Chapter 4 — Class D, The Forgotten Wing

  The walk to the Class D dorms felt longer than it should have. Maybe it was the weight of Calder’s words. Maybe it was the stares I kept catching from students who thought they were being subtle. Or maybe it was the system’s quiet presence lingering at the edge of my vision like a shadow waiting to pounce.

  Either way, the academy grounds grew quieter the farther I went.

  Class D wasn’t near anything important. Not the training fields. Not the libraries. Not the elemental towers. It sat tucked behind a row of old storage sheds, as if the academy wanted to pretend it didn’t exist.

  The building itself was small and worn, two floors of stone that had seen better decades. A single mana lamp flickered above the entrance, barely holding a charge.

  Perfect.

  I stepped inside.

  The common room was dim, lit by a few weak crystals embedded in the walls. A handful of students lounged around—some exhausted, some bored, some staring at their hands like they were waiting for magic that would never come.

  No one looked up when I entered.

  Class D students didn’t care about newcomers. They were too busy dealing with their own disappointment.

  I found the dorm list pinned to a corkboard.

  Arin Vale — Room 12B

  Second floor.

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  The stairs creaked under my weight as I climbed. The hallway was narrow, lined with doors that had seen too many frustrated slams. A couple were cracked open, revealing cluttered rooms and students who looked like they’d already given up.

  Room 12B was at the end.

  I pushed the door open.

  The room was small—two beds, two desks, two wardrobes. One side was already claimed, blankets messy, books stacked haphazardly, a half?eaten pastry sitting on the desk.

  Great. A roommate.

  I set my bag on the empty bed and sat down. The moment I did, the system pulsed to life.

  System Update Available.

  Would you like to review?

  I exhaled slowly. “Yes.”

  A translucent panel unfolded.

  Deathbound System — Stabilizing

  Restrictions: High

  Detection Risk: Low (concealment maintained)

  New Feature Unlocked: Soulspace (Dormant)

  Description: A personal inner domain for storing soul?bound entities.

  Requirement: First Summon Slot (Locked)

  So the quest reward wasn’t just a summon—it was a place to keep it.

  Another line appeared.

  Progress Toward Quest: The Hidden One

  Day 0/30

  Cover Status: Stable

  Thirty days of pretending to be weak.

  Thirty days of hiding from instructors, students, and anyone who might sense something wrong.

  I could do that.

  The system flickered again.

  Tip: Growth thrives in shadows.

  Before I could respond, the door swung open.

  A boy stumbled in—tall, messy brown hair, arms full of books that looked way too heavy for him. He froze when he saw me.

  “Oh! Uh—hi. You must be the new guy.” He dropped the books onto his bed with a thud. “I’m Ren. Ren Alder. Your roommate.”

  I nodded. “Arin.”

  Ren gave a nervous smile. “So… Class D, huh? Guess we’re both at the bottom.”

  He laughed awkwardly. I didn’t.

  He cleared his throat. “Right. Anyway, if you need anything, I’m usually here studying. Or trying to study. Or pretending to study.”

  He seemed harmless. Maybe even friendly.

  But harmless people asked questions.

  And questions were dangerous.

  Before I could say anything, a loud bell echoed through the dorms.

  “All Class D students, report to the orientation hall immediately.”

  Ren groaned. “Great. More speeches.”

  I stood.

  The system pulsed one last time.

  Warning: Increased attention expected during orientation. Maintain low profile.

  I stepped into the hallway, Ren trailing behind me.

  Class D might have been the academy’s trash heap.

  But for me?

  It was the perfect place to begin.