Chapter 14 - The Newcomer's Test

Nathan stepped into the prestigious school, walking beside Lucien. The grand hallways, the air of aristocracy, the students dressed in expensive, tailor-made uniforms—everything here reeked of wealth and influence. It was a world far removed from where he came from.

And it was clear that he didn't belong.

Whispers followed him with every step. Students exchanged glances, murmuring about the new arrival. Who was he? Why was he here? The way their eyes lingered on him, filled with judgment and curiosity, made his skin crawl.

Lucien, as usual, remained unfazed by the attention, walking beside him with his usual unreadable expression. Even in a school full of elites, everyone seemed to respect—or perhaps fear—him.

Nathan, however, was a different story.

A Cold Welcome

It wasn't long before Nathan was introduced to some of the school's most notable figures.

Theodore Laurent – The charismatic son of the most powerful tech mogul in Europe. Sharp-minded and strategic, he exuded an air of quiet authority.

Cecilia von Strauss – Heiress to a noble family, refined yet arrogant, clearly unimpressed by outsiders. But there was something about Nathan that made her take a second look.

Adrian Becker – Laid-back yet observant, he saw through people faster than they realized. And from the way he eyed Nathan, it was clear that he had already figured out that something about him was… off.

Lucien barely spoke during these introductions, yet his presence alone was enough to command attention. Nathan could tell—this school operated on a different set of rules. And he was about to learn them the hard way.

Trial by Fire

Nathan was placed in the elite class, surrounded by students who had been groomed for high society since birth. The teachers seemed skeptical, as if questioning how an outsider like him had ended up here.

Cecilia, ever the aristocrat, tested him with difficult academic questions. But Nathan, with his casual confidence, answered effortlessly—shocking both her and the rest of the class.

However, the real challenge didn't come in the form of academics.

It came in the form of Theodore.

Theodore had taken an immediate disliking to Nathan. Maybe it was because he wasn't intimidated by the hierarchy, or maybe it was because he didn't bow to the unspoken social rules of the elite.

Either way, Theodore wanted to test him.

"New guy," he had said during lunch, smirking. "Ever tried fencing? Or maybe horseback riding?"

Nathan knew what he was doing—offering challenges in sports that were exclusive to the wealthy, things Nathan had never done.

Nathan simply smiled. "Nah, I'll pass."

But Theodore wasn't the type to let things go so easily.

And later that evening, Nathan would find out just how far he was willing to go.

After School Confrontation

The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the school gardens as Nathan walked alone.

The first day had been exhausting. The constant whispers, the unspoken challenge in the way people looked at him—it was suffocating.

But the moment he turned the corner, he realized he wasn't alone.

Four figures stood ahead, blocking his path.

Theodore Laurent and his entourage.

Theodore's lips curled into a smirk as he stepped forward, hands casually tucked into his pockets.

"The new kid," he mused. "Heard you're special."

Nathan didn't reply, raising an eyebrow instead.

"Did you really think you could just waltz into this school without paying a price?" Theodore continued, his tone sharpening.

One of his lackeys—a large-built guy—stomped his foot on the ground, an unspoken warning.

Nathan inhaled slowly. He knew exactly where this was going.

His stance shifted. Left foot forward, shoulders low, hands rising just beneath his chin. His boxing footwork activated instantly.

A silent declaration: Come at me.

That was all it took.

The first attacker lunged.

A fist came flying toward Nathan's face. He sidestepped smoothly, letting the attack whiff past him before launching a sharp hook to the ribs. The impact echoed, and the bulky guy stumbled back, gasping.

The second opponent tried to rush in from the side. Nathan was already moving. He pivoted, sending a clean uppercut straight to his jaw. The crack of impact was sharp—his opponent crumpled instantly.

The third was faster, attempting a sneak attack from behind.

Nathan sensed it.

With a swift low kick, he swept the guy's legs from under him, sending him crashing onto the pavement.

Three down.

Nathan exhaled, standing tall. But before he could reset—

A brutal kick slammed into his back.

His body lurched forward, rolling across the ground before coming to a stop. Pain flared across his shoulder.

Footsteps approached.

Theodore.

He strolled forward, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"You've got skill," he admitted, raising his foot. "But you're not in my league."

He moved to stomp Nathan down—

But before his foot could land, something blurred through the air.

A shadow.

Lucien.

Before anyone could react, Lucien dropped in like a phantom, delivering a blistering punch straight into Theodore's gut.

Theodore's eyes bulged, his breath caught in his throat.

In the same fluid motion, Lucien twisted—launching a spinning kick that crashed into two of Theodore's men, sending them flying.

Five seconds. That's all it took.

Silence fell.

Nathan lifted his gaze. Lucien stood in front of him, expression unreadable. He hadn't even broken a sweat.

Lucien extended a hand.

Nathan took it, pulling himself up.

Now, they stood back to back. Surrounding them, Theodore's crew lay groaning on the ground, not quite out of the fight.

Nathan cracked his knuckles. Lucien rolled his shoulders.

They didn't need to speak.

The fight wasn't over yet.

And watching from a distance, a certain student leaned against a wall, observing everything unfold with quiet amusement.

Adrian Becker.

A small smirk tugged at his lips.

Interesting.

End of Chapter 14.