The academy's halls buzzed with low chatter as students filed out of classrooms, their uniforms sharp, their energies sharper.
In the crowd, no one paid much attention to the new student walking with perfect posture, their movements fluid and practiced. Their nameat least the one givenwas Silas Vorn. Transferred from a smaller academy in the eastern provinces. Or so the records claimed.
Silas adjusted his collar as he walked, letting his eyes scan the hall through the side of his lashes. Every movement was measured, every expression carefully chosen. He had already memorized faces. He knew who the loudmouths were, who the top-ranked were, and most importantlywhere Kian Balthor sat during lectures.
He'd spent his first few days blending in: not too charming, not too quiet. Good enough to not draw attention. Unremarkable… until needed.
Today, though, he made a move.
"Hey," Silas said, sliding into a seat beside Kian just as class began. "Your match the other day? The one with the spatial lightning? That was sick."
Kian gave him a look not cold, but not exactly inviting either. "Thanks."
"Silas," he said, offering a hand. "New here. Came in from out east. They said you were the guy to watch if I wanted to improve."
Nia, seated behind them, narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. She said nothing, but watched closely.
Kian shook the hand, firm and polite. "Kian."
"Yeah, figured," Silas grinned. "Not a lot of people can bend space and fry people with it."
He said it casually, but inside, he was taking mental notes. Kian's aura was steady not wildly overcharged like he expected from someone approaching Tier 7. Either he was masking it, or…
Or he's more dangerous than we thought.
As the class began and Professor Mickyle took the podium, Silas leaned back in his seat, tapping a stylus against his notebook. The lesson was on multi-channel resonance theory exactly the kind of content Silas didn't care about.
But then, Mickyle's voice cut through.
"Kian. Stay after class, would you?"
That got Silas' attention.
Kian blinked. "Sure."
As Mickyle continued the lecture, Silas made a quick note in his mental report.
Subject: Kian Balthor.
Status: Calm. Controlled.
Possible Tier 7 or near.
Teacher Mickyle seems aware of progression.
Monitoring to continue.
Silas smiled faintly as he looked ahead.
No need to rush, he thought. All prey reveals itself eventually.