The sun had barely risen over Velmeria, yet the grand gates of Soylars Academy opened before Kael liked those of a forbidden temple. Dressed in a brand-new uniform - too large for his still-scrawny frame - he walked stiffly, eyes downcast. The pale stone walls, the tall towers with stained glass, the confident air of noble students... and everything made him feel like a stain on a perfect canvas.
Naelys walked beside him, relaxed, exchanging familiar glances with some students who greeted her with respect. Kael, on the other hand, had no idea where to look. Every glance thrown his way seemed to carry silent judgment. Some were already whispering as he passed, intrigued by this unknown boy wearing the Aelaris crest on his chest.
When he entered the classroom, things got worse. The moment he stepped through the door, eyes locked onto him - heavy and insistent. Several students exchanged snickers as they sized him up. He was too thin, too stiff in that silky noble uniform, and his hair was poorly combed despite the servant's efforts that morning. One boy, with silver hair and a mocking grin, muttered, "Did he fall off a supply cart?"
Laughter erupted. Kael felt his cheeks burn but said nothing. He looked for a corner to sit in when another student blocked his path with a foot. "Watch where you're going, street rat," he hissed with disdain. Others joined in, whispering, chuckling. The nickname came back like a whip: Kael the street rat.
Just as things were about to escalate, a dark-haired boy with sharp eyes stood from the back of the room. He walked over and placed a firm hand on the shoulder of the one who had tripped Kael. "That's enough, Teyron. You always act tough with the weak." His voice was calm but cutting. The others fell silent at once. Kael looked up at him, surprised. This boy didn't even know him.
The silence was broken by the arrival of the teacher, a strict-looking woman in a long metallic-grey robe. She entered with authority, arms crossed. "What's going on here?" she asked sharply. The students scrambled to their seats, and chaos instantly crushed under her presence. She glanced at Kael, still standing by the door. "You. Up front."
Kael hesitated, then slowly walked to the front of the class. He felt every eye on him - some curious, others mocking or contemptuous. He stood there, trembling and small, like a lamb thrown into a lion's den. The teacher stared at him for a few seconds. "Name?"
He swallowed hard, then murmured, "Kael... Kael Aelaris."
A stunned silence instantly filled the room. Some students straightened in their chairs, and others widened their eyes in shock. It was as if he had spoken a forbidden incantation. Whispers broke out: "What? Aelaris?" - "Is this a joke?" - "He's messing with us, right?"
The teacher frowned slightly but said nothing. In the room, eyes turned to Naelys, sitting calmly in the front row. One student, a blonde girl with an arrogant look, leaned toward her and asked, "Since when do you have a brother, Naelys?" More students repeated the question, louder.
Naelys sighed and replied in an even tone, "My father adopted him yesterday."
A mocking laugh echoed from the back of the room. "Why would anyone adopt trash like that?!" One boy shouted. "I've heard of him. That's Kael, the street rat. He used to crawl through the sewers." The whispers turned acidic, tongues loosened.
Kael remained frozen, nailed to the spot. His heart pounded so loudly that it made him nauseous. He felt small, ashamed, as if he had never left the filthy alleyways. He wanted to disappear. Run. Return to the shadows, far from this ridiculous spectacle.
But Naelys calmly stood, her gaze locked onto the student who had spoken. "You talk loud, but you know nothing. My father sees something in him that you don't even have the intelligence to understand." She sat back down, letting her words hang in the cold air.
The dark-haired boy who had defended Kael earlier crossed his arms. "We'll see who laughs when the trials begin. Those who judge too quickly are often the first to fall." A faint murmur of agreement rose from a few rare students.
The teacher, who had remained silent until now, clapped her hands. "Enough. Your petty drama has no place here. Take your seat, Kael." He obeyed, trying to ignore the burning stares still on him. He sat beside the boy who had defended him without saying a word.
For Kael, the day was only beginning. But he already knew that to survive here, he would need much more than a noble name and a fancy uniform. He would have to prove he was worth more than rumors, more than his past, more than the image they saw.
And deep inside, a silent promise began to burn:
They would all see what he was capable of.