Arav sat quietly on the edge of one of the twin beds, nervously picking at a loose thread in the blanket. The room he had been assigned to was far larger than anything he had expected—two beds neatly placed opposite each other, a wide wooden table in the center, and tall windows draped with thick navy-blue curtains that almost swallowed the sunlight. Shadows stretched across the floor like they were waiting for him to make a move.
"So… I'm going to share this room with another person," he muttered, glancing around curiously. His voice echoed softly in the big room. "Rias said my training starts tomorrow… she's weird, but somehow… she's nice?"
He shook his head at his own thoughts. His heart felt heavy and fluttery at the same time. The day had been long, overwhelming. Too many new faces, too many rules, too many unknowns. He hadn't even processed everything yet—and now he had to worry about a roommate too?
He sighed loudly.
At least the bed is soft…
BAM!
The door burst open, slamming into the wall with a force that made the entire frame shiver. Arav jumped, nearly slipping off the bed. His heart leaped straight into his throat.
Standing in the doorway was a boy—maybe his age, maybe a year older. Jet-black hair fell messily over his forehead, his posture sharp, stiff, and proud like someone who believed he was born important. His eyes were sharp enough to slice stone.
He stared at Arav for a long, uncomfortable second… then—
"A girl…?" the boy muttered, frowning, tilting his head. "What are you doing in the boys' room, Mrs… um—?"
Arav froze.
His brain stopped working.
His soul left his body.
He squeezed his eyes shut in agony.
Not again… WHY AGAIN?!
"I–I'm not a girl!" Arav blurted, puffing up his chest. His voice cracked halfway through the sentence. "I'm a boy. Arav Veylorn!"
The boy's eyebrows shot up so dramatically he looked like he had just witnessed a crime.
"What… you're a boy?!"
His tone carried the same sharpness Kabeer always used on him—but this boy sounded more annoyed than dangerous.
Arav slumped back onto the bed, muttering under his breath.
"Great… my first roommate already thinks I'm a girl. Perfect start. Amazing. Just what I needed."
The boy crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe with a sigh of exaggerated disappointment.
"Hmph. So you're the new kid. I'm your roommate. Don't think you can slack off or act spoiled. This room has rules."
"R-right," Arav said, trying to sit straighter, though he looked like a terrified squirrel.
The boy's expression softened just a little—barely noticeable.
"And don't try anything funny. I can be… unpleasant if I need to be."
Arav gulped hard.
What does unpleasant even mean?? Why does everyone here threaten me every five minutes??
The boy smirked, clearly enjoying Arav's panic.
"By the way… I'm waiting for your name. Don't tell me you're too scared to speak."
"I—I'm Arav," he whispered.
"Arav," the boy repeated, testing the sound in his mouth. Then he shrugged. "Fine. Don't get too comfortable. This is just the beginning."
Arav let out a long sigh and ran his fingers through his messy hair.
"So this is my life now… sharing a room with someone who looks like Kabeer's mini-version… and training starts tomorrow…"
He sneaked a glance at the boy. Something about him—despite the attitude—felt interesting. He had that aura of someone who had been through a lot. Someone who wasn't easily broken.
Kabeer's mini-version… and yet the opposite?
KNOCK KNOCK.
Both boys turned toward the door.
The black-haired boy—Flinch, as Arav would soon learn—stood up straight, chest puffed, chin lifted proudly.
"That must be my friends," he said with a smirk. "I made senior soldiers my friends."
Arav raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Your friends are waiting outside, Sir?" he teased.
Flinch's smirk vanished instantly, as if someone had smacked it off his face.
Annoyed, he stomped toward the door and yanked it open.
Two figures stepped inside without even waiting for permission.
The air changed.
The room felt smaller.
Heavier.
Both men were tall—towering, almost—and their presence alone carried the weight of authority. Their cloaks were the first thing that caught Flinch's attention.
One cloak was a deep navy blue.
The other was a sharp dark green.
Flinch's eyes widened. His lips trembled. His legs shook slightly.
"N–Navy blue… and dark green cloaks…?" he whispered. "E–Elite captains… h-here… at this hour?"
The taller one leaned casually against the doorframe, looking at Arav with amused, curious eyes.
"So… you brought him here, huh? Her little brother?" Mayank said with a teasing grin.
Arav blinked. "Her? Brother? Wait—what?"
Mayank's grin widened even more. He winked at Arav.
"He looks like a cute little girl," Mayank said playfully, nudging his partner.
Varek's jaw tightened.
He glared at Mayank like he was planning to throw him into a volcano.
"Don't make fun of him," Varek growled, his voice deep and threatening.
Arav flushed red in anger—and embarrassment.
Why does everyone think I'm a girl today????
Meanwhile Flinch looked like he was about to pass out. His face was a mixture of fear, awe, confusion, and regret. He wanted to vanish. Run. Hide. Dig a hole and jump inside. But leaving the room without permission? Against the rules.
He was trapped with two elite captains.
"Here," Varek said, tossing a neatly folded uniform toward Arav. "Wear this starting tomorrow. Until I give you a new one."
Arav reached out quickly, holding the uniform like it was something sacred.
Mayank suddenly turned toward Flinch.
And stared.
Just stared.
Deeply.
Dangerously.
Until Flinch began sweating buckets.
"Listen, you short-height…" Mayank began.
Flinch straightened like a stick.
"You are responsible for him—from today, until he stays in this room. Treat him as our younger brother. Don't even THINK about touching him or bothering him."
Flinch bowed so fast he almost snapped his spine.
"I—I owe you, sir! I will do it, sir!"
Varek grabbed Mayank by the cloak.
"Let's go. You talk too much."
"Ow—ow—stop dragging me! It hurts, idiot!" Mayank complained loudly as Varek pulled him out.
SLAM!
The door closed behind them.
The room fell silent.
Flinch stared blankly at the closed door.
"W–What just happened??" he whispered, eyes trembling.
He slowly turned to Arav.
Arav was smiling.
A calm, innocent… but somehow creepy little smile.
Flinch's entire soul left his body.
Great. Great. First elite captains, now a creepy smiling roommate.
He gulped.
This was not how he expected the night to go.
---
Next Morning
The sky was still painted in soft pinks and oranges when Arav reached the training grounds. A massive open field stretched before him, surrounded by stone pathways and tall pillars. Hundreds of young trainees—boys and girls aged anywhere between eight and eighteen—were already gathering.
They were all whispering.
All nervous.
All curious.
Arav slipped into a line, trying to blend in. The cool morning air brushed against his skin, carrying the scent of dew-soaked grass and distant forests.
His heart thumped loudly.
Day one. Don't mess up. Don't trip. Don't embarrass yourself—again.
Everyone tried arranging themselves into a neat queue. Some pushed each other into position. Some screamed names. Some whispered prayers.
Suddenly—
"MOVE! GET IN LINE!"
A loud, thunderous voice echoed through the field.
Everyone flinched.
Arav felt his spine straighten immediately.
Was that… a beast?!
He turned around slowly.
No, it was definitely a human.
But the aura?
Beast-like.
Even the air felt heavy.
Slow footsteps approached, each one sounding like a drum.
Kids swallowed nervously.
"Who is that?" someone whispered.
"Is he the instructor?" another muttered.
"Or is it a beast raid?!"
Arav gulped.
Whoever it is… they're strong.
And this was just the beginning.
---