The Hidden Heir At Valaris Academy

Chapter 2: High Level Clearance

There was a short pause before a voice came through, alarmed.

“What? How was someone able to do that? Please send whoever that is to my office immediately.”

“Alright, Principal sir,” she said, and then ended the call.

Turning her eyes back to Kael, she leaned forward stiffly. “Take the hallway to your left, up the stairs, third door on the right—that’s the principal’s office. Don’t touch anything along the way.”

Kael quietly picked the file off the table, tucked it under his arm, and gave a polite nod.

“Thank you,” he said.

Without another word, he turned and walked out of the registration room, the file clutched tight in his hand.

He walked down the hallway in silence, holding the file tightly under his arm and wearing his old backpack. On his way, he could hear soft classical music playing faintly through hidden speakers in the ceiling.

Just before he could reach the stairwell, three boys stepped out from a side corridor and blocked his path.

“Hey,” the one in the middle said, folding his arms. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Kael paused. “To the principal’s office.”

The tallest one squinted at him. “Why?”

Kael didn’t change his tone. “I’m a new student, and I was told to report there.”

The boys exchanged glances before breaking into soft, mocking laughter.

“Are you a cleaner?” one of them asked, stepping closer. “Because there’s no way you’re a student here, especially not dressed like that.”

“Seriously, bro,” another said, wrinkling his nose. “You stink like farmland. Don’t they have soap in your home?”

Kael’s expression didn’t change. “I’m a student here. I’m here for my registration.”

There was a beat of silence.

“What?” the first boy blinked. “You? A student?”

“With that coat?” another said, incredulous. “You’re an Ashlander, right? What do you mean by ‘student’?”

Kael smiled faintly. “You heard me clearly. I’m a student. Just got admitted. Heading to the headmaster’s office to fill my forms.”

“No, man,” the tall one said, shaking his head. “That’s impossible. You must’ve snuck in somehow; you stole someone's documents, right? You better leave now before I get angry.”

The third boy, who had been quiet, took a step forward. “Yeah. Leave before we make you leave.”

Kael’s smile faded. He frowned slightly and took a step forward of his own.

“Do you own the school?” he asked calmly. “What do you mean by ‘I should leave?”

The tension crackled in the hallway; silent students nearby had started to watch, peeking from doorways and down the stairs.

The tallest of the boys took a step closer, his eyes locked on the file Kael held at his side.

“What’s that?” he asked, tilting his head. “Let me see it.”

Kael shook his head. “It’s my registration file. You don’t need to see it.”

Without warning, the boy reached out to grab it.

Kael stepped back instantly, clutching the file tighter, but another hand came from the side, aiming for it again.

At that moment, Kael shifted. He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t throw a punch.

He just reacted.

A swift turn, a firm grip, and a single push, not wild, not aggressive, but just enough to break the contact.

But the boy who had grabbed him went stumbling backward, tripping over his own feet and crashing to the floor with a thud.

Gasps echoed around the hallway. A few students peeking from the corners froze in place.

“Ouch!”

The boy groaned on the floor, stunned. The other two looked at Kael like he had just broken an unspoken rule.

“You… you want to fight?” one of them barked, stepping back defensively. “Is that it? You think you’re strong?”

Kael remained still, his voice calm.

“I don’t want to fight anyone,” he said, slipping the file into his backpack and zipping it shut. “

The boy on the floor groaned, then sat up slowly, rubbing his back. His pride was clearly more hurt than his body.

“Don’t just stand there!” he snapped at his friends. “Beat him! Teach this Ashlander a lesson!”

The other two boys nodded, stepping forward.

Before Kael could take another step, one grabbed his left wrist while the other tried to pin his right arm behind his back.

“Don’t resist,” one of them muttered through clenched teeth. “We warned you.”

Kael didn’t shout; his expression didn’t even hint at any sign of panic.

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Stop,” he said. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

But they tightened their grips, trying to force him down.

In a single motion, Kael shifted his weight, broke free from one hold, and forced the other arm loose. It wasn't wild, but the movements were that of a trained martial artist.

The two boys stumbled back slightly, startled by how easily he’d broken free.

“What is going on here?” A familiar voice asked out loud suddenly.

Boom!” They all froze.

Kael turned his head and saw the woman from earlier, the registrar. The one who had accused him of forgery.

The boys froze.

Kael slowly turned too, arms still held by the others. His face was calm, unreadable.

Instantly, the two who had grabbed him dropped their hold and stepped back like they were in trouble. The one on the floor scrambled up awkwardly, brushing dust off his uniform.

“Ma’am!” the tallest one stammered. “He—he started it! He was trying to fight us!”

“Yeah,” the other chimed in quickly. “He attacked us for no reason. We were just asking him what he was doing here.”

The woman’s eyes moved past them and locked onto Kael.

Her sharp eyes scanned the boys for a moment, then shifted to Kae before her voice turned cold.

“You three, disappear.”

The boys didn’t argue. They nodded quickly, avoiding her eyes as they hurried off down the hall, throwing one last glare at Kael before turning the corner.

Once they were gone, the woman turned her gaze fully on him.

“You Ashlander,” she snapped. “Didn’t I tell you to go straight to the principal’s office? What are you doing here causing trouble?”

Kael opened his mouth. “Actually, it was—”

“Shh.” She raised a hand sharply, cutting him off before the sentence left his lips. “I don’t want excuses.”

She turned on her heel.

“Follow me,” she said curtly.

Kael gave a small, respectful nod.

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied softly, then stepped behind her, walking quietly as they made their way toward the principal’s office.