Marcus pushed the gates open with ease. The creak of iron hinges echoed through the quiet grounds, which Kaito thought should have been filled with students.
He wondered where all the noise he'd heard earlier was coming from, or if he was just hallucinating. But he was quickly brought back to reality.
"Come along," Marcus uttered, motioning for Kaito to follow. "We'll start with your introduction and then a little tour. I wouldn't want to lose a student again."
That single word made Kaito hesitate. It made him uncomfortable in so many ways, considering the fact that he knew no one and had nowhere to run.
He scanned the academy's grounds, from the first structure that greeted visitors, to the other massive buildings behind it.
It was strange how neat the surroundings were—the wide expanse of luscious green grass and trees, and the stone paths that led to the building ahead and probably to the others too.
Taking a deep breath, he finally left his spot, taking slow, calculated strides behind Marcus. He continued scanning everywhere, registering every part of the school.
Marcus led him to the first building, with double doors that stood tall and somehow felt threatening. He reached out, gripping one of the ornate handles, and pushed it open effortlessly, despite how massive it was. It opened silently, unlike the creak of the gates, giving way to the low murmur of distant voices.
They stepped inside, and almost immediately, as their feet touched the ground, a cool, comfortable breeze hit Kaito. He was also struck by the sheer scale of the hall they had entered.
The ceiling above had intricate chandelier designs—too modern to be called chandeliers—knots of light that illuminated the hall brilliantly, perhaps too brilliantly.
The walls were lined with intricate patterns—sigils, mainly crescents and moon shapes. Oddly, he noticed how they pulsed faintly, almost as if they were alive.
Unfortunately, Kaito was not moved by what he saw.
He had seen it all before—the orderliness, the beauty, and how modern everything was. It wasn't something that overwhelmed him.
The laboratory was always spotless. His so-called caretaker's home was beautiful as well, always homely.
He was tired of seeing perfection everywhere he turned. It was beginning to annoy him more than usual.
Marcus turned down the first hall on his right, while Kaito followed, his gaze straight ahead and his head raised high as he walked. It was a posture others might mistake for pride.
They took an elevator to the last floor, waiting in silence, with the low hum of white noise coming from a speaker overhead.
When the elevator beeped open, the doors slid apart, revealing the breathtaking view of the headmaster's office.
The walls were lined with shelves filled with books, trophies, and framed photographs. A large leather-bound chair sat behind the desk, while two smaller chairs faced it, awaiting visitors.
They stepped in, their footsteps silent, as if they were afraid to break the wonderful quiet of the office.
But, "Ah, Marcus!" a voice shattered the silence almost immediately, earning a raised brow—a frown—from Kaito.
How much he hated noise.
A red-haired lady suddenly materialized on the desk, wearing a tailored suit that was far too revealing to truly be called a suit.
The white shirt she wore underneath was only half-buttoned, exposing her cleavage, and her fitted skirt stopped above mid-thigh, revealing creamy, flawless skin all the way to her legs. A cigarette stick hung lazily between her lips.
She was practically naked.
Kaito seemed unfazed, and so was Marcus. In fact, Kaito was more shocked that Marcus appeared unaffected by her appearance.
As if it were normal.
"Miss Shinoda, this is one of the intakes I told you about," Marcus began, leaving Kaito's side to give her a better look at him. He walked to her, went behind her desk, and stood there with his hands clasped behind his back. "He came through the portals," he added for clarity.
"What is your name?" she asked almost immediately, ignoring whatever Marcus had said. There was nothing more she could say, except a nod.
Kaito tilted his head toward Marcus, who gave a nod of approval. He straightened himself and exhaled. "I am Kaito Shizukawa."
She froze instantly. Her breathing paused, and she stopped bouncing her legs. "What did you say your name is again?"
"Kaito Shizukawa. Is there an issue?"
"No." She regained her composure and pushed herself off the desk, revealing her nearly six-foot height. "You look like someone I know," she uttered, now taking calculated steps toward his side, until she was standing before him.
She was staring deep into his eyes—not raised or lowered—exactly the same height. Or maybe it was the shoes she wore.
"I am Reiko Astrid Shinoda. You can call me Rei or Miss Shinoda," she stated, placing her slender fingers on her chest as she performed a slight bow. "It is an honor to have your kind in my academy."
Kaito nodded, still wondering why everyone he met was so polite. It wasn't as if he were a deity. He was a failed experiment.
Perfect, probably. But failed.
She walked behind him, scanning him from head to toe, before finally stopping. "I suppose Marcus must have given you a proper tour," she said, dragging the name like a threat.
Kaito had no choice but to say what came to his mind.
He knew Marcus would still be useful, so he had to get on his good side.
"Yes, he did," he replied flatly, earning a smile from her.
"Your apartment, clothes, meals, and everything else you need have already been taken care of. All you need to do is sign a few papers and go through some tests..."
"...I never said I wanted to be a student here," he interrupted her as she walked back to her table. She only let out a soft chuckle and slid back onto her desk.
"It's not a choice. Your destiny is tied here. The Reapers already sent your files..." She trailed off the moment his countenance changed. "I'm guessing she didn't tell you everything."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Goddess and Empress. They call themselves Kami and Kotie. Rings a bell?"
He nodded slightly.
Reiko smiled satisfactorily, taking the files out of Marcus's hands. She flipped the first page open and tilted her head. "Doctor Shane raised you?"
"Yes."
"How interesting." She chuckled softly again, much to Kaito's displeasure.
A life filled with torture and chemicals seemed normal to her.
"Your father?"
"Unknown."
"Mother?"
"Dead."
"Bloodline?"
"I don't know. Generally human."
"But you have a certain dislike for humans, correct?"
"Do you want to hear the truth, or what you want to hear?"
A smirk replaced her smile. She did a brief scan of the file and placed it on her lap. "I want to hear both."
Kaito exhaled. "The truth is I hate humans. They are selfish, perfectionist, obsessive, and annoying beings," he paused and stared deep into her orchid-purple eyes. "Humans are mere illusions, created to shape reality and make you, as an individual, think they are real. Knowing fully well, you are the only one certain that you are real."
Reiko gave a satisfied smile and clasped her hands together. "You pass the first test."