" Lost, are you? "
Kael spun around. A girl his age stood a few feet away, leaning casually against the stone wall. She wore the academy's standard uniform, but something was off. The fabric was duller, the seams less polished—and more tellingly, there were no golden insignias like the ones the other students proudly displayed.
" Not really, " Kael replied, eyeing her cautiously.
Her black hair was tied back, and her green eyes studied him with unnerving intensity—like she could see right through him.
" Liar, " she said, laughing softly.
" You've been pacing this same hallway for twenty minutes."
" Were you following me? "
" Observing. Big difference." She stepped closer, her footsteps silent on the marble.
" My name's Zara. Zara Thorne."
" Kael Voss."
" Oh, I know who you are." Her eyes sparkled.
" The mysterious newcomer who somehow convinced Vex to enroll him in the middle of the year. You're all the talk right now."
Kael frowned. " All the talk? "
" Of course. You think people haven't noticed you arrived without a family escort? No limousine? No servants dragging five trunks behind you? "
She gestured toward the worn-out satchel slung over his shoulder.
" Here, even the « humble » students show up with at least three suitcases and a butler."
" And you ? " he asked.
" Where's your butler? "
Zara's smile faded slightly.
" I'm different. I'm not supposed to be here either."
" What do you mean? "
" I'm Unblooded." The word left her lips with visible bitterness.
" My parents have no powers. And officially, neither do I."
Kael narrowed his gaze. " Then how'd you get in? "
" Scholarship." She shrugged.
" The academy needs a few poor kids to make it look inclusive. Keeps up appearances, you know? "
" But you said « officially....» What does that mean? "
Zara hesitated, then stepped even closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
" I see things. Things others don't. Like you, for instance."
" What do you see? "
" That you're lying." Her green eyes locked onto his.
" You're not just some random transfer. There's something different about you. Something... dangerous."
Kael instinctively stepped back, but Zara didn't stop.
" Your eyes change color when you're angry. Your hands emit a strange energy. And most of all...."
She pointed behind him. ". Everything you touch... cracks."
Kael turned. Sure enough, where he'd touched the wall minutes ago, faint fissures ran across the stone.
" Shit."
" Exactly. " Zara grinned.
" So? What are you really? "
Before Kael could answer, voices echoed down the corridor. A group of students was approaching, their pristine uniforms glinting under the magical lights.
" Hide your hands," Zara whispered.
" And don't touch anything."
The group came into view. At the front walked a blonde boy with golden eyes, flanked by three students who looked like his personal entourage. Their uniforms were adorned with intricate symbols—suns, stars, and sigils Kael didn't recognize.
" Well, well," the blonde sneered.
" What do we have here? The Unblooded and... the newbie? "
" Orion," Zara replied flatly.
"Always a pleasure."
" Zara, my dear," Orion said with exaggerated charm,
" I was wondering when you'd introduce your little boyfriend to high society."
" He's not my boyfriend."
" Pity. That would've been... poetic." He turned to Kael.
" Orion Solheim. Line of the Eternal Sun. And you are? "
" Kael Voss."
" Voss? " One of the lackeys frowned.
" Never heard of that line."
" Of course not," Orion smirked.
" Our friend Kael has no lineage. Isn't that right? "
" Correct."
" Fascinating." Orion stepped closer, his golden eyes glinting with something dark.
" So tell me, how does someone with no bloodline make it into Stellaris? "
" Guess I'm special."
" Special? " Orion laughed.
" You hear that, boys? He's special."
His cronies chuckled. Kael felt his hands clench but forced himself to stay calm.
" Why don't you show us what makes you so special," Orion continued.
" Go on. Don't be shy. What's your power? "
" I don't have one."
" Liar." Orion took another step forward.
" No one gets in without a power. So, what is it? Shadows? Elements? Mind reading? "
Kael glanced at Zara, who subtly shook her head.
" Told you. No power."
" Fine." Orion's smile turned sharp.
" Then you won't mind if I test that."
He raised his hand, and suddenly a brilliant golden light burst from his palm. The temperature spiked. Kael's skin started to burn.
" Orion, stop ! " Zara shouted.
" Why ? " Orion pushed more heat into the air.
" I just want to see what he can do."
The light grew blinding. Kael shut his eyes, the heat searing through his clothes. His hands trembled—not from fear, but from anger.
" Stop," he growled.
" What? Couldn't hear you."
" I said..." Kael opened his eyes, now glowing electric blue.
" STOP."
He reached out and touched Orion.
The golden light vanished instantly. Orion screamed, collapsing to his knees, his face a mask of terror.
" What... what did you do to me? "
He stared at his hands, flipping them over, shaking them.
" My power... I can't feel my power! "
" Orion? " one of the cronies stepped forward.
" What's going on?"
" He took it! " Orion pointed at Kael, voice rising.
" He stole my power! "
Kael stepped back, realizing the weight of what he'd done. Around them, other students had gathered, drawn by the noise.
" Impossible," someone whispered.
" No one can steal powers."
" Unless..."
All eyes turned to Kael. He saw the fear, the dawning horror in their expressions.
" A Nullifier," a girl whispered.
" He's a Nullifier."
The word spread like wildfire. Within seconds, a circle had formed around them—but no one dared step closer.
" Zara," Kael said urgently.
" We should go."
" Yeah." She grabbed his arm.
" This way."
They sprinted down the hallway, leaving Orion on his knees and a murmuring crowd behind. Footsteps echoed behind them, but Zara led Kael through a maze of corridors she seemed to know by heart.
They finally stopped in a deserted alcove. Kael leaned against the wall, catching his breath.
" Well," Zara panted,
" I think it's safe to say your cover is blown."
" You think? "
" A Nullifier, seriously? " She looked at him, part terrified, part impressed.
" Do you know what that means? "
" That I'm in trouble? "
" That you've just gotten all of us in trouble." She ran a hand through her hair.
" Nullifiers are banned. Everywhere. The last one we know of destroyed an entire city."
" I don't plan to destroy anything."
" Your intentions don't matter." Zara stepped closer, lowering her voice.
" The Five Bloodlines will come for you. They can't let a Nullifier run loose in the academy."
" The Five Bloodlines? "
" The ruling families—Solheim, Lunaris, Umbra, Tempestas, Ignis. They control everything. And now, they'll want your head."
Kael's stomach twisted. " What do you suggest? "
" Run. Now. Before they catch you."
" No." Kael shook his head. " I'm not leaving. Not yet."
" Why? What's keeping you here? "
Kael thought of Headmaster Vex. Of the chains. The curse. The cracking mirror. The laughter.
" Something's going on in this academy. Something big. And I'm going to find out what."
Zara studied him for a moment, then sighed.
" You're insane."
" Probably."
" Alright then." She stood tall.
" You're gonna need help."
" You'll help me? Why? "
" Because..." She hesitated, then smiled.
" Because I've always wanted to see someone shake this place to its core. And besides, when I look at you, I don't just see a Nullifier."
" What do you see? "
" Someone who might not destroy powers... but free them. Transform them."
Before Kael could respond, a strange sound echoed through the alcove. A light, crystalline laugh. They both turned toward the back wall.
A mirror. Ancient, framed in tarnished silver. And something was moving inside it.
" Zara," Kael whispered. " Do you see that? "
" What? "
" In the mirror. There's someone inside."
Zara followed his gaze—and paled.
" Kael... there's no mirror here."
He looked back at the wall. The mirror was still there. And now, the figure inside was motioning to him. Speaking.
" Come, Nullifier. It's time to learn what you're really releasing."
The voice was soft, hypnotic, and seemed to come from everywhere at once. Kael stepped forward, but Zara grabbed his arm.
" Don't go! The mirrors—Vex warned you! "
" I know." Kael gently pulled free.
" Which is exactly why I have to go."
He reached out. The glass rippled like water as his fingers touched it.
[ Welcome home, Kael Voss.]
And suddenly, something grabbed him from the other side—and pulled him in.
The last thing he heard was Zara's scream :
" KAEL ! "
Then everything went black.