The morning sky was a dull gray, as if mirroring Alvano Darwinson's mood. The spring breeze brushed against his face as he stood before the grand iron gates of Velmont Academy, an elite school filled with children of prestigious, influential, or simply wealthy families.
He wore his school uniform neatly, his tie perfectly knotted, and his hair cut short yet unremarkable. From the outside, he looked like the model student. But behind his calm gaze lay a world he had never shared with anyone.
His grandfather had prepared him since early morning. Though the old man wasn't rich, he tried his best for his grandson. Velmont HighSchool was no ordinary school. Its tuition was steep—even by wealthy standards. But his grandfather insisted—if Alvano wanted a future, the best place for him was here. With leftover savings, a scholarship, and a few old connections of his father that could still be leveraged, Alvano could sit among the next generation of leaders.
What no one knew, however, was that Alvano wasn't interested in being anyone important.
He only wanted a peaceful life.
He only wanted not to hurt anyone.
"Oi! Alvano!"
A cheerful voice rang from a distance. A boy with messy brown hair ran toward him, his wide smile almost like the morning sun. That was Theodore Elric, the only friend who could stand by Alvano's side.
Theo patted his shoulder, unconsciously invading Alvano's personal space—but he didn't mind. Only with Theo could he breathe a little easier.
"You're here too early again. Seriously, are you human or a robot?" Theo joked, chuckling.
"If I'm late, my grandfather will scold me," Alvano replied briefly.
Theo laughed again. "Your grandfather's strict, but I like him. He's more human than most parents here."
They walked through the sprawling school gardens toward the main building. Velmont HighSchool looked like a majestic castle from the outside. Its architecture blended classical and modern styles—a symbol of understated yet sharp luxury. Other students walked with confidence, some busy discussing clubs, semester events, or family vacation plans abroad.
Alvano remained silent. He didn't want attention. If he could, he wanted to be a shadow among all the bright lights.
The first day of the new semester wasn't much different from before. The classrooms were clean and spacious, with glass windows overlooking the backyard. Students were reintroduced one by one by their homeroom teacher, even though most of them already knew each other.
Except Alvano.
He wasn't popular. He wasn't special. There was only one strange thing that always puzzled teachers and even fellow students: he looked ordinary, yet somehow… different. Something within him that couldn't be explained. Something that made people instinctively keep their distance.
"We have some new students joining us today," the homeroom teacher announced in a flat voice, breaking the silence. "Behave yourselves, and don't cause trouble."
After the introductions ended, Alvano gazed out the window again. Outside, he saw something familiar. A small bird perched on a branch, then trembled and flew away in a panic.
His eyes narrowed. He knew what it was. That strange feeling in his chest returned—a faint pressure he only sometimes felt. An invisible push that, for some reason, always made small things around him change for no apparent reason.
Chairs could move on their own. Pencils could snap. Glasses could crack from nothing but his blank stare.
He always felt this oddity, his heart racing, sweat trickling down his temples.
The bell rang after a few hours of class activities. Theo immediately dragged Alvano out to the cafeteria. They sat in a corner, away from the crowd. While chewing a tuna sandwich, Theo started a conversation.
"This semester has a lot of transfer students. I heard other classes have some too, like ours." Theo devoured his tuna sandwich eagerly.
"You seem to have plenty of time to find that out," Alvano said, glancing at the cafeteria ceiling for a moment.
Theo looked at Alvano's ever-sour expression and rolled his eyes.
"First day of the semester and your face still looks like someone just got a traffic ticket," Theo joked, patting Alvano on the back.
Alvano just turned slightly, expression still flat. "Traffic tickets don't interest me."
"Oh man, even my joke feels like a math problem to you," Theo sighed, smirking. "What can actually catch your interest, Van? National finance reports?"
Theo glanced at Alvano's untouched tuna sandwich. He had already finished his own, almost swallowing the wrapper.
The cafeteria's noise seemed to unsettle Alvano. He scanned the surroundings, heart pounding. Theo noticed his friend's panic and tried to lighten the mood with humor.
"If you keep staring at people like that, they might think you're a spy disguised as a student," Theo said, nudging Alvano's arm gently.
But Alvano's gaze didn't change. His eyes were sharp yet restless, as if waiting for something he couldn't even explain to himself. His breathing was slightly heavy, like trying to swallow air that felt too tight.
Theo tilted his head, trying to read his friend's expression. "Bad dream again last night, huh?"
Alvano paused before answering quietly, "I don't know… The dream wasn't complete. But it felt like… someone was watching me."
"Well, maybe it's just the effect of the long break. Your brain isn't used to school yet." Theo chuckled, trying to ease the tension. "Or maybe you just missed me too much, that's why you're hallucinating."
Alvano turned to Theo with a blank expression. "It felt more like a nightmare than missing you."
"Wow, that's harsh." Theo pretended to clutch his chest. "You've wounded me, Van."
But the joke didn't truly calm Alvano. He squeezed his tuna sandwich in his hand, slowly unwrapping it. Even as he took a bite, his expression remained unchanged.
"I'm serious, Theo," he said softly, still watching the other students laughing in the cafeteria. "Something feels different today… like something's waiting to happen."
Theo was about to respond when the school bell rang, echoing throughout the cafeteria, signaling the end of break time.
"You always love drama, huh?" Theo said, standing and straightening his bag. "Come on, before we're late. You know how our physics teacher treats late students, right? Like time-stealing bandits."
Alvano didn't reply. He continued walking down Velmont Academy's long, elegant corridors, surrounded by classical interior design fused with modern elite-school aesthetics. Marble walls were adorned with the academy's emblem: a winged shield with a flame and a star at its center—a symbol of power and light, according to the teachers.