Morning came in gray, heavy clouds. Rain still lingered in puddles along the streets. Kang Yeon walked into school, hood drawn over his head, his collar stained with dried blood and mud.
Whispers followed him down the halls.
"That's him…"
"The traitor's son…"
"Stay away from him."
He ignored them. He had learned long ago that fighting words wouldn't matter—not yet.
A translucent window flickered in his mind:
> Name: Kang Yeon
Rank: F
Skills:
– Absolute Healing (F-Rank)
– Word of Destruction (F-Rank)
Soul Burden: 5%
Still F rank… Yeon muttered. His body felt stronger, but the system reminded him of limits—limits he didn't yet understand.
A heavy hand slammed onto his desk.
"Oy! You!"
Yeon looked up. A broad, muscular boy grinned, filled with arrogant malice.
"Let's see if you're still weak, traitor's spawn."
The classroom snickered. Yeon's heart beat faster—not with fear, but anticipation.
"…Sit."
The boy laughed. "Huh? Sit? Or what?"
Yeon's hand twitched slightly. A faint ripple in the air, almost invisible, passed over the classroom. The boy froze mid-laugh.
"…Sit," Yeon repeated.
The boy's legs gave out. He collapsed onto the chair with a loud CRASH.
Silence fell. Every student stared, mouths agape. Some scrambled back.
Yeon's chest hurt—not from fighting, but from focusing. His soul burden ticked upward.
> Soul Burden: 7%
The teacher, an older woman with sharp eyes, finally spoke.
"…Yeon. Sit down, please."
Yeon complied, sitting calmly, pretending nothing had happened. But his mind raced.
It works… even here.
He caught a glimpse of someone sitting across the room—a girl with silver hair, piercing eyes. Luna Aster. She was quiet, observing him. Not with fear. Not with disgust. Curiosity.
Interesting, Yeon thought. She doesn't look away.
During lunch, he sat alone on the rooftop, quietly eating stale bread.
"Can I sit here?" a soft voice asked.
Yeon looked up. Luna had followed him.
"…Why?" he asked warily.
She shrugged. "You didn't beg. Most people in your position would be groveling for attention."
"…I don't need attention," Yeon muttered.
She studied him, her gray eyes piercing. "You're not normal," she said finally.
Yeon smiled faintly. "Neither are you."
Wind rustled between them. Silence settled, heavy but not uncomfortable.
"…Be careful," Luna said. "The world hates things it can't control."
Yeon's lips twitched into a faint smirk. "Then let it hate me."
For the first time, he didn't feel small.