Lost In Chaos

The initiates were assigned to their own rooms, each one a small, enclosed space within the academy's vast, labyrinthine structure. Kaz's room was situated at the far end of the hallway, which meant he usually heard less noise than most. But today was different. A loud, persistent banging echoed through the corridors, disrupting the usual stillness of the night.

Kaz tried to focus on his notes for survival class, flipping through the digital scripts projected by his watch. He was supposed to be reviewing environmental hazard protocols, but the constant thudding made it impossible to concentrate.

"What the hell is going on?" he muttered, pushing himself up from his desk. His patience was already razor-thin. Between dealing with the big clan drama, his sister's manipulations, and the ever-present weight of his alter ego lurking beneath the surface, this was the last thing he needed.

He stepped out into the dimly lit hallway, his sharp eyes scanning the area. At first, he saw nothing. Then, just a few feet away, a girl in a wheelchair struggled against the uneven floor panels.

Kaz stopped. It was rare to see anyone with disabilities in the Rift world. Most who couldn't fight simply didn't survive. Her presence was an anomaly.

She had silver hair that cascaded in loose strands over her shoulders, the soft glow of the hallway's luminescent strips casting a faint halo around her. Her amber-red eyes flickered with frustration as she adjusted the wheels, her pale ivory skin a stark contrast to the dark, worn material of her academy uniform. She was… striking, in a way Kaz found hard to put into words. Like steel and fire—strong yet fragile at the same time.

Her gaze met his, and she gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry, it's kinda hard to move around in this thing," she said, lightly tapping the side of her wheelchair.

Kaz blinked, his irritation quickly morphing into something closer to guilt. He had been ready to yell at whoever was making the noise. Instead, he had almost snapped at a disabled girl.

"It's alright," he said, forcing a nonchalant shrug. "I thought you were someone else. I have a friend named Ryuma—he bangs on my door sometimes."

A blatant lie. Ryuma had never done that, but Kaz wasn't about to admit he had been ready to pick a fight with someone who clearly wasn't trying to be a nuisance.

She tilted her head slightly as if analyzing his words, then gave a small nod. "Nice to meet you, Kazeem." Without another word, she turned her wheelchair and rolled back toward her room, disappearing behind the automatic door.

Kaz exhaled, leaning against his own doorway. That was exhausting. He wasn't used to these kinds of interactions—brief but oddly unsettling. And how had she known his name? He glanced down at his watch. His name was displayed, but the font was at its lowest setting. Even in close proximity, someone would have to strain their eyes to make it out. Yet she had said it so naturally, without hesitation.

That girl was weird. It was best to stay away from her.

There was something about her that didn't sit right with him. Not fear, exactly, but an instinctive discomfort. In the Rift world, trust was a luxury. People like her—people who couldn't fight, couldn't run—were considered liabilities. Rift beasts didn't discriminate. They wouldn't spare her just because she was in a wheelchair.

Kaz shook his head and stepped back inside his room, sinking onto his bed. He activated Eyeless Sense, allowing his mind to stretch beyond the confines of his physical sight. The ability would help him filter out unnecessary distractions and focus on his studies—

A knock on the door.

Kaz groaned. "You've got to be kidding me."

Reluctantly, he deactivated Eyeless Sense and stood up. Plastering on the best neutral expression he could manage, he opened the door.

Ryuma stood there, books, pencils, and papers in hand. His usual carefree smirk was replaced with something a little more serious. "I came here to help you study."

Kaz hesitated. He appreciated the gesture, but he wasn't in the mood for company. "I—"

Ryuma didn't wait for an invitation. He walked past Kaz and plopped himself onto the floor, spreading out his materials. "Come on, man. You've been zoning out a lot lately. You gotta stay sharp. Survival class isn't something you can just wing."

Kaz sighed and sat down across from him. "Fine. But if you start talking nonsense, I'm kicking you out."

Ryuma chuckled. "No promises."

The two of them fell into a steady rhythm—reviewing tactics, discussing Rift anomalies, testing each other on emergency protocols. For a while, the chaos of the world outside faded, replaced by the simple act of learning.

But Kaz couldn't shake the lingering thoughts in the back of his mind. The girl. Her knowing his name. The strange aura she gave off. And more than anything, the feeling that their brief encounter was far more important than it seemed.

Something about her was going to change things.

He just didn't know how yet.