The rest of the morning passed in a steady rhythm of lectures and note-taking, though Lyna kept leaning in every so often to whisper little remarks only I could hear. She always did it with that easy, almost too-friendly smile. As if we'd known each other forever, which sells her stunt a lot better.
When the lunch bell rang, I had just started packing my things when she hooked her hand around my arm. "Come on, darling." she said brightly, loud enough for the nearest desks to hear. "Let's go before the line gets too long."
She didn't wait for me to agree. Instead, she just pulled me into the aisle and toward the door with a confidence that said this was normal for us.
Behind us, the chatter started almost immediately.
"His name is Faulker, huh?"
"Yeah, but… which part of the world is he from?"
"I'm more curious about which family he comes from."
"I mean, maybe he's just from a normal parents?"
"You know very well this isn't the type of school that just anyone could enroll in."
"Back it off, boys. Let Lyna have her loving-doving moments with her beloved."
I caught some of the stares as we stepped into the hallway. Curiosity mixed with speculation. Lyna didn't even glance back. If anything, her grip on my arm tightened ever so slightly, like she wanted them to keep wondering.
After we grabbed our tray full of today's lunch, Lyna led me straight to a corner table in the dining hall. I took a seat beside her. When we sat down, she stayed close, her shoulder brushing mine. She didn't seem to care about the curious stares from our classmates. If anything, she seemed to welcome them.
We'd barely started eating when Shayne and Nayuta spotted us and strolled over. Shayne slid into the seat across from me with a knowing grin, while Nayuta dropped beside him, eyes flicking between us.
"So..." Shayne began, "mind telling me who she is?"
Lyna paused, looking at him for a second before her gaze shifted to me. For the briefest moment, her expression softened. Her golden eyes meeting mine in a way that felt… uncomfortably real. Then she turned back to Shayne.
"I'm his girlfriend," she said gently, her voice carrying a warmth that didn't feel staged. There was no playfulness in her tone. Just quiet certainty, the kind you'd expect from someone who actually means it.
Shayne's grin faltered in surprise. Nayuta blinked, then they both laughed in disbelief.
"You're telling me you actually shoot your shot on the first day? Even hit the target too." Shayne said while still laughing, leaning forward.
"Not even a full morning." Nayuta added with mock awe. "Bro hasn't even unpacked his desk and already landed someone like her."
I gave them both a flat look. "It's not like that."
"Oh, sure," Shayne smirked, "and she just happens to drag you here and sit with you."
"I thought we had something between us..." Nayuta said, still grinning. "Congrats, though."
I turned toward Lyna, half-expecting her to jump in and reveal it was just a joke—but she didn't. She simply kept eating, that faint smile still on her lips, golden eyes occasionally drifting to mine in a way that made me wonder… if she was still acting at all.
By the time our trays were empty, I'd had enough of the sideways glances from Shayne and Nayuta, and even more than enough of Lyna's perfectly composed smile.
I set my fork down and leaned slightly toward her."Can you take me somewhere… private? Somewhere empty."
She tilted her head, gold eyes studying me for a second, as if deciding whether to agree. Then she simply nodded, stood, and picked up her tray.
Shayne caught my eye mid-bite. "Bwere yer chew goalling?"
"Nowhere." I said quickly, but that only made his grin widen.
Lyna didn't answer them at all. Just walked toward the exit, and I followed.
We left the dining hall, letting the heavy door swing shut behind us, cutting off the hum of conversation and the faint clatter of utensils. The hallway was quiet, our footsteps echoing as we passed empty classrooms.
Finally, she stopped by an unused study room. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, the smell of old paper and dust filling the air. She glanced back at me, still wearing that unreadable half-smile.
"Alright," she said softly, "we're alone now. What is it you wanted to talk about?"
I closed the door behind me. "That," I said, pointing vaguely back toward the dining hall, "whatever you just pulled with Shayne and Nayuta. What was that about?"
Her smile didn't fade, but something in her eyes shifted. Less playful, more calculating.
"I need your help, Faulker."
That caught me off guard. "Help? With what?"
She stepped a little closer, her voice lowering."Everything in this school can be bought… but there are still people who won't budge, no matter how much you pay. Those people, you can't deal with them using money."
I frowned. "So what does that have to do with me?"
Her golden eyes locked onto mine, steady and unblinking."What I really need," she said slowly, "is a trusted ally. Someone who doesn't owe anyone here. Someone who's not tangled in their games yet. Someone new."
I felt the weight in her words. She wasn't just throwing this out casually.
"And this trusted ally you wanted... is me?" I asked.
She gave a small shrug, but the way her gaze lingered on me made it clear it wasn't a shrug of indifference."I'll admit," she said softly, "I was… slightly hoping you'd be that person."
Her tone was calm, but there was a strange pull to it. A blend of sincerity and quiet manipulation.
I crossed my arms, studying her. "Alright… let's say I play along. What exactly would you need me to do?"
Her lips curved into a faint, knowing smile, like she'd been waiting for me to ask. "For now? Nothing drastic. Just… stand with me when the time comes."
"That's vague."
"It has to be." she replied without missing a beat. "The less you know now, the less they can dig out of you if they come sniffing around."
That part made me pause. "They?"
Lyna tilted her head slightly, her long white hair spilling like silk over her shoulder. "The ones who think they own the school. The ones even money can't buy."
"And you want me to… what? Be your bodyguard? Your errand boy?"
Her golden eyes narrowed, not in offense, but in amusement. "Neither. I want you to be someone they can't predict. An unknown piece on the board… one that moves for me."
Something about the way she said it made the hairs on my neck rise. She was asking for trust in a place I barely understood, against enemies I hadn't even seen yet.
I let out a slow breath. "You're making this sound like a lot more than just school politics."
"It is." she murmured. "And you'll see soon enough."
"I'll… think about it," I said finally, my voice careful.
Her smile didn't falter, but there was a flicker in her golden eyes, like she'd expected me to say that, yet still weighed my words.
"That's fair," she replied, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "But don't think too long. Opportunities here have a habit of… disappearing overnight."
I frowned. "Is that a threat?"
"A warning," she corrected softly, her tone sweet enough to disguise the edge beneath. "Things move quickly in this place, Faulker. If you hesitate too much, someone else will take the seat you could have had, maybe even the life you could have kept."
The way she said life wasn't casual. It carried a weight I couldn't pin down.
Before I could push further, she straightened and gave a small, almost playful wave toward the door. "Come on. Lunch break's nearly over. You wouldn't want to be late on your first day, would you?"
I followed her back, but the words stayed with me, heavy and sharp. This wasn't just some rich-girl game. Whatever she was playing at… it was dangerous.
The walk back from the dining hall was short, but the air still carried the smell of grilled meat and spices from the courtyard vendors. Lyna didn't say much, just kept pace beside me, golden eyes forward, her hair catching every stray beam of light.
When we stepped into the afternoon classroom, the atmosphere was strangely enough, quite cheerful. Cheerful in the way a street brawl might be "friendly" if both sides shook hands after breaking each other's noses.
The afternoon sun cut sharp angles across the classroom floor as desks were shoved to the walls, and the hum of conversation turned into a chant. It seems like they were having a little contest.
It was nothing but a child's game to my eyes. The game where you win by scoring one clean hit on your opponent.
A few matches flew by, quick bursts of laughter and yelps by my fellow classmates.
"Faulker! You're up!" someone called.
I laughed it off and waved a hand. "I'll pass."
Wrong move. The crowd booed like I'd insulted their ancestors, and two students shoved me forward into the circle before I could protest.
Lyna leaned close, smirking. "Don't embarrass me, boyfriend."
My opponent stepped forward. My height, wiry, and smirking like he'd ended plenty of matches in under three seconds.
The room went quiet. The only sound was the squeak of shoes shifting for balance.
A signal was given — a hand slamming on the table.
He moved first. A right hook aimed at my left shoulder. I didn't avoid it. Instead, I jumped at his direction and landed my knee on his chin first. The sound cracked like a snapped branch.
The match ended in an instant. The crowd erupted. Some laughing, some whistling, others cheering.
But my opponent wasn't satisfied. He growled, eyes blazing with irritation, and charged at me like he hadn't accepted the loss.
I barely had a second to react. With a sharp twist, I spun backwards and jumped in his direction again, landing a perfectly timed kick to his solar plexus. Before he could recover, I throwed a quick jab on his face again, and grabbed him by the head to slam his face to the ground. The thud echoed through the room, and for a moment, even the cheering students fell silent.
My opponent groaned, sprawled on the floor, completely defeated. The class stared at me, some wide-eyed, others smirking as if this was beyond their expectations.
Lyna tilted her head, golden eyes glinting. Her lips stretched all the way to her ears, grinning uncontrollably, as if she had won a jackpot.
The room buzzed with whispers and stifled laughter. Some students nudged each other, eyes darting between me and the sprawled opponent.
"Did you see that?" one boy muttered. "That quick-turn into a flying kick… straight out of a movie!"
"Is this guy really our classmate?!" another whispered, incredulous.
A few girls giggled, fanning themselves dramatically. Others simply shook their heads, impressed but cautious. The air was thick with a mix of awe and unease . My own reflex had just betrayed me.
Lyna leaned closer to me, her voice low, teasing. "Looks like you've made quite the impression."
I smirked, though my pulse was still racing. "Lucky hit, I guess..." I said, shrugging, but I knew they weren't buying it.
Shouts of speculation bounced across the classroom. Some wondered where I came from, others wondered which family I belonged to. After all, a first-year capable of that much precision, speed and force was hardly ordinary.
From the back, a few students whispered names and guesses, trying to piece together a story. And as I scanned the room, I realized: my ignorance about the school, my quiet demeanor, and now my unexpected skill had already begun to make me a subject of curiosity.
Even without trying, I had just painted a target on myself. And somehow, it felt like this was only the beginning.
The bell rang, and the chaos of whispers didn't subside. Students lingered in their seats, eyes still darting toward me as if expecting another display.
Lyna reached out and grabbed my arm, tugging me toward the door. "Come on, Faulk," she said, playful but insistent. "Let's get out of here before they start asking too many questions."
I followed, letting her lead. But she grabbed my arm, and walked side by side with me. As we stepped into the hallway, the murmurs and laughter from the classroom faded, replaced by the familiar echo of footsteps on polished floors.
I glanced at her. "Why do you care so much?" I asked quietly.
She smirked, her golden eyes catching the sunlight from the tall windows. "Because you're my first-day boyfriend, remember? And besides… some people just like to watch the chaos."
I raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. Part of me felt relief at escaping the classroom's scrutiny. Another part, though, knew the attention wouldn't stop. My display had set something in motion.
As we walked down the hall, I noticed a few students trailing at a distance, curious, cautious. They whispered among themselves, clearly trying to piece together who I was and why I could move like that.
Even from across the room, I could feel the eyes of upperclassmen scanning me, noting my posture, the way I moved, the faint aura of calm control that didn't match my first-year status.
Then, I noticed groups of students exchanging subtle glances, some muttering numbers, others tracing imaginary moves using their phones, as if trying to calculate the force behind my kick. Their curiosity wasn't just idle gossip. It was respect, fear, and fascination rolled into one.
Lyna glanced at me, reading my expression. "Well, if you're wondering how it's already spreading this fast, one of our classmate was recording everything, including your part of scuffle. "
I nodded, silently acknowledging her point. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that today had done more than just show my skill. It had planted a seed of intrigue. And somewhere, far above the chatter of students, the wheels of the High Council were likely turning.
For now, though, I allowed myself to walk side-by-side with my fake girlfriend, Lyna, in silence. Letting the hum of the academy fade around us as we headed towards a quieter corner of the school.
"By tomorrow, everyone will be talking about you, whether you like it or not."
I frowned, adjusting the strap of my bag. "And what about the people who… won't be impressed?"
She shrugged, eyes twinkling. "Those are the ones who'll make it interesting. My well-beloved Faulk… you'll see soon enough."
Lyna leaned closer again, whispering, "Just remember, being noticed in this school isn't always a bad thing… but it can be dangerous if you underestimate who's watching."
Lyna finally glanced at the clock, sighed softly, and gave me a small, playful nudge. "I've got things to do, Faulk. Don't get into too much trouble while I'm gone."
Before I could respond, she turned and walked away. Her long white hair swaying like a banner behind her. I watched her go, feeling a strange mix of relief and lingering curiosity. The hallway suddenly felt emptier, quieter, almost too silent after her presence.
I trudged back to the dormitory, my bag heavy on my shoulder, the weight of the day settling in. Entering Room 103, I found Alejandro still bent over his books, scribbling formulas and notes with precision. Nayuta was curled up on his bed, humming softly to himself as he flipped through a novel. Both of them glanced up, offered brief nods, and returned to their respective tasks.
I didn't bother unpacking immediately. Instead, I collapsed face down on my bed, letting the cool sheets press against my skin. The events of the day replayed in my mind — the lunch, the spinning kick, the whispers, Lyna's cryptic words about allies and trust.
The hum of the dormitory, the faint chatter of other students outside, even the soft creak of the ceiling above… it all felt distant, muffled by the exhaustion and the storm of thoughts in my head.
I stayed like that for a while, staring at the ceiling, letting my mind wander. The first day here had been more than I expected. And somewhere deep down, I sensed that nothing would ever be simple again.
Lying face down, I turned my head to the side, staring at the neatly made beds of my roommates. Alejandro buried in his notes, Nayuta lost in his book… and me, in the middle of a storm I hadn't even agreed to step into yet.
Lyna's words kept replaying in my mind: "I need a trusted ally… I hoped you might be that person." The notion was simple on the surface, but the implications ran deep. This wasn't just about helping a classmate. It was about navigating a web of influence, power, and perhaps danger that I hadn't even begun to understand.
I let out a quiet sigh. I had always been self-reliant, careful about who I trusted. And now, here I am, a first-year in a school designed to shape rulers, being asked to choose a side. Or at least, to ally with someone whose stakes I barely understood.
I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling, fingers tracing patterns in the air. Could I really trust Lyna? Could I even trust myself to not get dragged into something I wasn't ready for?
And yet… there was a part of me, quiet but insistent, that wanted to see. To test the waters. To measure the strength of someone who had already shown audacity on her first day — and expected it from me.
I knew one thing for certain: staying neutral might be safe, but it wouldn't be enough here. Not if I wanted to understand the currents running through this school, not if I wanted to survive. And maybe even thrive.
The hum of the dormitory seemed louder now, filled with invisible eyes, whispers of curiosity, and the subtle tension of unspoken challenges. Somewhere above, the High Council was already taking notice, and I couldn't ignore that.
I sat up slowly, letting the weight of my thoughts settle. For the first time since stepping into Imperius Academy, I realized that choosing to engage or to refuse wasn't just about today. It was about every day that would follow. Every ripple I would make in this world of calculated power and quiet dangers.
And deep down, I wondered if I was ready for the consequences of even a single choice.