Morning training with Miss Calia left Ryker's entire body screaming in protest "Again," she ordered, watching him struggle through the tenth repetition of the basic sword sequence.
Slash. Pivot. Thrust. Parry.
His muscles burned. Sweat dripped into his eyes.
"Your form is improving," Calia said. "But you're still thinking too much. Let your body remember."
Ryker collapsed against the wall, gasping. Calia's expression suddenly shifted. "There's something I need to tell you. About Zayne. His family filed a formal complaint with the academy council. They're demanding your expulsion for 'assaulting' their son."
Ryker's hands clenched. "Can they do that?"
"They have influence, money and the Corvus family owns half the merchant district." She met his gaze. "Professor Yolanda and I submitted witness statements. The duel stands. For now."
"For now?"
"One mistake, one slip-up that makes you look dangerous, and they'll use it to remove you."
The cold presence in Ryker's chest stirred.
Before Calia could continue, the training room door burst open.
Jax stumbled in, out of breath. "Ryker! You need to come quick!"
"What's wrong?"
"It's Marcus the freshman you saved. Zayne's older brother showed up. He's demanding Marcus apologize for 'causing trouble.'" Jax's hands trembled. "And he brought enforcers."
Ryker was already running.
The main courtyard was packed with students forming a wide circle at the center stood a man in his mid-twenties with slight resemblance to Zayne wearing expensive robes embroidered with the Corvus family crest. Beside him, two guards in leather armor radiated controlled power, before them and on his knees was Marcus, tears streaming down his bruised face.
"I'm waiting," the man said coldly. "Apologize for spreading lies about my brother."
"But that's not" Marcus's words were cut off as one of the guards yanked his hair back.
Ryker pushed through the crowd.
"Let him go."
The courtyard went silent.
The man turned, eyebrow raised. "And you must be the infamous Ryker Vale. I'm Damien Corvus, Zayne's older brother."
"I don't care who you are," Ryker said quietly. "Let the boy go."
"He witnessed my brother's embarrassment. He's going to correct the record." Damien gestured. "Unless you'd prefer to take his place?"
The guards moved forward, hands on weapons.
**[System Notification: Multiple threats detected. Recommend evasive action.]**
Aurora Lysander stepped forward. "You can't do this. This is academy grounds"
"The headmaster has been informed and raised no objections," Damien interrupted smoothly. "Family matters, Miss Lysander."
He turned back to Ryker. "So. What will it be?"
Ryker looked at Marcus at the terror in his eyes, at the bruises forming on his face.
Something inside him snapped.
"You want an apology?" Ryker walked forward calmly. "Fine. I'll give you one."
He stopped directly in front of Damien, then smiled.
"I'm sorry that your family is so pathetic you need to threaten children to feel powerful. I'm sorry Zayne is such a disappointment you have to clean up his messes. And I'm especially sorry you're too much of a coward to face me yourself."
The courtyard erupted in gasps, Damien's face turned red. "You dare"
"One month," Ryker interrupted. "Your brother challenged me to a duel. If you're so concerned about family honor, let him defend it himself unless you are afraid he'll lose?"
Damien's hand moved to his sword.
"Mr. Corvus."
Miss Calia's voice cut through the tension, she strode into the courtyard, violet eyes blazing. "Remove your hand from that weapon. Now."
"This doesn't concern you, teacher."
"Threatening my student with deadly force absolutely concerns me." Calia's mana flared. "And if you draw that blade without formal challenge, I'm authorized to respond with lethal force."
The guards tensed, for a long moment, no one moved.
Then Damien laughed cutting the strange tension"Very well. I'll respect the academy's rules." He stepped back. "But know this, Ryker Vale. My family doesn't forget insults and when my brother destroys you in that arena, we'll make sure everyone remembers what happens to commoners who step out of line."
As Damien walked past, he leaned in and whispered, "I know what you are. An impostor wearing a dead man's face. And after Zayne breaks you, I'll personally see to it that whatever's hiding inside you is cut out and studied."
Then he left with his enforcers, Ryker helped Marcus to his feet. "Are you okay?"
The freshman nodded shakily. "Thank you. I don't know why you keep helping me"
"Because no one should have to kneel for someone else's pride," Ryker said simply.
"What were you thinking?!" Calia slammed her office door. "Damien Corvus is not his younger brother. He's a trained combatant with real military experience!"
"I was thinking about a terrified kid on his knees," Ryker shot back.
"You can't save everyone, Ryker!"
"Then maybe I should try anyway."
Calia stopped pacing. "What?"
Ryker's hands clenched. "In my world, I spent four years watching people get bullied. Including myself. I was too weak to stop it. Too scared." His voice hardened. "I'm not that person anymore. I won't be that person here."
Calia stared at him for a long moment.
Then she sighed. "You're going to get yourself killed."
"Maybe. But at least I'll die standing up."
"Noble. Stupid. But noble." She sat at her desk. "Fine. If you're determined to fight every battle, then we need to make sure you survive them. Double training sessions. Morning and night."
"I can handle it."
She pulled out a vial of glowing blue liquid. "Mana restoration potion. Drink this tonight. You'll need it."
That night, Seris floated nearby as Ryker stared at the ceiling.
"You were reckless today," she said quietly.
"I know."
"That Damien person was serious. He could have killed you."
"I know that too."
"Then why?"
Ryker thought about his old world. About the countless times he'd been shoved into lockers, his belongings stolen. About all the people who'd walked past and done nothing.
"Because someone should have done it for me," he said finally. "And they didn't. So now I do it for others."
Seris smiled sadly. "You're a good person, Ryker."
**[System Notification: Emotional core strengthened. New trait unlocked: Protector's Resolve]**
**[When defending others, host receives 20% boost to all physical capabilities]**
"The system just gave me something," Ryker said.
"What?" Seris leaned closer.
"A new trait. For protecting people." He sat up. "Ready for another lesson?"
"Always. But Ryker?" Seris's expression turned serious. "That thing Damien said. About knowing what you are. Someone's been watching you."
"I know."
"Which means we're running out of time."
"Then we'd better make the most of what we have left."
As Seris began teaching him a new spell, Ryker couldn't shake Damien's words.
Twenty- sevendays until the duel, Twenty-seven days to become strong enough to protect everyone who believed in him.
Twenty-seven days before everything changed.