Kael looked at his hand, making sure of what had just happened. He looked back at the hall. There was nothing. It was still empty. "Was that the effect of forcing the rhythm?"
Kael forced his rhythm again.
"Ackkk!" he cried. Kael felt dizzy. He experienced a delay in perception, nausea, and a headache. He stopped forcing his rhythm. "That hurt a lot earlier," Kael muttered.
He looked outside the hall. The voices of students around the academy could be heard.
Tick…
Tick…
Tick…
The beat returned to normal. The Chrono Halo glowed behind Kael. "If that was an illusion... I shouldn't be able to remember the delay that clearly." For a fraction of a second, he could not feel his own body. It was as if he was left behind, while something else moved first.
Kael stepped out of the hall. This time, completely. The afternoon breeze blew gently. The sunlight looked beautiful across the academy. At that moment, Kael thought of one possibility. There was something that did not move along with time. Kael began to walk along the academy corridor. His steps were slow.
Kael entered the cafeteria. He bought some food. When Kael went to find a place to sit, a voice called out to him.
"Oi, Kael." Kael turned toward the voice. He recognized that it was Elric. "Kael, sit here," he called while tapping the empty seat beside him. Kael accepted, then sat next to Elric.
"You look strange."
"I'm just tired."
"Tired? Training ended a long time ago."
"Seriously, I'm just tired," Kael replied to Elric, who did not believe him. Maybe Elric knew something was off, but did not know what.
"You don't look well. Are you sick?" Elric asked.
"I told you, I'm just tired."
"Don't tell me you haven't eaten yet. You should have eaten before training."
Kael put on a weary expression, as if it did not matter what Elric concluded. Elric shrugged. "Whatever." Kael took his food and started eating.
"Don't pass out in class tomorrow."
Elric left first, leaving Kael behind. He stayed silent for a moment after Elric left. Kael exhaled and leaned back in his chair. The dizziness from earlier had begun to fade. Kael felt more relaxed, although his body still felt heavy.
Some time passed. Some students left the cafeteria one by one.
Kael finished his meal. He stood up and returned his tray to the return area. Then he walked out of the cafeteria. The cool evening air immediately touched his face. The sky had turned orange and purple. The remaining sunlight slowly sank behind the academy buildings. The lights began to turn on. They replaced the daylight with a calmer atmosphere.
He began walking along the path. Some students were still relaxing. Some sat on park benches. Others walked while chatting. The atmosphere was calm. It was not like earlier in the day when it was full of activity.
"Today was very tiring," he muttered.
Kael kept walking until he reached a small garden in the middle of the academy. He stopped for a moment. He looked up at the increasingly dark sky.
He exhaled and continued walking.
At a crossroads, Kael turned toward the dormitory. Then he went to his room. Kael opened the door and entered. His body felt heavier than before. On the table, there were books and a photo of Kael when he was a child. The photo looked faint. He walked toward the bed and dropped himself onto it. The bed was very comfortable. It felt like silk feathers.
Kael stared toward the window. The night sky looked faint. His mind was empty. He was not analyzing anything. He was just still.
But for a moment, he remembered that fraction of a second. The feeling of being left behind. Kael raised his hand in front of his face.
Open.
Close.
It felt normal. It was an ordinary action. Kael lowered his hand again. "Strange...." He turned his body slightly and looked toward the window. The sky outside was almost completely dark. A few stars began to appear faintly.
The night atmosphere began to settle.
Calm.
Too calm.
Kael got up from his bed. He walked to the table and took a glass of water. Then he drank it.
Cold. Slightly refreshing.
Kael sat in the chair. His eyes began to feel heavy. Before resting, Kael stared blankly at the window. "If that wasn't an illusion....." Kael shook his head.
"Tomorrow. Don't think about it yet," he continued.
There was no use thinking about something pointless when his own body was not stable. Kael stood up again.
Then he walked to the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the silence of the room. Kael came out of the bathroom. Then he took a change of clothes and put them on. Then he walked to the bed and rested that night.
The day ended as usual.
Without answers.
Only the quiet silence of the night.
Only the exhaustion slowly replaced by the calm of night.
Morning came without much sound.
Sunlight passed through the curtains of Kael's room. It fell directly onto his face. He frowned slightly. Then he slowly opened his eyes. For a few seconds, Kael did not move. He just stared at the ceiling. He tried to realize where he was.
"...Morning," he muttered softly.
He exhaled. Then he sat up. His body felt lighter than the night before. Not fully recovered, but enough. Kael lowered his feet to the floor.
The floor was cold.
He stretched his body for a moment. It felt normal. At least that was what he felt. Kael walked toward the window. Then he opened the curtains. The morning light entered the room. The light was very soft. Some students could be seen walking below. Some were jogging lightly. Others were just walking casually while carrying books.
Kael looked outside for a moment.
Then Kael turned away from the window. A new day, and new activities. Kael walked to the bathroom.
Kael took his uniform. Then he began to get ready. His movements were ordinary. He was not rushed. He was not slow either.
Kael opened the door to his room and went out. The dormitory corridor was quite crowded. The sound of footsteps and light conversations filled the air.
Kael walked along the dormitory corridor. Some students who passed by glanced at him. Some just walked past. Others whispered softly to their friends.
"…that's Kael, right?"
"Yeah."
"He's still here…"
Kael heard it. Clearly. But he did not turn. He did not react. Kael remained silent. His lips moved slightly. They formed a faint smile that was almost invisible. He was used to being treated like this. His steps remained the same. It was as if those words were not directed at him.
He went down the stairs. Then he exited the dormitory building. The morning air felt fresh. It contrasted with the atmosphere inside. Kael took a slow breath. Then he began walking toward the cafeteria.
Some students from other classes had already gathered there. The atmosphere was lively, but not too crowded. Kael took some simple food. Then he looked for a place to sit. Kael saw a few empty seats nearby. Then he sat in one of them.
Kael sat without making much noise. His hand moved slowly. He picked up a spoon. Then he began eating. His movements were calm. Too calm for the busy cafeteria atmosphere.
The sounds of conversation around him blended together. Laughter. Casual talk. The clinking of plates. Everything sounded normal. Kael kept eating. His spoon moved with the same rhythm.
A few minutes passed.
The sound of footsteps approached. Then it stopped right at his table. Kael did not look up immediately.
"I thought you'd stop at this academy."
The voice was calm and flat. It was clearly condescending.
Darius stood there.
His uniform was neat. His posture was straight. There were no signs of fatigue. It was as if this new day was already under his control.
Some students were watching. Not all of them. Kael looked at him for a few seconds.
"Why?" Kael asked shortly.
Darius slightly raised an eyebrow. It was as if he did not expect Kael to respond like that.
"Yesterday you looked quite... broken," he said casually. "I thought you'd need more time before showing up again."
Kael looked at him. His gaze was like looking at someone he had seen many times before. "I'm just hungry," Kael replied.
Darius clicked his tongue softly. Then he turned and left just like that. Without a word. It was as if the conversation was nothing but an insult.
Kael remained seated. He paused for a moment. Then he continued eating. The cafeteria sounds returned to normal. Conversations. Soft laughter. The clinking of utensils. Everything blended together.
But to him, everything felt distant.
He finished his last bite. Then he placed the spoon down slowly.
Kael stood up. He brought his tray to the return area. Then he walked out of the cafeteria. The morning air felt fresh. The view looked beautiful.
The academy corridors were getting more crowded.
Some students began hurrying to their respective classes. The sound of footsteps and conversations filled the hallway. Kael walked through the crowd.
Kael kept walking and arrived at the door of his classroom. Then he entered. The atmosphere had not changed. The sound of students chatting could be heard. It was not silent, but it was present.
There was a brief pause.
Kael walked in without paying attention to it. He went to his seat in the middle, beside the window. Then he sat down. Kael let out a small breath. Then he exhaled it.
A moment later, the sound of footsteps could be heard from outside the classroom. The teacher would soon enter and begin the lesson.
The day would continue again.
Without waiting for anyone.