Silver hair gleamed under the morning sun, catching every stray glance like a lure. Kaiser moved with an easy grace through the academy gates, shoulders relaxed, cloak trailing just enough to suggest both elegance and danger. He didn't rush, didn't need to — people made space for him instinctively, curiosity pulling their eyes to him.
A group of girls near the fountain whispered in hushed awe.
"Who is he?"
"Look at his hair… he doesn't even look real."
"Do you think he's royalty?"
Kaiser's lips curved faintly — not quite a smile, just a twitch at the corner, as though the whispers were nothing new. His eyes, calm and unreadable, didn't waver. He looked past the crowds, past the academy walls, as if the world inside was already too small for him.
But Fort Riven Academy was no ordinary school. And today, it had its eyes on him.
Fort Riven Academy
Location: Capital region of gaia, near Vassenthal
Founded: 202 years ago by Ravion Riven, the hunter-king blessed by the God of War and Unity
Purpose: Train elite hunters to fight monsters, cursed lands, and dark forces
Student Count: ~2,200 across six years
Academy Rank: #3 in the Gaia region
First-Year Combat Division
Total Students: ~300
Classes: 1-A to 1-F
"Identity card, please."
The guard's voice pulled me back from my thoughts.
"Oh, sure." I fumbled in my pocket, handing over the sleek card issued by the academy.
He studied it briefly, nodded, and stepped aside. "You may enter."
"Thanks," I muttered, pocketing it as I stepped through the massive gates.
The courtyard stretched vast before me, banners swaying proudly in the wind. Students in immaculate uniforms passed by, their polished shoes clicking on marble, their noble airs impossible to miss.
Before I could even get my bearings, my phone buzzed violently in my hand. An unknown number.
I answered. "Hello?"
"Hello, Kaiser Hawkins." The voice was deep, formal. "I am Professor Haward. The headmaster has summoned you. Turn on your location — I'll come and fetch you."
The weight of his tone made my chest tighten. "…Understood, Professor. I'm near the statue of Sir Ravion Riven."
"Stay there."
The line clicked dead.
Minutes later, a tall man approached, golden hair glinting, white overcoat marked with the crest of Fort Riven. His stride was long, assured — the walk of someone who owned every hallway he entered.
"Apologies," he said smoothly. "The academy is vast. Welcome, Kaiser Hawkins. The headmaster is waiting."
I followed, excitement and unease mixing in my chest.
The headmaster's office wasn't an office at all. It was a sanctum. Vaulted ceilings, relics lining the walls, mana crystals orbiting in quiet hums. And at the window stood a man, his back turned, brown trench coat flowing faintly in the draft.
For a moment, silence. Then, as he turned, my breath caught.
Eyes like molten crimson locked on me, sharp enough to pierce flesh and soul.
Elrin Vaelis.
The Blades of Aether. Former High Paladin of Gaia's Eastern Front. A living legend.
"Kaiser Hawkins," he said, voice low and steady. "Sit."
The command wasn't loud — but the weight in it left no room for disobedience. I obeyed quickly, lowering myself onto the leather sofa.
He studied me in silence, the kind that scraped against nerves. Finally, he spoke again.
"Blessed by the God of Blades. Son of the late House Hawkins."
My jaw clenched. Late… House Hawkins. A shard of pain twisted in my chest.
"You carry bloodline," Vaelis continued, pacing slowly across the room. "And bloodlines are both weapon and curse. Do you understand what that means?"
"I think so," I said carefully.
His eyes narrowed. "No. You don't. Not yet."
The air in the room thickened, as if mana itself pressed down on me.
"Talent draws envy. Power invites betrayal. Even in this academy, there are those who would rather see you broken than risen." He stopped, gaze sharp as steel. "Do not mistake Fort Riven for a sanctuary. It is a crucible. And you, Hawkins… are a flame yet untested."
I swallowed, forcing my voice steady. "Then test me. I didn't come here to hide. I came here to become stronger."
For the first time, Vaelis's lips curved faintly, almost approving. But it wasn't warmth — it was the kind of smile a swordsman gave before a duel.
"Good," he said softly. "Hold onto that fire. But remember this — flames that burn too bright… attract the strongest winds."
His gaze lingered on me a second longer, heavy, measuring, before he turned back to the window. "You may leave. Attend your class. Make me regret calling you here… or make me proud."
The dismissal was as sharp as a blade. I stood, fists clenched, and bowed lightly. "Thank you, Headmaster."
As I stepped out of the sanctum, my heartbeat thundered — fear, determination, and something darker coiled inside me.
I will not falter.
By the time I reached Class 1-B, resolve burned hot in my veins.
Ting!
The scanner blinked as I tapped my card. The doors slid open.
Silver hair gleamed once again, drawing every eye in the room. Kaiser stepped in, movements effortless, dangerous, magnetic. The whispers began instantly.
The professor's sharp voice sliced through the noise.
"Late. On your first day." Her fiery red hair caught the light, pale face set with irritation. "Ray Nauzen, it seems someone has beaten your record. He entered at 8:45, ten minutes later than you did on your first day."
Laughter erupted across the room.
At the back, Ray lifted his head, dark eyes bored — until they met mine. The moment our gazes locked, the air shifted. He flinched, just slightly, like he'd been struck.
I only smiled faintly.
And with that, the threads of fate began to weave.