The Twins

The training grounds was buzzing with activities after the introductory evaluation, and noises with discussions about the latest academy rankings. 

Among the scattered groups, three figures stood apart, they exuded an aura of indifference keeping most of the students at bay.

Cassian Valtheris leaned against a training post; his arms crossed over his chest as he listened to the chatter around them. His sharp silver eyes flickered with mild interest when the name 'Aaron Mordaine' was brought up in conversations.

Elias Vaelthorne sat on a nearby bench, tapping his fingers against his knee, it had no rhythm, making Riven who had been watching his fingers roll his eyes. Elias's violet eyes held calculating glint as he processed the information he had just heard. "Mordaine, huh?" I wonder what Lucian is thinking." His eyes flickered with curiosity despite his detached tone.

Riven Duskbane who had been silent, let out a soft scoff. "So, he's the Mordaine's adopted son? The one that appeared out of nowhere?" Riven crimson eyes had hints of disdain in it.

Cassian hummed in agreement. "The rankings haven't been updated yet, but his performance in the introductory evaluation caught a lot of attention. They said he was the only one who fought a second year and that he took him down effortlessly."

Elias exhaled softly, leaning back. "I heard about that, Lucian made a bet with the dean that his son could win a fight with a second year, I think that's why he was given a letter when he didn't go for the selection."

For Espers, they awakened at the age of fifteen up to seventeen, while Guides awakened around fourteen years of age, so the fact that Ren had awakened at sixteen and was possibly stronger than a second year who spent three years at the academy training and going out on missions to fight monsters. 

"How old is he?" Cassian asked.

"My old man said he just turned sixteen." Elias responded.

Riven finally looked interested. "Oh?" He met Cassian's gaze. "That's rare."

Before they could discuss further, an unwelcome voice interrupted.

"Ah, Valtheris, Vaelthorne, Duskbane! What a coincidence."

Alistair Vaelcrest approached them with a practiced smile, his golden hair glinting under the streetlight besides bench. His warm expression was carefully crafted, but the three men saw through it instantly.

Cassian's gaze turned cold. "Vaelcrest."

Elias gave a curt nod, whereas Riven, always the least inclined toward pleasantries, simply glanced at Alistair before returning his attention to Cassian.

Oblivious to their disinterest, Alistair continued. "I assume you've heard about the new student, Aaron Mordaine? Quite the mystery, isn't he?" He chuckled as if including himself in their conversations. "I was thinking of reaching out, maybe showing him around. After all, it must be overwhelming to be in such a prestigious academy."

Cassian's lips curled slightly, into a not so smile. "That so?"

Elias sighed, already bored. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I have training."

Riven stretched "Same."

Cassian smirked, pushing of the post. "And I have better things to do."

Alistair's expression faltered slightly for a split second before he forced another pleasant smile. "I see. Another time, then."

As the trio walked away, Elias muttered under his breath, "He's always up to something."

Cassian hummed.

Riven exhaled. "Forget him. I'm honestly interested in where Aaron Mordaine came from."

The next day, Ren who had barely stepped food into the academy courtyard felt a persistent presence hovering a little too close. He resisted the urge to sigh. It had been that way for the past hour now.

He and Lorien had agreed to meet up with each other at the courtyard, but it's been over an hour, and he still couldn't find him, instead he was met with a pair of twins.

At first, he thought it was a coincidence, as some students were naturally curious about him, but no he was rather wrong, these two, a pair of twins, one male and the other female had been shadowing him since morning. Not discretely, either. They trailed after him all the way from his dorm and they made it clear they had no intention of leaving.

Ren finally turned around, crossing his arms. "Are you two lost?"

The female twin grinned, unbothered by his tone, "Nope. Just following you around, you're now considered one of our future friends."

The male twin nodded sagely. "It's inevitable."

Ren stared at them, unimpressed and confused. "...What?"

The girl placed her hands on her hips. "Let's not waste time with denials. We've decided to be your best friends.... of course, along with Lorien."

Her brother pointed at him. "And you're going to accept it."

Ren put two and two together before he groaned inwardly; he knew it. Lorien set him up to this.

He raised an eyebrow, "Really?"

She nodded. "Yes."

He exhaled slowly, honestly, he didn't seem to hate the idea of being their friend, in fact he liked it, but he wouldn't show it, so he let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine, but I really don't do friendships."

The boy smiled, already by Ren's side. "That's okay, we'll do it for you."

"Okay, Lorien you can come out now," the female twin shouted.

Lorien came out from behind the tree he was hiding, looking at Ren with a sheepish smile, meanwhile Ren ignored him. 

"I think this is the part where you introduce yourselves?" Ren nodded at the twins.

"Oh yes, I'm Lyra Rosenthal, age seventeen meaning I'm older than you." The female twin grinned before continuing, "And my brother is Cale Rosenthal, also seventeen."

Cale waved with a boyish grin on his face.

"And before I forget Lorien is our cousin, he's eighteen."

Ren looked at all three of them, Lyra had a shoulder-length auburn hair and bright amber eyes with an athletic build, while Cale had a lean but strong build, with short auburn hair and the same bright amber eyes, he was the same height as Ren who was five foot nine. 

Meanwhile Lorien had long black tied in a man bun with ocean blue eyes, he was more of the tall and composed type, and he was taller than all three of them, standing at six feet.

"Umm I'm Aaron Mordaine, and I'm sixteen." Ren introduced himself.

"Ah we know, but what's your class?" Lyra asked, walking towards Ren so she was standing facing him.

"Class?" Ren looked at Lyra confused. "I haven't been assigned to a class yet."

Lyra looked at him with a weird expression before looking at Lorien and Cale who also had the same expression.

"Weren't you there for the selection process?" Lorien asked.

"Selection process?" Ren tilted his head in confusion.

"Yeah, where they tell you your ability class and determine if you're fit for the academy, I'm class A, so is the rest of the guys," she said looking at Ren's expression, when he didn't show any look of realization, she widened her eyes.

"Seriously, you weren't present for the selection process, then how did you get the invitation?"

Ren scratched the back of his head already knowing where this was headed, "My dad got it for me."

Silence.

More silence.

"Wow, glad this didn't get out before the introductory evaluation," Cale said, while Lyra nodded along. 

The academy was known for being strict and didn't have the habit of using the backdoor to let students in, so Ren's case was a first in a long while. 

"Yeah, true, anyways you can head to the academy office to know your class, but no rush, we'll go when you're ready." Lyra said.

Ren nodded his head.

Lorien already tired of standing in the sun, dragged them towards class, while muttering under his breath about how he had to be the matured one to get them to class so they don't get into trouble on the first day of classes.