Aether Academy looked different when Hitake returned.
Perhaps it was because he was different.
The same towers pierced the morning sky. The same floating walkways connected the academy buildings. Students still hurried between lectures, complained about assignments, and gathered around training arenas.
Yet everywhere Hitake walked, conversations seemed to pause.
Eyes followed him.
Whispers trailed behind him.
“That's him.”
“Team Seven.”
“The one who survived the Hive Queen.”
“I heard he fought it alone.”
“No, you idiot. His team held it off until the instructors arrived.”
“He's only Level Three, right?”
Hitake sighed.
“People really like talking.”
Zena walked beside him.
“They're talking about you.”
“I noticed.”
“They're impressed.”
“That doesn't make it less annoying.”
“You're getting popular.”
“I'd rather be invisible.”
Zena smiled.
“You're terrible at being invisible.”
John walked behind them, carrying his repaired shield.
“You two know everyone can hear you, right?”
Hitake glanced back.
“Were you invited?”
“No.”
“Then keep walking.”
John laughed.
For the first time since the dungeon, Hitake felt normal.
Not safe.
Not completely.
But normal.
Then someone stepped into their path.
Thorne.
Zack stood behind him.
The academy's former bully looked different.
His uniform was cleaner. His posture was straighter. The arrogance remained, but something else had replaced the childish hatred in his eyes.
Thorne looked at Hitake.
“Back already?”
Hitake nodded.
“Looks like it.”
Thorne glanced at John's shield.
Then at Hitake.
“You're building a group.”
John's expression hardened.
Thorne noticed.
“So that's how it is.”
John said nothing.
Hitake looked between them.
“John made his own choice.”
“I wasn't talking to you.”
Thorne's eyes remained on John.
“You've really decided to follow him?”
John sighed.
“I'm not following anyone.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“Choosing better people to stand beside.”
Zack's mouth opened.
Then closed.
Thorne stared at John for several seconds.
Finally, he laughed.
“Fine.”
He stepped aside.
“Let's see how long that lasts.”
As Hitake walked past, Thorne called after him.
“Don't misunderstand something, Hitake.”
Hitake stopped.
“I don't like you.”
“I know.”
“But I'm not going to waste my time trying to bring you down anymore.”
Hitake raised an eyebrow.
“That's surprisingly mature.”
“Don't ruin the moment.”
Hitake smiled and continued walking.
Thorne watched him disappear into the crowd.
For some reason, losing John bothered him more than losing to Hitake ever had.
He clenched his fist.
He would become stronger.
Not to destroy Hitake.
To make sure nobody ever looked down on him again.
Across the courtyard, someone else was watching.
Renji.
His expression remained calm.
But his eyes followed Hitake's right arm.
The weapon beneath the skin wasn't visible.
Yet Renji could somehow sense that something had changed.
He remembered the strange voice beneath the academy.
He remembered the name Kael.
And he remembered the warning Commander Vale had given him.
Don't make promises you aren't ready to keep.
Renji turned away.
He didn't know what Hitake was becoming.
That frightened him.
Because for the first time in his life, Renji wasn't sure whether strength alone would be enough to stop something.
Inside Hitake's mind, Nefertiti appeared beside him.
She wore the same elegant white-and-gold dress, her golden hair flowing past her waist.
“Well, darling.”
Hitake glanced sideways.
“You've been quiet.”
“I've been observing.”
“That's never reassuring.”
She smiled.
“Do you know what I noticed?”
“What?”
“You've become stronger.”
Hitake smiled.
“Thanks.”
“No.”
Her emerald eyes gleamed.
“You've become more attractive.”
Hitake nearly stumbled.
“Why are you like this?”
Zena looked at him.
“What did she say?”
Hitake hesitated.
Zena smiled knowingly.
“She complimented you again, didn't she?”
Hitake sighed.
“Yes.”
Zena nodded.
“Good.”
Nefertiti looked at Zena.
“See? We're getting along wonderfully.”
Hitake shook his head.
“You two are dangerous.”
Zena's smile widened.
“We're allies.”
Nefertiti nodded.
“Very much so.”
Hitake's stomach sank.
That sounded worse.
The three of them continued toward the main hall.
Neither Hitake nor the students watching him noticed the small black mark appearing beneath his academy identification number.
Someone had added a new classification.
KAEL BLOODLINE — UNDER OBSERVATION.
And beneath it, a single word.
ACTIVE.