Night came.
The academy was quiet.
Most students were asleep.
But Eiden was not.
He sat on his bed, eyes open.
He felt it.
A strange mana.
It was watching him.
---
Outside his window, the moon was bright.
Eiden stood up and walked to the window.
He looked at the forest.
Dark.
Still.
But he knew.
Someone was out there.
---
He picked up his sword.
Then walked outside, careful not to wake anyone.
His steps were silent.
Like a shadow.
He followed the mana trail.
Soft.
Cold.
Old.
It felt… familiar.
---
He reached the edge of the forest.
"Come out," he said quietly.
For a moment, there was nothing.
Then—a movement.
A figure stepped out from the trees.
Wearing a long cloak.
Face covered.
But strong.
Very strong.
---
"You're not normal," the figure said.
Eiden didn't answer.
"You hid your magic in the dungeon. Clever. But I saw it."
The man smiled.
It wasn't friendly.
It was sharp.
Dangerous.
---
"Who are you?" Eiden asked.
The man tilted his head.
"A Watcher," he said. "We look for talents."
"Or threats."
Eiden's grip on his sword tightened.
He felt pressure from the man.
Like a wall.
But he didn't step back.
---
"You're still weak," the Watcher said. "But you hide it well."
Eiden stayed quiet.
"Tell me—was it you who saved the class?"
Still, Eiden said nothing.
The man chuckled.
"That's fine. But be careful."
---
The man turned around.
"Others are watching too. Not all are kind."
Then he disappeared into the forest.
Like mist.
Eiden stood there for a while.
Thinking.
"A Watcher… this world has secrets too."
---
He walked back to the dorm.
His thoughts were heavy.
He had come here to live a new life.
Quietly.
But now, others were noticing him.
That was dangerous.
---
Back in her room, Elara sat by the window.
She held a notebook.
On the page: Eiden Valtz.
She wrote one word beside it:
"Suspicious."
---
Far away, in a dark room, another man looked at a crystal orb.
It glowed faintly.
Inside, it showed Eiden's duel with Kai.
The man smiled.
"A blade that hides magic… interesting."
He reached for a black book.
A list of names.
He wrote a new one:
"Ghostblade?"
Then underlined it.
Twice.