A loud, sharp knock rattled the door, followed by Rylan’s impatient voice.“Kelvin, get up!”Kelvin opened his eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling for a moment before turning toward the door. “I’m awake.”“but you're still on bed!” Rylan shot back, already dressed with his bag slung over one shoulder.Kelvin groaned, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and rubbing the sleep from his face. “What do we have today?”“Practical Science.”Kelvin sighed, reaching reluctantly for his uniform. A heavy, familiar knot of anxiety tightened in his stomach—practical sessions rarely ended well for him.Rylan offered a sympathetic grin. “Don't look so terrified, Kelvin. You might actually enjoy it for once.”“I’ll believe that when I make it out in one piece,” Kelvin muttered, following him into the hallway.The corridors were busy with the morning rush, a sea of students talking and hurrying toward their respective wings. By the time they reached the science hall, the room was nearly full.

For several minutes after Adrain left, neither Kelvin nor Rylan spoke. The room had become strangely quiet. Kelvin sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the drawer where he had hidden the parchment. The words were no longer visible, but they remained in his mind. DON'T TRUST YOUR ROOMMATE. He hated how easily four words could get inside his head. Rylan was already lying on his mattress, one arm behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. “You're thinking about it again,” Rylan said softly, his voice cutting through the silence. Kelvin looked over at him. “How do you know?” “Because you've been staring at that drawer for almost a minute.” Kelvin looked away, letting out a heavy breath. “I can't help it,” Kelvin admitted. “I know,” Rylan replied, his tone growing quieter, free of its usual teasing edge. Kelvin rubbed his hands together, staring down at his floorboards. “Adrain said we shouldn't let fear make our decisions for us.” “Your guardian sounds like he gives good

The room fell completely silent when Rylan finally spoke. Kelvin sat quietly on the edge of his bed, his eyes fixed on his friend, watching every subtle shift in his expression. Rylan stood near the stone window frame, his arms wrapped tightly across his chest. The teasing, careless smile that usually lit up his face was entirely gone, replaced by a quiet, heavy shadow. “My family was happy,” Rylan began, his voice surprisingly soft. Kelvin stayed still, not wanting to break the moment. Rylan stared out at the twilight sky. “I mean really, truly happy. We weren't wealthy or anything, but we never felt like we were missing much. My parents loved each other. My younger sister was always getting into mischief, and my mother somehow found a way to blame me for almost everything she broke.” A faint, sympathetic smile touched Kelvin's lips. “I can relate to that,I also have younger ones.” Rylan let out a soft, breathy chuckle. “She broke a plate once and swore up and down to my mothe