael's in trouble again."
---
To be continued