Alexander Clifford gazed at the gate opening toward the dormitory building. Starting today, freshmen would begin arriving—his younger brother, Jasper, would likely be among them soon. Some students clung to home until the very last day, terrified of the unfamiliarity of dorm life, while others rushed in on the earliest possible date. Jasper was clearly the latter, and aside from Alexander, he wasn’t close to the rest of the family. With their eldest brother, Frederick, still at home, Jasper must have been desperate to leave as soon as possible. Though knowing his penchant for sleeping in, it would be a miracle if he arrived before sunset.
“He’s here already.”
The moment the gate opened and a carriage rolled in, Alexander realized the boy must have been waiting outside. Whether he’d miscalculated the time, was eager to explore the school, or simply wanted to escape somewhere else, he didn’t know—but he was the first student to arrive.
“The Blackwoods, huh?”
Dylan’s voice beside him didn’t stir much reaction in Alexander. Though assigned to guide freshmen to the dorms, he had zero enthusiasm for the task. Still, since the only person worth watching was the one stepping out of that carriage, Alexander observed more closely.
“The second son?”
Even from a distance, the boy’s towering height and well-built frame were unmistakable. The Blackwood Duchy usually educated their heirs privately rather than sending them to the Academy, but rumors had spread that the second son would enroll this year. Their reclusive nature meant faces were rarely seen, yet the family was said to be strikingly handsome generation after generation—and the rumors held true. The atmosphere would be chaotic for a while.
“Yeah. Saw him at an exhibition recently.”
With that, Dylan lazily rose from his seat. Alexander’s girlfriend, Skylar, had asked him to help with freshman orientation since she was on the student council, but he had no intention of being proactive. If things got busy, maybe, but for now, there were others to handle it. He didn’t feel like moving.
“I’ll be back. Don’t run off.”
Alexander didn’t bother replying, just watched the gate. The second Blackwood son stood near the carriage, silently watching the porters unload his luggage. His expression wasn’t exactly bright—no trace of excitement or nervousness about enrollment. If anything, he looked annoyed. For someone who’d barged in the moment the gates opened, his emotions were paradoxically subdued.
“Sasha, who’s my roommate this year?”
After the initial rush of arrivals, then a lull, then another wave, Jasper finally appeared just as the gates were about to close. He must’ve overslept. At least he’d made it today. Alexander led him toward the boys’ dormitory.
“Dylan. Didn’t change.”
They could request a room change annually, but Dylan had been such an easygoing roommate that Alexander saw no reason to switch. Confirming Jasper’s room assignment with a student at the dorm lobby, they learned it was on the second floor.
“Alex, who’s this?”
At the sound of his name, Alexander turned to see Skylar approaching.
“My brother, Jasper. And this is Skylar Colby, who I’m dating.”
After brief introductions, Skylar smiled and extended her hand to Jasper.
“I heard you were coming today. Hope you like it here.”
Jasper stared blankly at her outstretched hand before glancing up at Alexander. Their eyes met briefly before Alexander looked back at Skylar. Noticing Jasper’s hesitation, Skylar wiggled her fingers slightly.
“Nice to meet you. Call me Jasper.”
Finally taking her hand, Jasper’s small voice made Skylar give it a friendly shake.
“Call me Skylar. And don’t stand on ceremony.”
“So what brings you to the boys’ dorm?”
When Alexander asked why she was there, Skylar glanced at him.
“Some assignments were missed, so I came to check the corrections. Jasper got his, right?”
“Yeah. Just confirmed it. We’re heading to his room now.”
“Alright, I’ll go then. See you later.”
Alexander briefly caught Skylar’s wrist as she passed.
“Later.”
Releasing her, he watched her leave with a small smile before turning back to Jasper.
“Jay, let’s go.”
“Sasha.”
Jasper’s tone had shifted from earlier—his initial excitement gone, now subdued.
“Does everyone else call you Alex?”
Alexander gave the obvious answer as they walked.
“Yeah.”
Most people did call him Alex. His father, his brother—everyone.
“Am I the only one who calls you Sasha?”
At the follow-up, Alexander replied indifferently.
“Technically, my mom’s side of the family calls me Sasha.”
Alexander’s parents were separated, and he’d spent more time apart from them than together. After a certain age, he’d moved to his father’s side, but he’d grown up with his mother and her family, where everyone called him Sasha. Even now, his mother and her relatives occasionally used it.
“But generally, yeah. You’re the only one, Jay.”
For now, Jasper was the only one who called him that in daily life.
“Hope I get along with my roommate too. Know who it is?”
Pleased with the answer, Jasper’s voice brightened again. Alexander checked the room number and opened the door.
“No idea. Gotta check.”
“Looks like they’re already here. Where’d they go? The gates aren’t closing yet, right?”
Noticing the neatly made bed across the room, Jasper’s comment made Alexander open one of Jasper’s luggage bags that the porters had left.
“Curfew’s later. Maybe they’re out exploring.”
“Should I go look around too?”
Judging by his tone, Jasper had no intention of unpacking. Alexander pulled out a few essentials—pajamas and the like—and began organizing them.
“Jay, I’ll take you around tomorrow. Rest today. And unpack.”
“Got it.”
His voice and expression were obedient, but Alexander wasn’t convinced. At this rate, he could only hope Jasper’s roommate was equally messy. A pigsty was better than constant fighting.
“Sasha.”
As Alexander debated how much to unpack for him, Jasper spoke up.
“Is Dylan in his room?”
“Yeah. We were both guiding freshmen today.”
Alexander placed a hand on Jasper’s head, ruffling his hair a couple of times before giving it a pat. Jasper’s head tilted slightly with the motion.
“Scared?”
“Not really. My roommate’ll be back soon anyway.”
At that, Alexander glanced at the bed across the room. He’d need to confirm just who Jasper’s roommate was.
Result: Jasper’s roommate was none other than Kalix Blackwood—the first student to arrive at the dormitory. He hadn’t returned by the time the gates closed, but he’d likely be back for curfew.
With time to spare before curfew, Alexander considered checking on Jasper again but decided to take a walk by the lakeside instead. Thanks to Jasper, he’d arrived early, but he had nothing pressing to do.
As always, the lakeside was a hotspot for couples. To avoid them, Alexander took a detour deeper into the area. Staring blankly at the water, he suddenly noticed a figure.
It was too dark to make out details, but it was definitely a person—tall, broad-shouldered, dragging one leg as they approached the lake. Whether injured or naturally impaired, Alexander couldn’t tell.
Is he trying to drown himself? Students often got too close to the water, slipped, and ended up soaked—though the shallows near the edge meant they’d only get their clothes wet. Alexander watched, wondering if the guy would fall in, when he frowned.
The reflection on the water revealed the person clearly—and their surroundings. The leg wasn’t injured. It was weighted with stones. And the face—it was Kalix Blackwood, the same boy from this morning.
What the hell is he doing?
—Flip—
What if I come back?
No matter how he thought about it, the answer was clear: he had to ensure this body could never be used again. He had to destroy it completely.
At first, he considered slitting his wrists. Or hanging himself, jumping from a height, or locking himself in a room and setting it ablaze—methods that were easier to imagine and execute immediately.
But what if death wasn’t the end? What if that thing took over again after he died? What if the next turn belonged to it? Then all his efforts would be for nothing.
That’s why Kalix was now stepping into the lake with stones tied to his ankles. If, after his death, that unknown entity seized control again, it would drown repeatedly, trapped in an endless cycle of suffocation and revival.
If Kalix was the one to wake up afterward, that would be a problem—but it was a risk worth taking for the greater issue. Either way, destroying this body was the priority.
Step by step, Kalix waded deeper. The water depth shifted abruptly—just moments ago, it had only reached his ankles, but with the next step, it surged to his thighs. The cold was biting, yet strangely peaceful.
Ever since it had taken over his body, Kalix had been trapped in confusion, anxiety, and relentless discomfort. But not now. This had to be the answer. He wouldn’t have to question his sanity anymore.
Kalix closed his eyes, preparing to take another step—
“What the hell are you doing?”
A hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder, yanking him around.
“Let go.”
Without bothering to see who it was, he shook off the grip and turned back toward the water, but the hand seized his wrist this time.
“Kalix Blackwood, snap out of it.”
The voice jolted him back to his senses. Who knows my name? The thought flashed through his mind, but it didn’t matter—he’d be dead soon anyway.
“I said let go.”
He wrenched free, and the man staggered slightly, splashing water. Then, as if realizing something, he locked eyes with Kalix again.
“You little—”
A scoff escaped the man as he reached for Kalix’s wrist once more. And in that instant, Kalix recognized him.
“Don’t touch me.”
This was the man who had killed him.
Instinctively, Kalix recoiled before the hand could make contact, but the man advanced unfazed. Then, without warning, he hoisted Kalix onto his shoulder.
“Are you out of your mind? Put me down!”
“Stay still.”
The abrupt inversion of his vision left Kalix disoriented as the man’s voice rang out.
“I said let go!”
Kalix was about to struggle free when the man suddenly set him down. Most people wouldn’t dare manhandle someone like this—was he actually insane? The man immediately crouched, untying the stones from Kalix’s ankles.
“Alexander Clifford. Call me by my name.”
Just a few steps had left him breathless, his brow furrowed.
“What the hell are you trying to do?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
