The marble halls of Eclipse Academy stretched like the bones of some ancient giant, polished white with streaks of shimmering stardust etched into the walls. At every corner, statues of past legends stood — eyes glowing faintly, silently observing the new generation walking in their shadows.
Kaelan moved quietly through the corridor, flanked by silence. His expression was calm, unbothered by the stares of nobles, demi-humans, and beastkin alike. Some glared, others whispered. A few simply moved out of his way, instinct guiding them more than reason.
But Kaelan wasn't focused on them.
He was thinking about what he had seen in the Spirit Pressure Gate.
That beast…
That voice…
His mother's fading image. The six-winged wolf that shouldn't exist.
And the words whispered through the echo:
"Your will is not bound by fate… It is the blade that severs it."
A ripple passed through his chest. He didn't understand it — not fully — but it called to something deep inside him.
---
Eclipse Academy — Orientation Hall
Hundreds of students sat inside the vast orientation arena, tiered seating spiraling upward around a crystalline platform. In the center, Head Instructor Thalos stood — a towering figure with silver hair, diamond-rank aura, and a jagged scar down his left cheek.
"Silence."
The room quieted instantly.
Thalos's voice boomed with authority.
"You have passed the gate. You have survived the threshold. But do not celebrate."
He pointed toward the banners of the Seven Apex Clans that hung above.
"You now stand in a den of monsters."
He let that linger before continuing.
"Eclipse Academy does not breed mediocrity. You will fight, bleed, and claw for power. This world does not bow to your lineage, your wealth, or your pride."
His eyes scanned the room.
"You will be ranked. You will earn merit points through missions, tournaments, and achievements. Those who reach Gold High may graduate."
He raised a finger.
"Those who fail to reach Gold Low within five years… will be expelled."
Gasps. Silence.
Kaelan's gaze didn't waver.
---
Later — Dormitory Zone
Kaelan entered Dorm Wing A, reserved for elite-track students. His room was simple, yet elegant — a wide window overlooking the Mist Vale below, shelves filled with blank scrolls, and a meditation chamber attached.
A soft knock.
He turned.
A girl stood at his door — tall, with lavender eyes and a faint halo of spiritual light around her wrists. She wore the crest of the Seren Clan.
"Mirae Seren," she introduced, offering a slight bow. "Ranked #6. Student Council member."
Kaelan nodded silently.
"I came to greet the new heir of Ashborne," she said with a faint smile. "And… to warn you."
"Warn me?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Top 10 aren't just strong. We're targets. Of cults. Of politics. Even of each other."
Kaelan raised a brow.
She leaned closer, voice barely a whisper.
"There's a spy among us. Someone in the Top 10… doesn't belong."
---
Elsewhere — In the Shadow of the Academy
A figure knelt in a darkened chamber, surrounded by flickering candles. The tattoo of a scythe pulsed across his chest.
A whisper echoed in his mind.
"Ashborne has awakened… Watch him. Test him. Break him if needed."
The spy's eyes opened — cold and gleaming.
"I will obey… Null."
---
[To be continued…]