It was the dead of night, and silence filled Ray's room. He sat on the edge of his bed, carefully unwrapping the medical bandages from his healing wounds. He tossed the bandages aside and lay back, letting his gaze fix on the ceiling above. His eyes, usually sharp and vigilant, softened as he drifted in thought, his mind wandering into the depths of past and future conflicts.

In another dormitory for first year students, Gaus sat on the floor amidst shattered wood and broken glass. In his rage, he had smashed two shelves, splitting them with his fists until they cracked, and hurled a desk lamp at the wall, which now lay shattered in pieces. He was shaking, hands bloodied, his breaths shallow and angry. Fear and frustration gnawed at him — Ray knew more than he should, and that knowledge made Gaus vulnerable. He considered quitting the academy entirely, wondering if disappearing was his only way out of the danger that Ray's secrets posed.

In yet another dorm room for second year students, Mich sat alone on his bed, face buried in his hands. Tears streamed silently down his cheeks as he trembled, his entire body weighed down by the decision he had made. His departure felt inevitable now, and he could barely hold back the sorrow mixed with a hint of fear. The conversation he'd had with Ray lingered in his mind, haunting him with doubts he couldn't shake.

The following morning, as dawn cast a soft light over the academy, a knock echoed through Ray's room. It was Rael and Lian, both from his dormitory. Ray opened the door, his face calm but visibly weary. Lian's eyes scanned him with concern. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his tone gentle.

Ray's response was steady. "I'm fine," he said simply, with a hint of reassurance. Rael nodded and suggested they head down together to meet the others and walk to the academy.

Meanwhile, Isaki descended from his dormitory, where he quickly ran into Sophia and Arya. The three greeted each other warmly and began their short walk to the academy's entrance to meet Rael, Lian, and Ray. As they reached the group, Isaki studied Ray, relief crossing his face upon seeing that Ray appeared fully recovered.

With everyone gathered, they set off for the academy together, their chatter easing the morning's tension. Lian mentioned that today they'd have their third lesson with Professor Jurg, and excitement flickered through the group, particularly for Isaki, who was keen to learn something new. The morning air was crisp and full of possibility as they neared the academy's grand entrance.

But as they stepped inside, they noticed an unusual scene: Maya, a second-year student they had previously met, was surrounded by a small group of her classmates. Their faces were shadowed with worry, whispering in hushed tones. The group greeted Maya and, noticing the tension, Isaki asked her what had happened.

Maya looked at them with concern in her eyes and sighed. "A second-year student has just withdrawn from the academy."

Nearby, another student's voice rose from the group, filled with disbelief. "I never thought Mich would actually quit. He worked so hard to make it through his first year."

The mention of Mich's name caught the group's attention. Lian, his curiosity piqued, turned back to Maya. "Wait… the student who withdrew — was it Mich?"

Maya nodded, surprised they knew him. "Yes, it was Mich. Do you know him?"

Rael explained that they had seen him yesterday at the welcome party for the first-year students. Arya, hearing Mich's name, stole a glance at Ray, her eyes lingering in thought. She had seen Ray and Mich talking privately the night before. Though she didn't know what had been said, she recalled the uneasy, almost frightened expression on Mich's face afterward.

A subtle shift in the air left the group pensive as they exchanged looks, Arya wondering if she would ever know what had really transpired between Mich and Ray. After a quiet farewell to Maya, they continued down the academy's grand hallways toward Professor Jurg's classroom.

As the group made their way to Professor Jurg's classroom, a low hum of chatter filled the room. Other students were already seated, and snippets of conversation hinted at a single, surprising topic: Mich's withdrawal from the academy. News had spread fast, leaving shock in its wake. For Mich, the only student from the southern territory in a decade to have passed his first year, to drop out so suddenly felt like a blow. Those from the South had seen him as proof that determination and grit could overcome even the academy's grueling standards. Now, his departure hung over them, leaving them in an anxious lull, speculating on his reasons. Maybe the academy's rigorous demands had finally worn him down, or perhaps something had broken his will to continue. Regardless, their beacon of hope had dimmed, and with it, their spirits.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Professor Jurg entered the classroom, his presence commanding silence. "All conversations can wait until after class," he announced with a calm but unyielding tone. Obediently, the room hushed. Gaus slipped in shortly after, looking unusually haggard. His steps were unsteady, his eyes downcast as he muttered a quiet apology to the professor before taking his seat. Lian and Rael exchanged puzzled glances, whispering their surprise. They'd never seen Gaus like this—just last week, he'd been the type to show up early, his energy unbreakable.

The professor launched into his lesson, covering the diverse applications of Aura with an energy that held the students' attention. He outlined its potential uses in both combat and everyday life, presenting each point with precision. The hours passed swiftly, and at the end, Professor Jurg reminded them to review their notes carefully, emphasizing that this material would be fundamental to their training.

When the lecture concluded, Isaki, Rael, Lian, Ray, Sophia, Arya, and Marie gathered outside the classroom. Their conversations blended into one as they walked toward the cafeteria, discussing the professor's lesson and the shock of Mich's departure. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the academy, Jessica knocked on the door of the headmistress' office, entering with an envelope in hand. Celya looked up as Jessica delivered the news, her brow furrowing at the sight of the letter.

"It's about Mich Golp," Jessica began. "He's formally withdrawn."

Celya took the letter, her expression darkening as she opened it. "Did he say why?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Jessica nodded, recalling her interaction with Mich. "He said the academy was becoming too stressful to continue," she replied, though her words sounded hesitant. Celya processed this, surprised. Mich's dedication and performance had been admirable, especially considering the obstacles he'd faced. His passing marks had been not only average but above it—impressive enough to draw positive attention. Something didn't sit right with her, yet there was little she could do. With a quiet sigh, she signed the letter, filing it away with a heavy heart. Another promising student lost to the weight of the academy's demands.

Back in the cafeteria, the group had settled around a table when Ray's gaze landed on Gaus, who was moving toward a nearby seat with his tray. Without a second thought, Ray called out, his tone light yet somehow unignorable.

"Gaus! Join us," he suggested, a smile barely touching his lips. Gaus looked up, and his face went ashen at the sight of Ray's inviting expression. The usual fire in his eyes was nowhere to be found; instead, a nervous hesitation overtook him. But after a beat, he nodded, moving to their table and lowering himself into a seat without a word.

The others exchanged astonished glances. Isaki, Rael, Lian, and Marie in particular seemed baffled by the sight of Gaus not only accepting Ray's invitation but doing so with barely a hint of his usual defiance. Lian leaned over, his voice barely above a whisper as he addressed Ray. "What's going on with him?"

Ray shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "Gaus and I are friends now," he said simply.

The group's surprise was palpable, and Ray leaned forward, giving Gaus a nudge. "Actually, he wanted to apologize," Ray added, his tone slightly more serious. "Especially to you, Lian."

Gaus looked up at Lian, his expression stiff and his voice hesitant, but he pushed forward. "I… I'm sorry," he managed, his voice barely audible. "For everything that happened at Lachesis." His gaze flicked to each of them briefly before lowering, his usual brashness replaced by an unfamiliar tension.

The others' expressions shifted from shock to near disbelief; even Isaki and Marie, typically the least reactive, were wide-eyed. Arya, however, watched Ray intently. Her gaze was sharp, almost searching, as if trying to peel back layers. When Ray met her stare, she quickly looked away, but her curiosity lingered.

After finishing their meal, the group stood, saying goodbye as they left Gaus alone at the table. He continued eating, though his appetite seemed to have waned, his movements slower and more guarded. Ray's sudden transformation of him weighed on his mind, leaving an unsettled fear he couldn't seem to shake.

As they walked back to their dormitories, the conversation naturally turned to Gaus's unexpected transformation. Everyone was filled with questions for Ray, who merely shrugged, offering a simple explanation. "Maybe he regrets what he did. That's all."

Though his friends were left with more questions than answers, Arya continued to watch Ray, a mixture of suspicion and admiration growing within her. She couldn't decide whether he was a force for good or something altogether more complex — and perhaps dangerous. As they each went their separate ways, her thoughts lingered on him, knowing that Ray's mysteries were far from over.