I returned to the academy in the evening.
There was no welcome, no questions. The gate swallowed me as it always did, as if the days I had spent outside were nothing more than a brief absence.
I went straight to my room.
I took off my coat, set the sword aside, then entered the bathroom. Hot water poured over my body, washing away the remnants of blood and mud—but the exhaustion remained. It lingered in my bones… in my head.
I came out after a short while. Ate something simple, without appetite. Then collapsed onto the bed.
I didn't dream. I didn't think.
I just slept.
---
I woke up the next morning feeling… partially better.
My body was still tired, but the sharp pain was gone. The injuries had healed to an acceptable degree, as if my body had decided to grant me a temporary truce.
I put on my academy uniform, strapped on the sword, and left.
Classes had returned to their routine. Lectures. Training. Combat class.
In the combat hall, everything was normal. Calculated movements. Practice duels. No surprises.
Orianne was there. We exchanged a few brief words—nothing more. It wasn't the right moment for a conversation.
After the session ended, I left the hall without haste. Hunger was finally making itself known.
I headed to the cafeteria.
---
The hall was crowded, as usual. First-year students filled the space, the noise light and unobtrusive.
I took my food and sat at a side table. Alone.
I began eating slowly, my mind still distant. I wasn't thinking about the forest. Nor the sword. Just the silence.
Then… the atmosphere changed.
I didn't need to raise my head to realize it.
The voices suddenly lowered. Whispers spread.
Three students entered.
Their walk was confident. Their gazes lingered on no one. Their mere presence was enough to make some students unconsciously step out of their way.
Second-year students. Nobles.
I heard a light laugh. Mockery—unfocused, yet audible.
"Look…"
"So this is the new batch?"
"Weaker than I expected."
Some of the new students lowered their heads. Others tried to ignore them.
I didn't move. I didn't care.
I kept eating.
But one of them noticed.
They stopped. Then changed direction.
Their footsteps approached my table.
I finally raised my eyes.
They stood in front of me, looking down. One of them smiled.
"You…" he said slowly. "You're a first-year, right?"
I didn't answer.
"Ignoring us?" another said with a laugh. "I like that."
I set the spoon aside and stood up calmly.
I wasn't in the mood for conversation. Nor for trouble.
I took a step to pass by them.
But a voice stopped me.
"Hey."
I paused.
"You, commoner," he said clearly. "Didn't your parents teach you to respect your seniors?"
I didn't turn around.
Then another voice followed—calmer… and crueler.
"I don't think he learned much."
"Most likely his parents are trash, just like him."
A heavy silence fell.
My breath stopped for a moment.
Something… quietly broke inside me.
I turned slowly.
I faced them head-on.
I wasn't angry. I didn't shout. I didn't smile.
I just looked at them.
---
• Third-person -POV
Nyx stood facing the second-year students.
He didn't move. He didn't speak.
Yet his mere stillness made the entire hall feel that something was wrong.
The first-year students began to whisper.
"Are they going to fight?"
"Is this allowed?"
"They're second-years…"
Tension spread quickly, like a silent infection.
Suddenly—
"Stop."
The voice was sharp, clear, and unwavering.
Orianne stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the three.
"What do you think you're doing?"
The second-year students recognized her immediately. Their expressions changed—not fear, but caution.
"Nothing, Princess," one of them said with a forced smile. "We're just teaching this rookie to respect his elders."
Orianne didn't back down.
"It's obvious that you started this."
One of them chuckled lightly. "And why are you defending him?"
She paused for a second, then said coldly, "Because he's my classmate."
A brief silence followed.
Then one of them spoke, his tone less mocking and more firm.
"We understand. But he still needs to be taught a lesson."
"Otherwise, our reputation will suffer."
Another added, "It's not our problem that he didn't receive proper upbringing from his parents."
"So we'll teach him ourselves."
At that moment, Orianne turned toward Nyx.
And froze.
He was standing there. But his eyes… were nothing like she remembered.
Cold. Empty.
Nyx spoke.
His voice was low. Calm. And terrifying.
"…What did you just say?"
One of the second-year students laughed.
"Look, he can talk."
Another added with open sarcasm,
"Didn't you hear?"
"We said we'll teach you some manners, since your parents—"
He didn't finish.
Suddenly—
A dense killing intent flooded the entire hall.
It wasn't a wave. It wasn't an explosion.
It was a suffocating pressure that fell on everyone at the same instant.
The first-year students stiffened in place. Their breathing caught. Some felt their knees about to give out.
The second-year students—even those accustomed to combat—froze. Faces drained of color. Mouths open, no sound coming out.
Orianne's eyes widened.
Leander clenched his fist unconsciously.
Charlotte felt chills run down her spine.
Naira couldn't move.
Rain swallowed hard.
Even Ethan—the one who always smiled—went rigid, every trace of mockery wiped from his face.
The air itself became heavy, as if the hall had turned into a closed cage—and everyone inside it was prey.
The three second-year students could no longer speak. Their bodies trembled.
They realized—too late—that they hadn't provoked an ordinary student.
"Enough."
The voice came from the entrance of the hall.
And it was different.
A girl entered with calm steps.
A well-proportioned figure. A confident stance. Gray hair flowing smoothly to her shoulders. And green eyes—cold, clear, belonging not to a student, but to a judge.
" The Student Council President."
< IlaravonSylvain.>
She looked directly at Nyx.
"Withdraw your killing intent."
He replied without changing his tone, "Or else what?"
She didn't raise her voice. She didn't lose her composure.
"If you don't, there will be consequences."
"And I don't think you'll be able to avoid them…"
"Even if you're the top student of your year."
A brief silence followed.
Nyx thought for a moment.
There's no need to escalate this any further.
Suddenly—
The pressure vanished completely.
The students inhaled sharply. Some felt dizzy. Others only realized then that they had been holding their breath.
The hall returned to normal.
But the feeling remained in their hearts.
The Student Council President looked at Nyx. Then at the three others.
"Follow me."
She turned and walked away.
And no one… dared to object.
__
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