F Class was already loud before anything had begun.
Voices overlapped without restraint, chairs dragged across the floor, and no one bothered to hide their irritation.
"This is a joke…"
"I should be in D Class at least—"
"They messed up the rankings—"
Kael sat in the back.
Same as always.
Out of the way. Unnoticed—until he wasn't.
---
The door opened.
The noise didn't stop immediately.
It faded slowly, like no one felt the need to fully listen.
---
The instructor walked in.
No pressure.
No authority in his presence.
Just a man doing what he was required to do.
---
He set a thin stack of papers down on the desk and glanced at the class once.
"You're F Class."
Flat.
Direct.
No build-up.
---
A few students scoffed.
Someone clicked their tongue.
---
"That means you ranked at the bottom."
No emotion.
No judgment.
Just fact.
---
He leaned slightly against the desk.
"My name is Instructor Halvern."
No one reacted.
---
"I'll be responsible for your class."
A pause.
Then—
"We're not starting lessons today."
That got attention.
A few students straightened slightly.
---
"Use the time to settle in."
He gestured vaguely toward the door.
"Dorms are assigned. Room numbers are posted outside."
---
Someone raised a hand.
"Are we doing introductions or—"
---
"No."
---
The answer came instantly.
---
A few students laughed.
Others didn't bother reacting.
---
"If you want to introduce yourselves," Halvern added, "do it on your own time."
He straightened slightly.
"That's all."
---
And just like that—
he walked out.
---
Silence lasted for half a second.
---
Then the room exploded back into noise.
---
"Seriously?"
"That's it?"
"This place is a mess—"
---
Students stood up in groups.
Already forming circles.
Already separating.
---
Kael didn't move immediately.
---
> No structure.
> No order.
---
It made sense.
---
Eventually, he stood.
Walked toward the door.
---
A voice followed him.
"Hey."
---
Kael didn't turn.
---
"You're the theory guy, right?"
---
A few others nearby looked over.
---
"Got in doing nothing."
A short laugh.
---
Kael kept walking.
---
No response.
---
"Thought so."
---
The voices faded as he stepped into the hallway.
---
Outside, a list had been posted.
Dorm assignments.
---
Students gathered around it in small groups.
Talking.
Comparing.
Complaining.
---
Kael waited.
Then stepped forward when space opened.
---
Room numbers.
Pairs.
---
His name—
---
Kael Virex — Room 17
---
Another name beneath it.
---
Tovin Krell
---
Kael looked at it for a second longer.
---
205th.
---
Last place.
---
He stepped away.
---
The dormitories were quieter than the classrooms.
Long corridors.
Uniform doors.
Everything identical.
---
Room 17.
---
He opened it.
---
Someone was already inside.
---
A boy lay back on one of the beds, one arm behind his head, staring at the ceiling as if he had been there for a while.
---
He didn't look at Kael immediately.
---
"You're late."
---
Flat.
Uninterested.
---
Kael stepped in.
Closed the door.
---
Silence settled.
---
The boy glanced over briefly.
---
"Kael Virex."
---
Not a question.
---
Kael didn't respond.
---
A pause.
Then—
"Doesn't matter."
---
The boy looked away again.
---
"They always handle first days like this."
---
Casual.
Almost lazy.
---
Kael's gaze shifted slightly.
---
Always.
---
No explanation followed.
---
Kael moved to his side of the room.
Set his things down.
---
Another pause.
---
"…you don't look surprised."
---
The words came from Kael.
Quiet.
---
The boy didn't react immediately.
---
Then—
"Nothing here is surprising."
---
Still staring at the ceiling.
---
Silence returned.
---
Kael sat down.
---
Outside, voices echoed faintly through the halls.
Groups forming.
Conversations starting.
---
Inside—
nothing changed.
---
Two people.
Same room.
No connection.
---
Kael leaned back slightly, eyes unfocused.
---
> This is where it starts.
---
No guidance.
No structure.
No support.
---
Only position.
---
Only results.
---
His gaze steadied.
---
"…then I'll build from here."