No sooner had Kaiser left the headquarters of the Imperial Faction than tongues began wagging.
In the instant following his departure, murmurs started racing through the corridors. Words traveled quickly among the faction members, passing from mouth to mouth. By late morning, the rumor had already reached nearly the entire academy.
Yet no one had actually witnessed the scene. That didn't stop the details from piling up, each person adding their own touch to the story.
The versions varied, but the central idea remained the same: Kaiser and Princess Olivia were now a couple.
No confirmation ever came. Not a word from Kaiser, nor a denial from Olivia. That silence, instead of quenching the speculation, only fueled it. The rumors spread throughout the entire institute grounds, reaching every corner.
Meanwhile, in the academy's large training hall, Kaiser was training alone. In the center, several training dummies stood in a line. The air smelled of sweat.
