---

The registrar was still fuming when Kael left her office, the faceless photograph haunting her thoughts. She marched straight to the principal's office, papers in hand, her lips ready to fire complaints.

But the principal, a tall man with silver hair and tired eyes, barely looked up from his desk. He skimmed Kael's registration file, adjusted his glasses, and sighed.

"Let him stay," the principal said simply, stamping the approval.

"What? Sir, you don't understand—" the registrar stammered.

"I do." The principal's voice cut her off like a blade. His tone carried quiet weight, the kind that silenced further arguments. "If Maya vouches for him, he stays. We've seen stranger cases before. Register him."

The registrar clenched her jaw, frustration boiling, but she bowed her head. "Yes, Principal."

Kael, standing silently at the side, hid a smirk beneath his hood. Convenient. He collected his stamped documents, slung his stolen school bag over his shoulder, and strolled out without another word.

---

The classroom was buzzing with noise when Kael entered. The chatter died almost instantly as the hooded figure walked in, his presence drawing every eye. Whispers filled the air again.

"Who is that?"

"That's Maya's cousin."

"Cousin? Really? He doesn't look anything like her."

"Why's he covering his face? Creepy…"

Kael ignored the whispers. His gaze scanned the room once, sharp and calculating, before he spotted an empty seat near the back. Without hesitation, he walked to it and sat down, resting his stolen bag lazily on the desk.

But the quiet didn't last long.

"Hey, hey, new kid!"

Kael tilted his head slightly. A group of boys was approaching, their leader swaggering ahead with a smirk. He was tall, with styled hair and a badge of false confidence plastered across his face. His name, whispered by the other students, was Philip.

"Philip, don't do so," Maya called out, her voice carrying both warning and irritation.

Philip ignored her, grinning. "What's he gonna do? He's a newbie, after all."

The boys surrounding him snickered. Philip stepped closer, reaching for Kael's hood. "Let's see what you're hiding under there, mystery man."

Before his fingers could even brush the fabric, Kael's hand shot up—not fast, but precise. He caught Philip's wrist midair, his grip firm but not crushing. For a heartbeat, their eyes locked. Kael didn't say a word, but the cold amusement in his unseen gaze was enough to freeze Philip in place.

A bead of sweat rolled down Philip's temple.

Kael released him as calmly as he had caught him. "You should listen when someone warns you," he said, his voice low and almost playful.

Philip staggered back, forcing a laugh. "Hah… okay guys, that's enough. Let's go sit."

The group dispersed, their laughter hollow, though none of them dared look Kael in the eye again. Maya shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. That's Kael for you.

---

Minutes later, the classroom door opened.

"Morning, chicks! How are you all doing?"

The man who entered wore a neat blue suit that contrasted oddly with his casual greeting. He was middle-aged, clean-shaven, and carried himself with an air of practiced energy.

The class groaned quietly in unison, a mix of annoyance and familiarity.

He paused, frowning at their lack of response—then his eyes landed on Kael. His curiosity piqued instantly. "Well, well, looks like we have a new student. What's your name, young man?"

Kael looked up slowly. "Kael. Kael Hemsworth."

"Hemsworth?" The man glanced toward Maya. "Are you a brother of Maya?"

"Cousin," Kael corrected smoothly.

"Ahh, cousin. Alright then." The teacher adjusted his suit jacket and clapped his hands. "I'm Mr. Robinson, your biology teacher. Welcome to Red City High, Kael."

Kael gave a slight nod, silent but polite.

"So then," Mr. Robinson continued, "what class were you in before you transferred here?"

"Ten," Kael answered.

The teacher's brows rose slightly. "Good, good. Then you haven't missed much. We're just beginning the anatomy modules." He tapped his desk, signaling for the students to open their notebooks.

And just like that, class began.

---

By the time the lunch bell rang, the classroom emptied in a rush of chatter and footsteps. Students flooded the hallway, eager for food, gossip, or both.

Kael, however, remained seated. His hood still shadowed his face, his hands casually folded. Across the room, he noticed the same girl he had spotted earlier—a small, quiet figure sitting by herself, her desk pushed slightly apart from the others. She hadn't spoken during class, hadn't laughed with anyone.

No one had even glanced at her.

She hesitated briefly, then stood up, clutching her books to her chest. Her shoulders hunched as she walked out, her head lowered. Kael watched silently, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

"Lonely one," he murmured.

"Are you going to follow her?" Augustus' voice resonated faintly in his head.

Kael smirked. "Well, let's survey the school, shall we?"

---

Instead of heading straight to the cafeteria, Kael took a detour. His steps were quiet, his movements calm, but his senses guided him like a compass. He followed the faint sound of muffled voices, the sharp sting of cruelty in the air.

It led him to a narrow, lonely lane between two buildings.

There, pressed against the wall, was the same girl from his class. Three other girls surrounded her, their expressions cruel and mocking. One of them shoved her shoulder, while another sneered.

"Why do you even come to school?"

"Pathetic."

"No wonder no one talks to you."

The victim winced, clutching her books tighter, but she didn't fight back. She only lowered her head further, as if she had already learned that resistance was pointless.

Kael's jaw tightened slightly beneath his hood.

The bullies, satisfied, finally stepped back. "Don't let us see you around again, loser," one spat before they turned to leave.

But as they spun around, their laughter faltered.

Leaning casually against the wall, arms folded, was an orange-hooded figure. He wasn't glaring. He wasn't smirking. He wasn't even looking at them. His head tilted slightly away, as if they didn't even exist.

For a moment, the girls froze. "W-What's he doing here?" one whispered.

Kael didn't respond. He pushed himself off the wall and walked past them without sparing a glance. His steps were slow, deliberate, yet the air seemed heavier with every movement.

When he reached the victim, he extended his hand.

She blinked, startled, staring at the offered hand in confusion.

Kael's voice was calm, almost soft. "Come."

For a heartbeat, she hesitated. Then, slowly, she placed her trembling hand in his.

Kael closed his fingers around hers gently, pulling her away from the wall. Together, they walked past the bullies, who stood frozen in silence, their earlier confidence shattered.

Not once did Kael look at them. To him, they were irrelevant.

The girls exchanged bewildered glances as the hooded boy and the lonely girl disappeared down the corridor.

"What the…" one muttered, her voice trailing into silence.

None of them could shake the feeling that something had just changed.

---

"Why did you pull me away from them?" the girl asked, her voice trembling as she tried to catch a glimpse of Kael's face beneath the hood.

Kael's tone was calm, almost careless. "I just felt like it."

He paused, then added with a low edge, "Don't mistake me for some saint who saves victims from bullies. I didn't do it to play hero. I want to know why they singled you out."

Word spread fast. By the time Kael stepped out of the corridor with the girl still holding onto his hand, murmurs rippled through the students nearby.

The new kid… with her?

Gasps, stares, and hushed whispers filled the air. Even Maya, who was used to Kael's unpredictable behavior, froze when she saw them together.

"Kael… what are you doing with her?" Maya demanded, her voice sharp with both surprise and suspicion.

Kael didn't flinch. Still holding the girl's hand, he turned slightly toward Maya. His words cut clean and cold:

"Give me one good, valid reason why I shouldn't be with her."

Maya opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Her confidence slipped away, and a

ll she could do was stare. Finally, without a word, she turned and walked off, leaving Kael standing there with the girl—every eye in the hall locked on them.

---

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