The black sedan rolled to a stop in front of Blackridge Academy. Its polished surface reflected the gray sky above, a perfect mirror of the cold atmosphere that surrounded the campus. As the car door clicked open, a tall figure stepped out, his black coat flowing slightly with the movement.
Lucien Falkner.
His silver eyes swept over the towering school gates, indifferent to the whispers already starting around him. A few students stood nearby, their conversations halting as they took in the newcomer.
"Who is he?"
"I've never seen him before."
"Why does he look so... dangerous?"
Lucien ignored them. He had no interest in their curiosity. His hands were tucked into his coat pockets, his expression unreadable. Without hesitation, he strode toward the main building, his steps quiet yet deliberate.
Inside the principal's office, an older man with graying hair glanced up from his paperwork.
"You must be the new student," he said, adjusting his glasses. "Lucien Falkner, correct?"
Lucien gave a slight nod, saying nothing.
The principal cleared his throat. "We received your transfer documents, but… it's unusual. No academic records, no previous school history. Just a direct approval from the board." He studied Lucien carefully. "I trust there won't be any… trouble?"
Lucien met his gaze, calm and unwavering. "None."
The principal hesitated, then sighed. "Very well. Your class is 3-A. You'll start immediately."
Lucien took the schedule handed to him without another word and walked out.
---
Class 3-A
The moment Lucien stepped inside, the classroom fell silent. Students froze mid-conversation, their eyes drawn to the tall, dark-haired boy who had just walked in.
A girl near the window leaned closer to her friend. "Whoa… who is that?"
"Never seen him before…"
Lucien barely acknowledged them. His sharp gaze swept over the room—calculating, observing. Some students looked away immediately, unsettled by his presence. Others, particularly the more arrogant ones, sized him up as if trying to gauge if he was a threat.
A chair scraped against the floor as a student stood up.
Adrian Cross.
Blond, sharp-eyed, and radiating confidence, Adrian was the undisputed leader of Class 3-A. He walked up to Lucien, smirking.
"So, you're the new guy." His tone was casual, but there was a challenge in his voice. "Lucien, right? Never heard of you."
Lucien said nothing.
Adrian's smirk widened. "You don't talk much, huh?" He took a step closer. "Well, here at Blackridge, there's a pecking order. And if you wanna survive, you should know who's at the top."
Silence.
Lucien's silver eyes met Adrian's. For a moment, there was nothing but an empty void in his gaze—cold, unreadable, and completely unimpressed.
Then, he spoke.
"Move."
Adrian stiffened. The entire class watched in stunned silence. No one talked to him like that. Ever.
A tense second passed. Then Adrian let out a short laugh. "Alright, Falkner. We'll see how long you last."
Lucien walked past him, taking an empty seat at the back.
He had no interest in power struggles. No interest in making friends.
But if anyone thought he was someone to be toyed with…
They were about to learn the hard way.
---
End of Chapter 1.