If something keeps happening to you again and again, you eventually start to question your life choices.

Like Alden, who, despite his best efforts to rest politely, seemed to be the universe's favorite target practice.

After a while, he just… gave up on sleep but of course, the moment he did, a new enemy struck.

Hunger.

So he surrendered once more, hoping and even praying, that maybe this time, things would finally be peaceful.

He found himself a nice restaurant and stepped inside, hoping for a quiet dinner before the Inter-Academy Initiation Ceremony which was set to begin in just half an hour.

After finishing his meal, one of the few peaceful ones he has had in a while, Alden decided to head toward the location where the Inter-Academy Tournament's initiation ceremony was going to take place.

He was still wearing his casual outfit.

He had planned to change into his official uniform once he reached the arena.

As one of the top three students, he had been granted a private changing room inside, one of the few perks he didn't mind.

Technically, he could've gone dressed like this.

But that seemed… unwise.

People these days were way too sensitive about useless things, like appearances, etiquette and apparently, T-shirt choices.

Tsk. When will they grow up?

With that thought, Alden walked calmly toward the arena's official entrance but the moment he arrived, chaos greeted him.

Countless small drones floated around him. Bright flashes went off one after another, blinding him before he could even blink.

Fuck. Are they trying to blind me or something?

He squinted, raising a hand to shield his eyes, wondering if the universe had secretly declared him its favorite target practice again.

Thankfully, the blinding flashes weren't from some sudden attack. They came from the countless news reporters now crowding around him, cameras clicking in rapid bursts.

A ring of tough-looking bodyguards, probably academy staff assigned to keep this unruly bunch in check, held the news reporters at bay.

Alden exhaled slowly.

Of course. The Reporters.

Because what else could possibly ruin my peace today?

I mean, I wouldn't have minded letting them click a picture or two of my glorious face normally but I was too damn tired for that today.

He made his way through the narrow path the bouncers created for him, heading toward the arena's main gate.

"ALDEN!!!"

"ALDEN!!!"

"ALDEN!!!"

Their voices echoed behind him, reporters shouting over one another, desperate for a reaction.

But honestly, he had no intention of throwing them any bones today. He just wanted to get inside, change and pretend the world didn't exist for at least five minutes.

Just then, one particular voice cut through the noise, sharp enough to pierce even the chaos.

"Alden Draven! Is it true you only became Rank Three of the academy because of Principal Jeremy and your father, Alaric Draven, Patriarch of the Draven family, favouring you?"

Alden paused as a small smile curled on his lips.

He knew this was a trap.

He knew the reporters threw such useless shit around because they wanted some reaction out of him… and the rational thing to do here… would've been to ignore it.

To keep walking.

But something inside him twisted at those words, his father favoured him. He could handle people doubting his strength. That never bothered him.

But this… this was something he couldn't let slide.

He didn't really care about that bastard, Alaric, especially since the man wasn't even his real father.

But letting misinformation like that spread?

Yeah, no.

So he turned around, still smiling and walked casually toward the reporter who had thrown the question.

He was a handsome man with blonde hair and sharp blue eyes, dressed like someone from a lesser noble house trying to look more important than he was.

Mid-twenties, maybe.

A triumphant smile stretched across his face, pride practically radiating off him as if he was proud of getting a reaction out of him.

His strength was immediately clear to Alden.

A mere Apprentice Rank even at such an age was proof enough of his trash talent.

Alden's gaze dropped to the small nametag pinned neatly to his navy blue suit.

Carius Conwell.

Ahhh. This guy.

Alden recognized the name immediately.

No wonder the face seemed so familiar.

He had seen the man before or at least, someone with the same smug face.

He was probably the elder brother of Darius, the same Darius who used to bully Alden with Cedric back in the day…

…And the same Darius whose limbs Alden had broken during the Astralis Academy entrance exam.

"You were saying something, Mr.Carius?" He asked calmly without a hint of emotion in his voice.

Honestly, knowing this man was Darius's brother made things easier… Because now, Alden didn't have to feel bad about what he was going to do next.

—

Carius felt an eerie chill crawl up his spine the moment he heard the boy's words, the same boy who had once shattered his younger brother's limbs.

He hated him.

But there was nothing he could do to touch a disciple of Jeremy Voidforge.

So instead, he aimed for the next best thing and that was to ruin the boy's reputation, to paint him as nothing more than a nepotism case.

He had expected to be ignored.

Or maybe to get an angry outburst, something he could twist, record and feed to the newsfeeds.

But instead of reacting with anger or frustration, the boy replied coldly, a tone so sharp it made even Carius shiver.

Still, he was a proud reporter. Getting intimidated by something as simple as a look? Not a chance.

He lifted his head and met the boy's crimson eyes without a hint of hesitation and the moment he did, everything shifted.

The noise around Carius began to fade.

The world blurred until only those crimson eyes remained.

A crushing pressure wrapped around him, like invisible blades stabbing across every inch of his being.

His breathing turned rough.

His legs trembled, refusing to hold him.

A hollow ringing sound filled his ears as the world tilted and went gray.

—

Alden stared down at the man collapsed on the floor, having made an unsightly mess of himself.

He had only given Carius a brief glimpse of his [Eyes of Supreme].

Without another word, he turned and walked away.

So much useless bravado for such little strength.

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