When I woke up, I slowly sat up in bed, letting my eyes adjust to the dull light seeping through the cracks of the window. My head still felt heavy, like my mind hadn't fully returned from sleep.
Yesterday was still a blur.
I hadn't even properly looked around when I arrived—I was too exhausted to care. Now, with a clearer mind, I finally took in my surroundings.
The room was still in disarray.
Dust lingered on surfaces. Scattered items remained exactly where they had been left. Nothing had been touched, nothing cleaned.
It was obvious.
My guard and maid hadn't even stepped in here once.
I clicked my tongue softly.
So they really didn't bother…
Letting out a tired sigh, I pushed myself up.
"Another day to be mocked… I am so tired," I muttered.
No point delaying it.
I quickly bathed, changed into my uniform, and left for school.
---
The moment I entered the academy, something felt off.
Normally, I would get the usual stares—disgust, amusement, mockery, whispers trailing behind me like shadows.
But today…
It was different.
People weren't just glancing.
They were staring.
Whispering.
Watching me like I wasn't supposed to be here.
What… happened?
I frowned slightly but kept walking.
I didn't have the energy to care.
I pushed open the doors of my classroom.
---
Silence fell instantly.
Eldric, the teacher, stood at the front writing on the board. He turned instinctively at the sound of the door.
The moment his eyes landed on me, his expression drained of all color.
He froze completely.
"…how are you still here?" he whispered under his breath.
The words slipped out before he could stop himself.
I blinked.
"…am I not supposed to come to school?" I asked.
Then I thought for a moment.
"Oh… I'm sorry for being late, sir."
Eldric pressed a hand to his face and sighed deeply like his patience itself was breaking.
"…just go take your seat."
I nodded and walked in.
---
That's when I noticed him.
A new student.
Sitting like he had always belonged there.
Relaxed posture. Calm expression. Eyes that didn't quite match the room.
He glanced at me and casually raised a hand.
"Hey."
A silent gesture.
Sit here.
I hesitated.
Everything in me said it was a bad idea to get involved with him.
But he had waved.
And I… had a bad habit.
A very old one.
So I walked over and sat beside him.
---
For a while, there was silence.
And I was grateful for it.
Finally… peace.
But it didn't last.
"Hey," he said suddenly.
I turned slightly.
"…huh?"
"Where have you been?"
I frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You disappeared," he said casually. "Completely."
"…I was just gone a night," I replied slowly.
He shook his head.
"No. Some people said you were kidnapped. Others said you quit the academy."
I blinked.
"…what?"
I glanced around.
Everyone was still watching me.
Whispering.
Something was wrong.
"Almost everyone was glad you left," Kael added.
That statement made something in my chest tighten.
Then Eldric spoke without turning around.
"I was also part of the people that were glad you left."
Kael smirked slightly.
"Teach, that's kind of harsh."
Eldric finally turned.
"I don't see either of you as my students. Honestly, I was hoping you'd follow him too. But the fool came back anyway."
Kael placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
"Ouch. That hurts."
But his eyes didn't change.
Cold. Observant.
Unmoved.
Something about this wasn't right.
"Wait," I interrupted. "What do you mean I left?"
Kael opened his mouth—
But Eldric cut in.
"You were gone for four months."
My mind froze.
"…four months?"
He continued, more serious now.
"You were supposed to be expelled. But they allowed a condition. If you pass the upcoming exam, you can stay."
The room felt heavier.
Before I could respond, Kael stood up.
"Come with me."
"Huh? Where are you taking me?"
"Somewhere quiet."
He grabbed my arm and pulled me out.
---
We walked far beyond the academy.
Past roads.
Past noise.
Until the world turned silent.
We were in a forest.
Tall trees surrounded us, their shadows stretching long across the ground.
Kael finally stopped.
"Wanna spar?"
"…huh?"
I stared at him.
"Are you insane? I don't have any formal training. I'll lose immediately."
And I wasn't telling him everything.
About the sword I had.
The Invisible Blade.
A weapon without form.
Without shape.
Only presence.
It existed only when I willed it.
But I kept it hidden.
Kael shrugged.
"I'm not using a weapon either. Pure physical."
He started stretching casually.
Like this was normal.
Like I wasn't about to step into something dangerous.
For the first time…
Someone had asked me to spar.
Kael glanced at me.
"Don't think. Just come at me like you want to win."
"…how did you know what I was thinking?"
He smiled faintly.
"It's obvious. You hesitate against weaker people. That means trauma. And the Azure family… likes breaking that kind of thing."
My eyes sharpened instantly.
"…how do you know my family name?"
Kael pointed at my hair.
"The tips. Red strands hiding under black. Hard to notice—but not impossible."
I froze.
My hand moved to my hair.
He was right.
"…how do you know things about me I don't even know myself?" I whispered.
Then I asked,
"…what's your name again?"
He smirked.
"What, is this one of those moments where we introduce ourselves like knights in an isekai?"
I paused.
"…did you just say isekai?"
"I'm Kael," he said anyway. "Kael Ardyn."
Then—
"I am Nullen Azure."
The spar began.
---
Kael moved first.
Not running.
Not stepping.
He vanished forward.
A punch came from the left.
I barely dodged.
Another followed instantly.
I ducked.
Then another.
He was reading me.
Predicting everything.
Then—
Impact.
His fist connected.
I was sent flying through trees before crashing into the ground.
Pain shot through my body.
Kael tilted his head.
"…you survived that?"
I coughed.
"Survived what?"
"A full punch from me."
"…which means?"
"You're stronger than you think."
I clenched my fists.
"That's impossible."
"A form user is stronger than a non-form user," I said.
Kael raised a brow.
"Why?"
"…that's just how it is."
"Who decided that?" he asked.
I hesitated.
No answer came.
Kael stepped closer.
"Tell me. Whose punch hurt more—mine or the brats who used to beat you?"
"…yours."
"And yet your body is fine."
Silence.
His voice lowered.
"The world doesn't make rules because they're true. It makes them because people are afraid of what breaks them."
My breath slowed.
"The only thing limiting you…"
He pointed at me.
"…is you."
Something inside me cracked.
"Forget everything," he said. "Fear. Trauma. Names. Titles. Just come at me like it's only this moment."
---
I closed my eyes.
And let it all go.
When I opened them again—
the world was silent.
Sharp.
Empty.
Only him existed.
Only the fight mattered.
Only one thought remained:
Win.
Kael smiled slightly.
"Welcome to my world."
He moved.
---
It was instant.
A punch aimed at my head.
But this time—
I moved.
My body reacted before thought.
I tilted.
Dodged.
My hand shifted slightly—
Not toward a visible weapon.
But toward empty space.
The air twisted.
Something responded.
The Invisible Blade.
Unseen.
Unformed.
But real.
Kael's eyes narrowed for the first time.
"…so that's it."
But he didn't stop.
Neither did I.
I grabbed his arm mid-motion and threw him through the trees.
He twisted mid-air and landed smoothly.
Then I moved.
Ten strikes.
Two connected.
And those two—
changed the air.
Kael staggered slightly.
"…heavy," he muttered.
Then he attacked again.
Left. Right. Left.
I dodged.
Then—
A kick I didn't see coming.
I hit the ground hard.
Kael raised a hand.
"Enough."
"…huh?"
I smirked weakly.
"I was close."
"It's already night."
I looked up.
The sky was dark.
Time had passed without me noticing.
It felt like moments.
Kael turned away.
Then paused.
Without looking back, he said—
"Nullen… never forget this feeling."
And walked into the forest.