The tension of the hospital and the boardroom felt miles away as the iron gates of the elite academy swung open for the new term. But for Mild, school was no longer a sanctuary; it was just a different kind of cage where every gaze felt like a spotlight.
Mild was walking near the archery range, the rhythmic thwack of arrows hitting targets echoing through the air, when a tall, imposing figure stepped into his path. It was Zen, the "Icy Captain" of the archery team. Zen was a legend on campus—a scholarship student whose deadly precision and silent demeanor made him both respected and feared. He had been away for weeks on a national tournament circuit, but his return was immediate and pointed.
Without a word, Zen gestured for Mild to follow him into the shade of the equipment shed, away from prying eyes.
