The Spider's Web

The dim candlelight flickered, casting jagged shadows against the dorm walls. Reiner (Former Spy) sat bound to the chair, his wrists tied with firm strips of cloth. His chest rose and fell in controlled breaths, but his eyes darted between the exits, searching for an opening.

Across from him, Zero sat relaxed, fingers lazily drumming against the wooden table between them. His usual absentminded expression was gone—replaced by something colder. Calculating.

Minutes stretched on. Neither spoke.

Finally, Reiner broke the silence.

"You were never meant to exist." His voice was steady, but there was something beneath it—something shaken.

Zero tilted his head. "You people love saying that."

Reiner clenched his fists. "Your kind was erased. The world made sure of it. You should be nothing more than a rotting corpse in an unmarked grave."

Zero exhaled, leaning forward slightly. "And yet, here I am. And here you are. Tied to a chair."

Reiner scowled but didn't respond.

Zero tapped his fingers against the wood. "Tell me who sent you."

Silence.

"That's disappointing."

Zero reached forward, his fingers pressing against a key nerve in Reiner's wrist. Not enough to break—just enough to make the point clear. A dull pain spread, and Reiner stiffened. Sweat formed along his brow, but he didn't break.

"You know," Zero mused, "I don't enjoy torture. But I also don't enjoy wasting time."

Reiner's jaw tightened. The pressure increased.

"They'll know if I don't report back," he finally gasped. "And they'll send someone better."

Zero smiled faintly. "Then let's not keep them waiting. You're going to report back just fine. You'll just tell them exactly what I want."

Reiner hesitated, searching for an escape in Zero's expression. But there was none.

The silence stretched, until finally—he nodded.

A Predator Among Prey

Zero strolled into the academy courtyard, his mind already organizing the web he was weaving. Reiner was now his tool, but tools had to be sharpened and tested before real use.

More importantly, he needed to expand his network.

The academy was full of potential assets, and it was time to start evaluating them properly.

His gaze flickered across the groups forming in the early morning.

Arlen Vale – The son of a noble warrior family. Too straightforward to be the one tailing him. But useful? Perhaps. His moral compass made him predictable, which meant he could be manipulated.

Zero approached as Arlen was sparring with another student. He observed the way the noble moved—precise, disciplined, but rigid. Too predictable.

"Your stance is too stiff," Zero commented lazily.

Arlen turned, raising an eyebrow. "What?"

"Too stiff. You block the same way every time. If I saw it, so will others."

Arlen frowned, stepping back. "And you're an expert now?"

Zero shrugged. "No. But I don't need to be to see flaws."

Arlen scoffed but seemed to take the advice to heart, adjusting slightly. Zero hid a small smirk.

First seed planted.

Sorin Greaves – Always quiet, always watching. But his interest seemed more academic than suspicious.

Zero found Sorin near the library, observing a duel between two upperclassmen.

"Analyzing their movements?" Zero asked, leaning against a pillar.

Sorin didn't even look at him. "Obviously."

Zero chuckled. "Find anything interesting?"

"The one on the left telegraphs his kicks. The one on the right compensates for lack of speed with counterattacks." Sorin's eyes flickered. "Neither of them would last a minute against someone with real intent."

Zero studied him. He was the type to watch from the shadows, gathering knowledge. Not a fighter himself, but information was its own weapon.

"You ever think about testing what you know?" Zero prodded.

Sorin finally looked at him. "I think about a lot of things. Doesn't mean I act on them."

Zero hummed. He'd need a different approach for this one.

Caius Renn – A schemer. Smiles too much. His family had ties to the royal court—potentially dangerous.

Caius approached Zero instead.

"I hear you've been making waves, Zero." The smirk on his face was unreadable.

"People sure like to talk."

"And you sure like to let them." Caius's eyes gleamed with amusement. "That fool act of yours won't work forever, you know. Eventually, people start asking the right questions."

Zero smiled. "And you're here to ask them?"

Caius laughed, stepping back. "Oh no, I'm just here to watch. For now."

Zero watched him leave. A wildcard. Dangerous. Not yet an enemy—but not yet an ally.

Reina Vaughn – A prodigy in battle formations. Observant. If she were a spy, she'd be an excellent one.

Zero found her in a strategy class, surrounded by students as she mapped out hypothetical battle formations.

"What would you do if your commander was incompetent?" Zero asked suddenly, drawing eyes.

Reina glanced at him. "Compensate for their failings."

"And if they're beyond saving?"

She tilted her head. "Then they're not the commander anymore."

Zero grinned. "Cold."

"Practical." Reina returned to her map.

Zero left, pleased. Potential. Lots of it.

New Players Enter the Game

Zero's analysis continued.

Luther Draegon – Towering, heavy-handed, but loyal. Someone who could be useful in the future.

Nia Alderidge – An expert in alchemy and poisons. A dangerous mind hidden behind a polite smile.

Veyna Crowe – A fighter with unnatural reflexes. Too independent to be easily controlled, but valuable in a fight.

Dorian Vex – A noble with influence, but lacked ambition. Manipulatable.

Each interaction was another piece of the puzzle. Another thread in the growing web.

And at the center of it all—Zero.

The academy thought they were playing a game of strength.

They had no idea they were already caught in something much bigger.

The Spy's First Report

The dim candlelight flickered again, casting eerie shapes against the walls of Zero's dormitory. Reiner stood before him, hands clenched behind his back, his posture stiff but controlled. The bindings were gone—he was no longer a prisoner.

Now, he was an informant.

Zero sat at his desk, fingers lightly tapping against the polished wood. His expression was as blank as ever, but his eyes were sharp, waiting.

"You have something for me."

Reiner exhaled. "Yes. I've compiled everything I could gather in the last day. The academy is full of whispers, and people are already taking notice of you."

Zero's lips curled into something resembling amusement. "Flattering. Go on."

Reiner nodded.

"First, the rumors."

Reiner's voice was steady as he began listing them.

"Some students think you're just an eccentric commoner who got lucky."

"Others think you're hiding a powerful lineage. They say no 'ordinary' student could make waves this quickly."

"And then there are the dangerous rumors. Some believe you're connected to something... unnatural."

Zero tilted his head slightly. "Unnatural?"

Reiner hesitated. "They whisper that you might have some forbidden power. That there's something off about you."

Zero chuckled under his breath. How amusing. They weren't wrong.

The Ones Who Might Be Watching

"Now, onto the real threats."

Reiner's expression darkened. "There are three names that came up the most when I investigated the ones pulling the strings behind the academy's power plays. Each of them could be responsible for the notes you received—or at least have a connection to whoever is."

Zero leaned forward slightly, interest piqued.

1. Head Instructor Vance Evern – An unshakable pillar of the academy.

"One of the senior instructors. Respected, disciplined, but also known for favoring students from 'powerful' backgrounds. Some say he's more of a strategist than a teacher."

"There are rumors he's working with someone outside the academy, but no one knows who."

Zero's fingers tapped against the desk. If the faculty was involved, this was bigger than expected.

2. Elise Mortwain – A student with too much influence.

"She's a second-year, but her influence stretches far beyond her rank. She controls an inner faction of elite students, and some say even instructors answer to her."

"She's careful. She doesn't make moves herself—she has others do it for her."

Zero hummed. A queen who lets her pawns do the work? Interesting.

3. Mastermind X – An Unknown Figure

"There's a name that keeps surfacing in hushed conversations, but no one knows who they are."

"They're simply called 'The Watcher.' Some say they are a student, others claim they're a rogue instructor. Either way, they know everything that happens in this academy."

Zero's smile widened slightly. Now this... was intriguing.

"And do you have any guesses who this 'Watcher' might be?"

Reiner hesitated. "Not yet. But I will find out."

Zero nodded. Good.

The Hidden Pieces

Reiner exhaled. "That's not all. There are instructors and students under these people's control. Some of them may be involved in the notes sent to you."

He began listing them.

Controlled Instructors:

Instructor Rorik Vale – Arlen's uncle. Quietly loyal to Evern. Keeps a close eye on certain students.

Instructor Mireya Fenn – Unquestionably loyal to Elise Mortwain. Supposedly acts as her 'advisor' from the shadows.

Controlled Students:

Darian Oswald – A brute under Elise's faction. Uses intimidation to silence certain students.

Lucien Graves – Rumored to be connected to 'The Watcher.' Never speaks much, but he's always listening.

Zero's mind worked like a machine, analyzing each name and its significance.

"You've done well," he finally said, leaning back. "But your work isn't done."

Reiner exhaled. "I expected as much."

Zero smiled. "Find out more about 'The Watcher.' And keep an eye on Elise Mortwain—I have a feeling she'll make a move soon."

Reiner gave a stiff nod and turned to leave.

"Oh, and one more thing," Zero called out.

Reiner stopped.

"From now on, you'll bring me reports every night. You work for me now."

Reiner's hands clenched at his sides. But he didn't argue.

"Understood."

As the door shut behind him, Zero's gaze flickered with cold amusement.

The board was set. The pieces were moving.

And soon, Zero would be the one pulling every string.