Chapter 7: Arrival at Veilspire Academy
944 Words
The air around Veilspire Academy shimmered faintly with mana. From the outside, it looked more like a fortress than a school,black towers stretched high into the clouds, their walls lined with glowing blue runes pulsing like veins. Above the main gate, the academy’s emblem,a silver phoenix devouring its own flames greeted every new arrival.
Kyle Palmer stepped through the archway, his suitcase dragging behind him. He had seen wealth before, but this… this was something else entirely. The air itself felt heavier, charged with the power of hundreds of students training, fighting, and flaunting their gifts.
So this is where the best of the best gather.
He had expected arrogance and power. What he didn’t expect was the stares.
Whispers followed him almost instantly. Some students recognized him by face; others scanned his ID badge and froze.
“Is that… an EX-ranked ability holder?”
“No way. He looks… normal.”
“Normal? He’s the guy who killed a criminal squad during an ability test last week!”
The rumor was already spreading faster than he could react. He sighed and adjusted his collar. Linsey had promised him a “fresh start,” but apparently, her idea of that didn’t include subtlety.
Inside the main hall, banners representing the academy’s divisions hung from the ceiling Combat, Research, Strategy, and Special Division. Each one carried a color and symbol, each with its own hierarchy. Kyle’s letter of transfer had placed him under Special Division, the group reserved for unique, unpredictable, or hazardous abilities.
He hated how fitting that sounded.
A young woman in a white uniform approached him. She had sharp crimson eyes and short black hair tied neatly to the side. Her presence was confident but not overbearing.
“You must be Kyle Palmer,” she said, her tone polite but careful. “Welcome to Veilspire Academy. I’m Iris Vonn, second-year representative for the Special Division.”
Kyle nodded. “Nice to meet you.”
“I’ll be showing you around. You’ll find the environment here… competitive. Some students might test you, but don’t worry,fighting to the death is only partially prohibited.”
Kyle blinked. “Partially?”
Iris smiled faintly. “You’ll see soon enough.”
They walked through the academy’s courtyard, where students sparred openly. The clang of weapons and bursts of energy filled the air. A few students, sensing Kyle’s aura, stopped mid-duel and turned. A few even bowed slightly, though more out of fear than respect.
“You’re famous already,” Iris said. “An EX-ranked ability doesn’t go unnoticed here.”
“I didn’t ask for fame,” Kyle muttered. “Just a place to stay.”
“That’s usually how it starts,” she said cryptically.
The tour continued,classrooms reinforced with mana-resistant glass, arenas equipped with dimensional stabilizers, even a cafeteria that looked like a five-star restaurant. For a moment, Kyle almost forgot what kind of world he was in.
Almost.
They finally stopped in front of the dormitory. The building loomed over them like a castle, its entrance guarded by a large metal statue holding a sword of light
“This will be your dorm,” Iris said. “You’ll share the floor with other Special Division members. Most are… tolerable. Avoid room 5C if you can.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because the guy who lives there thinks breathing the same air as someone weaker lowers his mana output.”
Kyle snorted. “Sounds charming.”
Before Iris could respond, a group of three students walked by. Their uniforms were tinted red,Combat Division. One of them, a tall boy with silver hair and confident eyes, slowed as he passed Kyle.
“Well, look what we have here,” the boy said. “The ‘Misfortune User.’ Didn’t think the stories were real.”
Kyle stared at him, unimpressed. “And you are?”
“Draven Sol. Top-ranked in the Combat Division. Remember that name.”
“I’ll try not to.”
Draven’s smirk faltered slightly. His friends snickered, but their eyes carried wariness. EX-ranked abilities weren’t to be trifled with,even arrogant prodigies knew that.
“See you around, Palmer,” Draven said finally, his tone carrying a threat wrapped in fake friendliness. “Maybe we’ll spar sometime.”
“Maybe,” Kyle replied dryly, “if you’re unlucky enough.”
As the Combat students walked away, Iris gave him a look that was somewhere between impressed and worried.
“You just made your first rival,” she said. “And he’s the kind who doesn’t forget insults.”
“Great,” Kyle sighed. “Day one and I’ve already found someone who wants to kill me.”
“You’ll fit right in.”
When she finally left, Kyle entered his assigned dorm room,simple but well-equipped: a mana-powered shower, adjustable gravity bed, and a tablet filled with academy data. He placed his bag down and leaned against the wall.
Linsey, what have you thrown me into…?
His phone buzzed with a message.
> [Linsey]: I heard you met Draven. Try not to kill him on the first day.
[Kyle]: No promises.
[Linsey]: Good boy. Orientation combat training starts tomorrow. Don’t embarrass me.
Kyle tossed the phone onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. He wanted to relax to just live like a normal person but he knew that would never happen. People here would either fear him or test him. And when they did, his ability wouldn’t let things end peacefully.
He closed his eyes. The hum of mana outside the window was constant, like a heartbeat that never stopped.
Tomorrow, he’d be forced to fight.
Tomorrow, he’d show them what misfortune really meant.
- Writer
