Three weeks had passed since Congregation Day. Elian had grown used to the capital's cold wind, the long halls of the institute, and the way some students carried themselves like royalty. It was just another morning, like any other. He and Ravi had both overslept, again.
As they left their dorm building, Ravi yawned, adjusting the buckle on his satchel. "We're late again," he said casually. "Want to take the shortcut past the grand halls? It'll cut across the east wing."
Elian nodded. "Main Street's always crowded anyway."
They turned left at the hedge wall, the shortcut path less polished but faster. As they approached the Grand Halls, a strange sound met them—voices, lots of them. A crowd.
"What's going on?" Elian muttered as he and Ravi pushed through the growing number of students huddled near the arched gate.
Then they saw it.
A body on the ground.
A boy, still in his uniform, laid in a pool of blood. His neck was slit clean open, eyes wide, mouth hanging slightly ajar. There was no twitch, no breath—only stillness, and a strange emptiness in his expression, like something had pulled his soul right out of him.
Elian felt the chill run down his spine.
The scene was surrounded by institute guards trying to keep the crowd back. One of them covered the corpse with a white sheet, but not before everyone saw what had been done. Murmurs spread fast—who was he? What happened? Why him?
As the crowd started to move again, attention shifted.
Not far from the body, two Capital Officers were dragging a boy across the ground. He kicked and screamed, his voice cracking. "I didn't do it! Please! I didn't kill anyone!"
His hair was a mess, his eyes red from crying. A few students pleaded with the officers to stop.
"He's telling the truth!" a girl screamed from the crowd. "He's not like that! We stay in the same dorm! That was his roommate they are close friends,why would he kill him?"
The officers didn't listen. They slammed the boy against a wall, cuffing his arms as he cried and begged.
Then two long black vans pulled up to the scene, tires screeching slightly. Everyone went quiet.
Out of the vans stepped men in white suits and black armor, faces hidden behind dark helmets. Their movements were sharp, clean, like they were used to fear. One of them wore a different shoulder plate, marked with crimson,clearly the one in charge.
Elian's chest tightened.
"Who are they?" he asked, eyes locked on the men in white.
Ravi's face twisted. "ICU."
"What?"
"Internal Containment Unit," Ravi said quickly. "They hunt Veraes, investigate disappearances. They're not normal police....they don't ask questions. If they're here, someone probably reported a curse trace."
He turned away, muttering, "Bunch of malarkey, anyway."
Elian was still staring. One of the white-suited officers near the commander looked up,and locked eyes with him. Even behind the visor, Elian felt it. That piercing, heavy stare.
He quickly looked away and caught up to Ravi, heart pounding in his ears.
Later That Evening
The day dragged on. Class had been dull, the lesson blurred by what they'd seen in the morning. Elian barely spoke through most of it. Even Ravi had been quieter than usual.
As the sun started to set, they stopped by a local café off campus for dinner. It wasn't fancy—small tables, warm lighting, and the smell of grilled meat and fried rice in the air. A place students liked to visit when they needed a break.
Ravi ordered a full tray of food for both of them. When Elian saw it, he frowned. "You didn't have to do that. I could've—"
Ravi cut him off. "Shut up. You're the only person who doesn't hang around me for my money. Let me treat you."
Elian gave a small smile and picked up his spoon. "Thanks. It's been a weird day."
"Tell me about it."
Just then, the door opened.
It was him—the same boy from earlier. The one the guards had dragged, the one who screamed he was innocent.
He looked around nervously and walked to the counter. Students nearby stared. The boy kept his head down, his eyes swollen, lips trembling.
He reached the counter and tried to speak.
"I....I just… the student meal, please…"
The worker behind the counter, a girl with her arms crossed, rolled her eyes. "What? Speak up!"
"I said… just the stu—"
"I don't have all day!" she snapped. "You think we have time to wait on you? Freak."
The boy went silent. He didn't argue. He just stood there, arms shaking, tears silently rolling down his cheeks.
Elian stood up.
Ravi looked up. "Where are you going?"
"To do what nobody else is doing," Elian said sharply. "Think about what he's been through today. Accused of killing his own roommate. Rough-handled by officers. And now he can't even order food without being treated like garbage?"
Ravi sighed, stood, and followed. "You're too soft."
But when they reached the counter, Ravi didn't hold back.
He slapped the girl across the face.
Gasps echoed through the café.
"You heartless beast!" Ravi shouted. "What's wrong with you?! He's been through hell and you think it's okay to humiliate him in public?!"
"Did you just hit me?!" she yelled, hand on her cheek.
Ravi slapped her again.
"You think just because you wear a cheap apron you can treat people like dirt?" he continued. "Get your manager. Now."
The boy stood frozen beside Elian, who gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright. You're safe now."
Within seconds, more staff rushed out from the back. An older man, clearly the manager, recognized Ravi instantly.
"Lord Ravi… I—I didn't know you were here!"
Ravi didn't answer. He just stared at the girl, who was now in tears.
The manager bowed. "Please accept our sincerest apologies. This behavior is unacceptable. To show our sincere condolences,the meals for all three of you are on the house. And as a gesture of goodwill, the young man here will eat free for the next week."
"Good," Ravi said, arms crossed. "He deserves it."
They returned to their table. The boy sat with them, silent but more relaxed.
Elian slid his plate forward. "Here. You can share with me."
The boy hesitated, then smiled faintly and took a bite.
"Thank you… both of you," he whispered. "I didn't think anyone would care."
Ravi shrugged. "We don't."