The Grand Academy's inner city was a kingdom in itself.
Golden towers spiked the skies, bridges made of enchanted stone wound around floating platforms, and libraries the size of castles hummed with arcane seals. Courtyards buzzed with elemental energy, and students sparred using weapons that whispered names when drawn.
I wanted none of it.
I just wanted a room. And a soft bed. Maybe a tray of pastries if the stars aligned.
"Kael Vaelthorn," the registrar mage said, flipping through an enchanted scroll. "Dorm assignment: Obsidian Tower, Top Ring, Room 6-B. Shared room."
Shared?
The word hit like a curse. I frowned.
The mage noticed. "You're lucky. The top ring is reserved for nobles and promising Tier 1 to 3 students."
I muttered something about the world being unfair and took my enchanted brass key.
The dorm tower was enormous—ten floors carved from obsidian and dusksteel, guarded by sentinel gargoyles and warded against teleportation. Each level was themed to its tier: luxurious for the top, minimalist for the bottom.
I passed the common area, where Lucien Drevarn lounged with his cronies. He watched me with curiosity that reeked of future conflict. Two of his lackeys whispered something about my "Gate blackout."
I kept walking.
Room 6-B.
When I opened the door, someone was already inside.
He turned. Tall, lean, black hair, piercing eyes. A sword rested by his bed.
The protagonist.
"Ah… hello," he said, polite but reserved.
So they'd put us together. How poetic.
"…Kael."
"I'm Raen," he nodded. "Nice to meet you."
He didn't recognize me from the noble gatherings. Of course not. He was from the slums—barely made it in through a sponsorship. That meant no faction, no allies.
No protection.
"Have you unpacked?" he asked.
"No. I'm probably going to sleep."
Raen blinked. "It's only noon."
"And I'm ahead of schedule."
He laughed awkwardly. We exchanged no more words. I flopped on the bed.
It wasn't until dusk that trouble arrived.
---
The Courtyard – Just Before Dinner
I wasn't trying to cause drama. I was just walking to the food hall.
That's when I saw them—three noble girls surrounding a single girl in worn robes.
They were hissing. Mocking.
"You dare attend the Academy with that robe?"
"She smells like hay."
"She must have bribed someone."
I stopped walking.
The girl at the center didn't cry. She stood still, silently gripping her frayed book of divine scripts.
Lyra.
I recognized her from the novel's half-read tragedy. A divine power user—pure, holy affinity. Died midway because no one protected her. Betrayed, even, by the very kingdom she tried to serve.
It was supposed to be a tearjerker arc.
It made me angry.
I stepped between her and the noble girls without a word.
One of them scoffed. "Excuse me—"
"You're in my way," I said, voice flat.
They looked confused. They didn't know how to respond.
"Do you know who I am?" the lead girl finally snapped.
"No," I said. "But I already forgot you."
I walked away, motioning Lyra to follow.
She blinked, stunned. "Why…?"
"I hate loud things."
"…You helped me."
I glanced at her.
She reminded me too much of myself. A little too much.
"…Don't misunderstand. You looked annoying. That's all."
She smiled softly, falling into step beside me.
And for the first time since I entered this world, I felt something stir.
---
Later That Night – Headmaster's Tower
Far above the academy, beyond public eyes, the instructors gathered.
Principal Valric Fenros stood with his arms behind his back, staring into a globe of vision light.
"Two anomalies," he said quietly.
"Kael Vaelthorn and Raen of No House," said Vice Principal Nyra, adjusting her crystalline monocle.
"Tier 2 and… 'Unknown'," muttered High Instructor Arwen, his arms crossed. "The Gate nearly shattered when Kael stepped in."
"The system refused to grade him. That hasn't happened in centuries," Nyra added.
"He is either dangerous… or necessary," murmured the Principal. "Keep them close."
"And the girl?" Arwen asked, flicking the vision orb to Lyra's scene.
"She should've been Tier 4 at minimum. But she registered Tier 9."
"…Suppressed potential?"
"Possibly."
Principal Valric turned away. "Watch them all. And begin restructuring Class Alpha."
"The real test begins tomorrow."
---