Kaiser had just finished arranging his things—clothes folded neatly on the shelf, a few books stacked on the desk, and his favorite black jacket hanging by the window. He sat on the edge of his bed, exhaling slowly. The quiet of the dorm room felt almost unreal compared to everything that had happened these past few days.
He looked around, trying to take it all in.
Three beds. One was clearly used—blankets messy, a pillow half on the floor, and an empty cup of coffee resting on the desk nearby. Whoever lived here wasn't exactly the "organized" type.
Kaiser leaned back against the wall, staring up at the ceiling.
His mind wandered back to his purpose—his reason for being here.
No matter how strange his new life had become, that one goal remained unchanged.
Wake up mom.
That was the core of everything.
He wasn't chasing fame, nor power. He just wanted enough money to pay a Saint to heal her—to wake her from that endless sleep. But now that he was here, in the Academy of Saints itself, the possibilities widened.
If he could get close to a healer, a real Saint-level healer, maybe… just maybe… he wouldn't need money at all.
"Heh… free treatment for a bit of friendship," he muttered with a small smile. "Sounds like a good deal to me."
He ran a hand through his hair and chuckled. "Haaa… I just hope everything goes smoothly this time."
Cloc.
The doorknob turned.
Kaiser blinked and sat upright.
A familiar voice came from the doorway—calm, sharp, and carrying a hint of arrogance.
"What are you doing here?"
Kaiser frowned. "That's my line."
The air in the room grew heavy. Standing in the doorway was none other than Norvin—Divah's brother. His silver hair caught the afternoon light, shimmering faintly, and his icy blue eyes narrowed the moment they landed on Kaiser.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Kaiser whispered under his breath.
Norvin stepped inside, his expression darkening. "Don't tell me you're my roommate."
"I guess I am," Kaiser replied, forcing a smirk though his stomach sank. "Don't worry, I don't snore."
Norvin ignored the joke, placing his bag down on the second bed with a thud. "You must really enjoy sticking close to my family, huh?"
Kaiser sighed. "Still on that? I already told everyone there's a misunderstanding."
"Oh, I remember," Norvin said, crossing his arms. "You said Divah 'took care' of you. How convenient."
"I'm not lying," Kaiser said calmly, standing up to face him. "And if you want proof, go ask her yourself."
Norvin's gaze hardened. "I don't need to ask her anything. I can already tell—you're trouble."
Kaiser let out a tired laugh. "You're not the first to say that."
For a few moments, neither of them spoke. The tension was thick enough to cut with a blade.
Then, surprisingly, Norvin turned away and tossed his jacket on the bed. "Fine. I don't care why you're here. Just stay out of my way."
"Works for me," Kaiser said, dropping back onto his bed. "I've got better things to worry about anyway."
Norvin glanced at him one last time, his voice colder now. "If you embarrass my sister's name, I'll make sure you regret it."
Kaiser smirked faintly, staring at the ceiling again. "I'll try not to ruin your family reputation, Prince Glacius."
Norvin glared at him but said nothing, finally turning his back.
Silence filled the room again.
Kaiser closed his eyes. This place is going to be a battlefield, he thought. And I haven't even gone to class yet.
Outside, the academy bells rang—signaling the evening.
The Academy of Saints was just beginning to reveal its true nature.
The silence between Kaiser and Norvin was still thick when the door creaked open again.
"Ugh… what a terrible day—oh?" a new voice murmured.
Both Kaiser and Norvin turned their heads at the same time.
Standing in the doorway was a young man neither of them had seen before. His hair was a soft shade of violet that shimmered faintly under the light, and his half-lidded eyes gave him a lazy, fox-like look—as if he was always one step ahead of everyone else, and too tired to care.
Then, with a grin that was just a little too charming, he spoke:
"May the divine light shine upon you, my dear roommates."
Kaiser blinked. "...What?"
The newcomer chuckled softly, stepping into the room with an elegant calm that didn't match his casual words. "I'm Kain Bodwyn. I was the first one assigned here. I've been living alone for a while, so I truly hope we'll get along."
He closed the door behind him, set down a stack of books on his desk, and turned toward them with that same serene smile.
Kaiser and Norvin exchanged a glance—both of them frowning slightly. Something about this guy didn't feel right. His presence was… strange.
Norvin was the first to speak. "Norvin Lawson," he said stiffly.
"Kaiser," Kaiser added, hesitating for a second.
"Ah, excellent," Kain said cheerfully, clasping his hands together. "Now that we're all acquainted, peace and harmony can reign in this humble space."
He moved gracefully across the room and sat on the bed closest to the window, pulling one of his books onto his lap. The way he flipped through the pages felt too relaxed—too casual—like he already owned the place.
Kaiser leaned closer to Norvin and whispered, "Is it just me, or does this guy radiate suspicious energy?"
Norvin didn't look away from Kain. "No… it's not just you."
Kain suddenly turned his head, that sly smile still on his face. "You know, it's rude to whisper about people when they're in the same room."
Both froze.
Kain let out a quiet laugh. "Don't worry, I'm not offended. In fact, I get that a lot." He closed his book softly and placed it on the bedside table. "It's simply the way I am."
Kaiser crossed his arms. "And what way is that?"
"The kind that people shouldn't trust," Kain replied with a wink.
Kaiser and Norvin just stared at him.
"…Great," Kaiser muttered under his breath. "Just what I needed. A mysterious roommate with trust issues."
Kain chuckled again, stretching his arms above his head. "Relax. I'm harmless—as long as you don't touch my books or my food."
"Noted," Norvin said dryly.
Kain lay down on his bed, one arm behind his head, eyes drifting toward the ceiling. "Well, gentlemen, tomorrow's the start of the academic trials. You might want to get some rest. The instructors here are brutal."
Kaiser frowned. "Trials? What kind of trials?"
Kain's smile returned, but this time it was quieter… darker. "The kind that decide whether you belong in this academy—or not."
The room fell silent again. The air grew colder.
Kain turned his head toward the wall, pulling his blanket up. "Sleep well, roommates. You'll need it."
Kaiser blinked, staring at the now-sleeping figure.
"…Yeah," he muttered softly, lying back on his own bed. "This night's gonna be long."
Norvin said nothing. But the tension in his shoulders didn't fade.
Three students.
One room.
And a storm quietly brewing inside all of them.