The Academy

Ren was set to depart three days after. 

The day of the departure arrived faster than expected.

Ren stood at the entrance of the Mordaine estate, the early morning air was cool against his skin. Behind him, Lucian and Damien watched in silence as a sleek black car pulled up, his transport to the Academy of Espers and Guides.

Ren adjusted the cuffs of his coat. He would be called Aaron Mordaine at the academy, and he had to get used to that, he wasn't the weak discarded Ren Vaelcrest.

The moment he had entered this body, that had cast him aside.

"Keep me updated," Lucian said casually, pointing at the device in Ren's hand. "If anyone dares to touch you, call Damien or me, we'll personally see to it that their family is erased."

Ren smiled, "How reassuring."

Lucian chuckled. "I mean it."

Before Ren could respond, Damien stepped forward.

"Hold on."

Ren turned to him, mildly surprised. "What is it?"

Damien didn't answer immediately. His silver eyes flickered with something unreadable before he finally said, "Give me your hand."

Ren raised a brow. "Ah.. are you proposing?"

Lucian laughed. "Damien, you move fast."

Damien shot him a sharp glare before turning back to Ren. "Just give me your hand."

Amused, Ren obliged.

Damien took his wrist and placed something in his palm. It was cold to the touch.

A ring?

Sleek black metal, it was simple but elegant.

Ren examined it, curiosity flickering in his gaze. "And this is...?"

Damien met his eyes. "Proof that you're under my protection."

Lucian raised a brow at that statement, he hummed. "So now you're claiming him?"

Damien ignored him. "If you ever need something, use it."

Ren twirled the ring between his fingers before sliding into his hand, he took of his necklace that Lucian had given him then slid the necklace into the ring before he wore it back. "There, I won't lose it. I'll use it if something come up."

Something in Damein's posture relaxed meanwhile Lucian smiled.

Ren wasn't sure what to make of that, but he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he stepped into the car.

As the doors shut, he caught a final glimpse of Damien's gaze, it was sad to say the least. It was like a child getting their favorite candy taken away from them.

Seriously though, what was wrong with Damien?

He put a hand to his chest feeling slight pain there, he exhaled softly, leaning back into his seat before looking away. 

Lucian and Damien watched the car drive further away, before they turned back into the estate.

"Do you think he'll remember?" Damien asked Lucian, his gaze strange.

Lucian only looked at him before he patted his back and then walked away.

Damien exhaled, opening his palm, on it was an exact replica of the ring he had given Ren, he slid the ring into his ring finger, before he walked out the mansion.

"Tell Master Lucian, I'll be back in time for the Academy's holiday."

Lucian who got the report as soon as Damien had left, he sighed before looking at Steve, "What's an old man like me have to do in this big, lonely mansion." 

Steve didn't comment, just bowed his head slightly lower. 

The car ride to the academy was silent, save for the hum of the engine.

Ren rested his chin on his hand, watching the city slur past him.

Honestly it all felt surreal.

Just days ago, this body had been left for dead, a nameless corpse in the morgue. Now, he was Aaron Mordaine, sitting in a luxury car on his way to the most prestigious academy in the empire.

Life was unpredictable like that.

The academy came into view, it loomed in the distance like an unshakable fortress. A city within a city.

Massive iron gates stood at the entrance, lined with intricate sigils that shimmered faintly under the sunlight. Guards patrolled the perimeter, their sharp gazes scanning every student that had arrived.

It was a new semester for new students, so they were a lot of cars in the parking lots with students and their parents filling the lot. Floating transports were prohibited within the school premises, so everyone had to arrive by car.

Ren smiled. Security was tight, and it might be hard to sneak out later but that was fine, it was all the more befitting for a place that housed children of the wealthy and the strong Espers and Guides.

The car rolled to a stop.

A uniformed attendant stepped forward, opening the door, "Welcome, Young Master Mordaine."

Ren stepped out the car, adjusting his coat before following the attendant, while Lucian's secretary dragged his luggage. Around him, students and parents whispered.

"Did he say Mordaine?"

"Since when did the Mordaine's have a young master apart from those two demons."

Ren who was walking paused slightly at that comment, his gaze locking onto the man with a beer belly before he ignored him, walking forward with a leisurely pace.

Meanwhile the man with the beer belly felt his back drenched in sweat when he met Ren's gaze, he quickly got into his car and drove off leaving his daughter stranded there alone.

"Seriously though who is he?"

Ren continued to ignore the comments, and as fate would have it, he locked eyes with Ren's biological brother.

He had been sent outside the academy to aid the new students.

Alistair Vaelcrest had been a menace to Ren, he had awakened as a guide and according to the system he was fated for six other espers.

Alistair had been what they called a white lotus and only he knew how he had caused the original Ren to die, but based on his memories he was there on the day Ren had died.

Alistair felt Ren's gaze and shivered instantly; he wondered why the young master of the Mordaine family was staring at him, his gaze was blank but then he thought maybe because he caught his attention.

Alistair looked the same from Ren's memories, tall, golden haired with an air of effortless arrogance, maybe because he was the most wanted guide at the academy.

Ren walked towards him, and then past him making the smile on Alistair's face drop. 

He would get his revenge for the original but not yet, it was fun making Alistair think he was worth something.