First Day II

Raul's lips twisted into a sneer as he blocked my way, and the two other lackeys at his side chuckled darkly. "So, you're the orphan, huh?" His voice dripped with condescension, as if my very existence amused him. "Let me tell you a secret newbie, No family, no connections means easy prey in the academy."

The other two snickered, and I could feel their gazes lingering on me, sizing me up like I was nothing more than a tool. It wasn't the first time I had faced bullies, but something about this encounter felt different. They weren't just trying to push me around for sport—they wanted something.

Raul stepped closer, and I caught a glint of malice in his eyes. "You know, Marcus thinks you've got some potential," he said, his voice low but threatening. "That lightning affinity of yours... it could be useful to the right people, or you could keep being the bottom-feeder you are and get picked on by everyone else in class. Trust me, it only gets worse from here."

I clenched my fists, keeping my face neutral. I knew where this was going. It was the same old trick—intimidate the weak, lure them in with threats of protection, and trap them in a cycle of servitude. Raul's voice dropped to a quieter tone, almost conspiratorial.

"You know," he began, stepping closer, "being on your own here... it won't be easy. You're an orphan, right?" His words were pointed, deliberate. "No family connections, no support system. In a place like this, people like you don't last long on their own. You're bound to get picked on by others—and it won't just be us. But if you're with us, Marcus can... take care of that. No one would dare touch you."

My gut twisted. So, they had already done their homework. 'Marcus Morningstar had clearly put his resources to use, maybe bribed someone in administration or had seniors feeding him intel. He knew I was an orphan and figured that made me easy prey—someone who'd be desperate for protection, desperate for a place to belong. It was unsettling how much information he had gathered.'

Raul leaned in further, voice low but dripping with menace. "With your affinity for lightning, you could be useful. Marcus could even help you unlock your full potential. But only if you're willing to follow his lead. Think about it... last-ranking students like you tend to attract all the wrong attention. Wouldn't it be easier if you had some... backup?"

There it was, the coercion. Not a direct threat, but the kind that wormed its way into your thoughts, feeding off your insecurities. The idea of being harassed by others, of being constantly targeted because I had no connections—it was a clever angle. They wanted me to think I had no choice but to join them or suffer alone.

Raul grinned, sensing my hesitation. "It's really not that bad. You'll be part of something bigger. And honestly, if you don't join, things might get... uncomfortable for you. Marcus doesn't like loose ends, especially ones that can be useful."

I could feel the pressure building, the weight of their words trying to corner me. It was a textbook power play—make me feel like I needed them, like they were offering me a lifeline. But deep down, I knew better.

Raul's grin widened as he misread my silence for fear. "Look, kid," he said, his voice almost coaxing now. "It's simple. You stick with us, and we'll make sure no one messes with you. The academy can be a tough place for someone like you, an orphan with no backing. But if you're with us, Marcus will make sure you're not at the bottom anymore. You might even rise a few ranks or get to serve the Morningstar household after you graduate."

The other lackey chimed in, smirking. "Yeah, you might want to consider it. Last place... it ain't fun. People are going to come after you. But with us, you'll have protection. You won't have to worry about getting trampled."

They were trying to sound reasonable now, like they were offering me some kind of twisted charity. They thought I was intimidated, that I'd fold under the pressure and fall in line. But I wasn't scared. I had seen enough manipulation in my old life to know exactly what they were doing.

I let out a small, dry chuckle, shaking my head. "You really think I'm that desperate?" I asked quietly, raising my eyes to meet Raul's glare. "I'd rather take my chances alone than be some lackey for Marcus. You guys aren't as scary as you think you are."

Raul's eyes flashed with irritation, but I didn't flinch. Being an orphan didn't faze me—it never had. 'I didn't mind being an orphan'.

I remembered a saying I once came across: 'Wear what you are like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.' Those words had stuck with me. If I accepted my past, my weakness—at least what others perceived as weakness—no one could use it against me. It wasn't shameful; it was simply a part of me. Let them throw their insults or try to exploit my vulnerabilities. They wouldn't find anything to break.

Raul's face darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might swing at me. His hand twitched, but he restrained himself. It seems, he knew the repercussions of attacking a student well and didn't want to get into trouble on his first day especially after Elanor's speech. Instead, he stepped forward, his nose inches from mine, trying one last time to push his weight around. "You're making a mistake, kid. You'll regret this. No one says no to Marcus."

"You don't have to answer now," Raul added, his voice a mix of condescension and patience. "Just... think about it."

I forced a smirk, loosening my fists as I exhaled. "Think about it?" I echoed. "I already have."

Before he could react, I stepped past him, brushing him off as I walked toward the door. The confrontation wasn't over—I could feel their eyes burning into my back—but I wasn't about to let them see me falter.

Without another word, I turned my back on him and started walking away, feeling the tension rise behind me. It seems they didn't like being brushed off, especially not by someone they considered beneath them.

"Hey!" Raul called out, and I heard footsteps rushing toward me.

I didn't stop. I didn't need to. At the last moment, just as he was about to reach me, I activated Flash Step. In an instant, I disappeared from their sight, reappearing just around the corner. Their confused shouts echoed down the hall, but I wasn't sticking around to hear them.

I ducked into a narrow alleyway that led toward the storerooms, slipping into the shadows. The dim light barely reached this part of the academy grounds, and it was easy to stay out of sight as Raul and his cronies stormed past, cursing under their breath. They had no idea I was hiding just a few feet away, watching as they continued down the corridor in frustration.

Once they were far enough, I slipped back through the side door, retracing my steps until I found myself in the same hallway as the classroom. I kept my pace steady, not wanting to draw any more attention to myself, and soon enough, I was back on the main path toward the dorms.

My heart was still racing, but I couldn't help the smirk that tugged at my lips. They thought they had me cornered, but I wasn't the same kid they thought they could push around. I wasn't here to play games or get involved in their power struggles.

I took the stairs two at a time, my shoes tapping lightly against the stone as I hurried to get to my room. The castle-like dormitory was vast and quiet, with the echo of my footsteps the only sound in the halls. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings, reminding me that even though this was a school, its design had been built to endure far greater things than student life.

At last, I reached the door to my room, my hand hovering over the doorknob for a moment before turning it. The door creaked open, and the familiar scent of wood and faint dust greeted me. I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. For the first time since my encounter with Raul, I let out a long breath.

The room was small but functional, with a single bed in the corner, a desk, and a wardrobe. A small window overlooked the academy grounds, offering a view of the courtyard below. I tossed my bag onto the chair by the desk and leaned back against the door, running a hand through my hair. The events of the day swirled in my head, but one thing stood out clearly—Marcus and his lackeys weren't going to back down. If anything, they'd probably escalate their attempts to bring me under their control.

"First things first," I muttered to myself. "Shower."

I stripped off my clothes and headed to the small bathroom attached to the room. The cool water from the shower helped clear my mind, washing away the tension that had built up throughout the day. As the water cascaded over me, I replayed the scene with Raul in my head. I knew their game—intimidation, coercion, trying to make me feel small and dependent on them. But what bothered me wasn't just their bullying tactics—it was how easily Marcus had gotten information about me. If he could find out that I was an orphan so quickly, what else did he already know?

After drying off, I dressed in more comfortable clothes, stretching as I looked out the window. Evening training was next. I couldn't afford to slack off, not when I was already considered weak by the academy's standards. I grabbed my sword from its place by the bed, feeling the weight of it in my hand. If I wanted to survive here, I needed to show potential. The academy was ruthless—those who didn't stand out got left behind. Or worse, they became prey for students like Marcus.

But training alone wasn't going to be enough. I needed an edge. Something that would level the playing field.

I sat down on the edge of my bed, frowning as I thought back to the novel. In the story, the protagonist, Arthur, had been lucky. He'd been taken in by the Rothschilds, one of the wealthiest families in Duterra. Their influence had given him advantages that others could only dream of—resources, training, protection. But I wasn't Arthur, and I didn't have the same safety net. There hadn't been much mention of hidden treasures or secret powers that the protagonist stumbled upon, at least not this early in the academy.

The novel had focused more on Arthur's growth through sheer determination and the help he received from his connections. But I didn't have that luxury. I couldn't rely on being adopted by a powerful family. If there was something in this world I could use to my advantage, I'd have to find it on my own.

"Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way," I mused aloud. "There has to be something the novel didn't reveal... something that wasn't important to Arthur's story but could be crucial to mine."

With that thought, I stood up and grabbed my training gear, securing my sword at my side. The evening was still young, and I had time to think more during practice. I'd have to dig deeper into the academy's secrets if I wanted to get ahead, but for now, I needed to focus on getting stronger.

As I opened the door to head to the training grounds, I cast one last glance around my room. This was just the beginning. If the world thought I was going to fall in line like the rest, it would be in for a surprise.