Lumis Academy, Upper District — Kingdom of Lumisgrave
The bells of Lumis Academy tolled with a hollow metallic ring, echoing through the marble halls like a funeral hymn. The sound made Arsam flinch every morning. It reminded him of chains striking stone—something he felt he wore invisibly, though no one else could see them.
He sat alone at his desk near the back of Classroom C-7, fingers folded neatly to hide their trembling. Around him, students glowed with quiet magic. Ribbons of elemental light curled around wrists, shoulders, even hair—simple unconscious displays of power. Fire sparks danced above one boy's palm as he laughed; two girls whispered while one made tiny snowflakes drift from her fingers.
Arsam stared down at his own hands.
Bare. Cold. Human.
No glow. No warmth.
Nothing.
How shameless, he scolded himself. To sit among them… to pretend I belong here.
A Dormant. That's what they called him here—those without magic. The academy pretended to "welcome" Dormant students, claiming to be an equal institution, but everyone knew the truth: Dormants were tolerated, not respected. They were shadows, fillers, reminders of what strength was not.
And Arsam was the lowest shadow of all.
He brushed his black hair from his eyes, trying to steady his breath. His reflection on the polished desk stared back: pale skin, dark lashes, striking eyes that others often called "too beautiful for someone so useless."
He hated that.
He hated being looked at at all.
Just as he exhaled, the atmosphere of the classroom shifted. The chatter quieted; laughter died like snuffed candles.
The door slammed open.
A group of five students strode into the room—cloaks swaying, boots tapping sharply on the stone. Their magic flickered like flames eager to burn something. Arsam's heartbeat stuttered. He didn't need to look to know who it was.
A student,Kael Thornin, rich noble blood, and Arsam's daily nightmare.
Arsam's fingers tightened around the edge of his chair. His face drained of color. Fear coiled in his stomach like a cold serpent.
Kael spotted him instantly.
"Oho… look who's pretending to study," Kael sneered, brushing a strand of crimson-dyed hair behind his ear. His eyes glowed faintly—the unmistakable shimmer of Flame Affinity.
Arsam lowered his head, gripping the chair harder.
Behind Kael, the usual group followed: Mera, Thol, Vyn, and Jarreth—each with magic crackling around them like hungry creatures.
"Morning, Hollow." Mera grinned, her nails emitting faint sparks. "Miss us?"
Arsam didn't reply. He couldn't. His throat was too tight.
Kael's steps echoed as he approached, every click like a countdown to pain. The classroom watched in silence—some curious, some amused, none willing to intervene.
Except one.
"Kael." A girl's voice cut sharply through the air.
Every head turned.
Lily.
She stepped between Kael and Arsam like a blade of blue light. Her long sapphire hair shimmered with faint luminescent strands—an involuntary sign of her advanced magical control. Her beauty was delicate but sharp, eyes a piercing frost-blue that often softened around Arsam but now froze over like ice.
"Leave him alone," she said.
Kael snorted. "Stay out of this, princess."
"I'm not asking," she replied coolly.
Arsam felt his chest constrict. Not again. Not because of him. He didn't want her dragged into this. He didn't want her hurt.
He forced himself to speak. "L-Lily… it's fine. Just sit down."
She turned her head slightly, her expression softening when she looked at him. "Arsam, it's not fine."
Kael laughed loudly. "Look at him hiding behind a girl again! Pathetic."
A ripple of snickers spread through the room.
Arsam shrank down. His face burned with humiliation. The familiar emptiness inside him churned.
Kael raised a glowing finger toward Lily. "Move, or I'll—"
"You'll do what?" Lily stepped closer, power rising around her like a cold wind. The air temperature dropped several degrees. Frost shimmered at her feet. "Try me."
Kael's smirk twitched, but only for a moment. He didn't want a real fight—they both knew it. Lily was a high-level Legendary candidate. Kael wasn't stupid enough to battle her inside the academy.
So instead, he turned his anger toward the easy target.
Arsam.
Kael stepped around her with a mocking bow and slammed his hand on Arsam's desk. The impact rattled Arsam's bones. Kael leaned close, voice dripping venom.
"You listen to me, Hollow. After class, you're coming to the courtyard. You know what will happen if you don't."
Arsam's breath caught. He nodded weakly. He always nodded.
Kael grinned triumphantly. "Good boy."
Then he snapped his fingers.
A burst of flame shot across Arsam's desk, scorching the wood and blasting his notebook onto the floor.
"Oops," Kael said lightly. "Fire control slip."
The class laughed.
Arsam stared at the burned desk, his heart pounding, hands shaking uncontrollably. He tried to hide them under the table, but the tremor wouldn't stop.
Lily's jaw clenched. "You're disgusting, Kael."
Kael shrugged. "Beauty defending uselessness. How poetic."
"I said stop." Lily's voice cracked like ice splitting stone.
But Kael only smirked and walked away, his group following him to the far side of the room as if nothing had happened.
Arsam bent down slowly to pick up his notebook. His fingers brushed the floor—cold, unforgiving stone.
Then a soft hand touched his.
His head snapped up.
Lily knelt beside him, picking up the charred notebook gently, as though it were something delicate and precious.
"You don't deserve this," she whispered.
Arsam recoiled. "Lily… don't. Don't help me. Please."
Her brows knitted in worry. "Why? Because of them? Because you're afraid they'll target me?"
"…Yes."
She smiled sadly. "They already target me. I'm friends with you."
His chest tightened painfully. "But I—we're not—"
"Don't say we're not friends," she interrupted quietly. "Or that you're protecting me by pushing me away."
Arsam's throat closed. He looked down. He didn't know how to answer that. Didn't know how to handle kindness. Not anymore.
Before he could speak, the door opened again and Professor Theron entered, robes trailing behind him like dark shadows. His eyes, sharp and tired, swept the room.
"Seats," he said.
Everyone obeyed. Even Lily reluctantly returned to her place, though her gaze lingered on Arsam.
Arsam tried to calm his breathing. Tried to focus on the lesson. The professor droned on about magical energy flow, circles, and elemental stability. Students practiced forming small radiant orbs above their palms. Light filled the classroom like drifting stars.
Arsam sat still.
Silent.
Trying not to look at the glow he would never produce.
But he felt it— Kael's gaze burning holes in his back. The promise of pain later. The fear choking him.
I don't belong here, he thought bitterly. I never did.
He clenched his hands beneath the desk until his knuckles turned white.
Then something strange happened.
The magic lights in the room flickered.
A soft hum trembled through the air—almost like a breath.
Students paused, confused.
The magical orbs dimmed… then sputtered… then vanished.
Professor Theron frowned. "What in Lumis' name—?"
Arsam's chest tightened.
He felt something.
A faint throb deep inside him.
A cold pulse, barely noticeable but undeniable.
Something ancient. Something wrong.
Magic around him faltered.
The classroom dimmed.
Students looked around, alarmed.
And Arsam froze.
Not now, he begged silently. Please, not now.
The sensation faded a moment later, leaving only silence.
"It must be a fluctuation from the central conduit," the professor muttered. "Continue your practice."
Magic returned gradually, light filling the classroom once more.
But Arsam's hands wouldn't stop shaking.
He knew that pulse.
He had felt it once before—years ago, the night the creature attacked his village.
That cold emptiness.
That void.
He swallowed hard, forcing himself to breathe.
As class ended, Kael stretched lazily and smirked at Arsam.
"Courtyard. Five minutes," he said.
Arsam nodded weakly, dread crawling up his spine.
Lily rushed to him as soon as the bell rang. "Arsam, don't go."
"I have to."
"No, you don't!" She grabbed his wrist, eyes filled with fear and frustration. "They'll hurt you. Again. And again. How long will you let them do this?"
"…As long as I have to," Arsam whispered.
"Why?" Her voice cracked.
"Because I can't fight back."
Lily's hands trembled. "I'll fight for you then."
"No!" His voice rose louder than he intended. He pulled his wrist free, stepping back. "Lily, please… stay out of this."
Her eyes glistened with hurt. "You don't have to suffer alone."
Arsam turned away.
He didn't want her dragged into his darkness. He couldn't bear the thought of her being hurt because of him.
He walked toward the door, each step heavier than the last.
Behind him, Lily whispered, barely audible—
"Arsam… I won't let you break."
But Arsam didn't look back.
Couldn't.
The courtyard awaited.
The beating awaited.
His shame awaited.
And somewhere deep within his chest…
the forbidden power stirred again.
Like a sleeping monster opening one eye.