William woke up to voices outside his room.
Not loud voices.
The kind people used when they wanted to be quiet but still needed everyone nearby to hear them.
"…I'm telling you, the floor aged."
"That makes no sense."
"I saw it."
"You also said you saw a ghost in the laundry hall."
"That was different."
William opened one eye and stared at the ceiling.
The academy was starting to feel less like a school and more like a building where nonsense had legal protection.
He rolled onto his side.
Every part of his body complained.
Ribs sore.
Shoulder tight.
Neck stiff.
Even his legs hurt, and he was fairly certain they had done very little during yesterday's collapse.
"…Amazing," he muttered. "I'm injured in places I didn't use."
He sat up slowly.
The infirmary room was empty now except for a folded set of academy clothes on the chair beside the bed and the remains of last night's soup sitting untouched on a tray.
He looked at it.
The soup looked worse in daylight.
"Still no."
A knock sounded once.
Then the door opened before he answered.
Serena stepped inside.
She carried a paper bag in one hand.
"You're alive."
William frowned.
"You sound disappointed."
"I'm practical."
She tossed the bag onto the bed.
It landed beside him.
"Breakfast."
He opened it.
Bread.
Fruit.
Something wrapped in paper that smelled fried.
He looked up suspiciously.
"…Why are you being nice?"
"I'm not."
"Then this is confusing."
"I got tired of hearing Kai complain that infirmary food was killing you."
"That sounds like concern from very far away."
She leaned against the wall near the window.
"It's mostly self-interest. If you die, he becomes louder."
"That is fair."
William took a bite of the fried thing and nearly sighed.
"Whoever made this should run the school."
"Don't let Selene hear you."
For a moment, the room was quiet.
Not awkward.
Just unforced.
William noticed Serena watching his hand.
The one that had broken the ring.
The one that had apparently done impossible things.
He lowered it slightly.
"You can ask."
She looked away first.
"No need."
"That means yes."
She exhaled.
"Does it hurt?"
The question caught him off guard.
He glanced at his palm.
"…Sometimes."
"Now?"
"A little."
She nodded once.
Then looked out the window.
"There were rumors before breakfast."
"That seems efficient."
"This place survives on gossip."
"What kind?"
She counted on her fingers.
"You're a hidden heir."
"No."
"You're an assassin planted by another academy."
"I barely pass walking."
"You're cursed."
"That one feels closer."
"You broke three wards."
"I only saw one break."
"You scared Vale."
William laughed.
"No chance."
Serena looked back at him.
"She shouted your name."
He stopped laughing.
"…Oh."
Another knock.
Then Kai entered without waiting.
"Good, you're conscious."
"You people treat doors like suggestions."
Kai ignored him completely.
Jonah followed behind, carrying two books under one arm.
Rowan came last, already eating something from someone else's plate.
William pointed.
"Why are all of you here?"
Kai spread his arms.
"Intervention."
"For what?"
"Your personality."
"That can't be fixed."
Jonah sat near the foot of the bed.
"We came because classes started ten minutes ago."
William blinked.
"…And?"
Kai stared.
"You are in those classes."
"Terrible news."
Serena straightened from the wall.
"He's not cleared."
Kai waved a hand.
"Minor detail."
Mara's voice came from the hallway.
"He is not cleared."
Everyone went still.
Mara entered carrying a clipboard.
How she made a clipboard threatening, William did not know.
She looked at Kai first.
He sat down immediately.
Smart.
Mara checked William's eyes, pulse, then his hand.
"Any surges?"
"That sounds personal."
"Answer."
"No."
"Visions?"
"…No."
"Lies?"
"Maybe small ones."
She gave him a long look.
Then wrote something down.
William leaned slightly.
"What are you writing?"
"Disappointment."
"Spelling my full name?"
Kai snorted.
Mara ignored both of them.
"You will not attend combat training for three days."
William looked offended.
"I didn't want to anyway, but I dislike being told."
"You may attend theory classes."
"That sounds worse."
"It is."
Jonah finally spoke.
"I'll walk with him."
William looked over.
"That was almost kind."
"It was practical."
"There it is."
By midday, the halls already knew.
Students stared openly as William walked through the academy beside Jonah.
Some whispered.
Some moved aside.
One first-year dropped a stack of books when William glanced his way.
William looked at Jonah.
"Do I look dangerous now?"
"You look tired."
"That hurts more because it's true."
The academy itself felt different when he wasn't rushing through it.
Tall stone corridors lined with moving portraits.
Windows showing courtyards where students practiced spells.
A staircase that changed direction halfway up for no reason except cruelty.
He pointed at it.
"That should be illegal."
Jonah nodded.
"It gets worse."
"How?"
"It learns."
William stopped walking.
"…I hate this place."
Their first class was Arcane History.
Professor Ilyas was thin, old, and carried the kind of silence that forced students to behave.
No one spoke when he entered.
He wrote one sentence across the board.
Power does not create history. It reveals it.
William stared at it.
"That feels like homework disguised as wisdom."
Several students laughed quietly.
Professor Ilyas turned.
His eyes landed on William immediately.
"You must be the boy who broke the arena."
William raised a hand slightly.
"Allegedly."
More laughter.
The professor's mouth twitched.
"Good. You can answer first, then."
William regretted everything.
Later, during lunch, the tables were louder than usual.
Not because of food.
Because William had entered.
He could feel attention following him like heat.
Kai waved him over from across the hall.
Too enthusiastically.
Serena sat at the same table.
Rowan was there too.
Jonah already seated.
William dropped into the empty space.
Kai leaned in immediately.
"So."
"No."
"You don't know the question."
"I know you."
Kai looked wounded.
"Fair."
Serena slid a tray toward William.
"You forgot to eat after class."
He blinked.
"…Did everyone become helpful while I was unconscious?"
"No," she said. "Just hungry."
"That almost sounded kind again."
"It wasn't."
Jonah muttered without looking up:
"She's been here ten minutes waiting."
Serena kicked him under the table.
Kai nearly choked laughing.
William slowly looked at Serena.
She calmly drank water like nothing happened.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Before he could speak, the hall doors opened.
A group of older students entered.
Not loud.
Not flashy.
But the room changed around them.
People noticed.
People moved.
People lowered voices.
At the center was a tall boy with silver hair and a black academy coat worn open over the uniform.
He walked like he expected space to belong to him.
Kai's grin faded.
"That," he said quietly, "is Cassian Vale."
William looked over.
"Related to our Vale?"
"Her nephew."
"Of course he is."
"He runs the senior circles."
"That sounds fake."
"It's not."
Cassian's eyes moved across the room once.
Then stopped on William.
No smile.
No hostility.
Just interest.
Which somehow felt worse.
He changed direction and walked straight toward their table.
Kai muttered:
"I would like to leave."
No one moved.
Cassian stopped beside them.
Looked at William.
"You're the new one."
William looked up from his tray.
"You're observant."
A few nearby students sucked in air.
Serena muttered:
"Please stop doing that."
Cassian smiled faintly.
Not warm.
Not friendly.
Just entertained.
"I've heard you're unusual."
William took another bite of food.
"I've heard you're standing in my light."
Kai buried his face in both hands.
Jonah looked impressed.
Cassian's smile widened slightly.
"Good," he said.
"I was hoping the rumors were true."
Then he walked away.
The hall slowly began breathing again.
William looked around the table.
"…What?"
Kai stared at him.
"You collect problems faster than anyone I've ever met."