The gates stood taller than anything Kashikari had seen.
Not just in size.
In presence.
Arcanis Tempest didn't welcome.
It evaluated.
Kashikari stood still for a moment, his eyes fixed on the structure. Dark stone. Clean lines. No wasted detail. Every part of it felt deliberate, like it existed for a single purpose.
To filter.
"…So this is it."
Dorum stood beside him, arms crossed.
"It won't care who you are," he said. "Only what you can become."
Kashikari didn't answer.
He stepped forward.
The moment he crossed the gate—
Something reacted.
Sharp.
Immediate.
Jinwi pulsed violently.
Kashikari's breath hitched for half a second before he forced it back under control.
"…Stay down."
A whisper.
Low.
Tight.
The pressure inside him didn't disappear.
But it didn't explode either.
For now.
Students moved through the courtyard, their voices blending into a constant hum. Some laughed. Some argued. Some simply walked without noticing anything unusual.
Others did.
A few glances lingered on Kashikari.
Too long.
Too focused.
"…He feels weird."
"Yeah… something's off."
Kashikari heard them.
Ignored them.
Or tried to.
Jinwi pulsed again—lighter this time, but aware.
Watching.
"New one."
A voice cut through.
Kashikari turned slightly.
A boy stood a few steps away, leaning casually but watching carefully. His posture looked relaxed, but his eyes weren't.
"…You talk too much," Kashikari replied.
The boy smirked faintly.
"And you don't talk enough."
A pause.
Then—
"What are you?"
Direct.
No hesitation.
Kashikari's gaze hardened.
"…A student."
The boy chuckled.
"Yeah. Sure."
He stepped a little closer.
Not aggressive.
Testing.
"I've seen people like you before."
Kashikari didn't move.
"…No, you haven't."
For a brief moment, the air between them tightened. Subtle. But there.
The boy felt it.
His smirk faded—just slightly.
"…Right."
He stepped back.
"Guess we'll see."
Then he turned and walked off, like the conversation had already ended for him.
"Control it."
Dorum's voice came from behind again.
Kashikari didn't turn.
"I am."
"Not enough."
A pause.
Kashikari exhaled slowly.
"…I know."
A bell rang across the courtyard.
Sharp.
Clear.
The noise shifted instantly as students began moving in one direction.
Order.
System.
Kashikari watched them.
"…So this is how it starts."
Dorum stepped past him.
"Follow."
No explanation.
No delay.
Kashikari moved.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Measured.
The building interior was colder than outside. Not in temperature, but in feeling. Walls lined with symbols, faintly glowing. Not decorative.
Functional.
Watching.
Kashikari felt it again.
That pressure.
Not from Jinwi.
From the place itself.
Evaluating.
They stopped in front of a large door.
Dorum glanced at him once.
"This is where you stop being alone."
A pause.
"And where mistakes matter."
Kashikari's expression didn't change.
But his grip tightened slightly.
"…Good."
Dorum opened the door.
Inside—
Dozens of eyes turned toward him.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Immediate.
Kashikari stepped in.
No hesitation.
But not calm either.
Jinwi pulsed.
Slow.
Interested.
For the first time—
He wasn't the only anomaly in the room.
But he felt like the most dangerous one.
And somewhere deep inside—
Jinwi agreed.