The iron gates of Mafia Academy slowly opened.
Aria stepped inside.
The campus looked nothing like a normal school.
Tall black buildings surrounded the massive courtyard, their windows reflecting the grey sky. Security cameras watched every corner, and armed guards stood near the entrances.
Even the air felt different.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Students were everywhere, arriving in luxury cars and private helicopters.
Some laughed loudly.
Some stared at others with open hostility.
Everyone here knew one thing.
This was not a school.
This was a battlefield.
Aria quietly walked through the courtyard, observing everything.
Every movement.
Every face.
Every potential threat.
So these are the heirs of the underworld, she thought.
Most of them looked arrogant.
Confident.
But she could already tell who the dangerous ones were.
The ones who watched silently.
Just like her.
Suddenly—
A loud engine roared across the courtyard.
Students turned their heads.
A long black car slowly entered through the academy gates.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
The chatter stopped.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"It's him…"
"He's here…"
"The Mafia Prince."
The car door opened.
A tall young man stepped out.
Black suit.
Sharp features.
Cold grey eyes that looked like they could see straight through people.
His presence alone was enough to silence the entire courtyard.
Lucien Blackwood.
The heir of the Blackwood crime family.
The most powerful student in the academy.
Some students looked at him with admiration.
Others with fear.
But no one dared approach him.
Lucien walked forward calmly, ignoring everyone around him.
Until—
His eyes suddenly stopped on someone.
A girl standing quietly near the fountain.
Aria.
She looked completely ordinary.
Calm.
Uninterested.
While everyone else stared at him in awe.
She didn't even look twice.
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.
Strange.
Most people reacted to him in one of two ways.
Fear.
Or admiration.
But this girl showed neither.
She looked at the academy building as if she had seen far more dangerous places.
For a brief moment—
their eyes met.
Aria immediately looked away.
But Lucien noticed something.
Her eyes.
They were too calm.
Too observant.
Like someone who had lived through countless dangerous situations.
A small smile appeared on Lucien's lips.
Interesting.
Nearby students started whispering again.
"Did you hear?"
"The entrance test today is different this year."
"They say someone will be eliminated."
"On the first day?"
Fear spread among the new students.
Aria remained silent.
She already knew.
This academy wasn't about studying.
It was about survival.
Suddenly—
A loud voice echoed across the courtyard.
"All new students, report to the training arena immediately."
A large screen turned on above the courtyard.
An older man appeared on it.
"The entrance test will begin in ten minutes."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"What kind of test is it?"
The man on the screen smiled coldly.
"A simple one."
He paused.
"Survive."
The screen went black.
Students looked at each other nervously.
Aria turned toward the arena entrance.
As she walked past Lucien—
he suddenly spoke.
His voice was calm.
But sharp.
"You don't look nervous."
Aria stopped.
Slowly turning her head toward him.
Their eyes met again.
Lucien studied her carefully.
"Most people are terrified right now," he continued.
"But you…"
His gaze sharpened.
"You look like you're waiting for something."
Aria held his gaze for a moment.
Then she gave a faint smile.
"Maybe I am."
Lucien's smile widened slightly.
"What's your name?"
"Aria."
She paused.
"Aria Vantrell."
Lucien repeated the name slowly.
"Aria Vantrell…"
Then he leaned slightly closer.
His voice dropping lower.
"Tell me something, Aria."
His grey eyes locked onto hers.
"Have we met before?"
For the first time—
a tiny flicker appeared in Aria's eyes.
Lucien noticed.
And that was enough.
He stepped back with a quiet chuckle.
"Interesting."
Aria said nothing.
She simply walked toward the arena.
But behind her—
Lucien watched carefully.
His instincts rarely failed him.
And something about this girl…
felt familiar.
Very familiar.
He whispered softly to himself.
"Where have I seen those eyes before…"
Then suddenly—
a memory flashed through his mind.
A rumor from the underworld.
About a legendary assassin.
A woman known only as—
The Shadow Queen.
Lucien's smile slowly faded.
"No…"
He shook his head slightly.
Impossible.
The Shadow Queen was dead.
Everyone knew that.
Still—
his eyes followed Aria as she disappeared into the arena.
For some reason…
he couldn't stop thinking about her.
And far ahead—
Aria felt his gaze on her back.
Her thoughts were calm.
That man is dangerous.
She already knew.
Lucien Blackwood was not someone easily fooled.
This academy…
might be more dangerous than she expected.
And the entrance test—
hadn't even started yet.