Arin walked through the quiet stone corridor, clutching the slip of paper the academy staff had handed him. His boots echoed faintly against the polished floor, the sound strangely lonely inside the huge building. The hallway smelled of chalk and old wood — a scent that felt foreign yet comforting in a way he couldn't explain.
Room 2–B17.
Second boys' wing. Third floor.
Arin stopped at the door, exhaled slowly, and pushed it open.
The first thing he heard was—
"BRO! Welcome to the legendary B-SECTOR!!"
A boy popped out from behind the bunk bed like he had been waiting hours just for this moment. He had messy hair, a grin too wide for his face, and eyes sparkling with a level of confidence that felt illegal.
Arin blinked. "…Hello."
"Oh, oh, serious type? Respect!" The boy slapped his own chest proudly. "Name's Rav, future top-ranker, Mira's future boyfriend, and the coolest guy in this entire hostel."
Arin stared.
Rav whispered, "Don't tell anyone I said that Mira thing. Not that it's not true — but… she might kill me."
Arin couldn't help it — a tiny smile slipped out. "I'm Arin."
Rav threw an arm around his shoulder immediately. "I KNOW! You're the guy who almost punched Commander Johan's face off! The whole dorm is talking about it, man!"
Arin tensed. "It… wasn't like that."
"Bro. Please." Rav leaned closer, whispering dramatically. "You shook the whole arena. The arena. Who even does that?"
Arin didn't answer.
He put his small bag on the lower bunk bed, feeling the weight in his chest again — that familiar fear.
They're talking about me…
If they find out what I really am… if I lose control again…
Will they throw me out?
The thought stabbed deeper than any wound.
Rav flopped onto his own bed, hands behind his head. "Anyway, relax. I'm cool, I don't judge. We're roommates now — means we're practically brothers. You need something, you ask me. Got it?"
"…Got it."
For some reason, Arin felt a little lighter.
Dinner time was chaos.
The cafeteria was massive — long tables stretching across the hall, students yelling, laughing, fighting over food trays. Floating lights buzzed above, plates clattered, and the smell of spices filled the air.
Arin walked in beside Rav, who had immediately begun fixing his hair when he spotted Mira at a distance.
"Oh no," Rav muttered in panic. "Why is she looking here? Am I walking weird? Am I breathing wrong?? Bro, check. Am I breathing wrong?"
"Your breathing seems normal," Arin said flatly.
"I knew it, I knew it — too normal. DAMN."
Before Rav could embarrass himself further, Mira waved at Arin from across the hall.
Rav gasped like he had been stabbed. "She waved at YOU?! YOU?! A newcomer who doesn't even comb his hair? Why—how—WHAT IS THIS WORLD?!"
Arin walked over awkwardly.
Mira grinned as she moved her tray to make space. "Arin! Sit here."
Nilo was already at the table — the small boy Arin saved from bullying earlier. He smiled shyly at Arin. "Hi again."
Arin nodded. "Hi."
The three ate quietly at first. Then Mira elbowed Arin lightly.
"You look more relaxed today. Good sign."
Arin noticed her eyes — warm, teasing, not afraid of him. That alone made something loosen inside his chest.
Nilo spoke softly, "The… ranking board updates tomorrow. I'm not expecting much but, um… I hope I don't get last place."
"You won't," Arin said simply.
Nilo blinked. "Huh?"
"You're smart. And you study."
Mira nodded. "See, even Arin knows."
Nilo blushed so hard he almost fell off the chair.
But around them, whispers spread.
"That's him… the guy who fought Johan…"
"I heard he shattered the floor with one punch…"
"No, no — he almost killed the commander…!"
"He's dangerous."
Arin froze for a moment, spoon halfway to his mouth.
His heartbeat stumbled.
Dangerous.
A monster.
Unstable.
The same words he heard before — back in the underground place, back near Om Sai, back when he lost control.
The food suddenly had no taste.
Even breath felt heavy.
Mira noticed immediately.
"Arin? You okay?"
He nodded quickly. "Yeah… I'm fine."
But he wasn't.
He felt like the walls were closing in.
He stood abruptly. "I… forgot my tiffin. I'll go get it."
Mira frowned. "We didn't get tiffins today."
Arin realized too late.
"I—I mean… something else. I left something."
Rav whispered to Mira, "Bro is weird. Respectfully."
Arin left before they could question him.
The hallway outside the cafeteria was silent.
Too silent.
Arin leaned against the wall, gripping his shirt near his chest, breath shaking.
He didn't understand why the loneliness hurt so much. Why the whispers felt like needles. Why his mind replayed Johan's face — that split second when he almost lost control.
They'll fear me.
They'll kick me out.
I'm not supposed to be here.
His vision blurred for a moment.
He wiped his eyes roughly.
"Get it together," he whispered to himself. "You're fine. You're fine…"
He wasn't fine.
Not even close.
As he headed back to the dorm, someone called out softly from behind him.
"Arin?"
He turned.
A tall woman stood there — her hair tied back, dressed in a long gray coat with crest markings. Her gaze was sharp, but not unkind.
"I'm Instructor Lyris," she said. "Astrahelm's discipline division."
Arin straightened immediately. "Did I… do something wrong?"
She shook her head. "Not wrong. But I saw your fight with Commander Johan."
Arin tensed.
"I'm not here to punish you," Lyris said. "However… I noticed something in your aura. Something unstable."
Arin swallowed. "I'm fine."
"Maybe," she said, a little too knowingly. "But instability grows when ignored. Come to the east training hall tomorrow evening. Alone. I will evaluate you."
"Evaluate…?"
"Your control," she said simply. "Over your Astra. And yourself."
Without waiting for questions, she walked past him, footsteps echoing down the empty corridor.
Arin stood frozen.
Another test.
Another risk.
Another chance to lose himself.
He exhaled shakily.
"Tomorrow…"
He finally walked back to the dorm—mind heavy, heart heavier.
Inside the room, Rav was already lying on his bed, humming something terribly off-tune.
"There you are!" Rav said. "Bro, Mira asked where you went. You okay?"
Arin paused at the door.
Then, slowly, he nodded. "Yeah."
And for the first time that day…
He almost believed his own answer.