The room fell into a hushed silence as Logan stood frozen at the front of the class, his presence like an anomaly disturbing the delicate balance of the room. His gaze remained locked on the floor, his shoulders slightly hunched, as though trying to shrink himself into nothingness. The weight of their stares pressed against him, suffocating and unrelenting.
Dvalin, standing beside him, tapped him lightly on the shoulder, his voice calm but firm. "Come on, go take a seat."
He gave a brief nod to Kael before walking out of the class, leaving Logan alone in the judgmental silence. It wasn't until a familiar voice broke through the tension that he found the will to move.
"Bro, over here!"
Jay's hand shot up, waving him over with a reassuring grin. He had already pulled out a chair beside him, saving Logan the trouble of searching for a place in a room filled with those who clearly did not welcome him. Wasting no time, Logan hurried toward the empty seat as though it were an oasis in a scorching desert.
Just as he settled, a sharp scoff cut through the murmurs.
"Wow, he can't even stand a crowd. How did he even make it here?" A boy with a bob cut sneered, his voice dripping with scorn.
Another student, sitting a few rows behind, chuckled mockingly. "Guess they're letting just about anyone into Room A these days. Standards must be dropping."
The tension in the room thickened as the whispers turned into open complaints. Some students leaned toward their neighbors, exchanging doubtful glances, while others outright voiced their dissatisfaction.
Kael, who had been leaning against his desk, merely listened, his expression unreadable. The murmurs grew louder, frustration simmering beneath the surface until Kael finally spoke, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.
"I see some of you can't help but disagree with the principal's decision."
Instantly, the room fell into an uneasy silence, though the air was still thick with unspoken grievances.
"Well, Kelvin, it seems you have a lot on your mind. Would you like to share with the class?"
All eyes turned toward the bob-cut boy as Kael gestured toward him. Kelvin shot up from his seat as though he had been waiting for this very moment, his voice laced with passion.
"Everyone in this room worked their asses off to get here. We pushed past our limits, trained till we bled, and fought tooth and nail to secure our spots. We are the best of the best among our peers because we earned it."
Some students nodded in agreement, murmuring words of approval.
Kael tilted his head slightly, unimpressed. "So, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Kelvin scoffed, folding his arms across his chest. "I'm saying that someone like him—someone who can't even handle standing in front of a room—has no business being here. What has he done to deserve a spot among us?"
Logan shrank into his seat, trying to make himself as small as possible. His hands clenched into fists on his lap, nails digging into his palms. Just as he was about to retreat into his thoughts, Jay nudged him on the shoulder.
"Hey, forget about what they say. I'm here, and no one is touching you."
Logan glanced up, surprised by the confidence in Jay's voice. It was enough to ease the tightness in his chest, if only slightly. But before he could say anything, an unexpected voice spoke up.
"Why are you all crying over a new roommate?"
The entire room turned in shock as Angus spoke, his tone casual, almost lazy. "He must've done something to deserve a place here."
Even Kael raised an eyebrow at that.
Roy turned slightly, shooting a curious glance at Angus, who had his hands tucked behind his head, eyes half-closed as if he hadn't just sent a ripple through the class.
"I can't help but agree with him," Mellissa's voice rang out. "If you really have a problem with him being here, you know how we settle things in this room."
At her words, the students instinctively glanced at their wrist devices, checking their personal rankings. It was an unspoken rule—disputes over status were settled through battle, not words.
Kael smirked slightly before speaking again. "Sigh. This happens every time someone deemed unfit takes a position others believe they don't deserve. There are always doubters."
With a flick of his fingers, a holographic screen appeared behind him, displaying an old image of a young Lucien Vaelthorne Clifford.
"The current duke of our continent, Lucien Vaelthorne Clifford—does anyone here remember his rise to power?"
The students exchanged glances before a few of them stole looks at Roy, whose expression remained unreadable, as though this were just another lesson.
"No one expected Lucien to take the seat among the other candidates," Kael continued, shifting through battle footage of Lucien's past fights. "He was the weakest among them at just early Rank 5. His opponents laughed at him, underestimated him, and dismissed him before he even stepped onto the battlefield."
The clips showed moments of Lucien's battles—how he turned every disadvantage into an advantage, how his opponents failed to recognize his brilliance until it was too late.
"And yet, he toppled his opponents in ways they had never seen before. His greatest weapon wasn't strength or raw power—it was the fact that his enemies dismissed him until it was too late."
Kael's gaze slowly shifted until it locked onto Kelvin, who stiffened under the weight of his stare.
"Underestimate your opponent," Kael said, his voice dangerously low, "and you might not live long enough to regret it."
The entire room was silent.
Kael let the tension linger for a few moments before clapping his hands together. "Alright, class dismissed. Make sure to research the different types of gates for our next lesson. I'll send the details to your wrist devices."
As the students stood to leave, Kelvin and a few others muttered snide remarks as they passed Logan, but Logan barely acknowledged them.
As Mellissa packed up her things, Logan gathered his courage and approached her. "Hey, June wanted me to tell you that she's sorry she couldn't make it into Room A."
Mellissa paused, her hand lingering over her spatial ring before she gave a short nod. "I see."
Before she could say more, a heavy arm landed around Logan's shoulders.
"Hey," Angus said casually, grinning down at him.
Roy immediately stepped forward, his tone sharp. "I don't know what game you're playing, but I'd advise you to back off."
Angus sighed dramatically, lifting his hands in mock surrender before stepping away. "Man, when did it become a crime to make new friends?" He shoved his hands into his pockets and sauntered toward the door.
"That dude gives me the creeps," Kara muttered, watching him leave.
"Bro, I can't wait to break through so I can shut that piece of shit up," Jay said, his fists clenched.
"Agreed. Did you see the shit he pulled earlier?" Roy added as the two continued ranting while leaving the room.
Kara walked beside Logan, watching him chuckle under his breath. "Hey, what's so funny?" she asked, bumping his shoulder.
"Nothing," Logan replied, a small smile on his face. "I just don't know what I would've done without you guys here."
Together, they followed behind Jay and Roy, the weight of the class's judgment still lingering, but no longer crushing.