"Is this the dorm?" Kaia raised a brow, staring at the crooked building that looked like it had barely survived an earthquake—or three. The whole thing was made of bamboo, creaking with every breeze. Compared to the ethereal floating gates and shimmering statues around the academy, this looked like a prank from a disgruntled architect.
A tall student with freckled skin and dark ginger hair swaggered over. Muscles flexed like he worked out just to intimidate people. Kaia squinted. What's with this school and ginger heads? I'm starting to develop an allergy.
"You the new guy?" the freckled one asked, grin wide, voice louder than necessary.
"Yes," Kaia said flatly. No hesitation. No smile.
"Oh?" The guy chuckled and threw an arm over Kaia's shoulders like they were old drinking buddies. "Not a friendly one, huh? Well, make sure you cough up the monthly fee, alright?"
Kaia blinked at him. "Fee?"
The laughter around him died instantly. The air shifted. Faces turned cold.
The ginger leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "What did you say?"
Kaia didn't flinch.
"I'll let that slide," the guy muttered, jabbing a finger into his own chest with a smug grin. "Ask your dormmates about me. I'm not someone you wanna mess with, got it? You listen, you pay, and you might just live peacefully."
He turned and strutted off like he'd just dropped the mic.
Kaia didn't look back. Head down, eyes shadowed, he walked into the dorm, silent as a storm cloud. His expression unreadable—except for the flicker of something dark forming underneath.
***
"Oh hey, are you the new—"
The boy froze mid-sentence.
The hallway fell into stunned silence as all eyes turned toward Kaia. His uniform was slightly ruffled, his expression stone-cold, and his eyes—those eyes—looked like they'd just finished calculating the cleanest way to bury a body.
A suffocating aura clung to him, heavy and vicious. The kind of aura that screamed stay away unless you had a death wish.
"Uh… what's with that guy?" someone whispered, already inching toward the wall.
"One hell of a creepy man."
"Didn't Shirin give him a school tour? Yikes."
"He looks like he just murdered someone and walked here for fun…"
Kaia ignored them all. First, the gingerhead with a whole fan club, and then a tax collector, perfectly ruining his mood today. Great. Just great.
Before he could step further, a hand landed on his shoulder.
"Hey, buddy!" a cheerful voice chimed, followed by a hearty slap on the back.
Kaia nearly stumbled. He turned, blinking in disbelief.
The guy grinning at him was shorter, with a mop of unruly hair and a smile that beamed like he hadn't just touched a walking hazard. Hands clasped behind his back, he looked like a middle-schooler trying to look innocent after pulling a prank.
Kaia gave him the same cold stare. No reaction. The guy didn't even flinch.
"I'll show you around the dorm! Since no one else is gonna," he offered with zero shame.
"Huh… No, I'm fine." Kaia brushed him off, turning away.
He barely took two steps before something latched onto his ankle—tight.
"What the—"
He looked down. The guy was clinging to his leg like a lifeline.
"Please don't goooo! I swear I'll give you the best tour ever! Just one chance!" he wailed.
Kaia stood frozen. Behind him, laughter exploded.
"There he goes again, begging for merit stars."
"Guy's got no shame."
Kaia looked back down. The dude was shaking. Not out of fear—but desperation. Kaia gritted his teeth. Damn it. Why do I feel pity?
Without a word, he reached down, grabbed the guy by the collar, and yanked him up like a ragdoll. Their faces inches apart, Kaia's glare drilled into the boy's wide, clueless eyes.
"…Show me, then."
The boy blinked. Then, as if Kaia had just handed him the keys to paradise, he lit up like a firework. "Sure! Sure! Come with me!" he chirped, nearly tripping as he spun around and scurried ahead, waving for Kaia to follow.
Kaia sighed, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he followed at a lazy pace. This school is insane, he thought, rubbing his temple.
***
[Luminous Harbour]
"Yona! Yonaaa!"
The knocking slammed through the apartment like a battering ram. Whoever it was sounded one second away from punching a hole through the door.
"I'm coming, I'm coming…" Yona groaned, rolling off her bed like a lazy burrito. Ekkk—ow! Her thoughts screeched as she faceplanted into the floor.
Hair? A bird's nest. Mouth? Still drooling. Eyes? Half-open, half-asleep.
She shuffled to the door, unlocked it without even looking, and leaned against the frame with a yawn. "What… do you want?"
Kai stood there with his signature cold glare, arms crossed like he'd been waiting his whole life to judge her. "We've got work. Don't keep me waiting. Be ready in ten." And just like that, he turned and walked off, dramatic coat swish and all.
Yona blinked. Then narrowed her eyes.
"'Be ready in ten,'" she mocked in a high-pitched voice, kicking the door shut behind her. "This guy... It's barely been a day since I got kidnapped and did he even bother to come save me? No. He was off playing detective, gathering dirt on Ananya and bullying people at the harbor!"
Muttering curses under her breath, she grabbed her towel and stormed into the bathroom.
Stripping off her clothes, she stepped into the shower and let the warm water rush over her. She leaned back, closed her eyes, and brushed her wet hair away from her face, the droplets trailing down like tiny messengers of peace.
"I just want one single day off," she whispered. "Is that too much to ask?"