The academy looked the same.
But it wasn't.
Students still walked the halls.
Still laughed.
Still trained.
But underneath it—
Something was wrong.
White walls.
Magic lights.
The smell of healing herbs.
Trey sat on the edge of a bed.
Bandages wrapped around his arms.
Roach laid back nearby—
"…Man… I feel like I got hit by a mountain…"
"…You DID get hit by a mountain," Trey replied.
Roach groaned.
"…Don't remind me…"
Across the room—
Mia stood near the window.
Bandaged.
Quiet.
The twins sat together on one bed.
Holding hands.
"…We're fine…"
"…We're always fine…"
Lucien leaned against the wall—
Silent.
Bruised.
Thinking.
Smoke stood apart from everyone.
Watching.
Then—
The door opened.
Myla walked in.
"…Looks like everyone survived."
Trey smiled.
"…Yeah, barely. You missed the part where I almost died, though."
She smirked faintly.
"…I'm sure you handled it."
Smoke didn't smile.
Didn't move.
Just watched her.
Lucien spoke first.
"…This wasn't random."
Silence.
"…We were targeted," Mia added.
Roach sat up slightly.
"…Yeah, no kidding…"
Trey rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Okay but like… WHY us?"
No one answered.
Smoke finally spoke—
"…Because of you."
Everyone looked at Trey.
"…Me?" Trey blinked.
Smoke stepped forward.
"…They were focused on you."
A pause.
"…And they knew how we fight."
The room went quiet.
Slowly—
Eyes shifted.
Toward Myla.
"…You wanna explain that?" Smoke asked coldly.
Myla didn't react.
"…Explain what?"
"…How they knew everything."
A pause.
Trey stepped in—
"…Aye chill, we all just got jumped, now we accusing people??"
Roach nodded.
"…Yeah, that's kinda wild…"
Mia stayed silent.
Watching.
Myla sighed softly.
"…You think I'd help people who attacked us?"
Smoke didn't answer.
But his eyes said everything.
Later—
The room quieted.
People resting.
Trey stared at his hands.
"…Something's off…"
Roach looked over.
"…You mean when you turned into a whole different person?"
"…I didn't turn into anything…"
"…Bro you punched that dude into next week."
Trey frowned.
"…I heard something…"
Roach blinked.
"…Like what?"
Trey hesitated.
"…A voice."
Silence.
"…Told me to move."
Roach sat up.
"…Yeah nah… that's not normal."
Trey forced a laugh.
"…Yeah, no kidding…"
But his expression didn't change.
A loud bell rang.
Different.
Heavier.
An announcement echoed across the academy.
"…All students report to the main hall immediately."
"…This is not a drill."
The entire school gathered.
Teachers lined the front.
Their expressions—
Serious.
One stepped forward.
"…Yesterday's incident…"
"…Was not an accident."
Whispers spread instantly.
"…The academy is now under restricted lockdown."
Gasps.
"…All students will remain within designated zones."
"…Training will be supervised."
"…No one moves alone."
Trey leaned toward Roach.
"…Yeah… we definitely the main characters…"
Roach snorted.
"…Bro this ain't funny…"
A teacher's gaze landed directly on Trey.
Lingering.
Judging.
"…Some of you…"
"…Are attracting unwanted attention."
The nobles nearby smirked.
"…Of course he is…"
"…Aries always causes problems…"
Trey stretched.
"…Man y'all talk a lot for people who didn't fight nobody yesterday…"
Roach laughed loudly.
"…FACTS—"
Mia covered her mouth slightly.
Hiding a smile.
Deep below—
Doll stood before Lee.
"…The academy is reacting."
The hidden leader stepped from the shadows.
"…Good."
"…Pressure creates cracks."
Myla's image appeared in a floating projection.
With Trey.
With the squad.
"…She's inside," Doll said.
"…And gaining trust."
The leader nodded slightly.
"…Then let it continue."
"…We don't take him yet."
"…We break him first."
The boys' dorm was quiet.
Roach already asleep.
Lucien resting.
Smoke sitting by the window.
Trey laying on his bed.
Staring at the ceiling.
"…A voice…"
He closed his eyes.
Silence.
Nothing.
"…Yeah… I'm trippin…"
But deep inside—
Something stirred.
Listening.
Waiting.
Mia sat on her bed.
Thinking.
Momo and Koko whispered nearby.
"…He almost died…"
"…But he didn't…"
Mia looked out the window.
"…What are you hiding…"
Not fear.
Curiosity.
Back in the boys dorm—
Smoke stood outside.
Watching the night sky.
"…You're lying…"
His voice was quiet.
Cold.
"…I just don't know how yet."
Behind him—
Inside—
Myla sat calmly.
Eyes closed.
Smiling faintly.