Chapter 179
A secret
IAM leaned back slightly and replied, his voice was calm and measured, "The way any other ascender does. And honestly… I have no doubt that you'll surpass me soon enough, so there's no need to be concerned."
Henry didn't respond right away. Instead, he let out a slow, exaggerated sigh and leaned back against his seat with clear disappointment on his face. He massaged the palms of his hands absentmindedly, eyes narrowed in thought—like he'd been hoping for something more.
IAM glanced at him but didn't comment. Instead, he pressed on.
"Anyway," he said, "I need what I told you today to be kept completely secret. I mean it—no one can know about this. At least… not for a while."
Henry clicked his tongue. "Then why even tell us in the first place?"
IAM hesitated—just for a second.
"…Because I want to trust you guys with this little secret of mine."
"Aww, how cute," Reuel cooed in a mock-sweet voice, grinning from ear to ear.
IAM rolled his eyes. "...And because I need you three to basically be my personal protection. In case anything unexpected happens."
He looked over at Henry.
"And for you," he added, "so you're aware when we train. So you know what to expect."
Then he turned toward the back seat, where Yohan sat quietly.
"And honestly, it's just more convenient this way. If I hadn't told you, you'd all keep pestering me until you dragged it out anyway."
Reuel blinked. "Oh."
IAM raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. 'Oh.'"
"You… So what exactly do we gain from keeping such a crazy secret?" Yohan asked, raising an eyebrow. His tone was playful—maybe he was joking. Maybe not.
IAM looked straight ahead, then replied with a sincerity that caught them all a little off guard.
"It's simple," he said. "Me telling you this is based on trust. I'm giving you mine—by sharing this secret. And by keeping it, you keep that trust. That's the foundation for any kind of cooperation between people."
His voice remained steady, but there was a sense of emotions hidden within.
"Now that you hold this advantage over me," he continued, "you could, in turn, give me something—something you consider a weakness. Something personal. That's how real friendships are built. By handing each other pieces of ourselves that we could use against one another… and choosing not to."
He turned slightly to look at them.
"I believe that if we do that, we can become something more. Not just a group of people who hang around each other because we share a dorm, or because one of us is good at making friends. I want us to be real friends."
There was a pause in his voice, and when he spoke again, it was softer—more vulnerable.
"I… I want to build real connections with people. Even with all the strange things about me. I still think like a person. So I want to live like one."
His gaze dropped slightly.
"I don't want to use the tragedy I've experienced as a shield. I don't want it to become some excuse that lets me stay detached from the world and left Isolated."
He let out a slow breath.
"I think… I think I need to start facing the loss. The loss of people who were important to me—and the fact that they're really gone… something I've been quietly ignoring all this time, just so I could keep going."
The car went completely silent. The weight of IAM's words filled the small space like gravity.
Yohan's earlier smirk faded instantly. He looked down, suddenly unsure of himself.
"I… I was just joking," he mumbled. "I didn't expect that kind of answer. I'm sorry—"
"I know," IAM interrupted gently.
Outside the car, the Academy grounds passed by like a slow-moving tapestry, alive and indifferent.
The sun had risen fully now, casting warm, golden light across the sprawling campus. Patches of shadow stretched long between buildings, the gaps filled with trees that danced lightly in the breeze. Leaves skittered across the paved walkways, some curling under passing shoes, others caught midair and carried just out of reach. A few students moved through the walkways, talking in pairs or groups, their laughter distant, muted through the hum of the engine and the bubble of silence within the car.
Elegant blackstone lampposts lined the road, adorned with black and white banners that gently swayed with every gust.
There was a strange blend to the architecture here: some buildings bore the sleek, minimal modern design, while others looked like they belonged to a different time entirely.
Further ahead, a group of students gathered around a display board showing upcoming events.
To the left, a wide plaza opened up—marble paths, benches curved like crescents, and a small water feature that trickled rhythmically beneath a glass bridge. A pair of instructors crossed it, deep in conversation.
All around them, life moved on. The Academy was alive, in constant motion. A living world in every direction.
And yet, the world continuing outside the window—unchanged, unaware of the small, fragile moment unfolding inside.
Reuel suddenly piped up his voice cheerful and a little too loud, "Don't worry, I'll make sure to never tell another soul."
"You're actually the one I'm most worried about," IAM muttered under his breath.
Reuel gasped dramatically. "Jeez, what is this stigma you have against me? Don't judge a book by its cover!"
"I read the book," IAM replied dryly, "and realized it was trash."
Reuel slammed his palm on the steering wheel. "I will crash this car. I'm not joking—I will crash this car. Just say one more thing. I dare you. Go on. I dare you."
Reuel did not crash the car.
Instead, they rolled into a student parking area and came to a stop between two white lane markers. The hum of the engine faded, replaced by the muffled sound of chatter from other students heading to class.
The boys stepped out, one by one, the air cooler outside the vehicle. Just as IAM shut his door, a mini car pulled into the spot beside theirs. The soft click of doors opening followed, and a small group of girls stepped out—and two of them were immediately familiar.
Natsuki and Zara.
The two girls froze the moment they recognized the group.
For a few seconds, no one said a word.
Then Reuel leaned slightly toward the others and whispered, "Oh yeah… our timetable said we had a joint lesson today."