The sun rose shyly over Astra High Academy, its light filtering through the tall, enchanted windows that crowned the elegant spires of the ancient school. Within the regal halls of Class A—a place whispered among students as the domain of the Elites—Naomi stood by the polished marble threshold, hesitant.
Her uniform, perfectly ironed, fluttered slightly with her movement. Her eyes, normally soft and observant, were focused today. She stepped into the classroom.
A silence fell. The Class A students were lounging like nobility: one polishing a floating silver orb with ease, another flipping through a book whose pages shimmered with magical glyphs. Their posture—reclined and uninterested—shifted the moment Naomi entered.
"What is a stray cat doing in the lion's den?" mocked Sera tor, her voice coated with honey and poison. Her long white hair gleamed like ice under the chandelier.
Naomi clenched her fist but smiled politely. "I have a few questions about the incident. The court judgment is in two days. I was hoping—"
"Hoping we'd help you?" Another voice rang out—Luca, the silver-eyed prodigy, known for his calm cruelty. He leaned back in his levitating chair, arms folded.
"Class E should worry about polishing their shoes before stepping in here. You don't belong."
"I'm not here to argue. I'm trying to understand what really happened."
Sera rose gracefully. "What happened is simple: your class broke sacred school rules. What more is there to understand?"
Naomi's voice remained steady, though her heart thumped like a war drum. "Someone wants Cain framed. I believe someone used Class B as a puppet. I believe Class A may have witnessed or—"
"Witnessed?" Luca voice was a slow dagger. "Accusations, now? Shall we report you for disrespecting nobility?"
She bowed her head. "No disrespect. Just truth. Truth you may be hiding."
An uncomfortable pause.
"Get out," Sera said, her voice colder than winter.
Naomi turned without another word, holding her silence like a shield.
Peterson sat on the stone floor, his eyes dark and unfocused, when the door creaked open. He didn't move at first, still registering the change.
Then he stepped out.
Three figures stood before him, draped in the silver robes of the Holy Ones.
Dante.
Yuno.
Kain.
They didn't speak.
Peterson did. "I know you're expecting gratitude. You're not getting it. I'm not following your plan. Class E is my class. My friends are in danger. I need—"
A blur. A strike.
Yuno's punch slammed into his gut like thunder. Peterson gasped, collapsing to his knees.
"Rude, rude," Yuno said, tilting his head with a boyish grin. "When you're talking to top dogs, you better kneel or die."
Peterson coughed but looked up, fury dancing in his eyes.
Kain crouched beside him, almost gentle. "I don't want to force you. But you'll walk with us. You have no choice."
Peterson spat on the floor.
"I forbid it."
Dante's eyes flared red. He raised a hand—
"Peterson!"
All three turned. A group of Class E students stood in the corridor They had come for him.
Yuno sighed. "Looks like we're out of luck."
They pushed Peterson toward his classmates.
Steven flared. "What the hell did you do to him?!"
Derrick pulled Steven back. "They're the Holy Ones. Anything we say… can affect our class."
Yuno approached. "I heard you're facing court in two days. That's soon."
Class E remained silent.
Kain chuckled. "Don't be shy, little lambs."
Dante stepped forward. "Don't depend on anyone. Not even Paul. You're already destined to fail."
He turned and walked away.
Deborah rushed to Peterson, hugging him tightly. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
"I'm fine," he muttered, though his body disagreed.
Across the Kingdom, inside a floating café that danced on magic winds, food hovered in elegant spirals as waiters entertained children with minor illusion shows.
Paul, Prisca, Cain, and Lola sat in a quiet corner.
Prisca sipped her caramel drink. "So, Cain. You're saying you didn't attack Class B first?"
Cain nodded. "They've targeted me since I arrived."
Paul leaned back, eyes narrowed.
Lola tapped her spoon. "Class B's full of bullies. Wouldn't be surprising if they attacked Cain. The Black Dragons run half the halls."
Paul turned. "Cain, tell your story again. Please."
Cain's gaze dimmed. He nodded.
Scene Four: Flashback – The Beginning of Scars
Cain walked from the cafeteria, his bag slung over his shoulder. Alone.
A group stood waiting—Joel and his thugs.
"This the Cain?" Joel said, then turned to the others.
A thug handed Joel a magical floating image. "He's the one. Cain Voss."
Joel grinned. "Join the Black Dragons."
Cain ignored him.
A thug grabbed him. "You walk away when our boss talks?"
Cain's body flared with fire magic. His form ignited in roaring heat.
They stepped back, shocked. Joel tensed, ready to strike.
Zeek, a prefect, appeared. "Enough."
They backed down, but the bullying never ended.
The hallway – They shoved Cain's books.
The training field – They sabotaged his magic drills.
The library – They whispered, surrounded him, ripped his pages.
Cain never fought back. Always interrupted. Always blamed.
One day…
Cain was walking alone at the empty hallway .
"Why the hell did I come here? I wanted peace, not this hell."
He clenched his fists.
Joel and three boys appeared.
"Someone's angry," Joel sneered.
Cain turned. "I don't have time for this."
A thug grabbed his arm.
Cain activated his heat magic.
The boy screamed and let go.
Cain stepped forward, flames surrounding him.
But Joel smiled. "We know your weakness."
Joel activated a lock spell. A punch landed deep in Cain's gut.
Cain flew into a wall.
"How…?" Cain gasped.
Joel grinned. "Only you knew about your weakness? Think again."
He struck Cain's face. "This is just the beginning."
From the shadows, Lola watched. Cain's eyes met hers. She fled.
Cain finished the story. Lola looked down.
Prisca asked, "Why did you run?"
"You wouldn't understand," Lola whispered. "My class is a beast. If I helped, I'd be next."
Cain looked at her, softer. "You're suffering too."
Paul spoke. "This wasn't random. Someone wants Cain. They're using Class B like puppets. The mastermind watches from the shadows."
Prisca gasped. "You're sure?"
Paul nodded. "He knows Cain… too well."
Cain's eyes widened.
In a dim, smoke-filled den outside Astra's borders, women danced, magic swirled, and lawlessness reigned.
Elijah, the underground boss, walked through. Silence fell. Heads bowed.
Joel ran up. "Sir, the case is in two days. Should we act now?"
Elijah smiled.
And nodded.
To Be Continued…