Just as Richard began to settle into the reality of his new circumstances, the sharp sound of a letter being slid under the door interrupted the moment. Reed turned, moving with his usual calm composure, and picked up the folded parchment from the floor. As he unfolded it, his brow furrowed slightly.“Hmm,” he muttered, reading the contents aloud. “It seems we have other matters to attend to, Richard. You’ve received word from the school.”Amelia glanced at Richard, a flash of concern crossing her features. “The school? What about it?”Reed looked up, his expression becoming slightly more serious. “It seems that the exam timetable has been released. Your academic obligations are still in play. According to the letter, the exams are scheduled to begin in a matter of days. You’ll need to return to class tomorrow.”Richard blinked, his mind struggling to shift gears. “Exams? But... I’m not ready. I can barely focus on anything right now. How can I possibly go back to class after everythi

The bell rang, signaling the end of the day’s lessons, but Richard couldn’t shake the feeling that his return to school would be anything but normal. As students filed out of the classroom, chattering and laughing, the murmur of gossip began to rise. Richard could hear snippets of whispered conversation behind him as he gathered his things and prepared to leave.“Did you see that? Miss Lilian called Richard to stay behind,” one voice whispered.“Do you think they’re... you know... together?” another voice speculated, low but not low enough to avoid Richard’s ears.Richard sighed inwardly, his shoulders tensing. The last thing he needed right now was to be the subject of more gossip. His life was already complicated enough, what with his powers, his training with Reed, the looming exams, and the looming threat of the Knight Consortium. And now, of course, his sudden return to school had become the latest topic of speculation.Miss Lilian, of all people, had always been a figure of auth

The afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Richard made his way back to the school gates, the noise of students around him fading into the background. His mind was preoccupied with his training, the exams, and the strange, foreign power that still hummed beneath his skin. It was almost overwhelming at times—the constant pressure, the questions he couldn’t answer, and the lingering fear that he was on the edge of something far darker than he realized. Yet as he walked, trying to shake the weight of his thoughts, a disturbance in the air caught his attention.There was a crowd gathered near the edge of the school courtyard, a group of students standing in a circle, their voices rising in harsh, mocking tones. Richard’s gaze sharpened, and he instinctively slowed his steps, the sense of familiarity creeping over him. The laughter, the taunts—he had heard it all before. He had once been the target of similar ridicule. The flashbacks came quickly: the bullying, the feeling of helplessness, t

Richard had just finished his training with Reed. His body still ached from the hours of exertion, but there was a satisfaction in his chest, a new sense of control that he hadn’t felt before. The storm inside him wasn’t completely tamed, but at least it was no longer threatening to tear him apart at every turn. He’d made progress, but the journey was far from over.It was getting late, and Richard had arranged to meet with Christabel, Evelyn, Charles, and Oliver for a study session at his house. The exams were only a few days away, and though Richard had been distracted by everything happening in his life, he knew he had to catch up on his studies. The weight of his responsibilities hung heavily on him—both his academic life and the power that threatened to consume him.His phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was Charles.“Hey, Richard! We’re at your place, ready to go. Where are you at?”Richard glanced at his watch. It wasn’t much later than he expected,

“Why would you want to help me?” Thomas asked, his voice low and laced with doubt.Richard paused, searching for the right words. “Because I know what it’s like to feel invisible. And I don’t want you to feel like you have to hide anymore. You deserve more than that.”Thomas seemed to weigh Richard’s words carefully, his face unreadable. Then, to Richard’s surprise, he spoke again, but this time, his voice was barely above a whisper.“You don’t know what it’s like,” Thomas muttered, almost to himself. “I’m not like you. I don’t belong here. They’ll never stop. They’ll keep pushing me down.”Richard’s heart went out to him. The boy was defeated before he even had a chance to stand up for himself. Richard knew that feeling, the despair of thinking that there was no way out, that no one would ever care enough to help.“You don’t have to do this alone,” Richard said, his voice steady. “I’m not going to let them keep pushing you down. But you have to let me help. You have to trust me.”Tho