The sound of shoes squeaking on the polished floor echoed through the school hallway.
Students hurried between classes, their chatter blending with the hum of lockers slamming shut.
Kayden walked slowly through the corridor, hands in his pockets, eyes half on the floor.
It was just another normal afternoon at Evershade University—until a sharp noise broke through the buzz of conversation.
A thud.
Then laughter.
He looked up. At the end of the hallway, near the stairwell, a group of students had surrounded someone.
They were all wearing the same smirks — the kind that came from knowing no one dared to stop them.
One of them, a bulky guy with a red bandana tied around his wrist, shoved another student against the lockers.
The smaller boy stumbled, clutching his bag to his chest as papers scattered across the floor.
"Didn't I tell you not to use this hallway, nerd?" the bandana guy sneered.
"Please, I'm not looking for trouble," the boy stammered.
"Too late for that," another bully said, stepping on one of the fallen papers and tearing it under his shoe. "You already look like trouble."
The hallway went silent except for their laughter. Everyone else avoided eye contact and hurried past, pretending not to notice.
Kayden stopped mid-step. His jaw tightened.
Just walk away, he told himself. It's not your problem.
But as he turned to go, he caught sight of the boy's expression — terrified, humiliated, eyes begging for help that wasn't coming.
Something in Kayden snapped.
He turned back.
"Hey."
The bullies froze. The one with the bandana turned around, sizing Kayden up with a smirk. "You talking to us?"
Kayden's gaze was calm, almost bored. "Yeah. I am."
The leader snorted. "And?"
"Leave him alone."
Laughter erupted from the group. "You serious?" one of them said. "Who do you think you are?"
Kayden's tone didn't change. "Someone who doesn't like watching cowards gang up on one person."
That killed the laughter.
Bandana Guy stepped closer, his grin fading. "You've got a mouth on you. Maybe we should teach you how things work around here."
Before he could swing, another member grabbed his arm. "Not now. Ragnar said no fights inside the building. Cameras, remember?"
Bandana Guy clenched his jaw, glaring at Kayden. "Fine. We'll let you play hero for now. But you just made a mistake, pretty boy. Ragnar's gonna want to know who you are."
Kayden didn't move. "Then tell him."
They glared at him a moment longer, then shoved past, knocking his shoulder hard on purpose before walking off.
The boy they'd been bullying stayed frozen until they disappeared. Kayden crouched, picking up a few of the papers and handing them back.
"You okay?"
The boy nodded nervously. "Y-yeah… thanks. You shouldn't have done that, though."
Kayden tilted his head. "Why not?"
"They're not just regular students," the boy whispered. "They're part of the Vex Crew. Ragnar's gang. You don't want to mess with them."
Kayden handed him the last paper. "Too late."
The boy blinked, then managed a shaky smile. "I'm Eren. Eren Voss."
"Kayden."
"Thanks again," Eren said quietly. "Just… watch your back, okay? Those guys don't forget things like this."
Before Kayden could respond, a voice called from behind.
"Kayden! What did you do this time?"
Liora hurried down the hallway, her expression a mix of irritation and worry.
He shrugged. "Just stopped a few idiots."
She groaned. "You mean The Vex Crew, don't you? Are you insane? They'll eat you alive if Ragnar finds out."
Kayden leaned against the lockers, his expression calm. "I don't like bullies."
"That's not the point!" Liora snapped. "You don't know what you're getting into."
Eren nodded quickly beside her. "She's right. Ragnar's the kind of guy who—"
Kayden cut him off with a soft smile. "Relax. I'll handle it."
Liora stared at him, frustrated. "You say that like you can handle everything."
Kayden didn't answer. His gaze drifted down to his left arm — where, beneath his sleeve, the sigil gave a faint, hidden pulse.
"I can handle what comes," he said quietly.
The bell rang, echoing through the hall. Students began to move again, the noise returning. Liora exhaled, shaking her head. "You're impossible, you know that?"
Kayden smiled faintly. "You've told me before."
She rolled her eyes and walked away.
Eren stayed behind for a second. "Still… thanks for standing up for me."
Kayden nodded. "Anytime."
When Eren left, Kayden was alone again. The hallway grew quiet. He looked out the nearby window where rain had just begun to fall, tapping softly against the glass.
He thought about the bullies, about the name Ragnar, about the warning.
Then he thought about how the sigil had warmed beneath his skin the moment he stood up.
It wasn't fear that stirred in him. It was something else—something stronger.
He turned away from the window, a quiet determination in his eyes.
He didn't like bullies.
And he wasn't afraid of what came next.