It was already dark when Kael left the library and descended the marble stairs to the quiet street below. I should pay Zaros a visit, he thought. His meeting with the toilet should be over by now. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he walked along the dimly lit path toward the dormitories.

  It took him fifteen minutes to reach the right building, where two knights stood guard near the entrance. Their armor gleamed white in the moonlight, and a golden insignia shimmered on their chests.

  Knights of the Order? Kael frowned. What are they doing here, inside the academy?

  His eyes fell to the swords they carried. Long, slender blades, glowing faintly in turquoise hues. His heart skipped a beat. Motarith... He froze, staring at the weapons with a mixture of awe and unease. Those swords were forged from a material that only high-ranking knights or professors could wield.

  The knight on the left turned his head toward Kael. Though his face was hidden behind the helmet, Kael could feel the man’s sharp, dissecting gaze piercing through him as if searching for something beneath his skin. Kael averted his gaze and quickly walked past them, forcing his legs to move until he reached the dormitory door.

  Inside, the air was still, faintly smelling of iron and polish. The plain corridors were lined with simple lamps and wooden doors. Kael walked down the hallway until he reached Zaros’s room.

  He was about to knock when he heard low, masculine voices coming from within. At least it’s not a girl this time, Kael thought dryly. He leaned silently against the wall, waiting for the conversation to end.

  Moments later, the door opened and an older man emerged. He stood straight and moved with precision. He looked like a soldier. He looked back into the room. "You know your task, son. Don’t disappoint me,” the man said in a deep voice that carried both command and disdain.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  As he turned toward the hallway, his gaze fell upon Kael. For a heartbeat, the air seemed to freeze. Kael met the man’s gaze and instantly wished he hadn’t.

  There was nothing human in that gaze. It was cold and sharp, as if it could strip the soul bare and measure its worth. Kael looked away, pretending to adjust his sleeve, but the chill lingered. It felt as though the man had already seen everything he needed to.

  But then, as fleeting as the moment had been, the older man’s gaze softened, and the coldness vanished as if it had never existed. "Student,” he said in a calm, almost cordial tone, “keep up the good work.”

  He turned one last time toward Zaros, his expression unreadable. Then he walked down the hallway and disappeared toward the exit.

  Kael exhaled, shaking off the tension that still clung to him, and stepped into the room. "Yo, how are you?” he asked casually, closing the door behind him.

  Zaros, who had been sitting stiffly in his chair, flinched at the sound of Kael’s voice. For a second, his eyes were distant, as if he hadn’t recognized Kael. But then the confusion cleared, and his usual expression returned.

  "I'm good," he replied, his tone steady but a little forced.

  Kael grinned. "That’s good to hear. Lia visited me this morning, by the way. She seemed very pleased about your current condition.”

  Zaros froze, his face twisting with disbelief before giving way to irritation. He clenched his fists. "That little—!” he started, then threw his arms in the air. "You have no idea what today was like! Pure horror! It just kept going endlessly! I actually thought this would be my new life!”

  His voice grew louder with every word and his gestures became wild until he noticed Kael doubled over with laughter.

  Kael tried to speak through his laughter. "Sorry, but your expression—"

  Zaros frowned. "What’s so funny about that?"

  "Nothing," Kael said, still chuckling as he wiped tears from his eyes. "It's just good to see your normal self again. When I came in, you seemed different, almost tense. Was it because of that man?"

  Zaros’s eyes darkened. "Yeah, you could say that."

  Kael leaned against the wall, his expression turning curious. "Who is he, anyway? He didn't do anything, but I could feel his presence. If he wanted to kill me, I wouldn’t even have the chance to blink.”

  Zaros let out a dry laugh. "That's normal. It's not for nothing that he's the Commander of the Order."