Welcome to Class

I adjusted the academy jacket Orion had given me, tugging at the high collar. The fabric was stiff, the embroidery too fancy, and the whole thing felt like it belonged to someone way more responsible. Someone who didn't wake up in the Underworld last night and accidentally end up cuddling with the heir of Zeus.

Cyrus, my ever-loyal shadow cat, stretched lazily on my bed, watching me with glowing silver eyes.

"Alright, buddy," I said, brushing a hand over his sleek black fur. "You know the drill. Stay in the shadows, keep a low profile."

Cyrus flicked his tail, clearly unimpressed. Then, like mist in the wind, he melted into the darkness. His silver eyes were the last thing to disappear, vanishing like dying stars.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. First day of class. No big deal.

Just a school filled with students who already thought I didn't belong here.

The academy hallways were as obnoxiously grand as everything else—high ceilings, floating chandeliers, and golden banners lined with ancient Olympian runes. Students moved in groups, chatting, their uniforms crisp and perfect.

I entered the classroom. The scent of parchment and polished marble filled the air.

The room was structured in five rows, three columns each, with two students per seat. The front row? Completely occupied by students who carried themselves like they owned the place. Their uniforms weren't just worn—they were adjusted, tailored to perfection. Their posture? Impeccable. Their entire existence radiated the quiet confidence of people who had never needed to fight for anything in their lives.

The conversations in the room lowered slightly the moment I stepped in. Not enough to be obvious, but enough for me to notice. A few students exchanged glances, their eyes flicking toward me before looking away as if I were something to be ignored entirely.

I walked in like I didn't notice.

I caught glimpses of names stitched onto their uniforms.

• Damien Alaris – Son of Poseidon.

• Ajax Rho – Son of Ares.

• Felix Regas – Son of Zeus.

Ah. That last one explained a lot.

I strolled toward them, planting the most friendly, oblivious grin I could muster.

"Hey! So, I figured I'd introduce myself—"

Nothing.

Felix didn't even turn his head. Damien didn't blink. Ajax might as well have been carved from stone.

I waved a little. "Cool, cool. Not talkative. That's fine. I love a challenge."

Felix didn't acknowledge me at all. Damien slowly turned the page of the book he was reading, deliberately ignoring me.

Ajax shifted slightly, adjusting his gauntlets with the casual ease of someone who had already decided I wasn't worth acknowledging.

Huh.

Okay.

So that's how it was going to be.

Fine. No big deal.

I let the silence stretch a little longer—just long enough to make it awkward—before turning away.

On the left side of the room, my eyes landed on her.

Bright red hair, pulled into a loose braid. Golden eyes that glowed faintly, like embers under the surface of a fire. She sat in the second row, near the window, her posture straight, her expression unreadable.

She was different. Not just in the way she looked, but in the way she didn't seem interested in ignoring me like the rest.

She hadn't turned her nose up or whispered something under her breath. Instead, her gaze met mine—calm, assessing.

So, naturally, I walked right over and sat down next to her.

"Hey," I said, throwing her a grin. "And you are?"

Before she could answer, someone cleared their throat behind me.

"You're in my seat."

I turned my head.

Felix Regas. Son of Zeus. Prodigy. Future heir to something big, probably. He had the whole golden-haired, blue-eyed, "descended-from-the-king-of-gods" thing going on, complete with the posture of someone who had never been told no in his life.

I blinked. "Huh. Didn't see your name on it."

A few students exhaled sharply. Not laughter—more like the sound people make when they're about to witness a disaster.

Felix tilted his head slightly, his lips pulling into a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You must be new, so let me explain. That's my seat. I sit there."

I stared at him for a long moment, then sighed dramatically.

"Oh. My deepest apologies, great prodigy of Olympus. If only I had known I was in the presence of such divine royalty—"

I pushed back my chair and dropped to one knee in a full, exaggerated bow.

The room went completely silent.

I threw my arms out. "To think! I was mere seconds away from disrespecting a living legend! A tragedy for the ages!"

Someone actually choked.

I heard a chair scrape against the floor. I turned to see the red-haired girl—Lyra, judging by the embroidery on her uniform—covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking.

She was laughing.

Not outright, but enough.

Felix's smirk vanished. His face darkened slightly.

I could feel the tension rise, the weight of his reputation demanding some kind of response.

I stood up and clapped him on the shoulder before he could say anything. "Alright, alright. Relax, boss. You can have your seat."

I slid out of the chair, raising my hands. "I'll sit somewhere else. No big deal."

I turned and moved to the back row.

Felix said nothing. But as I passed Damien, the son of Poseidon, he muttered just loud enough for me to hear—

"He's an idiot."

Ajax snorted. "Obviously."

I barely had time to settle in before the classroom door swung open.

Professor Callista Nyx entered, her silver-streaked hair tied back, her sharp gaze sweeping over the room. She moved like she had already read all our thoughts and found them unimpressive.

"Alright, class," she said, voice smooth but commanding. "Let's begin."

She turned to the board and, with a flick of her wrist, Olympian symbols appeared in glowing gold letters.

Professor Callista Nyx

History of the Olympian Age

She barely glanced at the board before her gaze landed directly on me.

"Kael Voss."

The air in the room shifted.

The way she said my name—it wasn't a question. It wasn't even an introduction.

It was a statement.

I blinked.

Oh great. First day, and I was already on the professor's radar.

Professor Nyx studied me for a long moment, like she was deciding something.

Then, she said, "Perhaps you, of all people, will have something interesting to add to our lesson today."

I exhaled slowly.

Well.

This was going to be fun.