“A Tier Three student having access to canteen meals like this only means one thing,” Luke said, voice loud enough for the surrounding tables. One of the boys behind him immediately added, “He stole it.”The word "stole" landed, and a few students gasped softly.Ryan finally raised his gaze, his expression unreadable. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. He lowered his eyes again, reaching for his fork as if the accusation didn’t even deserve his attention.Luke’s hand slammed against the table so hard the utensils rattled, and the sound echoed through the cafeteria.Ryan paused again, and Luke leaned forward, his eyes flashing with irritation. “You really know how to get into trouble, don’t you?” Luke growled. “Yesterday you were creeping around the girls’ hall, and now you stole a canteen card!”Ryan’s jaw tightened. He could feel eyes on him from every direction now. Students were openly watching. Ryan set down his fork. Then he looked at Luke with cold eyes.“I woul

The next day came too fast, and Ryan barely remembered falling asleep, but his body remembered waking up stiff and sore, like the academy itself had sunk into his bones. The air outside was cruel, and cold slipped through his clothes, crawling on his skin. He stood on the academy field, hands shoved deep into his pockets, with his breath coming out in thick white puffs. The morning was too quiet, with only the faint rustle of wind dragging through the grass and the distant sound of iron gates creaking somewhere far away. Ryan narrowed his eyes and scanned the field again, turning his head for anyone from Odessa’s squad. Yesterday, they stood like monsters among men, and their presence alone had made the air feel heavier. But now nothing. Just empty space and fog. Ryan dropped his gaze to the phone screen, the brightness glaring against the dim morning. 6:03 AM. He clicked his tongue and muttered under his breath. “She said six.” His fingers tightened around the phone. The cold

Ryan shifted his gaze to the boy who attacked him under Odessa's command. He walked closer and stopped directly in front of Ryan, and his gaze scanned Ryan from his sweaty hair to his aching feet. He scoffed. “You’re already shaking,” he said, voice almost laced with amusement. “That’s disappointing. Are you sure we made the right choice?” He narrowed his gaze back to the group, but none of them spoke. “Let him be, Nile; it's his first time. Cut him some slack,” Ruby muttered. Ryan shifted his gaze to Nile, who furrowed his brows. “You better be worth this stress,” he muttered, walking away from him. Ryan remained quiet, and his eyes scanned through the room. He hated the way they stood with their arms folded and their eyes cold. He could see the doubt masking their features. Ruby stopped first and stretched her arms overhead, rolling her shoulders as if she were loosening up for something more serious. “Listen carefully,” she said. “This isn’t academy training. This isn'

Ryan shifted his gaze across their faces again, looking for any hint of amusement that would tell him this was a joke, another plan for him to reveal his identity, but none of them wore their usual expressions. They looked like people who had been dragged into a truth they didn’t want to speak aloud.Nile’s arms were folded across his chest, but his posture shifted into defensiveness, like he was holding back words. Their eyes were all on him, and Ryan could swear he saw a subtle fear in their expression, and that alone made his stomach twist. His mind flashed back to Mr. Wilson’s voice and the warning the moment he arrived at Iron Gate Academy.The lump in his throat refused to go down, making his voice hoarse. “You know my father?” Ryan repeated.Odessa didn’t answer. Her gaze drifted to the doorway, and the morning sunlight fell behind her, framing her silhouette.Ryan watched her eyes, and she didn’t look surprised by his question. He could see how she was deciding how much truth

Instructor Keal was already inside, pointing instructions. Students grunting in frustration, Ryan paused for a second outside the large hall doors, his hand resting on the handle.For a moment, he could almost hear Ruby’s voice in his head. He exhaled and pushed the doors open.The moment he stepped inside, the room didn’t just continue as normal. The air shift and students stopped mid-conversation.A few smirked at Ryan’s presence, and he could tell after yesterday some already bet on him quitting. He walked forward, ignoring the burning soreness in his body."Kook, who's back?"“Why is he back? I thought he disappeared yesterday.”“He didn’t show up for Keal’s training. I knew he was one of those lazy ones.”“He probably couldn’t handle the academy.”A loud laugh broke out from the left side of the hall, and Ryan’s gaze shifted to a group of Tier Two students standing together near the sparring circle, their uniforms clean, their expressions smug. “Well look who finally decided to