Chapter Text
Sunghoon packed his bag in a hurry, the sound of the clock ticking in the hallway across his room only served to add a sense of urgency to barely awake student. He cursed looking for his socks to complete his uniform. Even though, he woke up later than he should’ve, the young student could’ve had a slower and more manageable pace to get ready, the only obstacle being his morning routine where he had to make sure he shaved properly according to his standards and styled his hair to perfection. No matter how many times his friend Sunoo glared at him when he was particularly not satisfied with his appearance. The short blond always shot him a glare and sassily said that he was too handsome so he can compensate his lack of brain and bland personality. Sunghoon always took it as a compliment to his friend’s dismay.
Now, there was only 10 minutes left until the beginning of class, and Sunghoon needed to leave at once. So ,he rushed towards the door cursing the endless stairs of the mansion he lived in with his father and mother in law. The latter had a creepy love for statues that he always thought were mocking him whenever he walked by it. And there were a lot of them displayed around the house. If he wasn’t feeling welcome by his guardian’s attitude the large objects would have done the trick. It’s a large statue of a rampant horse that was looking down on him when he passed the kitchen of the lowest floor. He briefly saw the minute the head maid saw him and was about to call on him for breakfast but he had no time for it as finally reached the exit of the estate. Heaving a big sigh he prepared himself for the sprint to the academy. He has never felt this thankful for his current destination to be within walking distance of where he lived. Holding on to that that though he started running and hoping he can make it on time.
With barely few seconds from the large doors closing, he made it. Dropping on his knees to catch his breath. He was just thinking that he had definitely a few world records with this run he was brought back to reality by the soft yet mocking voice of Jake “ Do you realize that waking up early would literally save you all this misshap ?”
Gathering his bearings Sunghoon stood to his full hight “ What can I say I need my beauty sleep” he wriggled his eybrows. This earned him an incredulous huff from his best friend who shook his head as if over Sunghoon’s nonsense. Sunghoon was about to object when he saw a group of students laughing rambunctiously. They were standing in a circle shape. Sunghoon squinted and could make out the figure of a small boy getting tossed. Everytime said boy tripped or fell because of the actions of the students surrounding him.
The laughter grows decibels louder. Sunghoon was about to comment on the cruelty when Jake interrupted him “ They are a pride and he is a member.” That shut him up fairly quickly. It is a well-known fact that the academy they were currently attending Vasileio academy was full of talents from all over the world. But what made it stand out at the top was its educational system where upon entering the students are handed numbers according to the power of the abilities. Naturally dividing them to three classes the commoners are from ranks 10 to 7, Noblesse from 6 to 3 and the royalty with ranks 2 and 1. Sunghoon was rank 5 along with Jake standing just at the middle to enjoy a rather peaceful high school experience. Others are not as lucky though, Sunghoon thought as he looked at the kid being tossed around. Jake ushered him to go to their first class of the day.
Sunghoon thought his friend dropped the subject when he said looking somewhere far away “You know, even though our school is known for the ranking system, I have never found it unique. Brutal yes but never original. The pack system though is intriguing. Throw a bunch a kids give them numbers to establish hierarchy and then demand that they form “prides” with students from each class and let them stick together for assignments,P.E missions, lunch break..etc.” They reached their locker rooms and jake continued while they were putting their books and sorting out the ones they need in the morning “and oh these supposed prides each have their own rules that they abide by and that neither the school nor the students can question” .
Sunghoon looked at his friend at that moment” The school can intervene in case of public safety”. Jake rolled his eyes at that “yes and when did that ever happen?".Sunghoon hummed, he and jake were ones of the very few who were not included in a pride. They were noblesse so that meant that they were safe from bullying but Sunghoon caught up the murmurs of some students with words like bland and boring that he chose to ignore.
Jake looked at his best friend who suddenly gone silent. Jake knew that Sunghoon longed to belong . Having neglecting parents his friends never knew the feeling of belonging and having his people aside from Jake himself and Sunoo. Except that the latter was already in a pride so no matter how big his crush on the oblivious Sunghoon was, they could not get really close. Watching his friend as they were finally heading to class, he always saw the beautiful yet lonely figure of his friend. It pained him but he could not do anything to help. He knew that looks were not everything as he was always told that he was handsome himself. But Sunghoon is different he had the beauty of a godly crafted sculpture with pale skin, long black hair and an unitristed look that he knew didn’t reflect his friend’s personality, but it did reflect his isolation and that intimidated people. Preferring to avoid him under excuses of rejection that hid the insecurities his presence evoked. Sadly, Sunghoon took rejection as face value and decided to close his heart and just focus on his craft. His ice ability added to his brand and was the only thing Sunghoon regarded favorably at school since he was competitive and took great pride in his achievements.
They entered the class where jake’s thoughts were put to halt when he saw Sunoo unusually seated beside Ni-ki. It was unusual not only because they are from two different prides and prides don’t usually mingle with outsiders but because Ni-ki is a royalty class. They were known to have secluded lessons.
The youngest was wearing his collection of silver accessories he knew to be his favorite while waving at jake. Which was stupid considering the classroom was small Sunghoon thought.
Seeing who Ni-ki was waving to ,Sunoo hissed“Hurry up you loosers”. Considering Sunoo called everyone except himself a looser, Sunghoon didn’t bother getting up at him he instead rolled his eyes as he took a seat in front of the blond with jake next to him facing Ni-ki. “So today’s tea is really hot” Sunoo suddenly stopped as he felt gazes on them. Sure students here acted like they didn’t care but they had eyes like hawks especially if the Park Sunghoon is in the vicinity. Before he started getting annoyed on behalf of his friend, Sunoo looked at the man of the hour “Tell them to lay off”. The latter was startled at first nit understanding then he turned around and knew what Sunoo was hinting at. So with as cold of a voice as his ability he said to the classroom “Need something ?”. The effect was instantaneous as some turned their heads and others exited the classroom altogether.
Seeing their actions, Jake looked at the clock displaying 9:35. “Aren’t we 35 minutes late to class where is prof Kerr ?” . In response ,Ni-ki slapped his hand on his face dramatically and Sunoo looked at him like he has grown another head. “So when you both came strolling as if two victorian ladies on a picnic you were planning on attending class on time in your heads ?” Sunoo pointed at his watch “This late?”. Jake admitted he got lost in thought and with his friend he absolutely forgot to hurry up. A fact that Sunoo is very pleasantly reminding him of right now . Ni-ki spoke for the first time “Class is cancelled for all levels, that’s why I came here to meet up with you guys”
Sunghoon made a weird face” Wait so I almost ran into two different cars to get here, only for class to get cancelled ?”
Ignoring the first part on his statement, Sunoo said “Haven’t you heard? Kai of the star pride has been kidnapped on school grounds yesterday in the evening.”
Before Sunghoon could react Jake let out a huge what ?. “I know right ? they said when the gates at the back of the academy were opened there was a black SUV that was waiting. His pride didn’t have the time to react when several darkly clothed men came and whisked him onto the car before fleeing the scene. It’s almost movie like”
“It’s not fun” Ni-ki interrupted darkly, with a serious expression Sunghoon has never seen on the youngest before then again they hardly talk outside of Sunoo. But the message was relayed . It’s true that the academy was only filled with the elite with rich families outstanding abilities but as much as they had power they had cruelty. Cases of bullying and violence were toe curling.Sunghoon was no saint so he chose to turn the other way because he understood that in this tough environment even the bullied were monsters to the ones they deemed beneath them and he didn’t have it in him to combat a system that had people already casting him aside. That was the state of the academy and everybody was aware of it especially those at the top of the food chain. But if it’s a royalty says something is serious then he doesn’t even want to imagine the horror.
Jake looked at Ni-ki cutely furrowing his brows, to which the youngest softened a bit” It doesn’t make sense. Even if they were surprised by the kidnapping they had enough time to recover, for Soobin their head to launch an attack on the vehicule. I mean Yeonjun could’ve just lifted the whole thing up in the air”
The grave expression on Ni-ki’s face returned stronger, that even Sunoo put down his phone and concentrated on Ni-ki’s next words. With a barely audible whisper the youngest said “I am not supposed to tell you this. But one or more of the people of the vehicule had a never seen ability that stops individuals from accessing theirs for 4 whole minutes.”
Those barely uttered sentences were enough to send a chill down their spines. And as if a hidden force wanted to culminate the crescendo of their hearts with a final note. A serious of sounds denoting a message received started echoing throughout their space. Sunghoon hastily took his only to find a message from an unknown number he looked up to find his friends doing the same he opened it
Dear student,
Unfortunately, the commoner of the star was but a fake.
But fret not children, our king would take the crown
And we would make sure of it. Rest assured.
Reading the cryptic message, Sunghoon could not make sense of it. He knew it was referencing to Kai since he was an 8 and was from the star pride but other than that he could not understand the clues. His friends shared the same incredulous look. Until the voice of the dean’s secretary echoes throughout the hallways of the academy urging the students to go to their resting spaces. Sunghoon and Jake bid Ni-ki and Sunoo goodbye while they headed to the noblesse room. Both their hearts were heavy and heads full of raging thoughts. But while Sunghoon concealed Jake spoke.” I hope this matter is taken care of quickly and the danger identified”. As if on cue Sunghoon sensed a presence behind them. He quickly turned alert only to find a tall young man with soft red hair and kind eyes looking at Jake to which he heard his friend audibly gulp but ignored in favor of observing the newcomer. Although, by looking at his badge he was clearly a senior and a year older than both of them.
When the stranger spoke, Sunghoon couldn’t deny the sweetness of his voice so unlike his own “Don’t worry the royalty and the school are on it. It would be solved soon.” Then he left leaving both of them stunned for vary various reasons Sunghoon would come to know about later.
“Do you know him?” Sunghoon asked
As if waking up from a stupor “Of course it’s Lee Heeseung. He is a rank 1”
“Are you friends ?” Sunghoon cooly asked assessing Jake’s response.
“Not really. I just know him because everybody does. But we have never talked before if that’s what you are asking about”
Then why did he come to strike a conversation ? Sunghoon asked himself. His questions were multiplied when he stuck his hand in his pocket to retrieve a gum ,only to find a small paper he swore he hadn’t placed in his pocket when they were exiting the classroom. He looked at Jake to make sure he was not looking at him and quietly opened the note.
Meet me at the back of the academy, at the gates where kai was taken.