Morning came too quickly for Kai's liking. He barley slept all night, lying awake on his bed looking at the ornate ceiling.
It wasn't because he couldn't sleep but because his mind refused to stay quiet. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw it again: the wall, the gap, the almost making it, and then Leon, standing there like he had always been there.
Kai felt irritation as he just watched like this was all a game to him.
Kai sat on the edge of his bed, staring down at his hands. They were steady now, but he could still remember the rush of adrenaline from last night, the brief, fleeting taste of freedom.
"…I was close," he muttered under his breath. He was close enough. But how close he was didn't matter. Leon had still stopped him in the end.
Kai exhaled and stood, grabbing his uniform from the chair. The fabric was crisp, untouched, perfectly prepared by the servants, just like everything else in this place. Kai pulled it on in silence. He dresses into the grey jacket with red tie and white shirt. The pants were black with black shoes as well. This was a prestigious academy, where all the rich kids went. Kai personally would rather go to a public school where expectations were less, but Leon wouldn't ever agree to that.
Normally, kai didn't mind school. It was the one place that felt… less suffocating. Less controlled.
At least that's what he used to think.
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The car ride was quieter than usual. The sleek black Limo had a chauffeur and two passengers. Kai sat slumped beside the window seat, looking straight ahead.
Edgar sat beside him, posture straight, expression unreadable. He hadn't said a word since they left the estate.
Kai didn't bother trying to start a conversation because he was not in the mood.
Kai leaned against the window, watching the city pass by in blurred motion. People walked freely on the streets, talking, laughing, living without the weight of someone watching their every move.
"…Lucky," kai muttered under his breath. They got to live a normal life, even if people who didn't have a ton of money didn't have much luxuries, at least they had a simple life. Kai knew that people who didn't have much money had their own problems too though. No position was good enough.
Edgar's gaze flicked toward him for a brief second, but he said nothing.
The car pulled up to the school gates.
Students filled the entrance, groups forming naturally—friends laughing, talking, completely unaware of how fragile that kind of normalcy really was.
The moment Edgar stepped out of the car, all the attention shifted.
It always did, much to Kai's annoyance. The whispers and glances,
The way girls straightening their posture, brushing their hair back, pretending not to stare. It annoyed Kai a lot, and he wasn't discreet about it.
Kai rolled his eyes as he stepped out after Edgar. He glanced around and went to walk towards the building.
"Disgusting," he muttered, a bit loudly.
Edgar ignored that completely.
"Stay out of trouble today," he said calmly.
Kai snorted. "I'm not the one causing it."
Edgar gave him a look. "You attract it. Now don't give me a reason to tell Leon about your behavior" he said.
Kai frowned slightly but didn't respond.
"…Whatever."
They walked into the building together, though the distance between them was clear. Edgar moved ahead, naturally falling into his place, a confident, composed and untouchable individual.
Kai lagged behind, as always. He was dragging his feet.
Maths class felt even more unbearable than before. For some reason, the teacher sounded extra whiney today. Kai didn't know if it was just him who thought that.
He slumped into his seat, chin resting on his palm as the teacher spoke endlessly at the front of the room. Numbers blurred together, meaningless and dull.
"…and if we solve for—"
Kai tuned it out. He looked out the window, and his thoughts drifted back to last night
Back to the wall.
Back to Leon.
'…Next time…' Leon had said. Kai frowned slightly. What did that even mean?
A faint laugh escaped him under his breath.
'Like he'd actually let me.' Kai thought bitterly. Just then, the teacher called on Kai, which snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Mr Asterian? Would you like to tell us how to solve the algebraic equation?" The teacher asked with a raised eyebrow. Kai felt all eyes on him and he felt embarrassed. "Uh.. Ms I think.." Kai said. He didn't know what to say. Just then, the bell rang. It was sharp and sudden. It was freedom.
Kai stood immediately, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. He was saved by the bell. The classroom filled with movement as students poured out into the hallways. Kai saw a few students glancing st him from his class with knowing looks. He was saved by the bell. Literally.
The halls were noisy as Kai walked out. He sighed with relief as class was over. It was such a bore.
It should have felt better.
But something felt… off.
Kai barely noticed it at first. Just a shift in atmosphere. It was quite subtle. Then—
"Oi."
Kai stopped.
Slowly, Kai turned his head.
Three boys stood a short distance away, blocking part of the hallway. They were older and taller, and more powerful than Kai. Their expressions were smug, confident in a way that immediately irritated him.
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…What do you goons want?" He asked, slightly irritated.
One of them stepped forward, a grin of spreading across his face, despite the anger in his eyes.
"You're that Asterian kid, right?"
Kai didn't answer.
Another one spoke up. "The weak one."
There it was.
Kai's grip on his bag tightened slightly.
"Move." he said flatly.
The first boy laughed. "Not very polite, are you?"
Kai's expression didn't change. "I'm not interested." He said.
"Yeah?" the second boy said, stepping closer. "We are."
Something in the air shifted.
Kai felt it. Their power, the power that Kia was lacking. It was subtle—but there.
His eyes flicked between them, calculating.
Three of them.
Stronger than average.
Not a problem for Leon or Cale or Edgar, except, it was Kai. And to make matters worse, he was alone.
"…Last chance," Kai said, his voice colder now. Kai was bluffing, but sometimes, thats how you stay alive.
"Or what?" one of them mocked. With a smug look on his face. "You gonna tell on us?" He continued mocking.
Kai didn't answer, he just glared at them.
And that was enough was them.
The first hit came fast.
A surge of energy slammed into his side, sending him crashing into the lockers. The impact knocked the air out of his lungs instantly. Kai gasped slightly.
"—!"
Pain exploded through his ribs as he hit the ground. Kai grit his teeth, and felt like his ribs were on fire. Laughter echoed above him.
"Told you he was weak."
Kai scowled, forcing himself to push up—but another strike hit him before he could stand. This time it burned, sharp and violent, magic tearing across his shoulder.
"…ugh" kai tried to move again. "You.. Idiots have no better things to do?"
Kai was too slow at moving.
A fist connected with his jaw, snapping his head to the side.
The world tilted.
Voices blurred together.
"Pathetic."
"Is this really an Asterian?"
"Doesn't look like one."
Another hit.
And another.
Kai's vision swam as he hit the ground again, his hands barely catching him. He clenched his fists. 'Get up.' He ordered himself. It was not working. Kai tried but his arms shook from the weakness. There were too many hits, to fast for him to block. "Ugh!" Kai grunted as they punched his stomache. "Y-you bastards-"
But the words barely came out.
A foot slammed into his side, forcing the air out of him again.
Pain spread everywhere now—sharp, overwhelming, impossible to ignore.
"…Stay down," one of them said, almost bored. The leader of them looked at Kai with a smirk. He put his foot on kais chest.
Kai's fingers curled against the floor.
No. He wouldn't give up-
Another blow cut his thought short.
Everything blurred.
Sound dulled.
His body stopped responding the way he wanted it to.
And still—
They didn't stop.
The hallway had gone quiet.
Students had backed away, watching from a distance.
No one stepped in, or helped.
Because they knew this wasn't something they could interfere with. Just then, a voice sounded.
"…What are you doing?"
The voice was calm.
But cold.
So cold it cut through everything.
The boys froze.
Kai barely registered it at first.
But then—
The pressure of the atmosphere changed. It wasn't like Leon's, it couldn't be, but it was different. Kai recognized it as Edgars. He hasn't felt Edgard aura like this before though. It felt unstable and angry.
The air felt like it had dropped several degrees.
Slowly—
The boys turned.
Edgar Asterian stood at the end of the hallway. He was still and silent, as if he was still comprehending the situation.
His expression was wrong.
he easy confidence was gone and so was the calm indifference he wore so effortlessly.
In its place was something cold. He looked like he couldn't believe the situation.
His blue eyes locked onto the scene before him. He saw Kai, the way he was on the ground. He saw the way the bullies were still standing over him.
A long silence followed.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"…You beat him up." Edgar said quietly.
It wasn't a question. None of the boys spoke because they couldn't.
Because something in his voice made it clear—
They shouldn't dare. Edgar took a step forward, then another.
Each step was measured, controlled—but the air around him tightened with every movement.
"…I asked," he said, his voice dropping further, "what you think you're doing."
One of the boys tried to recover, forcing a laugh.
"H-He got in our way—"
He didn't finish his sentence.
Because the moment the words left his mouth, the pressure hit.
It wasn't as overwhelming as Leon's.
But it didn't need to be. It was precise and controlled. Edgar waved his hand once and the boy's knees buckled instantly, his voice cutting off as he dropped.
The others followed seconds later. They were forced down and unable to move.
Edgar didn't even look at them.
His attention was already on Kai.
He closed the distance in a few steps and crouched down beside him.
"…Kai."he said quietly. His voice changed. It wasn't soft, but it was different, as if he still couldn't believe it.
Kai's vision was blurry, but he could make out the shape of him.
"…Edgar…" he muttered weakly.
Edgar's jaw tightened slightly as he took in the damage.
"…Idiots," he said under his breath.
Carefully, far more carefully than anything else he had done, Edgar slid one arm under Kai and helped him up.
Kai winced slightly, his body protesting the movement.
"Don't move," Edgar said, his tone firm.
"…Wasn't planning to," Kai muttered faintly.
Edgar stood, as Kai leaned against him securley, his grip steady.
Then, Edgar turned, finally looking back at the boys. They were still on the ground, unable to move. They were trapped under the weight of his power. Edgar's gaze was ice cold. "You're lucky," he said quietly. There was no anger in his voice as he glared at them. "Very lucky."
A pause. Edgar then flicked his wrist and threw them back assist the lockers.
"If he had been more injured," Edgar continued, "you wouldn't be standing right now." none of them responded. They couldn't. Edgar then said, " Leon will deal with you three" he promised darkly before turning away again, walking down the hallway with Kai leaning against him for support. The students parted instantly.
No one spoke because no one dared.
Kai rested weakly against him, his eyes half-lidded.
"You're overreacting," he mumbled.
Edgar didn't answer.
His grip tightened slightly.
"You're an idiot," he said instead.
Kai let out a weak breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
"Yeah. I think I am" he coughed out a bit.
Silence fell between them as Edgar half carried,half dragged him out of the building.
But the anger Edgar felt didn't leave from his expression or his eyes.
And definitely not from the way the air around him still felt cold. Edgar brought Kai to the limo since it was home time. He placed Kai inside and followed after. Edgar signaled the chauffeur to go. "Bring us home Michael" he told the chauffeur. Michael nodded, giving Kai a concerned glanced and drive off towards the manor, where Leon and Cale were waiting for them.