"Wait up!" Rei shouted while running behind Sephy, her bag bouncing wildly as she tried to catch up.
"We're late!" Sephy called over her shoulder, not slowing her pace.
"You were the one who woke up late!" Rei shot back breathlessly.
"I was stressed yesterday, alright?" Sephy said exasperatedly, but as they both approached the academy gates, their entire demeanor shifted. Gone were the two young women frantically rushing to make it to class on time. In their place walked two figures who commanded respect and admiration across the entire campus, Sephy with her natural authority as student council president, and Luna with the quiet confidence that came from being her closest friend.
"We have Uncle's lesson first," Luna said, adjusting her uniform with practiced ease.
"Let's go," Sephy replied, falling into step beside her.
From a distance, partially hidden behind one of the academy's ancient oak trees, stood a boy no more than sixteen. His blonde hair caught the morning sunlight, and his green eyes tracked the two young women with unsettling intensity. By human standards, he possessed the kind of handsome features that should have made him popular, yet there was something cold and calculating in his gaze that kept most people at arm's length.
"So she's the one with the power," he murmured quietly, his eyes fixed on Luna's retreating form.
"Yes," came a voice from the ornate ring on his finger, the sound audible only to him. "The orphan girl possesses remarkable potential. But the other one—the president—she overshadows everything. She must be removed from the equation."
The boy's jaw tightened. "Soon."
Inside the academy, other students greeted them as they walked through the corridors.
"Hello, President," called out a junior student with obvious admiration.
"Hello there," Sephy replied with a warm but professional smile, while Luna offered a friendly wave.
As they approached their classroom, Luna noticed the unusual setup. "What's going on today?" she asked, seeing underclassmen filing into their normally senior-only classroom.
"We have a cross-class session with the younger students," another student explained. "It's organized by the academy, something about preparing the next generation."
"Professor Keith's idea, probably," Sephy mused. "Class is going to start soon. We should find seats."
They settled into their usual spots just as Keith entered the classroom. Despite being their friend's father at home, here he commanded the same respect as any other professor. His white hair and distinctive red eyes made him a memorable figure, and his reputation as one of the academy's most knowledgeable instructors on tower-related subjects was well established.
"Good morning, everyone," Keith said, his voice carrying easily through the room. His gaze swept across the mixed group of students, briefly pausing on the blonde-haired boy in the back before continuing. "Today's crossover session between seniors and underclassmen will focus on something you'll all face eventually, The Nexus Spire, also known as challengers' graveyard."
He moved to the front of the classroom with that fluid grace that seemed almost predatory to those who knew how to look. "We'll be covering the basics of the tower structure and the first few floors, which remain under significant human control and influence."
Keith's eyes found the blonde boy again, and this time he held the gaze for just a moment longer than necessary. Something about the young man set his instincts on edge, a wrongness in the way fate seemed to bend around him.
"We'll also be discussing the major powerhouses that govern tower access and the political structures that have developed around them," Keith continued, turning to write on the board. "As future challengers, you need to understand that the tower isn't just about personal strength. It's about alliances, knowledge, and understanding the forces that shape our world."
Rei raised her hand. "Professor Keith, is it true that some floors are actually separate dimensions?"
"An excellent question, Miss Rei." Keith's expression softened slightly—the only hint of his familial affection. "Yes, the higher floors exist as pocket dimensions, each with their own rules and challenges. The tower serves as a bridge between worlds, and those who climb high enough gain access to power beyond human comprehension."
In the back of the classroom, the blonde boy leaned forward, his green eyes gleaming with sudden interest. This was information he could use.
Keith noticed the boy's reaction and felt something cold settle in his chest. His divine senses picked up the faint traces of external influence around the young man—threads of fate that didn't belong, destiny that had been artificially imposed.
As the class continued, Keith found himself watching the boy more carefully, noting how his attention never wavered from Luna, how his expression grew darker each time Sephy spoke or commanded attention from their peers.
When the lesson ended and students began filing out, Keith remained at his desk, apparently organizing his notes. But his supernatural senses tracked every movement, every breath, every whispered conversation.
The blonde boy lingered until most students had left, then approached Luna as she gathered her things.
"That was fascinating," he said, his voice smooth and practiced. "Perhaps you'd like to study together sometime? I could help you prepare for the tower applications."
Rei looked up with polite confusion. "Oh, thank you, but I'm already accepted. Sephy and I will be entering together after graduation."
Something flickered across the boy's expression,too quick for Luna to catch, but not quick enough to escape Keith's notice.
"Of course," the boy said, his smile never wavering. "How fortunate for you to have such... accomplished friends."
As he walked away, Keith felt the temperature in the room drop by several degrees. Not from any power he was consciously wielding, but from the cold fury building in his chest.
Later that evening, alone in his study, Keith stared out the window at the darkening sky. His divine senses had revealed enough to concern him deeply. The boy,this supposed "protagonist" of fate's design, was no random student. Something or someone had marked him, given him purpose and power that bent probability in his favor.
And now that purpose seemed focused on his family.
Keith's reflection in the window showed red eyes that glowed with an inner fire. He had spent decades building this peaceful life, protecting his family through anonymity and restraint. But if fate itself thought it could use some puppet to threaten those he loved...
"Then fate is about to learn," he murmured to his reflection, "what happens when you pick a fight with Death himself."
The shadows in his study seemed to deepen, responding to the shift in their master's mood. Tomorrow, he would begin investigating exactly what forces were moving against his family. And if necessary, he would remind the cosmos why even the gods fear death.