Kael stepped through the newly rebuilt gates of Verdant High School, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd of students flooding the entrance. The four-story building stood tall and pristine, its once-ruined halls now polished and modernized. But despite the fresh coat of paint and repaired infrastructure, the weight of the past lingered.
This was where it all started.
The Black Gate. The massacre. The Tyrant.
Kael clenched his fist, exhaling slowly.
That's in the past now.
As he walked through the gates, heads turned. Some students whispered, others stared outright.
It wasn't surprising.
Four months ago, Kael Reyes was just a skinny, quiet student—a nobody.
Now? He stood taller, his posture straighter. His once frail frame had been replaced with lean muscle. His aura, once easy to ignore, now carried an edge of quiet confidence.
Even Kael wasn't used to the new version of himself.
The hallways buzzed with murmurs as he passed by. Students who never paid him attention before now gave him second glances. A few looked impressed, others wary.
Kael ignored them.
A group of upperclassmen athletes stood near the lockers, their laughter filling the hall. One of them—a broad-shouldered senior named Jace Ramos, captain of the boxing club—spotted Kael and smirked.
"Yo, Reyes," Jace called out, striding toward him with his entourage. "Didn't think you'd come back."
Kael met his gaze, unfazed. "Why wouldn't I?"
Jace sized him up, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Just saying, the weak ones don't usually return after something like that." He gestured lazily toward the school. "Guess you're tougher than you look."
Kael said nothing, only giving a slight nod before moving past them.
Jace chuckled. "Huh… interesting."
Kael ignored the murmurs that followed and headed toward his class.
---
#Lunch Break – The Whispering Crowd
The cafeteria was as loud as ever, but **the buzz around Kael was unmistakable.**
He sat alone at a corner table, quietly eating his meal when he overheard a group of students whispering nearby.
> "Dude, you see Kael? He's… different."
> "No way that's the same guy from four months ago."
> "Didn't his siblings work with the government? Maybe he trained with them?"
Kael sighed inwardly.
So much for keeping a low profile.
Then—
THUD.
A tray slammed onto the table across from him.
Kael glanced up and found Reese Villanueva, a member of the school's fighting club, sitting across from him with a cocky grin.
"Alright, Reyes," Reese leaned forward. "I gotta ask… what the hell happened to you?"
Kael raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Reese scoffed. "C'mon, man. Four months ago, you were practically a stick. Now you look like you could go toe-to-toe with some of the guys in my club."
Kael didn't respond, instead taking another bite of his food.
Reese narrowed his eyes. "You train somewhere?"
Kael finally looked at him. "Just been working out."
Reese leaned back, skeptical. "Sure. And I'm the President of the Philippines."
Kael let the conversation die there. He had no obligation to explain himself.
As lunch continued, he felt a few more stares but paid them no mind.
Then—
He opened his locker.
Inside, a single folded note sat neatly on top of his books.
No name. No signature. Just a message.
> "Come to the rooftop after school. We need to talk."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
Who the hell…?
---
After School – The Rooftop
The rooftop was quiet. The wind carried a faint chill, rustling the edges of Kael's uniform as he stepped through the door.
At first glance, it seemed empty.
Kael took a cautious step forward, scanning his surroundings.
Then—
A voice called out.
"So, you actually showed up."
Kael turned sharply.
A man leaned against the railing, arms crossed. His stance was relaxed, but his presence felt heavy.
Kael didn't recognize him, but something about the way he stood—like a seasoned fighter—made Kael's instincts flare.
The man smirked. "You've changed, kid. But I wonder…"
He tilted his head, eyes glinting with amusement.
"Are you strong enough now?"
---
Chapter End.