Chapter 1

...Chapter 1...

...Where Shadow meet light...

In the silent, walking alone with the headphone on. Just a stoic expression in his face, he sigh while walking thinking about his life. It's been complicated for someone who never plan anything, just follow the flow yet needs to think about what will I be? Where will I end up? How's this chapter of life goes in the future? Am I important enough or just one of the others?

He open the door knob and say "I'm home" Throwing his bag on the floor and bumping his body on to the couch. Checking his phone, looking for the probability where he will go after the school graduation.

"Argh! Damn it! Why can't I just stay at home and do nothing?!" He continues to scrolling his phone.

"Hmm, but how will I make money? Can't I just be a gamer? Or Maybe YouTuber so that I don't have to show my ugly face to the world?" He thinks, battle thought in his own mind.

"Wait, wait, it's not that easy. Like I'm going easily to get views and become viral?" He stop scrolling and put his phone aside on the table. "However, I think as long as I born to be human I have to do like what human did. Why wasn't I was a grass instead? Oh come on, when is my dead will come? I don't wanna live forever."

He gets up from the couch and go to take a shower, the water splashing on his skin. While he's bathing, his mom and dad come home from work and calling his name.

"Ren, Honey. Come downstairs to dinner." The soft shout voice of his mother coming through the hallway to his room.

"Coming mom." He said while still putting his clothes on and drying his hair with a towel.

Slowly, he's taking a step to go downstairs. Doing usual routine that his family always do. That night he's not talking much about anything, not even how was his day go. He's eating, his mouth chewing the food but his mind not here. His mom can tell by his face expression that he's having monologue with himself.

To breaking the silent, his mom then say something. "Honey, I think I have to tell you something." His mom said, her glance still on him.

"Sure, what is it?" He said doesn't bother to look back but keep focusing on the plate on his food.

"Alright! so, there's a new academy in Tokyo, called Aeternum Academy. Professor Han is the founder, what do you think Hun?" Her mom waiting for his answer, looking at his face for any expression her son made.

"That's true, I remembered how u were so obsessed with his short research when you were a kid." His Dad add.

Ren stop chewing his food and swallow it, taking a sip of the water and gazing back to his parents. "Yeah, I've heard about it, just not interested." He said without any excited expression.

His mom smiling knowing how her son is. "I know you're not, but can you please give it a try? I heard that if you can pass the first semester with a good mark we don't have paid for the rest semester. It's mean that you'll got scholarship." His mom looking at him with hopes in her eyes.

"I-" He clenching his jaw. He knows that their family economy is not in a very good state for these few months. He can't be selfish and just do what he wanted. He also have no idea yet which university he wants to go. For taking another scholarship he needs to do test. It's not possible, he's too lazy to do it, in a battle against thousands people. It's just not his thing to do effort just for scholarship. "Okay, I'll go." He said shortly then continue to finish his food.

His parents smiling, know that their son just accept it that way without any arguments.

"Mom will prepare your thing, actually we already sign you up. So, you don't have to do it again son."

His eyes goes straight to his mom, his face looks colder than before, he doesn't like the idea that his parents actually already signed him up without his permission. Although he's already agree now, but they were did it behind his back. He takes a deep breathe to calm himself.

"Sure, I don't mind. Just let me pack my thing I'm okay with it."

...•••...

In the next morning he gets off the car to the airport, hugging his parents as the formality. Dragging his luggage to go to the plane.

"We will miss you, hun. Take care of yourself okay and call us if anything happened. Don't forget to call us when you're arrive."

He nods without saying anything. Walking straight to the boarding pass, when the staff checking his ticket it's said that the ticket already expired.

"What?!" His eyes widened in shock. "No way! please check again."

The staff try to re-check his ticket. "Sorry sir but this is not for today's flight but a year ago. Do you need anything else I can help with? Maybe buying new ticket for the next flights?"

He takes the ticket back and shaking his head. "No, it's okay. Sorry for the problem."

He glance at the ticket and sees the date, clearly it's not for today's flight. He's wondering why did his parents lied to him or Maybe they gave him the wrong ticket because they were in hurry to take him to the airport?

He drags his luggage out the airport and put his phone into airplane mode, doesn't want to make his parents worried. He then slide it into his pocket and walks to the train station, taking another route to the academy. He might late than the other students.

When he was walking without looking, he bumps into someone's. He's in hurry to catch his plane.

"Oh sorry I wasn't look-" Ren said, but the guy doesn't bother and leave him without saying anything to the airport. "Damn it! Why can't I just stay in bed? I never know that people always rushing in everything."

He bought a train's ticket and wait for the train. Because it's winter, most of the train can't arrive on time, most of them having delay. He keeps looking at his watch counting the time, his phone still On the airplane mode. He knows that he'll late and he feels a little bit anxious about it.

...•••...

He gets off the train in hurry, running 2 blocks to get to the academy. Checking his watch and it's shows 9.30. "Shit!"

There he is, in front of the gate. "Please let me in, I'm one of the attendance. One of the students." He said while catching his breath.

The gate keeper looking at him then snorts. "Oh here another trash that will failed and wasting our time." They both laughing at him. He glance coldly over them clenching his palm into a fist. But he calm himself because it's his first day here and sure he's late so it's his fault. He accept their insult for now just to let him in.

The gate keeper open the gate and let him in, he rush running to the first Hall where there already many students gather together. When he open the door and walking in, all the eyes on him gazing over him in silent, this is such in awkward moment for him.

In silent and awkward he's smiling like an idiot although he himself doesn't know who they are yet. Many of them ignore him and back to talk and continue where their activities was. He's swearing inside his mind, wishing he's dead at that time. His heart couldn't stop beating until the microphone voice breaking his awkwardness.

"Ahem, welcome to all the Aeternum Academy new students candidates. I am Han as the founder of this academy come myself to greet all of you new faces that soon to be the new icon of my academy. I'm gladly said thank you for all of you that interested in to join my new academy. I hope all of you is the one I'm looking for. Just like the brochure said, I'm a man with my words that it's all true if one or more of you can pass the first semester with a fantastic score I will free the academy fee till you're graduated from here. But remember, once the score goes down, although just minus one score the candidate need to pay from the start. Is that all clear?"

Many candidates whispering to each other. "Minus one already down? What kind of requirement is it? That such a cruel rules." They said.

"Excuse me," One of a candidates raising his hand to ask questions. "May I ask how many score will we have to collect to pass the first semester?"

"Bravo! That's such a genius question." Han answer and will explain. "You're one of a kind. So for the first semester all students need to collect 50 points, yeah you're not hearing me wrong. Just 50 points and get passed without needing to pay for the rest academy fee, I'll guarantee you all until graduate."

All students shouting and smiling, that all of them certain those 50 points is not hard to get. "Oh well I was just being overthinking. Now he's just to kind that I thought we needs to collect much more, I'll draw back my words." Another student said to her friends.

There collide into the crowd in the queue, Ren still thinking that he often watch Mr. Han academic lesson from YouTube, he's sure that this won't be easy to get 50 points just like that. He knows that Mr. Han is not that kind of stupid just to give a small number to get through. He raised his hand to ask, Soon all eyes on him again.

"Oh him again, look at how he dressed though. In this new academy not even try to dress well but hoodie and scarf? I can tell he's from the countryside." Said the one girl that stand next to him.

He feels his heart sinks by the comments and feels like their eyes judging him, not only her but all of them.

"Yes, what is it candidates?" Mr. Han ask.

"I know this sounds like a little game and easy score to get but you didn't tell us what should we do to get the point and how the point will be accumulated in the end? Is it by round, part or how?" Ren asked, making all students nodding their head and start to think the same way.

Mr. Han smiles and keeps his eyes on him from the stage. "That's good question, I didn't expect someone's will asked this much. Well, for the point will be accumulated in the end by doing task. The task will be divided after all of you got your classes. So for now, I can't tell you what the tasks are. One task will get 5 point and minus if one of the same person in the same class breaking the rules. The minus depends on how bad the mistake is."

Ren listen carefully, just like what he had guessed it won't be so easy. All candidates start to whispering each other again.

"Okay candidates to short the time I'll tell you about how many classes will be in my lovely academy. There are 5 classes in here, strategos class, kairos class, auctoritas class, praxis class and last virtus class. All of this class will be decided between where your knowledge is and to know more please read the paper that my staffs giving to you"

All students taking the paper one by one and start to reading it. There's the explanation of each classes means.

...Class/House Divisions...

1.Strategos Class

Focus: strategy, planning, leadership.

Students: ambitious, competitive, structured.

Symbol: chess piece (king/queen).

Reputation: feared, respected, powerful.

2. Kairos Class

Focus: creativity, improvisation, breaking conventions.

Students: unpredictable, underestimated, eccentric.

Symbol: fox card.

Reputation: chaotic, lazy… but sometimes, they shock everyone with brilliance.

3.Auctoritas Class

Focus: politics, persuasion, manipulation.

Students: smooth talkers, future diplomats, schemers.

Symbol: serpent.

Reputation: influential, sly.

4. Praxis Class

Focus: applied knowledge, technology, innovation.

Students: inventors, engineers, problem-solvers.

Symbol: gear.

Reputation: practical, hands-on geniuses.

5.Virtus Class

Focus: ethics, philosophy, balance of mind and heart.

Students: idealists, philosophers, mediators.

Symbol: Laurel wreath.

Reputation: wise but sometimes too idealistic.

"Okay that's it! And how to get your class is? Of course that will be due by a test. Oh don't worry it's really a very easy test," Mr. Han laugh then continue. "There, behind the paper you hold is a riddle and anyone can answer by what you think it's true, I accept anything. I'll give 5 minutes to solve it and after the times up all of you need to put your paper into the box in front of me. So what are you waiting for? The time is Ticktocking!"

All students in rush to read the riddle that they never knew it exist. "Wait what it's already start without warning and 5 minutes?!" Ren start to take his pen, rummaging through his bag and read the riddle carefully.

"I live in shadows, yet command the light. I feed on trust, yet hide in plain sight. The law fears me, the people follow me, I am desired, yet despised—

who am I?"

"Come on think, think, think, think." Ren keeps thinking the possible answer but he's not write anything yet, some of the students already giving their answer into the box, until before the last second he starts to write one words on his paper and rush to put his answer into the box.

There, all students waiting with anxiety and worried about which class they'll in. While Ren, just clicking on his phone texting his parents that he was forget to text them when he was arrived earlier. After an hours waiting Mr. Han show up again, some of his staff also guarding him.

"Oh this is it." Ren said and sigh, come back to his line. All students making line in the hall ready for the results.

"Alright candidates! after I've read and choosen, you all can see on the screen above, your class and your name. I myself that choosing you all into the class. So, if there's any of you unhappy with it means you're not seeing your ability yet. From now on I hope each class can work together but remember that the point is individual and the minus is happen for all group. Means that every candidates can collect point by their own answer and ability. But, once one of their friends from the same class breaking the rules all candidates point In that class will be minus with the same number. I accept no complain! I hope you all enjoy to be here and welcome to the Aeternum Academy. My staff will helping you to show where your dorm is."

Mr. Han then retreat from the stage, there is Ren looking at the big screen and checking his name. He's on the kairos class then follow the staff lead to go to his dorm.

"I thought I'll be in strategos class, maybe I'm just unlucky this time." He said while walking following the staff.

...•••...

"I can't believe two of them can answer it correctly. I am really thinking hard before making the riddle to trick them all but why there are still two candidates can answer it?" Mr. Han said while looking at the two students paper that answered it correctly. "It will be hard for him to be on top, where is this guy come from? Shouldn't all of them to be basic?" He laugh. "Well, well, well looks like I got a diamond in my trap."

Mr. Han dialing someone. "This is gonna be fun, you finally can be in a real battle."

"Don't tell me who is it, I'll find it myself. The game on!" The guy voice behind's Mr. Han phoned.

Mr. Han leaving his office, left the paper of the one student answer of the riddle earlier.

...I live in shadows, yet command the light....

...I feed on trust, yet hide in plain sight....

...The law fears me, the people follow me,...

...I am desired, yet despised—who am I?...

...Ans: Corrupted! - Renjiro Kael....

^^^°°°To be continue^^^

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