As the sun rose, painting the sky in hues of gold and pink, Tushar and Sam woke up early, shaking off the remnants of sleep. They quickly got dressed and headed to their room, where Lexine and Eislyn were already up.

Tushar yawned loudly, stretching as they entered. "So, what are we doing here so early? Couldn't this wait?"

Lexine glanced up from her laptop with an exasperated expression. "It took you guys long enough. You're late, as usual. Here, catch." She tossed a small chip toward them.

Sam's reflexes kicked in, and he snatched the chip midair. "What's this?" he asked, examining the tiny device.

Lexine leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "That chip contains the official documents we need to join the Royal division. It's all prepped and ready, so you two need to get your butts to the submission center. Now." She waved them off dismissively, her eyes drifting back to her screen as she resumed her game. The soft hum of the holographic interface filled the room.

Tushar raised an eyebrow. "What about you? Aren't you coming?"

Lexine barely glanced up. "I'm busy leveling up. Besides, this part's on you guys."

Tushar sighed and turned to Eislyn, who sat in the corner, engrossed in a holographic book. "What about you, Eislyn? Aren't you coming with us?"

Eislyn shook her head, flipping a page with a swipe of her hand. "No, I'm staying here to finish reading this story for class. It's due tomorrow." Her voice was calm, her focus unwavering.

Sam patted Tushar on the shoulder. "Come on. Let's get going before she changes her mind and decides to yell at us again."

The two left the room, walking briskly toward the center of the academy. The sprawling campus was alive with activity, students hurrying to and from classes, the air buzzing with energy. As they navigated the winding pathways, Tushar walked past a man in a dark coat without a second glance.

Sam, however, paused mid-step. A strange sensation prickled the back of his neck. "Did you feel that?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder.

Tushar frowned. "Huh? Feel what? What are you talking about?"

Sam's eyes narrowed. "You didn’t see him walk by?"

"See who?"

Without another word, Sam spun around and grabbed the man by the arm. The stranger tensed, startled by the sudden action.

"Let go of me," the man said coldly, his voice low and firm.

Tushar stepped forward, finally noticing the man. He was tall and imposing, dressed in dark, tattered clothing of purple and black. His eyes were emotionless, like deep voids that seemed to pull you in. A chill ran down Tushar's spine as recognition dawned on him.

"Sam, let him go," Tushar whispered urgently, his voice barely audible.

"But—" Sam started, confused.

"Let. Him. Go," Tushar repeated, his tone sharp.

Reluctantly, Sam released his grip, stepping back.

The man straightened his coat, his gaze boring into Tushar and Sam. "So, the rumors are true," he muttered. "There’s a Voidskin at the academy."

Sam's brows furrowed in confusion. "Who the hell is this guy?"

Tushar swallowed hard, forcing himself to speak evenly. "Sir, this is Sam. We're both entering Royal together... as a team."

The man studied Sam for a long moment before smirking faintly. "I see. I’ll be keeping an eye on you, Voidskin," he said, his tone laced with warning.

Before they could respond, the man stepped back into the shadows and vanished, leaving no trace behind.

Sam turned to Tushar, his mind racing. "Who was that?"

Tushar exhaled slowly, his shoulders tense. "That was Kardama, the division leader of Shadows. He’s one of the most elusive people in the academy. There are only three confirmed pictures of him in existence. If you saw him… consider yourself lucky. Or cursed."

Sam clenched his fists. "He gives me bad vibes. What does he want with us?"

Tushar shook his head. "I don’t know, but we’d better not give him a reason to watch us any closer. Come on, let’s keep moving."

With uneasy thoughts lingering between them, they continued toward the submission center, the encounter with Kardama weighing heavily on their minds.

As the robotic attendant processed the chips at the submission center, its synthetic voice rang out, smooth yet mechanical. "Hello, you two. Are you participating in the Battle Royal?"

"Yes," Tushar replied confidently.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Very well. Please place the chip into the console," the robot instructed, gesturing toward the glowing slot.

Sam stepped forward and inserted the chip. The machine hummed softly before announcing, "Students registered: Sam, Tushar, Eislyn, and proxy participant Lexine."

"Looks like we're in," Tushar said, a small smile of relief spreading across his face. "Let’s head back."

The two started walking back to their dorm, the path quieter now with fewer students around. The tranquil moment was shattered when Sam suddenly stopped, his body tensing.

"What’s wrong?" Tushar asked, noticing his friend's rigid posture.

Before Sam could answer, a cluster of sharp spikes flew toward him from the shadows. He reacted instantly, dodging with practiced ease, the projectiles clattering harmlessly to the ground.

"Sam! Are you okay?" Tushar asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Yeah... I’m fine," Sam replied, his eyes scanning the area.

"So you dodged it, huh?" a voice called out from nearby.

Both turned to see a student step out of the shadows. He was lean, with sharp features and an air of arrogance. In his hand, he held a pen, and paintbrushes dangled from his belt like weapons.

"Adwin?" Tushar exclaimed. "What the hell are you doing?"

Adwin smirked, ignoring Tushar. His attention was locked on Sam. "Voidskin, huh? How about I show you what a Starskim is?"

"Starskim?" Sam echoed, confused.

"It’s a duel between students," Tushar explained hurriedly. "Adwin, knock it off!"

But Adwin was already raising his pen like a weapon. "Scared, Voidskin?"

Sam’s expression hardened. "Fine," he said, stepping forward and dropping into a stance.

Adwin grinned, holding his pen aloft as a holographic timer appeared above them. A voice counted down. "Three... Two... One."

Both lunged at each other, their movements precise and swift. Adwin’s pen unleashed streaks of glowing ink that danced through the air, but Sam deflected them with sharp, calculated motions. The courtyard crackled with energy as the two exchanged blows, each testing the other's limits.

Before either could land a decisive attack, a blur of blue shot between them. A shield materialized, deflecting their strikes and forcing them apart. Both turned to see the newcomer—a figure clad in futuristic armor, its plates perfectly aligned and glowing with a royal blue hue. A shield insignia gleamed prominently on the chest.

"Sasha…" Adwin muttered, lowering his pen.

"Sasha," Tushar confirmed, his tone awestruck.

The armored figure regarded them with a stern expression. "Do not fight in the courtyard. Save it for the Royal," Sasha commanded, her voice calm but firm.

"Yes, ma’am," both Adwin and Sam replied, almost in unison.

Adwin gave Sam a sharp look before turning away. "See you in the Royal," he said over his shoulder as he disappeared into the crowd.

Sasha turned her attention to Sam. She extended a hand toward him, her armored gauntlet glinting in the sunlight. "Here."

Sam hesitated but took her hand, allowing her to help him up.

"Who are you?" he asked, his tone cautious.

Sasha’s eyes softened slightly. "My name is Sasha, division leader of Shields." She paused as if considering her next words carefully. "May I speak with you in private, Sam?"

Sam’s mind raced. How does she know my name? He glanced at Tushar and nodded. "Go ahead back to the room. I’ll catch up later."

Tushar hesitated but eventually nodded and left.

Sasha led Sam to a secluded part of the campus, away from prying eyes. The atmosphere grew tense as Sam turned to face her. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

Sasha took a deep breath. "I need to ask… Do you have a sister? Nyssa?"

Sam’s eyes widened in surprise. "Yes. Why do you want to know about her?"

Sasha’s expression shifted, her eyes gleaming with recognition. "So, you are her brother," she said, her voice softer now. "Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Sasha, last of the Arcs. I was a teammate of your sister’s."

"You knew Abella?" Sam asked, a mix of curiosity and suspicion in his tone.

"Yes," Sasha said with a faint smile. "I fought alongside her and Raiden in the final battle of the Void Dimension."

Sam’s heart skipped a beat. "That means you’re…"

"Yes," Sasha interrupted. "I am the Theon of Truth. And your sister… she is the Theon of Life."

Sam’s breath caught. "I see…"

Sasha studied him for a moment before speaking again. "I heard Raiden took you in and trained you. How is she?"

Sam crossed his arms. "Cold, distant, and serious. Same as I remember her."

Sasha chuckled softly. "That sounds like her."

Sam’s thoughts swirled, questions bubbling to the surface. "Why are you bringing up Abella now?"

Sasha's expression softened, her voice lowering. Has she made contact with you since after the fight?

Sam's gaze dropped for a moment before he shook his head. "No... she left me when I was six. I don’t think she’ll ever come back."

Sasha studied him closely. "It seems you hold resentment toward her."

Sam’s eyes hardened as he looked up. "Who wouldn’t? My parents are dead, and she was all I had left. When she left for that battle, she never came back. No messages, no goodbye, nothing. I was forced to live alone, survive on my own... until Raiden found me. If it weren’t for her, I don’t know where I’d be."

Sasha listened in silence, her expression unreadable. After a long pause, she spoke. "I can’t pretend to understand your pain, but... I think there’s more to her story than you realize. After the Royal, let’s talk again. There are things you deserve to know."

Sam studied her face for a moment, searching for any sign of insincerity, but found none. Finally, he nodded. "Fine by me."

With that, the conversation ended. Neither said another word as they turned and walked in opposite directions, their footsteps echoing softly in the quiet corridor.

Sam’s mind churned with emotions—anger, curiosity, and a faint flicker of hope he didn’t want to acknowledge. Why now? What could she possibly tell me that I don’t already know?

On the other hand, Sasha walked away with a sense of purpose. Her thoughts were heavy, but her resolve was clear. If there’s one person who deserves the truth, it’s him.