The aftermath of the duel left an undeniable shift in the academy.
Kairos walked through the halls, feeling the weight of every glance, every hushed whisper trailing behind him. He had barely been here for a few days, and already, he was a name people wouldn't forget. Some gazes held curiosity, others admiration—but a few carried something darker.
Resentment.
Jealousy.
Danger.
Kairos sighed. So much for keeping a low profile.
At his side, Selene was grinning as if she'd just won a bet. "You really don't get it, do you?"
Kairos shot her a look. "Get what?"
She nudged his shoulder playfully. "You're the most interesting thing to happen here in years. A new student walks in, wrecks one of the top-ranked fighters, then fights another and pulls off whatever that was? You've basically declared war on the academy's strongest."
Kairos rubbed his temple. "That was not my intention."
"Well, congratulations, because that's exactly what happened."
The conversation was cut short as a girl with silver hair and piercing violet eyes stepped into their path.
She was tall, poised, and radiated an almost unnatural presence. The surrounding students instinctively moved aside, whispering her name in hushed voices.
"Evangeline Nightmoor…" Selene muttered.
Kairos immediately took note of the way Selene's tone had changed. There was no teasing, no playfulness—just wary respect.
Evangeline studied him with a neutral expression, her arms crossed. Then, she spoke.
"You're different."
Kairos blinked. "I get that a lot."
Her violet eyes narrowed. "Not in the way you think."
For a brief moment, Kairos felt something—an odd sensation, like invisible fingers brushing against his thoughts. His instincts flared, and before he could react, the sensation disappeared.
Evangeline tilted her head slightly, as if confirming something. "Hmm. Interesting."
Kairos exhaled. "Alright, do I need to prepare for another challenge, or are you just here to stare at me?"
Selene smacked his arm. "Kairos."
Evangeline simply chuckled. "No, not today. But soon."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Kairos with more questions than answers.
Selene let out a slow breath. "You just attracted the attention of one of the most dangerous students here."
Kairos frowned. "She tried something on me. What was that?"
Selene hesitated before answering. "Evangeline has a unique ability—one that lets her glimpse into a person's potential. If she's interested in you, it means you're either going to be a rising star…"
She turned, giving him a look that carried unspoken warning.
"…or a major threat."
Kairos folded his arms. "Great. Just what I needed."
---
A Faint Whisper
Later that night, Kairos sat on his bed, lost in thought. His body was still adjusting to his newfound strength, but something else was bothering him.
That moment with Evangeline—when he felt that odd sensation probing at him—had triggered something deep within him.
Or rather… something within the system.
A notification had appeared.
>Warning: Unidentified Presence Detected.
System Lock Engaged.
It had vanished just as quickly, but Kairos couldn't shake the feeling that it meant something more.
And then, just as he was about to push the thought aside—
A voice whispered.
Not from the room. Not from his own thoughts.
But from somewhere beyond.
"You are awakening too quickly."
Kairos froze.
"The path has already begun. You cannot turn back now."
His heartbeat pounded in his ears. The air in his room felt heavier, the shadows stretching unnaturally.
"We are watching."
The presence vanished. The room returned to normal.
Kairos let out a shaky breath.
For the first time since gaining the system, he felt something he hadn't expected.
Not power.
Not control.
But a creeping, undeniable sense that something far greater than him was pulling the strings.
And whatever it was…
It was watching.