"Exams, exams, and more exams! I'm about to lose my mind!" groaned a boy, tugging at the straps of his school uniform, his glasses slipping down his nose. "I can't stand this anymore!"
Across the room, a boy with a smirk spread across his face leaned against the doorframe. His name was Eli, but to everyone else at the school, he was just a quiet, stoic, and mysterious transfer student. At least, that's what they thought. "Oi, Nerd," Eli called out, eyes gleaming as he caught the boy's attention. "Come here."
The boy with glasses froze, his eyes widening in confusion and anxiety. "Y-you mean me?" he stammered, voice wavering. "B-but… w-why do you call me a nerd? Just because I wear glasses? T-this is… i-illogical!"
Eli smirked, leaning in a little closer, the distance between them closing fast. "I can call you whatever I want, nerd."
"N-no! You can't!" the boy with glasses said, taking a step back. Sweat dotted his forehead, but he stood his ground, somehow finding a voice to challenge Eli's icy stare.
Eli chuckled darkly, cracking his knuckles. "Oh, really? You sure about that?" His grin widened, revealing a glint of menace behind his calm demeanor. "You sure talk a lot, considering what's coming."
In the blink of an eye, Eli moved. The boy with glasses had no time to react before Eli had him pinned against the wall, the strength of a lifetime spent honing every muscle evident in his grip.
"No… no! Please!" the boy gasped, his voice cracking in fear.
Before anyone could intervene, it was over. The boy with glasses crumpled to the ground, no longer able to rise.
Eli stood over him for a moment, breathing evenly, a calmness that contrasted sharply with the violence of the situation. "Maybe next time you'll learn to keep your mouth shut," Eli muttered, pushing the boy aside before walking out of the classroom.
The sound of his footsteps echoed in the hallway as he made his way toward the principal's office.
"Eli Wolfstone… he's really something else," whispered one of the teachers to another, not realizing how close Eli was. "I heard he's a genius in academics. Perfect score on the scholarship exam, too. But his reputation as a delinquent precedes him."
"I don't think Madam Joselyn Maria knows what she's getting herself into," the other teacher whispered back, casting a glance down the hallway.
"Do you think she'll be able to handle him?" the first teacher asked, concerned.
The second teacher let out a deep breath. "She's ex-military. If anyone can, it's her. Besides, what's a teenager like him going to do against a retired officer?"
Unbeknownst to them, Eli had already overheard their conversation. He smirked to himself, adjusting his uniform before entering the principal's office.
Madam Joselyn Maria sat at her desk, reviewing paperwork. Her sharp eyes glanced up as Eli entered, but she didn't show surprise—she had expected him.
"You're late, Mr. Wolfstone," she said calmly, setting down her pen. "I trust you're aware of the rules here."
Eli didn't speak at first. He merely nodded, taking the seat across from her.
"I'll have you know that I've been briefed about your… methods," Madam Joselyn said, her voice steel under velvet. "I'm here to make sure you don't disrupt this institution more than necessary."
Eli raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He had heard rumors about her—former military, strict, unyielding—but none of that mattered to him. The more they tried to control him, the more he would slip through their fingers. He was already untouchable.
Madam Joselyn leaned forward, her hands folding on the desk. "I didn't bring you here to cause trouble, Eli. I brought you here because you're brilliant, and this school will help you refine your skills. Use your intellect… wisely."
Eli's lips curled into a half-smile. "I'll do what I want. Nothing's going to change that."
The principal sighed, her eyes softening for a moment. "You're not as alone as you think. You have potential, but you'll need allies."
"Don't need them," Eli replied curtly, his eyes narrowing. "I work alone."
Madam Joselyn studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. But I'll remind you that the games here are a bit different from what you're used to. You may want to rethink your strategy."
"I'll think about it," Eli said, turning to leave.
As he exited the room, he couldn't help but feel a thrill course through him. This school, these people, they had no idea who they were dealing with.
And Eli was determined to make them regret ever underestimating him.