The morning sun shone brightly over the city, but Adrian felt none of its warmth.
He sat at his desk in the classroom, staring at the chalkboard while the teacher droned on about mathematics. His mind, however, was far away—trapped in the events of the previous night.
Shadow creatures.
A mysterious boy named Kai.
Powers he didn't understand.
Adrian rubbed his temple, trying to focus.
Maybe it was just a dream, he told himself.
But deep down, he knew it wasn't.
The memory of the Wraith's glowing eyes was still too vivid.
And the feeling of shadow energy swirling around his hand during training… that had been real.
Very real.
"Adrian Vale?"
He blinked and looked up.
The teacher was staring directly at him.
"Yes?" Adrian said nervously.
"Since you seem so deep in thought, perhaps you would like to answer the problem on the board."
A few students chuckled quietly.
Adrian stood awkwardly and looked at the numbers on the board. They made no sense to him right now.
His thoughts were still trapped in the abandoned warehouse… and Kai's voice echoing in his ears.
"Adrian?"
"Uh…"
Just as Adrian prepared to embarrass himself in front of the entire class, the classroom door suddenly opened.
Everyone turned.
A tall boy stepped inside.
He had messy black hair and sharp blue eyes that seemed to glow faintly under the sunlight. His expression was calm, almost cold.
Adrian's heart nearly stopped.
Kai.
The teacher adjusted her glasses.
"Ah, you must be the transfer student. Please come in."
Kai stepped forward slowly.
His eyes swept across the classroom until they landed directly on Adrian.
For a brief moment, something unreadable flickered in his gaze.
Then he looked away.
"This is Kai Draven," the teacher announced. "He just transferred here from another city. Please treat him kindly."
A few girls in the class whispered excitedly.
"He's handsome…"
"Seriously…"
But Adrian couldn't hear them.
His heart was pounding.
What is he doing here?
Kai calmly walked to the empty desk beside Adrian and sat down.
Without looking at him, he whispered quietly.
"You look like you didn't sleep."
Adrian almost jumped.
"You—what are you doing here?" he whispered back.
Kai leaned back in his chair casually.
"Protecting you."
Adrian blinked.
"You transferred schools… just for that?"
Kai finally turned his head slightly, his blue eyes meeting Adrian's.
"For now."
Before Adrian could respond, the teacher clapped her hands.
"Alright everyone, back to the lesson!"
The class returned to normal, but Adrian could barely concentrate.
Kai sat beside him quietly, occasionally writing something in his notebook.
But Adrian noticed something strange.
The shadows around Kai's desk moved differently.
They curled around his feet like living creatures.
Adrian swallowed.
He really can control them…
Suddenly Kai spoke again, barely above a whisper.
"Don't stare too much."
Adrian stiffened.
"People will notice."
Adrian quickly looked forward again.
After a moment of silence, he whispered:
"You said they would come back… the Wraiths."
Kai's expression darkened slightly.
"They will."
Adrian felt a chill run down his spine.
"When?"
Kai looked out the window toward the distant skyline.
"Soon."
Just then—
The classroom lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Adrian's breath caught.
The shadows along the walls began stretching unnaturally.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"…Already?" he murmured.
A cold wind suddenly swept through the classroom, even though the windows were closed.
Some students shivered.
"Did the AC turn on?" someone asked.
But Adrian knew the truth.
The shadows near the ceiling twisted slowly.
And two faint glowing eyes appeared inside them.
The Wraith had found him again.
Kai stood up suddenly.
His chair scraped loudly across the floor.
The teacher frowned.
"Kai? Is something wrong?"
Kai didn't answer.
His glowing blue eyes were fixed on the ceiling.
Then he spoke quietly to Adrian.
"Stay behind me."
Adrian's heart pounded.
"What?! Here?!"
Kai's voice was calm but deadly serious.
"Yes."
The shadows in the classroom grew darker.
The Wraith began to descend slowly from the ceiling.
And this time…
They were not alone.
More glowing eyes began appearing in the darkness.
Kai's lips curved slightly.
But it wasn't a smile.
It was the expression of someone ready for a fight.
"Well," he whispered.
"This is going to be messy."