It started like any other day—monotone announcements, half-dead teachers, students glued to their phones. Riven sat in the back of class, hoodie up, fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk. The low hum of the classroom was a comfortable blanket of anonymity. He was invisible. Just the way he liked it.
Until the door creaked open.
"Everyone, we have a new transfer," the teacher said, barely hiding his exhaustion. "Introduce yourself."
The boy stepped in—average height, dark messy hair, lean build. But his eyes weren't normal. They scanned the room like he was sizing everyone up. And then, just as Riven had anticipated, they locked onto him. And didn't look away.
"I'm Kael," the new student said, his voice smooth, with just a hint of boredom. "Hope we all get along."
Riven's fingers stopped tapping.
The class went silent for a brief second, the students' attention snapping to Kael. It was obvious why. Kael wasn't just another handsome face—he was strikingly good-looking. With sharp features, intense eyes, and a quiet confidence that seemed to magnetize the room. He moved with an ease that made the girls whisper and the boys nod in silent respect.
But what was more shocking wasn't Kael's looks—it was where he chose to sit. Despite an entire row of empty seats, he walked right past them and took the desk directly in front of Riven. A murmur ran through the room, students glancing at each other, their confusion palpable.
Why would Kael, of all people, choose to sit next to Riven?
Everyone knew Riven. He was the quiet, unremarkable guy who kept his head down. A loner. He didn't stand out in the usual way—no good looks, no obvious charm. People avoided him, like they were worried he'd rub off on them. So why was Kael sitting next to him?
The class continued, the whispers of confusion barely audible as Kael settled in, his back slightly turned toward Riven, as if he wasn't worried about the stares they were getting.
Riven tried to ignore it, shifting in his seat, eyes on the desk in front of him. But the weight of Kael's presence was undeniable. The boy was different, somehow. His confidence was electric. And his gaze? It never left Riven for too long.
Then, Kael spoke again, his voice low enough to only reach Riven's ears.
"Didn't think I'd see the Black Gale's ghost hiding in a place like this."
The words hit Riven like a punch to the gut. Black Gale. The name echoed in his mind. He hadn't thought about those days in so long. He had buried that part of him deep down. But Kael... Kael had just dredged it all up again.
A ghost. That's how Kael saw him now. But it wasn't just the words—it was the way Kael said them. Like he knew something about Riven that no one else did. Like he knew exactly who Riven used to be.
Riven's fingers gripped the edge of his desk. His knuckles went white, the tension in his body a thinly veiled threat. He wanted to stand up, to walk out of the room. But he couldn't. Not now. Not with Kael looking at him like that.
Riven didn't respond. He didn't need to. Kael already knew. And with that, the rest of the class seemed to fall away. The whispers stopped. The confusion grew. Kael was smart enough to know how to get under Riven's skin. But he wasn't trying to push him. He was doing something worse—he was reminding Riven of who he was. Of what he used to be.
As the bell rang and the class shifted into its next phase, Kael stood up, glancing back at Riven with that same smirk, like he knew something no one else did.
"See you around, Hidden Fist," Kael said softly, his words carrying a subtle weight as he turned to leave.
The room was still buzzing with confusion, but Kael didn't seem to care. And as Riven stood up to leave, the beast he'd kept locked inside was beginning to stir again, clawing at its cage.
The rest of the day dragged on, Riven's mind a mess of thoughts. He couldn't stop thinking about Kael. The boy's words echoed in his mind like a constant hum. "Black Gale's ghost." Was that really how he saw him? As a faded shadow of the past?
Riven's unease followed him all the way home. As soon as the bell rang and the students flooded out of the classroom, Riven left without saying a word to anyone. He didn't want to deal with the stares, the whispers, or the feeling that Kael's eyes were still on him.
But even as he walked home, he couldn't shake the feeling that Kael knew more than he should. That Kael was dangerous—not in the obvious way, but in the way that made Riven feel vulnerable. He had spent so long keeping his head down, hiding who he truly was, and now this guy had to show up and remind him of it all. The Hidden Fist. A name he hadn't heard in years.
Work was no better. It was just the same routine—taking orders, cleaning dishes, making sure the place stayed in one piece—but even as he moved through the motions, his mind kept wandering back to Kael.
His boss, Mr. Han, noticed his distracted demeanor.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked, wiping his hands on a towel as he eyed Riven from behind the counter. "You've been zoning out for the past hour. You sick or something?"
Riven looked up, blinking out of his fog. "I'm fine," he muttered, forcing a tight smile. "Just… tired."
Mr. Han didn't seem convinced, but he nodded and returned to his work. Riven sighed, rubbing his temples. He couldn't let himself get distracted—not here. But Kael's face kept creeping into his thoughts. The way he'd sat next to him, the way he'd said Hidden Fist like it was some kind of inside joke. Riven wasn't sure if Kael was trying to provoke him or if he simply knew something that he wasn't letting on.
When the shift ended, Riven didn't head home immediately. Instead, he found himself walking aimlessly through the streets, trying to clear his head.
Kael's words kept echoing in his ears. He had no choice but to confront what Kael had stirred up. The beast inside him wasn't just a figment of his past. It was still alive. And it was waiting for the moment to break free again.