The dorm halls of Arc Nexus Academy were quiet… until Kaine kicked open the door to his new quarters.
"Home sweet prison," he muttered, tossing his duffel bag onto the couch. It thudded like it carried a corpse. Well, close enough.
Lysara emerged behind him, bare feet silent on the polished marble. She sniffed the air, nose wrinkling. "It smells… clean. Sterile. Artificial."
"Because it is," Kaine replied, checking the corners for hidden sigils. "Magic surveillance, energy dampeners, suppression glyphs under the bed. They want to make sure I can't blow a hole in reality while I sleep."
"I thought you said you were 'invited.'"
"I was. Doesn't mean they trust me."
Lysara wandered over to the window, pushing the curtains aside. The campus beyond glittered like a futuristic kingdom—training towers, mana simulators, hovering transport rails. Beyond that, the skyline of Central Earth shimmered like an illusion.
"So this is your world…" she murmured. "It's… cold."
Kaine looked over at her. The cloak barely covered her thighs, and her silver hair glowed under the lights. Her red eyes burned with curiosity.
"You're not wrong," he said. "It's all fake smiles and sharper knives."
She smiled faintly. "Then it's just like home."
---
A knock shattered the silence.
Kaine opened the door to find a petite girl standing with a datapad and a scowl that could level a mountain.
"Name: Virel, Kaine," she said crisply. "Assignment: Room B-15. Note: Solitary occupancy due to disciplinary classification. No roommates allowed."
She looked up.
Then saw Lysara over Kaine's shoulder, stretching languidly on the bed like a lounging goddess.
"…Who is that?" she asked, voice flat.
Kaine tilted his head. "You're new here, huh?"
"She's not in the registry," the girl snapped. "Non-registered entities are a direct breach of school policy."
Lysara waved. "Hi."
The girl glared. "Do you know how many laws you're breaking?"
"Seventeen," Kaine said. "Eighteen if she breathes fire."
"I can, actually," Lysara said helpfully.
The girl paled.
"I'm reporting this to Head Instructor Rhess immediately."
Kaine stepped forward and smiled. "You could do that. Or…"
He leaned in.
"…You could pretend you didn't see anything and avoid paperwork hell. I hear Rhess makes his assistants file complaints in triplicate."
The girl hesitated. Her fingers hovered above the datapad.
Kaine raised a brow.
"I'm already on thin ice," he said. "A little frostier won't hurt."
"…Fine," she hissed. "But if she sets anything on fire, you pay for it."
As she stormed off, Kaine turned back to Lysara, who smirked from the bed.
"You have a talent for irritating people."
"It's a gift."
---
Later That Evening – Combat Courtyard
A duel.
Kaine didn't ask for it. But word of his return—and his brutal trial win—had already turned him into a target.
So when a crowd gathered around the lower courtyard beneath the floating arena, it wasn't for training.
It was for blood.
The challenger? Ren Kaldwin, a high-rank Sync user with flame tattoos and a sword as long as Kaine's patience was short. Popular. Respected. Stupid.
"I challenge Kaine Virel under Article 17," Ren declared. "For bringing a non-registered entity onto school grounds and endangering students."
A low cheer rose from the watching students.
Kaine stood calmly across from him, arms folded.
Lysara leaned on the railing above, watching like she was judging a mortal insect.
"Fine," Kaine said. "Let's play."
Ren ignited. His sword burst into molten fire, and his aura flared like a burning sun.
"I'll reduce you to ash!"
Kaine didn't move.
Ren charged—sword swinging in a blazing arc.
CLANG!
The sword hit Kaine's palm—and stopped.
The flames sputtered.
"What—"
Kaine yawned, grabbing Ren by the collar and slamming him into the ground hard enough to leave a crater.
Then he whispered:
"Don't use a candle flame to fight a star."
He stepped away before the guy could blink.
Ren lay groaning in the dirt, his sword split down the center. The courtyard fell into stunned silence.
Kaine turned to the crowd.
"Anyone else want to question my paperwork?"
No one answered.
Lysara clapped softly above.
---
The Next Morning – Student Boardroom
Three instructors sat in silence.
Aria Voss stood before them, arms crossed, face unreadable.
"You requested this meeting, Commander Voss," said the Director. "Speak."
"I want permission to shadow Kaine Virel," she said coldly.
They blinked.
"You want to what?"
"He's unstable. Dangerous. The girl he brought—her mana signature is demonic in origin. He claims she's his Pactbound, but he refuses to offer the ritual proof."
"Why not simply report him again?"
"Because no one will act. He passed the trial. He humiliated Rhess. He's being treated like a weapon… not a student."
The Director steepled his fingers.
"And you believe he's more than that?"
Aria narrowed her eyes.
"He was one of the top S-Class candidates before he vanished. When the Rift closed and he was presumed dead, we thought it was over."
She glanced at the surveillance screen. Kaine lay on the grass, hands behind his head, Lysara perched beside him feeding him fruit.
"It's not over," Aria said. "He came back different. Stronger. He's hiding something. I want to find out what."
"…Very well. Shadow him. But do not engage without permission."
She nodded once, turned, and walked out.
---
That Afternoon – Dorm B-15
"Why is she following us?" Lysara asked, floating upside down as Kaine adjusted the curtains.
"Because she's nosy," he said. "And probably still mad I made fun of her hair three years ago."
"She wants to kill me."
"Wouldn't be the first."
"And you're fine with that?"
Kaine looked up. "I'm fine with everything… until someone touches what's mine."
Lysara froze at the word. Then lowered herself beside him.
"…You mean that?" she asked, voice soft.
He didn't answer right away. Just gave her a sideways glance.
"I crossed worlds for you. You think I'm playing?"
Her cheeks turned pink. "I just… I've never been claimed before."
"Get used to it."