Knowledge

The first silver rays of sunlight bathed Sophie Ledger's mansion, casting cold reflections across the black stone walls with white columns and colorful stained-glass windows. Indra awoke still disoriented, but the warmth of the soft bed stood in stark contrast to the freezing nights at the hospital. Beside him, Sophie slept deeply, her dark hair cascading in waves across the pillow. He allowed himself a small smile — her peacefulness was contagious.

Not wanting to remain confined to the room, Indra got up and dressed. As he approached the door, Sophie slowly opened her eyes. Seeing him awake, she raised an amused eyebrow. "Planning to sneak off without breakfast?" she teased, her voice husky but wearing a lazy smile.

"And miss the chance to watch you cook? Not a chance," Indra shot back, his tone lighter than it had been in days.

They went down together to the kitchen, a spacious room lit by floating magical lamps that glowed with a soft blue hue. The cabinets were carved with arcane symbols, and a gleaming black-metal stove dominated one side. Sophie tied an apron over her robe and began gathering ingredients as Indra perched on a tall stool near the counter.

"Do you like omelets?" she asked, whisking eggs with practiced ease.

"If it's made by you, I'll like anything," he replied, laughing softly. Sophie rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

The scent of exotic spices soon filled the kitchen, blending with the aroma of fresh coffee. They ate together, chatting with an ease neither had felt in a long time. Sophie told stories of the Other Side: the brutal training at the Esoteric Society, her colleagues in the Tenth Legion, and even a few fiascos where missions ended in chaos and explosions. Indra listened with genuine interest, laughing out loud at several points.

He shared about his life too: his love for sports, binge-watching series and anime, his near-obsessive passion for comics, manga, and webtoons. He spoke of his short stint working at city hall, and how his gift of gab helped him land a good job at a young age. Sophie listened with rapt attention, her mismatched eyes fixed on him, absorbing every word.

"So… you really are the type who talks until you drop, huh?" she remarked, clearly entertained.

"Better than standing around like a lamppost," he shot back without missing a beat. Sophie burst into genuine laughter, and for a moment, the mansion felt too small to contain the easy, buoyant energy flowing between them.

After finishing breakfast, Sophie handed him a glass of juice and sat across from him, her expression turning more serious. "I've enrolled you in the Esoteric Academy," she announced, resting her elbow on the counter and idly twirling her straw. "You'll start this afternoon. I'll accompany you there, but after that, you'll be on your own."

Indra felt his heart race — not from fear, but excitement. "So it's really happening," he murmured, almost to himself.

"It is. And one more thing," Sophie continued. "Professor Carl Bennington… he can't stand modern kids. He hates slang, phones in class, or anything that reeks of laziness. You'll have to earn his respect if you want to take his Realm of Phenomena and Survival courses."

"I love a challenge," Indra replied with a confident smile. "And… thank you for all of this, Sophie."

She shook her head, her gaze softening. "Don't thank me yet. You'll sweat plenty before you even think of thanking me."

They stepped outside together. The city was already alive, vehicles hovering over dark streets, glowing runic signs flashing over shops selling everything from enchanted weapons to reinforced battle gear. Night had fully given way to the silver day, but the streets of the Royal Borough still exuded a mysterious, elegant atmosphere unique to the Other Side.

They walked side by side, crossing black stone bridges over canals of slow-moving purple water, climbing stairways leading to grand avenues where arcane cars glided by in eerie silence.

Finally, they stopped before a colossal gate nearly twenty meters high, made of dark metal that seemed to drink in the surrounding light. Above the gate, arcane letters spelled out: Esoteric Academy.

Around them, shadowed gardens stretched into the distance, dotted with statues of hybrid creatures and trees with coal-black leaves. Beyond, towering gothic buildings reached toward the sky, each radiating power and enigma.

Sophie turned to Indra, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Welcome to your new life, Indra Shuemesch. Don't disappoint me… or yourself."

Indra took a deep breath, gazing at the Academy's gate like one staring at the threshold of destiny. "I won't," he promised, voice resolute.

The gate groaned open, revealing a corridor of shadows and pale lights, as if inviting Indra to cross — and so he did, marking the official start of his new beginning.

---

The deep toll of the bell reverberated through the obsidian columns of the Esoteric Academy, echoing across dark gardens and corridors lined with stained glass that twisted the silver sunlight into shifting patterns. Indra stood among hundreds of youths gathered in a massive, vaulted hall illuminated by black crystal chandeliers that hung like the fangs of a slumbering beast.

On stage, behind a pulpit carved from white stone and inscribed with arcane symbols, stood the Academy's headmaster. He was a middle-aged man of imposing stature, his face marked by lines that looked more like battle scars than signs of age. His gray hair was slicked back, and when he spoke, his voice carried absolute authority:

"Welcome to the Esoteric Academy," he began, his voice so firm that silence fell instantly. "You are the future of the Esoteric Society: the blade that will pierce the throat of chaos or the shield that will protect the world of the Other Side. Each of you carries more than your own destiny; you carry the fate of our Clans, our Legions… and humanity itself!"

His gaze swept across the hall as if branding each student with an invisible seal.

"Know this: here, only talent, determination, and power matter. Only those who master themselves can hope to master the darkness crawling through this world. The Esoteric Society has no use for the weak or the undecided. It needs warriors!" His final words thundered through the hall like silent storms.

Indra's breath came ragged as he absorbed every word. His eyes scanned the room, studying the other students, measuring who might become rivals — or allies.

First, his gaze fell on a breathtaking girl with golden hair like rays of sunlight and eyes as deep and blue as cut sapphires. Her sculpted body radiated a near-arrogant confidence even while standing still.

Nearby stood another girl with silver hair gleaming like living metal under the chandeliers. Her ancient golden eyes and equally developed figure exuded a cold, untouchable aura.

Indra turned and spotted a man clad in the traditional robes of Xianxia cultivators: flowing dark silk embroidered with golden dragons, wide sleeves swaying with every motion. His presence was dignified and mysterious, as if each breath carried centuries of tradition.

Beside him, a lean-muscled boy with dark brown hair and intense green eyes wore a white ensemble trimmed with blue, his long coat brushing the floor, giving him a refined but battle-ready appearance.

Indra's eyes widened at the sight of a girl with white hair tipped in vivid red. Fox ears and a bushy tail emerged from her body, her seductive beauty accentuated by a silk white dress that hugged her dangerous curves.

Finally, his gaze settled on a pale-skinned boy with jet-black hair and piercing emerald eyes. His black clothes, adorned with silver accents and countless buckles, resembled the uniform of some futuristic space force, exuding an aura of mystery and cold authority.

These six stood out like blazing torches amid the crowd, each radiating power, pride, and the certainty that they belonged to a world Indra was only beginning to comprehend.

The headmaster's voice rang out once more, closing the ceremony:

"Today, you cross the threshold. Tomorrow, your classes will decide whether you deserve to live in this world. Be strong… or perish!"

When the echo of his final words faded, the hall's tension seemed to dissipate. Students began forming small groups, but Indra stood still, eyes fixed on the grand emblem of the Esoteric Society hanging above the stage — a serpent devouring its own tail, symbol of life and death's unending cycle.

So this is where it all begins, he thought, feeling the weight and thrill of the moment. Every face could be a rival or an ally. Each day from now on could determine whether he rose or fell. He clenched his fists, his heart pounding.

In the depths of his mind, one certainty burned bright: there would be no turning back.

---

The corridor leading to Professor Carl's classroom felt even more silent than the rest of the Academy. Ancient tapestries depicting battles between men and Other Side monsters hung along the walls, illuminated by blue flames dancing atop wall-mounted torches. The classroom door stood ajar, a cold breeze drifting out carrying the scent of old parchment and chalk.

Indra inhaled deeply and pushed the door open, stepping into a large hall with a high ceiling, walls lined with shelves groaning under the weight of books so old some were chained to keep them from falling apart. Maps of the Other Side stretched across large panels, marking shifting geographies, unstable zones, and creature territories. At the center, a massive dark wood table sat empty except for one man arranging papers.

Professor Carl Bennington looked up as Indra entered. His gray hair was slicked back, thin-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, and he wore a meticulously tailored dark suit. His erect posture and piercing gaze revealed a man who did not tolerate mediocrity. When his eyes took in Indra's dark clothes, tousled hair, and chains, his expression twitched as if uncertain whether he faced a student or a 2000s rock band member.

"So, you're Captain Ledger's protégé," Carl said, his voice controlled, but with a faint note of disapproval. "I expected you'd at least have the decency to dress appropriately for a serious class."

Indra opened his mouth to reply, but Carl raised a hand, silencing him before he could speak.

"It doesn't matter," Carl continued, turning his attention back to the papers. "Sophie asked me to teach you the basics of the Realm of Phenomena and Survival techniques. I won't refuse her request… but let me be clear: I don't expect much from you."

Indra bit his lip but held Carl's gaze steadily. When the professor gestured to a chair, he sat without hesitation.

Carl launched into the lesson without ceremony, his deep voice filling the hushed room. He unfurled a massive map covering the entire Other Side, pointing to vast regions beyond Society-controlled territory.

"The Realm of Phenomena," he began, "is what we call all terrain of the Other Side outside the safe zones held by the Society. These are wild, inhospitable lands governed by warped laws, where unimaginable creatures and chaotic phenomena manifest."

He explained that the Society classifies Other Side regions into zones by danger level:

Green and Blue Zones, entirely safe for Graduates, with little or no creature presence;

Yellow Zones, already risky;

Orange Zones, extremely dangerous;

Red Zones, nearly suicidal;

and Black Zones, so deadly even Supremes avoid them without planning and reinforcements.

"The Realm of Phenomena, in essence, encompasses anything that doesn't fit into Green or Blue Zones," Carl emphasized, tapping the map with a metal ruler. "These are unstable, ever-shifting regions where inexperienced Graduates would be wiped out within minutes."

Indra listened intently, scribbling detailed notes in a black notebook, his gaze fixed on Carl as he soaked in every word. After the first hour, he began asking precise, thoughtful questions:

"Professor, if the Realm of Phenomena is unstable, how are zone boundaries established?" he asked, leaning forward, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

Carl looked genuinely surprised. A faint smile of approval crossed his face — his first since Indra had entered. "Excellent question. Zone boundaries shift with the movement of residual Energy currents flowing across the Veil, stabilizing or destabilizing regions. That's why maps must be constantly updated."

The lesson continued at an intense pace. Carl covered creature behavior patterns, the history of the Veil's greatest ruptures, the function of Magic Veins, and the perils of deeper zones. Indra not only absorbed everything but challenged ideas, filled in gaps, and reflected critically.

"You show genuine interest," Carl said at last, his tone softer than before. "When you first walked in here dressed like that… I thought you were just another modern rebel. But now, I see I might have been mistaken."

Indra looked up from his notebook, a slight smile on his face. "I've always loved linguistics and history. Before all this, I was in college studying linguistics. Maybe I just don't look the part."

Carl was silent for a moment, then removed his glasses and set them carefully on the table. "The Society needs people like you," he said, voice solemn. "Starting today, I'll be your master. And I'll do everything I can to prepare you for the Paranormal Exam."

Indra stood, extending his hand. Carl grasped it firmly. In that handshake, there was no lingering doubt — only the mutual respect of master and student.

The lesson ended with both hunched over maps, debating border zones and survival strategies. When Indra stepped out into the eternal night sky of the Other Side, a flame of hope burned in his chest. With Carl by his side, he felt he might not only survive — but find his place within the Esoteric Society.