The Trillah Academy was the only official royal academy in the entire kingdom, located in the prestigious Suncrow City. Because of its elite status, only the highest nobility and royalty had the absolute right to attend. Commoners were strictly forbidden from enrolling, with the extremely rare exception of those who possessed monstrous, once-in-a-generation talent in Aura.

​It was primarily Aura Users who attended the Academy; Mages preferred to isolate themselves in the towering, mana-rich Magic Towers scattered across the continent instead.

​Outside the high iron gates at the back of the Academy, three teenage boys were waiting impatiently in the shadows. They all wore the exact same pristine academy uniform, adorned with the proud insignia of a glowing sword on their chests.

​"Fuck, where is he? He should have been back here by now. What the hell is taking him so long?" one boy with short brown hair complained, pacing back and forth. His name was Sidney.

​"Sidney, I told you we should have just gone to the black market ourselves. Now look at what that brat is doing. He probably ran away with our money," another boy grumbled, running a hand through his long black hair. This was Terry.

​"Shut up, Terry. There is no way a noble like him would run away with our money. He’s way too rich for that," Sidney argued.

​"You might be right about his money, but that kid gives me the creeps. I just don’t trust him," Terry scowled, crossing his muscular arms.

​"Terry, you are always complaining. You act like you wanted to go, but in reality, you were too scared of getting caught sneaking out of the Academy," the third boy said with a mocking smirk. This was Preston, the clear leader of the trio.

​"Don’t act like you know me, Preston! I would have gone if you hadn’t come up with the brilliant idea to send that weak noble instead!" Terry snapped defensively.

​Preston just stared at Terry coldly and didn’t bother arguing back. "But seriously, why is it taking him so long? We gave him the exact directions to the alleyway and everything. Did the idiot get lost?" Preston muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

​"Hey, guys... I think I spot something," Sidney suddenly said, narrowing his eyes as he peered down the darkening dirt road.

​"It’s about time he arrived. I’m going to beat the absolute shit out of him this time so he learns not to keep us waiting," Terry sneered, aggressively cracking his knuckles and flexing his muscles.

​"First, we get the Incubus Potion. Then you can do whatever you want with him," Preston ordered, glaring at Terry to keep him in line.

​"Fine. I can wait a few more minutes," Terry grunted.

​A lone figure slowly emerged from the distant shadows. He had the striking traits of the Thorne bloodline—pitch-black hair and piercing golden eyes. However, his current state was pitiful. He was covered in dark purple bruises, his academy uniform was torn and dirtied, and he walked with a heavy limp, favoring a severely injured left leg.

​It was Isaac Thorne.

​"It’s about damn time you arrived. Do you like making us wait for you that much, huh? Did doing this little errand make you feel important in that pathetic, dark life of yours?" Terry taunted. He marched forward and violently grabbed Isaac by the collar, lifting him slightly off the ground.

​"..."

​Isaac didn’t struggle. He didn’t beg, and he didn’t fight back. He just stared dead into Terry’s eyes, his golden eyes cold and completely devoid of emotion.

​"You bastard, what the hell are you glaring at?! Do you think little of us just because you are a rich noble?!" Terry shouted, his face turning red with anger as he tightened his grip on Isaac’s throat.

​"Terry. Drop him," Preston commanded, stepping forward and grabbing Terry’s wrist.

​Terry clicked his tongue in annoyance and forcefully shoved Isaac backward. "You are lucky for now, you creep," Terry spat, backing away slowly.

​"I apologize for Terry; he just has a terrible temper," Preston said, flashing Isaac a fake, condescending smile. "But enough of that. Did you bring the item we asked for?" He held his hand out expectantly. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

​Isaac didn’t say a single word. He reached into his battered sack, pulled out a small, glowing pink glass bottle, and handed it to Preston.

​Preston held the vial up to the moonlight, carefully examining the illicit liquid. "I guess this is it, huh? How much did the merchant charge you?"

​"It was twenty-two gold coins," Isaac replied, his voice low and raspy.

​"Twenty-two gold? But I only gave you twenty," Preston noted, raising an eyebrow.

​"Just think of the extra two gold as a friendly gesture on my part," Isaac said, his expression remaining perfectly blank and serious. "Well, since this transaction is over, can I go now?"

​Preston narrowed his eyes, trying to read the boy. "Well, since you did such a generous gesture for us... why would I keep you here? The least I can do is let you go for tonight."

​"..." Isaac just gave a single, slow nod. He turned around and began limping away in silence, heading toward the Academy’s lower-class dormitories.

​"Why did you let him go so easily?!" Terry hissed as soon as Isaac was out of earshot. "If he can just casually throw in an extra two gold coins out of his own pocket, it means he has a lot more on him!"

​"And he just walks around handing it out like it’s absolutely nothing," Sidney added enviously.

​"Leave him be. We will deal with him and his wallet later. For now, let’s deliver this potion to Antony. I don’t want to keep a noble like him waiting," Preston said, carefully slipping the pink bottle into his coat.

​Preston turned around and started walking back onto the Academy grounds, briefly glancing over his shoulder in the direction Isaac had gone. "Still... I can’t believe the difference."

​"What difference?" Sidney asked, hurrying to follow him.

​"The massive difference in nobility status," Preston mused, a faint trace of genuine pity in his voice. "That guy Isaac may be a registered noble in name, but he is treated no different than a stray beggar here. Even some of the commoner students treat him like total trash."

​"Well, that’s because he is trash. Not just him, but his entire family. The Thornes are a bunch of weaklings with nothing to their name but merchant money," Terry laughed cruelly. "After this job for Antony is done, let’s go visit Isaac’s dorm and ask him for some ’protection money’. I’m guessing he wouldn’t mind lending us a few more gold coins." Terry smirked, already looking forward to their next encounter.