The instructor, Professor Dain, was not a typical academic. With sharp eyes and a scar running down his left cheek, he looked more like a retired assassin than a scholar.
"Power alone does not win wars," Professor Dain began, pacing slowly. "Influence, knowledge, and deception—these are the tools that shape history. Strength is nothing if your enemy controls the information."
Zero leaned back, his gaze half-lidded. So, they do teach this here.
Professor Dain snapped his fingers, and the lights dimmed. "Let me give you an example. A general marches into battle, confident in his strength. But his supplies have been sabotaged, his lieutenants bribed, and his soldiers fed false reports. By the time he draws his sword, he's already lost."
Caius Renn chuckled. "Sounds like the war strategies of the royal courts."
Dain smirked. "Indeed. The noble houses, the merchant guilds, even this academy—deception is everywhere. And those who fail to recognize it become pawns."
Zero fought the urge to smirk. How ironic. The students here might think they're learning how to deceive others, but they've already been played by forces much larger than they realize.
Professor Dain turned to the class. "This lesson is not just theory. Today, you will practice. Each of you has been assigned a role—spy, diplomat, warlord, or scholar. Your objective is to uncover who among you holds the true power."
The students exchanged glances.
Zero simply waited.
The students were divided into groups, each tasked with uncovering another's secrets. It was a game of words, bluffing, and manipulation.Arlen Vale, ever the straightforward warrior, took a direct approach. "We should just challenge each other to duels. Strength reveals everything."
Caius Renn laughed. "And that's why you'd lose in an actual power struggle. Strength means nothing if you're fighting the wrong battle."
Zero observed in silence. His role in this game? A mere scholar. A convenient excuse to avoid suspicion.
Across from him, Reina Vaughn studied the room, her sharp eyes analyzing each movement. If anyone could win this game, it was her. But even she failed to notice the quietest presence among them.
Sorin Greaves. He watched but never spoke unless necessary. An academic's interest, or something more?
Zero decided to test him.
"You're too quiet, Sorin," Zero said, his tone light, almost playful. "What secrets are you hiding?"
Sorin blinked, then smiled. "Perhaps the same ones as you."
Zero's grin widened slightly. Interesting.
A Faction's Invitation
As the exercise ended, students dispersed, discussing their results. Some alliances were formed, others broken. But the real game had only just begun.Zero barely stepped into the hallway before he was approached by a group wearing dark insignias—The Phantom Veil.
A girl with silver hair and piercing violet eyes stood at the front. Isla Rhyne.
"You don't speak much, but you see everything, don't you?" Isla's voice was smooth, calculating. "The Phantom Veil values those with sharp minds. Join us, and you won't regret it."
Zero tilted his head. "And what do you gain from recruiting me?"
Isla smirked. "That's for you to figure out."
He pretended to think. "Tempting. But I'm not sure I like working in the dark."
"That's funny. You're already doing it." Isla's gaze lingered before she turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Zero sighed. One more faction keeping an eye on me.
The Spy's Report: Whispers in the Dark
As night fell, Zero returned to his quarters, only to find an unexpected guest waiting for him.The spy.
"Report."
The spy hesitated, but under Zero's gaze, he spoke. "There are whispers about you, more than before. The factions are debating if you're a threat or a tool. But someone else is pulling the strings."
Zero's eyes darkened. "Who?"
"I don't know yet. But there are instructors involved. And one student, in particular, seems to have a direct line to them."
Zero leaned forward. "A name."
The spy swallowed. "Sorin Greaves."
Zero felt a rare flicker of intrigue. Sorin. The quiet observer. The one who never made a move unless necessary.
"Good work," Zero murmured. "Now, let's dig deeper."
The next day, Zero found Sorin Greaves sitting alone in the academy gardens, a book in hand. The ever-watchful observer, always lurking in the background.
Zero approached and sat beside him. "You watch people, but do you understand them?"
Sorin barely glanced up. "And you pretend to be something you're not. What do you want, Zero?"
Zero smiled faintly. "I want to know if you break easily."
Before Sorin could react, Zero moved. His presence shifted—subtle but suffocating. A cold weight settled in Sorin's chest, like invisible chains tightening.
Sorin's breath hitched. His hands trembled slightly. "T-this…"
Zero leaned in, voice low. "This is what true fear feels like. The realization that no matter how much you analyze, you still have no control."
Sorin clenched his jaw, sweat forming at his brow. But then, after a few seconds, he exhaled slowly, forcing himself to regain composure. "You're… cruel."
Zero chuckled. "You endured. That's why I'll keep you alive."
Sorin's fingers curled into fists. "Are you going to kill me if I refuse to follow you?"
Zero stood. "No. But if you refuse, you'll always be playing catch-up. And I don't wait for people to catch up."
Sorin remained silent as Zero walked away.
The Recruits: Assembling the Board
Zero's next move was selecting those he could use. He needed allies—but not just any allies. They had to be the right kind.Reina Vaughn – The Tactician
He found Reina studying at the strategy hall, surrounded by maps and scrolls. He pulled a chair beside her, uninvited.
"You're good at seeing patterns," he remarked.
Reina gave him a sideways glance. "And you're good at hiding them."
Zero smirked. "A tactician without a battlefield is wasted potential. I'm offering you one."
She leaned back, crossing her arms. "And what makes you think I'd follow you?"
Zero tapped the map before her. "Because you want a war worth winning."
A flicker of interest passed through her gaze. She didn't say yes—but she didn't say no.
Nia Aldridge – The Alchemist
Nia was in the alchemy labs, distilling a vibrant green liquid when Zero entered. She barely looked up.
"If you're here to ask for a poison, get in line."
Zero chuckled. "Not a poison. A partnership."
She raised an eyebrow. "And what could you possibly offer me?"
Zero placed a small vial on the table. "A formula lost to time. From the Sageborn era."
Nia's hands stilled. Her curiosity was hooked. "You have five minutes. Convince me."
Zero smirked. That's all I need.
Luther Draegon – The Warrior
Luther was in the training grounds, breaking a wooden training dummy with a single strike. He towered over most students, a mountain of muscle and discipline.
Zero approached as Luther wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Strength is meaningless without direction," Zero said casually.
Luther snorted. "And you think you can give me one?"
Zero tilted his head. "I think you've spent too long being a weapon for others. I'm offering you the chance to be more."
Luther narrowed his eyes. "And if I refuse?"
Zero grinned. "Then you'll always be someone else's pawn."
Luther was silent for a moment—then smirked. "Alright. You have my attention."
Veyna Crowe – The Shadow
Finding Veyna was harder. She preferred the dark corners, the unseen paths. But Zero knew she was watching.
So he left a single note in the abandoned tower: I see you.
That night, she came to him.
"If you see me, then you know why you should fear me," she whispered from the shadows.
Zero smiled. "And yet, here you are. Because curiosity outweighs fear."
Silence.
Then, the whisper of movement. A presence settling in the room.
"What do you want, Zero?"
Zero turned to face the darkness. "I want someone who can move where I can't. See what I don't. And strike where no one expects."
A pause. Then, a soft chuckle. "We'll see if you're worth my time."
Days later, they gathered in a secluded chamber—Reina, Nia, Luther, and Veyna. Sorin was absent but would be dealt with soon.Zero looked at them, his first real pieces on the board. "We are not friends. We are not comrades. But we are necessary."
He placed a single chess piece on the table. "And together, we will take control of this game."