Dawn broke over Aetherian Academy, casting long shadows over the tiled courtyards and dew-soaked training grounds. Kael sat on the edge of his bed, rolling his shoulder slowly. His side was still sore from the construct's strike, but the bruising had faded overnight, almost unnaturally fast.
He dressed carefully, keeping his breathing even. Every movement felt… measured. As if his limbs had remembered something overnight.
The drills began at sunrise. Students gathered as usual—Theron showing off, nobles pairing up quickly, laughter echoing.
Kael slipped into the back of the formation.
Lioren paced slowly along the ranks, his sharp eyes scanning faces. When he passed Kael, he didn't pause. Didn't speak. But something in the man's eyes lingered a moment too long.
When the groups formed, Kael was once again left unchosen. He was used to it by now. Instead, he trained alone on the edge of the yard.
He didn't try to draw attention. Didn't push his limits.
But his balance had improved.
His steps had more weight.
Nearby, Naya stood with two of her friends. She wasn't laughing. Her eyes flicked to Kael repeatedly, though she said nothing.
Later, during the study hour, Kael slipped away to the lesser library tucked into the east wing—a dusty, half-forgotten place no one used anymore.
He settled behind a stack of old tactical manuals. Not to read, just to breathe.
And then—soft footsteps.
Naya.
She didn't announce herself. Just leaned on the end of the shelf, arms crossed.
"You disappeared last night," she said.
Kael didn't look at her.
"I don't remember seeing you after dinner. Strange."
He stayed silent.
"You're limping," she added casually.
He glanced at her then, briefly, before returning to the book he hadn't opened.
"What are you hiding, Kael?" she asked.
He didn't answer.
She stared a moment longer, then turned and left.
---
That evening, Lioren sat alone in his study. Candles flickered. Ancient texts lay open before him, filled with glyphs and symbols few others could read.
He just looking at them.
He was thinking about a boy with no recorded Star Sign, who shouldn't have lasted a week at the academy.
And yet, Kael remained.
Unchanged to the eye.
But not… untouched.
Lioren drummed his fingers on the desk.
"I need to know what you are," he whispered.
And somewhere beneath the academy, a crystal pulsed—once, faintly—before falling still again.