The wind that swept across the Academy courtyard felt like a sharp slap to Ken's already bruised face. The place was vast, the towering gold-tinted buildings shimmering like the false promises of the city. He had barely begun to comprehend how big this place was when he noticed the students gathered for the day's orientation. Each of them wore the same expression: a mix of excitement, nerves, and unspoken competition.
Ken gritted his teeth and adjusted the satchel on his back. He'd made it here on his own terms — no help from the rich or the powerful. Now all he had to do was survive. And survive, he would.
"Hey, don't just stand there like a deer caught in headlights," a voice called from behind.
Ken turned to find Riven, the same kid whose ass he'd kicked (okay, more like gotten his own kicked) yesterday. Riven was leaning casually against a nearby pillar, arms crossed, his grin wide and unapologetic. His clothes were as scrappy as Ken's, but he carried himself with an odd kind of swagger, like he was born to be underestimated.
"You look like you could use a friend," Riven continued, his voice laced with mockery. "And by friend, I mean someone who doesn't let you get stabbed in the back."
Ken stared at him, still unsure about this guy. "I thought we were even after yesterday."
Riven snorted. "Right, but I still owe you lunch. Let's see how much trouble we can cause together today."
Before Ken could respond, a deep voice boomed through the courtyard, shaking the air with authority.
"Gather round, misfits!" The voice belonged to the principal, a tall, silver-haired man who looked like he'd lived a thousand years but still had the mischievous gleam of a prankster. He was wearing an outfit that looked like a mishmash of formal robes and adventuring gear — a contrast that made Ken snicker.
The man smiled, noticing Ken's amusement. "Ah, a smirk! That's the spirit. Come along now, new blood. Time to make your place in the grand story of Velden Academy. This is your introduction to… well, a life of utter chaos."
Ken raised an eyebrow. "Pervy old man vibes, check."
The principal winked at him, as if reading his mind. "Don't worry, lad, you'll get used to me. I'm Professor Alistair, and while I may look like I belong in a retirement home, I can still knock the wind out of any one of you."
Ken stifled a laugh. The man might have been ancient, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that suggested he wasn't one to be trifled with.
After the initial ruckus, the principal motioned for them to follow. They made their way into the grand hall, where the true nature of the Academy awaited them: ornate walls, enormous windows, and a sense of looming power.
"This," the principal began, "is where you begin your journey. But before you get lost in all the magic and glory, there's one thing you must do: Find your party."
Ken's brow furrowed. "Party?"
"Yep," the principal said with a mischievous grin. "You're not here just to sit in classrooms and study ancient texts. You'll be trained to fight. And to fight, you need allies. You need friends, comrades, those who will stab the enemy in the back… or in the front, depending on how friendly you are. Make your alliances now, or you'll be a lonely fool later."
Riven elbowed Ken. "Looks like it's time to make some friends. Wanna team up?"
Ken glanced at him, then shrugged. "Sure. But I'm picking the others."
"Fine by me. Just don't go choosing any old fool."
As they wandered through the crowd, Ken's eyes darted across the room, searching for potential teammates. That's when he saw her.
Elysia. The healer.
She was standing in the far corner, quietly observing the others. Her eyes met his for a moment, and Ken immediately recognized her. She was the one who had sneaked him healing magic after his fight the other day.
Ken walked up to her, trying not to seem too eager. "Hey, you're Elysia, right? From the other day?"
Elysia glanced up and nodded, her expression soft but cautious. "You really need to stop getting yourself hurt."
Ken grinned, a bit sheepish. "I've got a habit of making bad decisions. But if you ever feel like breaking the rules again, I could use a healer in my corner."
Elysia hesitated for a moment before replying, "I don't know... breaking rules doesn't always end well."
Riven interrupted, slinging an arm around Ken's shoulders. "But hey, what's life without a little chaos? You can't just play it safe, right?"
Elysia eyed him warily but then sighed. "I suppose if you're determined to get yourself killed, I'll help you not die."
Ken's grin widened. "Deal."
Now, with one member secured, they needed one more. Ken's eyes scanned the room again, finally landing on a girl sitting by herself, a faint aura of melancholy around her.
She was strikingly beautiful, though her beauty was quiet, almost sorrowful. Her dark eyes studied the floor as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders.
Riven glanced at her and smirked. "That's Lysa. They say her gaze can turn you to stone, and she's got zero control over her powers. She burned her whole damn house down, so no one wants anything to do with her."
Ken could sense something was off about her. But that wasn't the important part. The important part was that she was alone. And in a place like this, it was better to form alliances before they were forced on you.
"Let's go." Ken gestured to Riven, and they made their way over.
Lysa didn't look up as they approached. Instead, she merely spoke, her voice soft yet cutting. "What do you want?"
"Just making sure you're not gonna bite anyone today," Riven said, though his tone was more teasing than serious.
Ken raised an eyebrow. "Actually, we're putting a team together. You in?"
Lysa glanced at him briefly before her gaze shifted back to the floor. "Why me?"
Ken shrugged. "Because you're not like the others. And that's the kind of person we need."
She finally met his eyes, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her expression. "Fine. But only because I find you interesting ."
With that, the team was made.
Ken, Riven, Elysia, and Lysa.
A misfit group if there ever was one.
And while they stood together in the middle of the grand hall, Ken couldn't help but feel that this story was far from over.
The ink had already begun to spill.
But the blood? That was still to come.