The academy was nothing short of a marvel. Its sprawling grounds stretched far beyond what August had expected, with towering buildings that gleamed under the sunlight. There were three massive blocks, each more impressive than the last, standing like monuments of grandeur.
The air of prestige and wealth was undeniable—everything from the polished stone pathways to the ornate carvings on the walls screamed luxury. It was a far cry from the ordinary schools August had attended. But, of course, this was no ordinary place—it was a supernatural academy, designed for those far beyond the human realm.
"Hey, how about we head to the cafeteria?" Edwin suggested with a sheepish grin as they got out of the washroom.
August, being the type of person who quickly forgot things—or rather preferred not to dwell on them—nodded. He wasn't one to be noisy or linger on what didn't concern him, and after what he'd seen earlier, it was best to let it fade away.
Edwin, clearly relieved, grinned and threw an arm around August's shoulder, hopping beside him like an overexcited monkey. "Let's go!" he exclaimed as they made their way toward the cafeteria.
When they entered, the noise hit August like a wave. It was loud, and busier than he preferred. Students were chattering in clusters, laughter echoed off the high ceilings, and the clinking of trays added to the overwhelming sound. Yet, August couldn't help but notice how organised the space was. The cafeteria was divided into three distinct rows.
"Since you're new, I'll treat you," Edwin announced cheerfully, guiding August toward a quieter corner in the second row. "Since your place is not specified in any caste right now. Go and sit in the second row."
August didn't understand the logic behind the Caste but before he could ask Edwin was gone to get the goods.
August noticed immediately that the second row was much quieter than the chaotic first row. The students in the first row looked like trouble—loud, boisterous, and far too aggressive for August's liking. Their heights and well-built bodies made it clear they were all Alphas.
August scrunched his nose in mild disgust. It wasn't that he hated Alphas specifically, but his experiences with them hadn't been pleasant. His stepfather was an Alpha, as were the bullies from his past. It was best for him to stay far away from them.
His eyes suddenly met those of Blade, a tall figure sitting among a group of Alphas in the first row. Blade's presence was striking—something about him felt off. He radiated an intimidating aura, a far cry from Edwin, who had been all smiles and laughter since the moment they met. Blade was quiet, and brooding, and his intense gaze sent a chill through August. He quickly looked away, his heart racing, not wanting to draw any more attention to himself.
Despite the noise, the cafeteria felt strangely stifling, and August couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He kept his head down, trying to focus on blending into the background.
August barely had time to register the sharp pain in his knee before he heard the mocking laughter echoing around him. Students gathered quickly, their taunts like sharp daggers thrown his way.
"Watch where you're going, dumbass!" one voice jeered.
"Didn't see the floor, or are you just that soft?" another chimed in, laughter growing louder as August stood back up, gritting his teeth. His eyes locked onto the culprit—a boy with a cocky smirk, arms crossed.
August wasn't one to back down, no matter how much the situation made him uncomfortable. He glared at the bully, his voice steady despite the rising anger in his chest.
"Why did you trip me?"
The boy's smirk widened, his eyes narrowing with nasty thoughts as he stepped closer while licking his lips. "Maybe you're just blind. Do you even know who you're talking to?"
August immediately pegged him as one of those wannabe thugs—the type that thrived on making others feel small just to inflate his ego.
Seeing August not backing down seemed to ignite something ugly in the bully. He shoved August's shoulder hard, causing him to stumble. "Oh, look at this! The little weakling glaring at me!"
The bully's friends closed in, chuckling with amusement.
"Cute little thing, isn't he?" one of them sneered, eyeing August up and down. "Bet you're real fun at night. Ever tried being passed around?"
Another joined in, snickering. "Bet he's fuckable. You could bend him over, and he wouldn't stand a chance."
August's heart pounded with fury, his breath quickening. He had been through this type of bullying before, and he wasn't about to let it happen again. Without thinking, without any hesitation, he threw a hard punch right into the bully's face.
A sudden, eerie silence filled the cafeteria. The rowdy noise from the Alphas at the front had died down. Even they were staring now, eyes wide with shock. The bully stumbled backward, clutching his jaw in disbelief.
"You little—" the bully started to curse, his hand raising to strike back, but before he could swing, a tray full of food came crashing down on his head, spilling soup and bits of meat all over him. The cafeteria erupted in gasps as the bully staggered, his hair dripping with sauce.
Edwin stood behind him, holding the now-empty tray with a cold glare in his eyes. "Lay off. He's under my protection, you piece of trash."
The bully shook his head, trying to wipe the food from his face, seething in humiliation. "You'll pay for this, Edwin!"
Edwin smirked darkly. "I doubt it, Knox. Just running your mouth. Get lost before you embarrass yourself more."
Knox's face twisted in anger as he lunged at Edwin, fists swinging wildly. But Edwin was fast. He dodged easily, delivering a quick jab to Knox's stomach, followed by a swift kick to his legs and punch to his nose, sending him crashing to the floor.
From the first row, an Alpha shouted. "Damn it, Edwin, you ruined the fun. I wanted to see that little newbie get his face smashed in."
Edwin turned his attention to the Alpha, wiping his bloody knuckles on his pants. "Oh? Why don't you come down here and do it yourself then? Or are you too busy sucking up to your leader's dick like all of you Alphas do? Isn't that what you're best at?"
His words were enough to make all the Alphas in the room offended.
August, still catching his breath from the chaos, couldn't believe what had just happened. He had never seen anyone fight so savagely, let alone for his sake. Edwin wasn't just the carefree guy he'd first thought—there was something far more dangerous under the surface.
"You've got guts for a Beta," one sneered at Edwin. "Too bad that won't help you once I rip your pretty face apart."
Another Alpha, broader and taller, laughed, his voice booming. "Is that Beta's boy toy?" he jeered, pointing at August. "Looks like he belongs in my bed instead of this mess."
"Maybe he's just trying to get noticed by the big boys," another snickered. "Cute little Omega like him should know his place—on his knees."
Edwinglared back, unbothered, but August's blood boiled. He wasn't an Omega, but they'd all assumed he was one based on his slight frame.
"Maybe we should break him in," one Alpha growled with a nasty grin. "I bet he'd love a proper Alpha's touch."
"Enough!" The cafeteria fell eerily silent, as though someone had pressed pause on the world.
All eyes turned to the source of the voice—a figure standing at the entrance, radiating an ethereal beauty that silenced even the most arrogant Alphas.
August looked at the newcomer in awe. The man moved with an effortless grace, each step calculated and smooth as if he floated instead of walked. His presence demanded attention without even trying, and when he spoke, it was like the world slowed down just to listen. His face was serene, almost too perfect to belong to a school full of rowdy supernatural beings.
His skin was pale and flawless, his eyes a calm, almost icy blue that shimmered like the surface of a still lake under the moonlight. His jet-black hair flowed just past his shoulders, contrasting with his composed demeanour.
He exuded a calm beauty, the kind that made people feel unworthy just standing in his presence. Everything about him—from the way his lips barely moved when he spoke, to the effortless elegance in the way he held himself—oozed an unspoken authority.
Behind him, bouncing up and down like a child, was a smaller figure named Bubbles, clearly excited about the presence of this man. "I called him!" Bubbles piped up, but no one was paying him any attention. "See, I told you they're all bullying the new student, president."
It was the president of the student council—Vandal.
"Fighting, again?" Vandal's voice was soft but carried a weight that seemed to command silence. His eyes glided over the scene, settling on Edwin, then the Alphas. "How pathetic. I thought you Royals had more pride than stooping so low."
Knox, now covered in food and still fuming, growled, "Stay out of this, President, unless you want to be next."
Vandal's gaze didn't waver. His voice, while gentle, had the ability to freeze a room. "You tripped him," Vandal said, turning toward Knox. "Apologise."
Knox hesitated. But Vandal didn't need to raise his voice or repeat himself. Knox clenched his fists, but finally, through gritted teeth, muttered, "Sorry," before storming off.
The other Alphas laughed mockingly, still defiant. "A Hound apologising to an Omega?" one of them shouted. "How the mighty have fallen! Since when did you start standing up for the weak, President?"
Vandal's eyes remained steady. "I don't care what he is—Omega, Beta, or Vampire. The fact that you, Alphas and the Hounds, think it's amusing to bully someone weaker than you shows how pathetic you've all become. Is that all the Royals and Hounds are now? Weaklings who prey on the defenseless?"
The insult hit home. The room buzzed with indignation as the Alphas bristled at Vandal's words. One of them clenched his fists and stepped forward. "Watch your mouth, President. You might be pretty, but you're still just a Vampire. Do you think you can take all of us?"
"I'm also the leader of the Hounds. Don't forget that–" Vandal started but cut off.
"And we are the Royals. Above you all. We rule this place," The Alpha growled and tried to pounce on Vandal. "And if you want to fight–"
"Back off!" Before Vandal could respond, another voice cut through the tension—this time from Blade, who had been sitting silently, observing everything unfold. "Touch him, and you'll answer me."
Blade's voice was low, but it carried an undercurrent of danger that made the other Alphas pause. His eyes were dark, and though he hadn't spoken much, his reputation as the second-in-command among the Alphas made the threat all the more real.
The Alphas exchanged uneasy glances. They might've been arrogant, but no one was foolish enough to challenge Blade. Slowly, they began to back off, muttering under their breath, clearly ashamed at having been put in their place. The second row of students, including some Betas and Vampires, snickered quietly at the sight, enjoying the humiliation of the once-powerful Alphas.
Vandal turned towards his own caste, The Hounds. "And that goes for the rest of you too," he said, addressing the second row. "Laughing at someone's downfall doesn't make you better. It makes you worse. As a leader, I should punish you all."
The snickering stopped immediately, and the students looked down at their trays in embarrassment.
Vandal's expression softened slightly as he turned to Blade, giving him a nod of silent thanks. Blade merely returned the nod, his face expressionless, though something unspoken passed between them.
Edwin, who had been watching the whole exchange between the two, rolled his eyes.
"Alright, Enough drama. Let's go, brother," he said, draping an arm over Vandal's shoulder.
Vandal, turned toward August with a soft, almost disarming smile, as if he hadn't just silenced a room full of Alphas with his sharp words. "I apologise for all this chaos on your first day," he said warmly. "How about you come with us? Let's have lunch together, as a way to make up for the mess."
August hesitated for a moment, but when he glanced at Edwin, his friend nodded encouragingly. With a slight sigh, August gave in, following the president.
Before they could leave, Vandal turned to Blade. "Wen, could you be a dear and bring me the music club files from the office?"
To the shock of everyone watching, Blade, the second-in-command among the Royals and one of the most feared Alphas in the academy, simply nodded, obediently rising to his feet without hesitation.
"Of course, President," he replied in a tone that lacked the usual aggression associated with him.
The Alphas—Blade's peers—gaped in disbelief. To see someone as powerful and dangerous as Blade, who commanded respect with just his presence, behaving so obediently toward Vandal, a vampire no less, was unfathomable. They whispered among themselves as Vandal, Edwin, and August walked out, leaving Blade to follow shortly after.
"Does anyone else see what's wrong with this picture?" one of the Alphas growled. "Our second-in-command, the second heir of the Royals, acting like some lapdog to a weak vampire!"
Another Alpha shook his head, bewildered. "It's humiliating. Every time Vandal's around, Blade turns into a damn servant. We're Alphas, for crying out loud! He should be leading us, not bowing to a fucking bloodsucker. These two brothers are damn annoying. I wish I could rip both Edwin and Vandal apart and eat their flesh!"
"We should talk to Hunter about this," someone suggested. "He'd put a stop to this nonsense. Everyone knows how much he hates the weaklings."
"Are you insane?" one of the others whispered harshly. "Do you want to die? Going to Hunter with complaints about Blade, his own younger brother? You might as well dig your own grave."
The mention of Hunter sent a cold chill through the group. Every Alpha in the room knew exactly what kind of person Hunter was—the first heir to the Royals, a figure far more terrifying than Blade, who was already feared by everyone.
Hunter wasn't like Blade, who, despite his temper, still showed restraint. Hunter was a different breed entirely—ruthless, merciless, and unpredictable.
"You think Blade is scary?" another Alpha muttered. "Hunter wouldn't just humiliate us. He'd kill us without blinking."
"Yeah," someone added. "At least Blade gives us a chance. Hunter wouldn't. One wrong word, and you're gone. It's said that no one survives a confrontation with him. He plays games with his prey before finishing them."
They shuddered at the thought. Hunter's reputation wasn't just based on rumors. There were actual stories—students who had crossed him and mysteriously disappeared, or worse, were found brutally beaten or maimed, their bodies barely recognizable. To cross Hunter was to invite death itself.
"He's not as merciful as Blade," one of the younger Alphas remarked. "We'd be fools to think we could complain to him."
No one dared to speak again.