I caught her gaze again.
Mia. Archer. My ex.
Her eyes lingered on me — a faint mix of curiosity and something I couldn't place.
"Why are you looking at that bastard?" hissed a voice beside her.
Kail. Her Ice Mage boyfriend. His glare could freeze a pond in seconds. He leaned close, voice low and sharp, full of possessive anger.
Mia flinched, but her eyes didn't leave me. "I… I wasn't—" she started, but Kail's grip on her arm tightened slightly.
I smirked faintly. Typical. Even here, they tried their little games. Let them think they intimidated me. I'd survived far worse.
That bastard still hasn't changed much since childhood.
Once the throne room emptied, attendants guided us through the castle's towering halls. Stone walls echoed with our footsteps, torches flickering along the corridors. Tapestries swayed slightly in the warm draft, depicting long-forgotten battles.
"We'll assign you your quarters first," one attendant said. "Meals and instructions will follow. Rest, and prepare for tomorrow's briefing."
Each door bore a glowing rune, marking the hero assigned to it. I stepped into my room—small, simple, but clean. A bed, a desk, a window overlooking the castle's inner courtyard. Quiet. Perfect.
Through the window, I noticed classmates gathering in smaller groups, murmuring nervously, some peeking at the training grounds below. Spells flickered faintly in the distance as some of them tested their skills.
I let them be. Calm. Detached. Observing. That was my way.
---
Yesterday, I'd learned their names—and their classes.
There were eight students and one teacher summoned with me.
Leon Valcrest — Holy Knight. Said to possess unimaginable potential. The so-called leader of our class, and the one who craved the spotlight the most.
Nichle Ardent — Beast Tamer. Quiet but sharp-eyed, the type who watched before she acted. Rumor was, she could already communicate with lesser spirits.
Suzu Hanari — Healer. Gentle, soft-spoken, but her magic carried surprising strength.
Borden Crestfall — Warrior. A brute with muscle and a temper to match. Loyal to Leon, or maybe just too stupid to think for himself.
Reid Voss — Golem Master. A class focused on commanding artificial constructs. Practical, but dull.
Mia Vareen — Archer. My ex. I didn't need to remember more.
Kail Drayen — Ice Mage. Cold, calculating, and dangerously jealous.
Our homeroom teacher, Mrs. Kelly Hartwell — a Guardian. Her strength was unknown, but her aura wasn't something to underestimate.
And lastly—
Tamao Tsubaki — Illusionist Chains. A class even rarer than Leon's. Calm, elegant, and distant—she barely spoke, yet somehow drew every gaze without trying. She was easily the most beautiful among them, but that wasn't what caught my attention.
I could feel it—her potential. Stronger than anyone else's… even Leon's.
Interesting.
But I had no reason to ask. If I wanted answers about this world—or about my power—I'd find them myself.
Maybe the library would be a good place to start.
If this world truly held any connection to my mother… I needed to find out.
---
But before I could take a step, a sudden wave of pressure filled the courtyard.
It wasn't like the faint traces of mana I'd sensed earlier—this was heavier, denser. The air itself trembled.
Boots clicked against the stone as a woman stepped into view.
Silver armor, engraved with crimson lines that pulsed faintly with restrained magic. Crimson hair cascading behind her, eyes sharp enough to cut steel. Her very presence commanded silence.
Even Leon straightened unconsciously. The attendants bowed deeply.
"Knight Instructor Seraphina Vale," one of them announced.
So this was one of the academy's top knights.
Her gaze swept over us — calm, but dissecting.
"So, these are the ones summoned by His Majesty?" Her tone was cool, almost bored. "Eight heroes and one teacher. Hm. I've seen stronger farmhands."
A few students winced. Leon's fists clenched, Kail muttered something under his breath.
Then her eyes locked on me.
"You," she said, stepping forward. The sound of her boots echoed like judgment. "What's your name?"
"Raze Kyler."
Her brows furrowed slightly. "Kyler…" She studied me. "I can't sense your aura. At all."
Whispers rippled through the group.
"What does that mean?"
"Does he even have mana?"
Seraphina's lips curved — not into a smile, but something colder.
"So, you're the extra."
The word hit like a blade.
"E–extra?" Suzu whispered.
"Every summoning drags a few useless ones along," Seraphina said flatly. "Ones without divine blessings or unique power. Most of them die before the first expedition. If you want to survive, Kyler, prove your worth. Otherwise…" Her eyes hardened. "…you'll end up like the others who thought they mattered."
She turned sharply, cape fluttering behind her.
"Training starts tomorrow. Rest well—if you can."
No one spoke. The silence she left behind felt like gravity.
Then, a scoff.
"An extra, huh?"
Borden Crestfall cracked his knuckles. "Guess that makes you the weakest one here."
I glanced at him once. "You done?"
He frowned. "Tch. Acting tough already?" He stepped forward, his boots crunching on the stone. "Let's see what an extra can do."
Leon opened his mouth to intervene, but I raised a hand. "It's fine. If he wants to find out, I'll oblige."
Borden grinned and charged. His fist cut through the air — fast, but not enough.
I tilted my head. His punch missed by inches, the shockwave grazing my cheek.
Before he could react, I caught his wrist mid-swing. His eyes widened.
"Rule one," I said quietly, twisting just enough to drop him to one knee. "Never swing without knowing your opponent."
He gasped, kneeling. I released him and turned toward the exit.
"I'll be in the library," I said simply.
No one stopped me. Even Kail — always ready to provoke — stayed silent.
---
The castle's library was massive — a labyrinth of shelves and shadows. The scent of old parchment filled the air, candles flickering in sconces high above.
I walked deeper, away from the noise of curious whispers. Some students were here too, sneaking glances at me — the "extra" who humiliated a warrior.
I ignored them.
Pulling out a thick, dust-covered tome, I sat by the window and opened it.
"The Balance of Divine and Demonic Energies."
> All life in this world contains essence. Humans bear Divine Energy — a sacred force blessed by the gods. Demons wield Demonic Energy, born of chaos. When released, both manifest as Aura — the visible form of one's strength and will.
So that's what I'd been sensing. The pressure surrounding everyone… fragments of divine power.
> Those without either energy are considered incomplete. Yet, records mention beings who possess both—or neither. Their existence defies balance, often leading to catastrophe.
My gaze drifted to the necklace around my neck. Its faint pulse matched my heartbeat.
"…Neither, huh," I muttered.
I flipped to another chapter.
> Guardians are rare — a fusion of divine blessing and spiritual harmony. Some grant buffs, others weaken foes. The greatest can conjure barriers strong enough to shield armies. They stand closest to the gods.
So that's what Mrs. Kelly was. A Guardian.
Her power wasn't just support magic — it was sacred.
The more I read, the clearer it became.
This world revolved around power, order, and divine favor.
And I didn't fit into any of it.
A mistake in a world built on balance.
I closed the book softly, resting my hand over the cover.
"Maybe that's why the necklace reacted…" I whispered.
"Still reading even now?"
The voice was soft but sharp. I turned.
Mia stood there, arms crossed, bow slung over her shoulder. The light from the window caught the edge of her hair, the same familiar look — just older, heavier.
"Mia."
She walked closer, stopping beside the table. "You really haven't changed. Still pretending not to care, even after everything."
I didn't respond.
Her lips curved faintly, though something fragile lingered behind the smile. "Everyone's talking about you — the extra who almost broke Borden's arm. You never could stay invisible."
"I didn't come here to impress anyone," I said flatly.
She tilted her head. "Then why are you here, Raze?"
My hand brushed against the necklace.
"That's what I'm trying to find out."
Silence. Her eyes lingered, searching for something I wouldn't give.
"You should go to your boyfriend," I said. "He might get the wrong idea seeing you here."
Her brow arched. "What's this? Are you jealous?"
"You should ask your boyfriend," I replied.
"He's your childhood friend too," she said softly. "Remember? We all went to school together… till middle school."
"Yeah," I murmured. "Because my mom insisted I get along with you two."
Because she wanted me to be normal.
That was also the reason I accepted Mia's confession.
"Now he's your boyfriend," I said quietly, eyes steady. "And the reason you left me."
Mia's lips parted. "No, that's not—"
"Ah, I get it." I leaned back, voice calm. "He's my replacement, isn't he?"
She flinched. "No, that's not—"
"Are you going to deny that too?" My tone stayed flat. "Or is it because you were afraid of me?"
She didn't speak for a while.
Then, softly— "Yeah… you're right. I was afraid of you."
Her voice trembled. "When those men tried to kidnap me… you fought them to protect me. But when I saw you beating them so brutally, I got scared. I'm sorry."
"I know," I said quietly. "At first, I fought to protect you and Kail. Then I started enjoying it. Got too far. One man died."
A humorless smirk touched my lips. "They called it self-defense."
"I'm sorry, Kyler," she whispered. "Because of me… you were alone. I don't even know who started those rumors — that you were violent, cruel, a murderer. Even though it wasn't true."
But it was true, I thought.
Raze's eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you still afraid of me?"
Mia hesitated. "No… I'm not. I'm just… sorry. Please, forgive me."
Raze tilted his head slightly. "If you're really sorry and want forgiveness…"
He stepped closer, voice low, unreadable. "Then you'll have to do something for me."
Her breath hitched. "What… do you mean? I'll do anything."
He leaned in, close enough that his words brushed her ear.
"Kiss me."
"Huh?" she whispered, frozen.
Raze smirked faintly. "If you're not afraid of me anymore… and if you really want forgiveness—prove it."
---