The academy was loud.
Not chaotic—structured.
Controlled.
Kael walked through the halls quietly.
Blending in.
Watching.
Groups formed naturally.
Confident students gathered together.
Weaker ones stayed behind.
"…Hierarchy forms fast."
He noted posture.
Movement.
Tone.
Everything revealed something.
A shoulder brushed past him.
Harder than necessary.
"Watch it."
Kael steadied himself.
"…Sorry."
The other student didn't respond.
"…Expected."
He didn't react further.
Weak people were ignored.
Or pushed.
That was useful.
"First-years, proceed to the assembly hall."
Kael followed the crowd.
The hall was massive.
Filled quickly.
He chose a seat near the back.
Safer.
"…Information first."
Voices whispered around him.
Familiar names surfaced.
"Valen…"
"Royal line…"
Kael's memory aligned.
"…Same timeline."
Good.
"Next, identity confirmation."
Names were called.
Important ones drew attention.
Then—
"Kael Lith."
Silence.
No reaction.
He stood.
Walked forward.
The official paused slightly.
"House Lith…?"
Pages flipped.
"…Confirmed. Provincial nobility. Minimal record."
A few murmurs.
"Never heard of it."
Kael ignored them.
"State your lineage."
A brief pause.
"The Lith Family of the Western Province."
Simple.
Vague.
Safe.
"…Confirmed."
No further questions.
Kael returned to his seat.
"…Unknown."
No expectations.
No pressure.
"…Good."
But something didn't sit right.
"…Why no record?"
Even minor families were mentioned somewhere.
Lith wasn't.
"…That's not normal."
He leaned back slightly.
"…Either irrelevant…"
A pause.
"…or hidden."
The thought lingered.
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
"…I'll check later."
For now—
Survival came first.