A Scam!

Kyle and Eddie were led by the girl into an underground basement directly beneath the training grounds. Who would have thought the Ashen Sect's base was hidden right under the Academy's most populated training area? Or that there was even an underground section in the first place?

Kyle kept his mind sharp, analysing the worn, narrow path they followed. It lacked the grandeur, refinement, and technology of the Academy's main halls.

It reminded him of when they were escorted to the second-year building by the bullied students. Strangely enough, Kyle wasn't the only one who thought so—Eddie clearly shared the same sentiment.

He leaned in and whispered, "Bet it's some crippled old man who never graduated. Or an expelled genius in hiding."

Kyle raised an eyebrow, scowling.

"You're just making assumptions based on where the base is located," he replied, the disapproval in his tone was clear.

Eddie smirked. "It's just a gamble."

Unbeknownst to them, the Ashen girl wore a wide smile, clearly entertained as she eavesdropped on their exchange.

Back to the matter at hand, it was strange that the basement they were entering appeared entirely neglected. Either the Academy's authorities had no knowledge of it—or they had knowingly abandoned it.

The former seemed more plausible. There was no way such a facility could exist without the architects and authorities being aware of every inch of the structure. And certainly, constructing something like this without detection—especially under the Kingdom's high-level surveillance tech—was next to impossible.

Moments later, they arrived at a door. Old and time-worn, it was an ordinary wooden door—the kind rarely seen anywhere in the Kingdom these days. Both boys paused, surprised that such a relic existed within the Academy.

Eddie silently awarded himself more points for his theory.

'Definitely an old cripple. Or maybe some four-eyed hermit genius.'

Kyle had his own thoughts.

'No... probably just a weirdo leading this place.'

Eddie's theory was even more specific.

'A failed mage who couldn't graduate. Refused to leave, grew old here... yeah, that fits.'

All speculation ended as the Ashen girl pushed the wooden door open. It creaked faintly, revealing a dimly lit room with rough, caved walls and a rocky interior.

Surprisingly, the space was clean and modest—if undeniably outdated. The furnishings reflected the taste of someone who preferred ancient aesthetics over modern technology. It gave the impression of someone dedicated to preserving old traditions and knowledge.

Inside, a wooden desk stood with a single chair behind it. A figure sat in shadow, their face obscured.

'I knew it. A complete weirdo...' Kyle thought.

The Ashen girl stepped forward and introduced the two boys, enthusiastically explaining how she had convinced them to join. It was evident she was trying to earn favour in front of her superior.

To Kyle and Eddie, her enthusiasm seemed misplaced. Given how small and disorganised the sect was, there wasn't much point in showing off—it wouldn't take much to stand out here.

The room remained silent until the seated figure finally spoke, his voice hoarse and unsteady:

"So... you genuinely want to join the sect? Even knowing how irrelevant and weak we currently are?"

The voice was clearly male, though fragile.

Eddie answered without hesitation—a firm "yes."

Slowly, the boy in the shadows leaned forward, allowing the light to catch his face. He was no older than Kyle or Eddie, immediately shattering Eddie's guess. No glasses, no frail old man. Just a student.

Though appearances were deceiving, Kyle's assumption of him being a creep was at least partly accurate—his behaviour supported it, even if his face didn't.

He had dishevelled, black curls that loosely hung over his forehead, framing a pale, angular face with sunken eyes that seemed far older than his age suggested. His expression was calm, but the kind that masked constant calculation. Though seated, the outline of his frame revealed a wiry build—thin, almost malnourished, yet clearly enduring. He wore the standard Academy uniform, though his blazer was slightly wrinkled, collar loose, and tie undone, giving off an air of disregard rather than laziness.

Kyle immediately recognised him as the type easily targeted by bullies—the weak, passive kind, much like Jake. The sort who lived in others' shadows, incapable of defending themselves or escaping fear through strategy or outright rebellion. Ultimately, they were rejected—by society and by themselves.

"My name's Reign," he said plainly.

Kyle's eyes briefly flicked to the digital wristband Reign wore. His rank was displayed clearly: D-rank. One tier above Kyle's E-rank, making him the second-strongest in the room. Eddie, unsurprisingly, remained the strongest as he was a Rank B.

Kyle didn't react to the rank, choosing to keep the observation to himself as the conversation began.

Reign folded his arms, assessing them both.

"You're not the typical type that ends up down here. Especially not someone like you," he said, glancing at Kyle. "Why are you really here?"

Kyle responded calmly. "To observe. To evaluate. If the Ashen Sect is worth my time, I'll invest it."

"Invest?" Reign repeated, intrigued. "So you view strength and affiliation like currency."

"It usually is," Kyle replied. "Even loyalty is transactional."

Eddie cut in, smirking.

"We just want to see what the hype's about. Or lack of it, rather."

Reign leaned back.

"You're both... interesting. Most people scoff when they hear our name. But you stayed. That means something."

Reign studied Kyle again, a brief flicker of respect in his eyes. "You're sharper than most. I'll keep an eye on that."

'Eh?' Kyle kept his confusion about that sentence hidden.

Despite the brief tension, the boys were accepted. Reign handed them each a small badge—plain, metallic, with the Ashen insignia etched into it. It was a matte-black crest etched with a downward-pointing dagger encircled by a broken ring. Simple, grim, and unpolished—much like the sect itself.

"You're officially members now. Regular type. Wear the badge however you like."

Kyle took the badge, silently noting the irony. Reign was sharp—analytical, methodical. The kind of leader with potential. So why was the Ashen Sect still weak? With a brain like his, they should've been formidable. Yet the sect felt loose, disorganised. Like a ship without a captain.

Why?

That thought stuck with him.

—

Later, as they made their way back, the system's digital screen blinked into Kyle's view:

[Quest Completed]

[Reward: Inventory Unlocked]

Kyle blinked twice. Confused.

'Wait... the system originally said I'd unlock my inventory at Level 2. I reached Level 2, but it didn't unlock then. And now it unlocks after my first quest at this level?'

He narrowed his eyes.

'Isn't that basically a scam...? I just got scammed by the system!'