Ethan leaned against the cool stone wall of the academy hallway, his arms crossed over his chest as he observed the scene unfolding near the classroom door. Garret was harassing some girl. Her name escaped him, but her discomfort was clear. Garret's reputation preceded him—he was known for throwing his weight around, especially when it came to girls who caught his eye.
Ethan sighed internally. "Why do people always get themselves into these pointless situations?" He was more interested in avoiding trouble than jumping into it, especially when it didn't concern him. The girl was just a commoner, and as far as he was concerned, she wasn't worth the effort it would take to intervene.
But then, he noticed Leon step forward, his usually easygoing expression hardening into something serious. Ethan watched, a spark of interest igniting in his otherwise indifferent demeanor. "Leon's getting involved?".
His father's words echoed in his mind, a lesson drilled into him since he was old enough to understand the world he was born into: "The academy is more than a place of learning. It's where reputations are made, alliances are forged. If you want to rise, you need to be seen, and you need to choose your moments carefully."
Ethan knew his father was right. Gaia Academy was a breeding ground for the future leaders of their world, and connections here could pave the way to power. Helping Leon could be one of those moments. Not only would it put him in a favorable light with one of the top students, but it would also show the other nobles that Ethan wasn't just a shadow on the wall.
With that in mind, Ethan pushed off the wall, deciding that it was time to make his move. He'd step in, pull Garret away with some diplomatic words, and maybe earn a few nods of approval from his peers. He took a step forward, his mouth opening to speak—
And then Alex moved.
Ethan stopped in his tracks, his eyes locking onto the silver-haired boy as he strode towards Garret with a calm, almost serene expression. Alex didn't say a word. He didn't need to. The air around him seemed to shift, growing thicker, and heavier, as if it was charged with an unseen force.
Ethan felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He'd heard stories about Reinheart, of course—everyone had. But seeing it firsthand was something entirely different. Alex didn't raise his voice, didn't make any grand gestures. He just stood there, but it was enough to change the entire atmosphere of the room.
Garret, who had been all bluster and bravado moments before, suddenly froze. His confident sneer disappeared, replaced by a look of pure terror. The color drained from his face, and his eyes widened as if he were staring down the barrel of a loaded gun.
Ethan's breath hitched as he felt it too—that suffocating wave of killing intent. It was like a vice closing around his chest, squeezing the air from his lungs. His instincts screamed at him to run, to get as far away from Alex as possible. But his feet wouldn't move. He was rooted to the spot, trapped by the overwhelming pressure that radiated from the seemingly calm boy.
The room was silent, the air thick with tension so dense it was almost tangible. The other students, who had been watching with varying degrees of interest, now stood frozen, their faces pale and eyes wide. It was as if time itself had stopped, everyone held in place by the sheer force of Alex's presence.
Ethan's heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing in his ears like a drum. He couldn't tear his eyes away from Garret, who was now on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. The look on his face was one Ethan knew he would never forget—absolute, unfiltered fear. Garret looked like a man who had just glimpsed death and realized it was far closer than he ever imagined.
Ethan swallowed hard, his mouth dry. He had underestimated Alex—everyone had. There was power in silence, a power that Alex wielded effortlessly. This was not just the aura of a strong fighter; this was something darker. It was as if Alex had the weight of thousands of lives on his conscience, each adding to his presence's intensity.
Ethan could feel it in the air, the cold, unforgiving edge of a killer who had walked through blood and fire, emerging with the kind of power that didn't need to be spoken of to be understood.
When Alex finally turned away from Garret and walked back towards Leon, the tension broke, like a rope that had been pulled too tight and suddenly snapped. Garret was left crumpled on the floor, gasping for air as if he had been drowning and had just surfaced. The other students, slowly, began to breathe again, their eyes darting between Alex and Garret with a mix of awe and fear.
Ethan exhaled slowly, his body trembling slightly as the killing intent faded. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so helpless. It was a stark reminder that despite all his father's teachings, all his carefully laid plans, there were forces in this world far beyond his control.
In that moment, everyone understood something crucial: Alex wasn't just another student at Gaia Academy. He was a force to be reckoned with, one that could shape the fate of those around him. And if one was smart, they'd make sure to remember that.