The bus hissed as it stopped in front of a tall set of gates.
A cold wind brushed past Seo Ramin's ears the moment he stepped out, carrying with it the faint smell of old incense—like someone had burned it long ago and the scent hadn't fully faded.
He blinked up at the massive signboard overhead.
EIRYU ACADEMY — Excellence in Mind, Body, and Power.
The academy looked nothing like the schools he was used to.
Buildings blended modern glass with traditional architectural shapes. Curved roofs met steel frames. Windows reflected clouds that drifted too slowly for comfort.
It didn't feel like a school.
It felt like a place that had seen things.
Things that didn't want to be seen.
Ramin shifted his backpack and exhaled.
First day. New start. Don't overthink it.
He walked through the gates.
The moment he did, something changed.
His steps no longer echoed normally. The sound bent slightly, as if the air thickened in certain spots.
Ramin frowned and glanced back.
The street outside looked normal. Cars, people, sunlight.
But inside the gates…
it was quieter.
Too quiet.
"Hey! You must be the transfer student, right?"
A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
A boy jogged up to him, waving with both hands for no real reason. He wore the same school uniform—black jacket, white undershirt, and silver-trimmed collar—and had an easy smile that made the world feel less heavy.
"I'm Oh Seojin," he said brightly. "Your assigned guide! Welcome to Eiryu Academy."
"Seo Ramin," Ramin introduced himself.
"Nice! I'll show you around before we head to your homeroom."
Seojin started leading him past the main courtyard. Students were gathered in groups—laughing, chatting, practicing minor Eiryu exercises. Small flickers of light glowed around their palms, the harmless kind beginners practiced.
Ramin didn't join any school clubs back at his old school, but even there, Eiryu basics were common. Every student learned to sense, control, and stabilize the internal energy flow known as Eien Ryoku—shortened to Eiryu.
Eiryu Academy, though, was different.
Here, Eiryu was everything.
"So," Seojin said as they walked, "you came from the southern region, right? The transfer form said something about needing a change of environment. You okay with all that?"
"Yeah," Ramin replied simply.
He didn't feel like repeating the whole story.
"That's fine," Seojin said cheerfully. "If you ever need someone to talk to or help you around, just call me. Seriously, this place can get… weird sometimes."
Ramin raised an eyebrow. "Weird how?"
Seojin stopped walking.
For a moment—just a moment—his smile faltered.
"Never mind," he said quickly. "Anyway! Your class is down this hallway. You're assigned to—"
He paused.
And his expression changed again.
"To Class 2-3."
Ramin noticed the hesitation. "Is that a problem?"
"No! No, of course not." Seojin laughed a little too loudly. "2-3 is… uh… unique. But you'll be fine."
Ramin didn't press him.
Not yet.
As they walked deeper into the building, the temperature dropped subtly. Students still filled the hallways, but none of them seemed to be heading toward the same wing.
The halls grew quieter.
More hollow.
A faint hum vibrated through the walls, like distant chanting or maybe just old pipes. Ramin tried to ignore it.
They stopped in front of a classroom door with a plain sign:
Class 2-3
The hallway lights flickered once.
Only once.
But enough for Ramin to notice.
Seojin didn't seem to want to linger.
"Your homeroom teacher's inside. I need to return these papers, so I'll catch you during lunch, okay?"
Ramin nodded.
"Thanks."
Seojin gave a smile that felt tight.
"Don't stay late after school. Go straight home today."
Ramin froze. "Why?"
But Seojin just shook his head.
"Just trust me."
He walked off.
Leaving Ramin in front of Class 2-3.
Ramin slid the door open.
The classroom was oddly spacious—rows of desks, windows that let in too much pale light, and students quietly preparing for class.
Nothing unusual.
Except—
Ramin felt a chill.
The desks had shadows.
The chairs had shadows.
The teacher's podium had a shadow.
But the students…
did not.
Not one of them cast a shadow onto the spotless wooden floor.
Ramin blinked. Then blinked again.
Maybe it was the angle?
Maybe the lights were weird?
He shifted his position slightly.
Still nothing.
His pulse thudded softly in his ears.
"I believe you're our new student."
The voice came from the teacher, a calm-faced woman with immaculate posture.
Her smile was polite yet devoid of warmth.
"Seo Ramin," he answered, bowing slightly.
"Yes, welcome." Her tone didn't shift at all. "We hope your time in Class 2-3 will be… enlightening."
The students all turned their heads at the same time.
Not sharply or mechanically—just… too synchronized.
"Please take the seat by the window," the teacher continued.
Ramin walked between the rows.
Still no shadows.
He sat down at the empty desk near the window.
As he settled into the chair, he felt eyes on him.
He looked to the back of the classroom.
A boy sat alone in the far corner, leaning back with one leg crossed over the other. His uniform was slightly undone, white shirt collar open. Long black bangs partially covered his eyes, giving him an unreadable expression.
Mo Tianxun.
Their eyes met.
Tianxun smiled faintly.
Not friendly.
Not hostile.
Something in between.
Ramin turned away.
The homeroom session started.
The teacher's voice filled the room, calm and steady, but something about her speech pattern seemed repetitive, as if she were reciting from memory rather than teaching.
Ramin focused on the lesson, trying to ignore the chill that crawled along his spine.
But every now and then, he glanced down.
And every time—
his desk cast a shadow.
His textbooks cast a shadow.
His own hand cast a shadow.
But no one else did.
When the bell rang, the students stood and filed out quietly.
A little too quietly.
Ramin waited until most had left before gathering his things.
"You're Seo Ramin."
The voice came from behind him.
He turned.
Mo Tianxun stood there, hands in his pockets, expression relaxed but eyes incredibly sharp.
"You're new," Tianxun said simply.
"And you're…?" Ramin asked.
"Tianxun," he replied. "Mo Tianxun. Back seat."
"I noticed."
"Everyone does." Tianxun smirked lightly.
His eyes lowered to Ramin's hand.
"You're controlling your Eiryu instinctively, even just sitting here," he observed. "Not many do that."
"Was I?"
"Yes." Tianxun tilted his head. "The energy around you… hums. You must've had good training."
Ramin didn't respond.
Tianxun took one step closer.
"Tell me something, Ramin," he said quietly. "What's the first thing you noticed when you walked into this classroom?"
Ramin froze.
Tianxun's lips curled slightly.
"Oh," he said softly. "So you did see it."
Ramin swallowed. "See what?"
"The absence," Tianxun murmured.
Before Ramin could ask more, the classroom lights flickered again.
Just once.
Tianxun's eyes shifted toward the ceiling.
"It's getting worse…" he whispered.
"Worse?" Ramin asked.
But Tianxun just smiled again, this time with a hint of something darker.
"You'll understand soon enough."
He walked away without another word.
Lunch break was a blur.
Ramin sat with Seojin in the courtyard, but Seojin kept glancing around nervously like someone was watching them.
"How was your first class?" Seojin asked carefully.
"…Normal," Ramin said.
"Normal how?" Seojin pressed.
Ramin hesitated.
Seojin noticed.
"You saw something," he said quietly.
Ramin didn't respond.
Seojin leaned closer, voice soft.
"Ramin… whatever you think you saw, don't talk about it. Not with teachers. Not with other students."
Ramin frowned. "Why?"
"Because they'll deny it. And if you insist… you'll draw attention."
"From who?"
Seojin swallowed hard.
"From the class."
"The class?" Ramin repeated.
Seojin nodded. "Just… finish your lunch and relax. Don't let your Eiryu react to anything weird, okay?"
"How do I do that?"
"It helps if you don't stay after sunset."
That again.
Ramin stared at him. "Seojin… what's wrong with Class 2-3?"
Seojin looked like he might actually answer.
His fingers tightened around his chopsticks.
His shoulders tensed.
Then—
A shadow passed over the table.
Ramin looked up.
But it wasn't a cloud.
Wasn't a bird.
Wasn't anything physical.
It was like a ripple in the air—barely visible, like heat haze.
Seojin instantly went pale.
"Don't look at it," he whispered urgently.
Ramin tore his gaze away.
The "ripple" faded.
Seojin exhaled shakily.
"This school has rules," he said quietly.
"Some written. Some… not."
He stood up.
"Just promise me you'll go straight home after class today."
Ramin didn't want to promise anything.
But something in Seojin's eyes made him pause.
"Fine," Ramin said.
Seojin nodded gratefully.
"Good. That's… good."
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, except for the feeling of being watched whenever Ramin walked into Class 2-3.
When the final bell rang, he packed up quickly.
As he headed out, someone blocked his path.
Mo Tianxun.
"You're leaving early," Tianxun observed.
"Yeah," Ramin said. "Why?"
"Good."
Tianxun stepped aside.
"You're not ready yet."
"Ready for what?"
Tianxun looked over Ramin's shoulder, toward the classroom.
"For sunset," he answered.
Ramin felt a cold prickle on his skin.
Tianxun walked away without further explanation.
Ramin watched him go, feeling the weight of invisible eyes inside the classroom behind him.
He turned back one last time.
The classroom was empty.
The desks were lined up neatly.
The windows let in warm afternoon light.
But the light was fading.
Shadows stretched across the floor.
And yet—
None of them belonged to people.
Ramin exhaled shakily.
His Eiryu flickered faintly inside him, as if reacting to something unseen.
He tightened his grip on his backpack.
Just go home.
He walked down the hallway quickly.
But the whole time…
It felt like something was following him.
Something that didn't have footsteps.
Something that didn't have a body.
Something that didn't have a shadow—
but wanted one.