Later that day, Towan trudged through the academy halls, his boots scuffing against the polished stone floor. The weight of his training session still lingered in his muscles, and the thought of the long walk to the library only deepened his frustration. He sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. "Why is the library so far from the training grounds?" he muttered under his breath, already regretting the decision to go find his brother. The academy’s sprawling layout was a maze at the best of times, and today, it felt like an outright conspiracy.

  Then—instinct screamed.

  A presence behind him. Close. Too close.

  Without hesitation, Towan spun around, his body moving on pure reflex. His hand snapped up just in time to catch a fist hurtling toward his face. The impact reverberated through his palm, the force of the punch strong enough to make him take a half-step back. His heart pounded, adrenaline surging as his eyes locked onto the attacker.

  "Oh? So you caught it," a voice said, amused and light, as if this were nothing more than a game.

  Towan’s gaze sharpened, taking in the stranger before him. The young man stood with a confident smirk, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp and calculating. His dark hair was tousled, and his academy uniform—different from Towan’s—hinted at his origins. There was no mistaking the intent behind that punch, even if the stranger’s demeanor suggested otherwise.

  "Haven’t seen you around," Towan stated, his tone edged with caution. His grip on the stranger’s fist tightened slightly, a silent warning, before he released it and took a measured step back. His body remained tense, ready for anything.

  The stranger hopped back, his hands slipping into his pockets as if nothing had happened. "Just testing the strength of this academy," he said casually, as if throwing punches at unsuspecting students was a perfectly normal greeting. His smirk widened, and he tilted his head, studying Towan with a glint of approval. Then, with a nod, he extended a hand. "You’ve got my respect. Name’s Brayan."

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  Towan eyed him for a moment, his instincts still on high alert. There was something about Brayan—his confidence, his ease—that set Towan’s nerves on edge. But he also recognized the unspoken challenge in the gesture. After a beat, he grasped Brayan’s hand firmly. "Towan."

  But the handshake wasn’t just a handshake.

  Brayan tightened his grip, his fingers digging into Towan’s with deliberate force. A test of strength. A silent challenge.

  Towan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t flinch. Instead, he met Brayan’s challenge head-on, his own grip tightening in response. The muscles in his forearm flexed as he pushed back, his gaze never wavering from Brayan’s. For a brief moment, they stood locked in a silent battle of wills, each refusing to yield.

  Then, just as quickly, they released.

  Brayan chuckled, a low, appreciative sound that carried a hint of respect. "Not bad," he said, flexing his fingers as if to shake off the lingering pressure. "I’m from the Zephiron Academy. We’ll see each other again soon." With that, he turned on his heel and strode away, his movements as casual as if they’d just shared a friendly conversation.

  Towan flexed his own fingers, glancing down at his hand. The ache in his palm was a reminder of Brayan’s strength. His mind was already racing, analyzing the encounter. He frowned, his thoughts turning to the implications. If Brayan was any indication of the kind of competition Zephiron Academy was sending, then things were about to get a lot more interesting—and a lot more dangerous.

  "Looks like students from other academies are already arriving," he mused aloud, his voice low. He watched Brayan’s retreating figure until it disappeared into the bustling halls, a sense of unease settling in his chest. The air around him seemed to hum with anticipation, as if the academy itself were bracing for what was to come.

  Towan exhaled slowly, his mind already shifting gears. He had a feeling this encounter was just the beginning. And if Brayan was any indication, the challenges ahead would be anything but ordinary.