The morning sun bathed the grand campus of Ateneo de Cebu in a golden hue, casting long shadows on the well-kept grounds. Arden stepped out of the car, his rugged demeanor standing in stark contrast to the polished uniforms and sleek backpacks of the students milling about. Beside him, Leigh walked with effortless grace, her presence drawing every gaze. Clad in the crisp white blouse and navy skirt of her school uniform, she carried herself with the confidence befitting Ateneo’s No. 1 Muse—the title earned not just for her beauty, but for her charm, wit, and unmatched intellect.

Arden couldn’t help but feel out of place. The uniform he wore, now impeccably fitted by the school tailor, felt like a second skin that didn’t quite fit. He tugged at the collar, his discomfort palpable.

“Are you sure about this?” Arden asked, adjusting the collar again. It was tight, too tight—like a trap.

Leigh rolled her eyes with a smirk. “You’ll be fine. Just try not to look like you’ve been living under a rock your whole life.”

Arden frowned, his tie digging into his neck. “This thing feels like a noose.”

Leigh stifled a laugh, but there was a glint of mischief in her eyes. “Stop fidgeting. You’ll only make it worse. And remember—keep it cool. Don’t embarrass me, mountain boy.”

“No promises,” Arden muttered under his breath, following her into the bustling campus.

As they walked through the gates, the whispers started immediately, rippling through the student body like an electric current. Eyes darted toward Arden, curiosity and amusement mingling in every glance. Leigh’s presence alone always turned heads, but today, she had an unexpected companion. The contrast was undeniable.

“Who’s that with Leigh?” one student whispered, barely concealing their intrigue.

“Looks like he just stepped out of a jungle,” another quipped, snickering behind their hand.

Arden’s sharp ears caught every word. He leaned toward Leigh, his voice low. “They’re not even subtle about it.”

Leigh shrugged nonchalantly, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. “You’ll get used to it. Just try not to glare at them. It’ll make things worse.”

Arden sighed, deciding to ignore the stares, his eyes scanning the sea of unfamiliar faces as they made their way to the homeroom. The hallways seemed endless, a maze of polished floors and busy students. When they arrived at the classroom, the teacher, a middle-aged man with a kind face, greeted them warmly.

“Ah, you must be the new transfer student,” the teacher said, motioning for Arden to stand at the front of the class. “Go ahead and introduce yourself.”

Arden hesitated, feeling every eye on him like a weight pressing down. Public speaking wasn’t his forte, especially in a room full of strangers. But he had faced far scarier things in the mountains. He cleared his throat, trying to calm his nerves.

“Hi,” he began, his voice steady but slightly rough. “I’m Arden San Agustin. I… uh, grew up in the mountains. This is my first time in a place like this, so… go easy on me.”

Silence hung in the air for a moment. A beat later, one student, trying to break the tension, called out with a grin, “Do you wrestle bears for fun?”

Arden didn’t miss a beat. He tilted his head, his expression deadpan. “Only if they start it.”

The room erupted into laughter, even the teacher chuckling at Arden’s quick wit. Leigh, standing at the back of the class, smiled despite herself. She had been prepared for an awkward introduction, but Arden’s natural charm was impossible to ignore.

As the day wore on, it was clear that Arden’s adjustment to school life wasn’t going to be smooth sailing. In science class, the teacher asked a question about plant biology. Arden, feeling confident, raised his hand and proceeded to describe a rare medicinal herb he’d used in the mountains.

“That… is very detailed,” the teacher said, blinking in surprise. “But we were talking about photosynthesis.”

The class burst into laughter, and Arden simply shrugged. “Well, it’s still useful,” he muttered, earning a few amused grins from his classmates.

In PE, things took a comedic turn. Arden’s natural athleticism quickly became apparent during a game of dodgeball, but his competitive edge caught the attention of the coach.

“Arden, you’re supposed to aim for their legs, not their souls,” the coach said after Arden’s throw knocked a student’s glasses clean off.

“Sorry,” Arden replied, scratching the back of his head. “Guess I’m not used to holding back.”

Leigh, watching from the sidelines, couldn’t stop laughing. “You’re a menace,” she teased as they walked to their next class.

“Better than being boring,” Arden shot back with a grin.

When they reached the cafeteria, Arden was struck by the overwhelming number of food stalls and the sheer volume of students—so different from the simple meals he was used to. Leigh guided him to a table, her tray loaded with a balanced selection of dishes.

“You need to pace yourself,” Leigh advised as Arden loaded his tray with everything in sight. “Not everything here is edible.”

Arden raised an eyebrow. “Why would they serve food that isn’t edible?”

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“Figure of speech, mountain boy. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

True to her warning, Arden’s first bite of a suspiciously vibrant green dessert made his face contort. “What is this?” he sputtered.

“Buko pandan,” Leigh said, struggling to suppress her laughter. “It’s an acquired taste.”

Arden set the dessert aside with a grimace but quickly recovered, digging into the roasted chicken with gusto. “Now this, I can handle.”

By the end of the day, Arden had already turned a few skeptics into friends, his humor and unintentional charm winning over even the most critical of classmates. Leigh, despite her initial doubts, found herself smiling more than she expected. Arden’s first day had been chaotic, but undeniably memorable—for everyone involved.

As Arden rounded the corner toward the library, he encountered a group of students leaning casually against the lockers. These weren’t just any students. They were the sons of prominent businessmen, heirs to political dynasties, and self-proclaimed rulers of the school. Their leader, a tall boy with slicked-back hair named Vincent, smirked as Arden approached.

“Hey, mountain boy,” Vincent called out, stepping into Arden’s path. “Heard you’ve been making waves. Thought we’d welcome you properly.”

Arden stopped, his gaze unwavering, not a flicker of intimidation in his eyes. “Thanks, but I’ll pass,” he said, his voice calm and steady.

Vincent’s smirk only widened. “That’s not how it works here. Newcomers follow the rules… our rules.”

The group chuckled, closing in around Arden. Leigh had warned him about bullies like these, but Arden’s patience was already wearing thin. He crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly.

“And what happens if I don’t?” he asked, his tone sharp enough to cut through the tension.

Vincent stepped closer, his height giving him an obvious advantage. “Then we’ll have to teach you a lesson,” he said, his voice low and threatening.

Arden sighed, glancing at the clock on the wall. “Look, I’ve got class in five minutes. If we’re going to do this, can we make it quick?”

The boldness of his response caught Vincent off guard, but he quickly recovered. “Fine,” he snapped. “Let’s see what you’ve got, mountain boy.”

The confrontation moved to the school’s courtyard, where a small crowd began to gather. News of the potential fight spread like wildfire, and students whispered excitedly as Vincent and his gang squared off against Arden.

Vincent threw the first punch, aiming for Arden’s gut. Arden sidestepped effortlessly, catching Vincent’s wrist and twisting it just enough to make him wince. The crowd gasped as Arden used the momentum to sweep Vincent’s legs out from under him, sending him sprawling to the ground.

“Is that it?” Arden asked, his voice calm, tinged with mild disappointment.

The other bullies hesitated, exchanging nervous glances. One of them lunged, but Arden, trained in Pangamot, became a blur of precision and efficiency. He dodged, blocked, and redirected every attack with minimal effort, leaving his opponents disarmed and bewildered.

Minutes later, the gang lay sprawled on the ground, groaning and clutching their bruises. Arden stood in the center, unscathed and unfazed.

Vincent struggled to his feet, his arrogance now replaced with a sliver of respect. He glared at Arden but couldn’t hide the flicker of admiration in his eyes. “What are you?” he muttered.

Arden shrugged casually. “Just a guy who doesn’t like bullies.” He extended a hand to help Vincent up. “Look, you don’t have to keep doing this. There are better ways to lead than intimidation.”

Vincent hesitated, then accepted the hand. The crowd, now silent, watched as Arden spoke to the gang.

“You all have potential,” Arden said, his voice steady but authoritative. “But you’re wasting it trying to scare people. If you really want respect, earn it by helping others, not tearing them down.”

Vincent’s gang exchanged uncertain glances before nodding slowly. For the first time, they looked less like bullies and more like lost boys trying to find their way.

By the end of the day, Arden found himself in the office of the school disciplinarian, a stern woman with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense demeanor. She motioned for him to sit, studying him for a long moment before speaking.

“I’ve heard about what happened in the courtyard,” she said. “Normally, I’d be handing out suspensions for fighting, but…” She paused, a faint smile breaking through her stern façade. “It seems you’ve solved a problem we’ve been dealing with for years. Those boys have been a menace, but today, they apologized to their teachers and even volunteered to help clean the school grounds.”

Arden raised an eyebrow. “So… I’m not in trouble?”

“Not this time,” she replied, standing and extending her hand. “Thank you, Mr. San Agustin. You’ve made quite an impression.”

Arden shook her hand, nodding respectfully. “Just doing what felt right.”

As he left the office, Leigh was waiting for him in the hallway, her arms crossed and a knowing smirk on her face. “Mountain boy turned hero, huh?”

Arden chuckled. “Guess so. Think they’ll stop calling me mountain boy now?”

“Not a chance,” Leigh replied with a laugh as they walked off together.

The following days at Ateneo de Cebu brought an unexpected calm. But something new began to emerge: Vincent and his gang shadowed Arden wherever he went. The once-dominant bullies had now become curious followers, their bravado replaced with genuine interest in Arden’s unique abilities and perspective.

During lunch breaks, Vincent would pepper Arden with questions. “So, this Pangamot thing… it’s like magic, right? How do you move so fast?”

Arden, amused by the sudden curiosity, replied, “It’s not magic. It’s practice. It’s about precision, discipline, and understanding your opponent’s intentions.”

By Friday, Vincent and his gang had already started mimicking some of Arden’s drills during PE. Leigh couldn’t help but laugh as she watched the once-feared bullies awkwardly attempt stances and blocks under Arden’s guidance.

“You’ve really turned things around,” she said, catching up to Arden after class. “I never thought I’d see Vincent trying to meditate.”

Arden smirked. “People can change if you give them the right reason. They’re rough around the edges, but they’ve got potential.”

Leigh nodded, her expression softening. “Speaking of potential, Grandpa’s been talking about heading to Busay this weekend for training. He thinks it’s time to push to the Lunok Realm.”

Arden’s expression grew serious. “That’s a big step. Is he ready for it?”

Leigh grinned. “He’s been practicing. And me? I’m ready for whatever comes next.”

Early Saturday morning, Arden, Leigh, and the General piled into a rugged SUV loaded with supplies. The drive to the mountains of Busay was filled with light banter and quiet anticipation. As the city faded into lush greenery and winding roads, the air grew cooler and fresher.

Standing at the edge of a secluded clearing overlooking the city below, the General spoke with a tone of command and pride. “This place has always been a refuge for our family, but today, it becomes our proving ground.”

Arden glanced at the General and said, “Sir, I think we need to include more in this training.”

The General raised an eyebrow. “What are you suggesting?”

Arden gestured toward the convoy of bodyguards who had accompanied them. “They should train with us. If chaos is coming, everyone in this family’s circle needs to be strong enough to face it. This can’t just be about us.”

The General considered his words before nodding. “You’re right. These men are skilled, but they’re not prepared for what’s coming.”

Leigh chimed in with a grin. “Looks like you’re getting more students, Arden. Hope you’re ready.”

Arden smirked. “The more, the merrier. Let’s get started.”

Leigh and Arden exchanged determined glances as they prepared to embark on their next challenge—reaching the Lunok Realm.