THE SECRET I MUST HIDE

CHAPTER 3

THE SECRET I MUST HIDE

Panel 1 — The Morning After

The next morning, Solaris Grand Academy was as busy as ever.

Students filled the corridors.

Some were talking about yesterday’s training session.

Others were discussing the strange incident involving Adryan.

Student 1:

“Did you see that yesterday?”

Student 2:

“He stopped that spell with his bare hand!”

Student 3:

“I heard he moved faster than the eye could see.”

Adryan walked through the corridor while pretending not to hear them.

He sighed.

Adryan:

“This is exactly what I didn’t want…”

Kael suddenly appeared beside him.

Kael:

“Adryan!”

Adryan nearly jumped.

Adryan:

“Don’t scare me like that!”

Kael laughed.

Kael:

“Everyone’s talking about you!”

Adryan:

“That’s the problem.”

Kael tilted his head.

Kael:

“Why don’t you want people to know you’re strong?”

Adryan stopped walking.

For a moment, his expression became serious.

Adryan:

“Because…”

He looked toward the window.

Adryan:

“Power attracts trouble.”

Kael was silent.

Then he smiled.

Kael:

“Well, you’re stuck with me now.”

Adryan blinked.

Adryan:

“What?”

Kael pointed at himself.

Kael:

“I’m your friend.”

Adryan smiled faintly.

Adryan:

“You’re really persistent.”

Kael:

“Of course!”

⸻

Panel 2 — The Classroom

The teacher entered the classroom.

Everyone took their seats.

Teacher:

“Today, we will begin studying the history of the Seven Kingdoms.”

Adryan immediately looked bored.

The teacher wrote something on the board.

THE SEVEN KINGDOMS

Teacher:

“For hundreds of years, the Seven Kingdoms have maintained peace through cooperation.”

She continued.

Teacher:

“However, there is an old legend about a family that existed before the current Kingdom system.”

Adryan’s eyes suddenly opened.

Teacher:

“The Qawwiy Family.”

The classroom became quiet.

Adryan’s expression froze.

Kael looked at him.

Kael:

“Hey…”

Adryan immediately looked away.

Teacher:

“Very little is known about them.”

Student:

“Are they actually real?”

The teacher nodded.

Teacher:

“According to historical records, yes.”

She paused.

Teacher:

“They are believed to possess power far beyond ordinary magic.”

Adryan clenched his fist under the desk.

Adryan:

“Why are they teaching this now…?”

Elara glanced toward him.

She noticed his reaction.

⸻

Panel 3 — After Class

Adryan quickly left the classroom.

He walked down an empty corridor.

Then—

Elara:

“Adryan.”

He stopped.

He turned around.

Elara stood several steps behind him.

Adryan:

“Hey.”

Elara approached him.

Elara:

“Can I ask you something?”

Adryan became cautious.

Adryan:

“Sure.”

Elara looked directly into his eyes.

Elara:

“What do you know about the Qawwiy Family?”

Adryan’s heart skipped.

But he kept his expression calm.

Adryan:

“Not much.”

Elara stared at him.

Elara:

“Are you sure?”

Adryan:

“Yeah.”

A long silence followed.

Then Elara smiled.

Elara:

“Okay.”

Adryan was surprised.

Adryan:

“You believe me?”

Elara turned around.

Elara:

“I’ll decide that later.”

She walked away.

Adryan stared after her.

Adryan:

“…She’s dangerous.”

⸻

Panel 4 — The Hidden Enemy

That night…

A dark figure stood on the rooftop of a building overlooking Solaris Grand Academy.

He wore a black cloak.

His face was hidden.

A small crystal floated in front of him.

Inside the crystal was an image of Adryan.

Mysterious Man:

“Adryan Qawwiy…”

He smiled.

Mysterious Man:

“So the rumors were true.”

Another figure appeared behind him.

Figure:

“Should we capture him?”

The mysterious man shook his head.

Mysterious Man:

“No.”

He looked toward the academy.

Mysterious Man:

“Not yet.”

His eyes narrowed.

Mysterious Man:

“We need to know how much of his power has awakened.”

⸻

Panel 5 — Combat Class

The next day, the students gathered in the training arena.

The instructor announced a special exercise.

Instructor:

“Today, you will fight one another.”

The students became excited.

Kael:

“Yes!”

He looked at Adryan.

Kael:

“Finally! I get to see what you can really do!”

Adryan sighed.

Adryan:

“I’d rather sleep.”

The instructor began drawing names.

Instructor:

“First match…”

He looked at the list.

Instructor:

“Kael versus Adryan.”

The entire arena erupted.

Students:

“WHAT?!”

Kael stared at Adryan.

Then he grinned.

Kael:

“This is going to be fun!”

Adryan looked at the sky.

Adryan:

“Why me…?”

Elara watched from the side.

She quietly whispered.

Elara:

“Now I’ll see the truth.”

⸻

Panel 6 — The Battle Begins

Adryan and Kael stood opposite each other.

The instructor raised his hand.

Instructor:

“Begin!”

Kael immediately rushed forward.

Kael:

“ADRYAN!”

He threw a powerful punch.

Adryan casually stepped aside.

WHOOSH!

Kael’s fist missed.

Kael:

“Hey!”

Adryan sighed.

Adryan:

“Can we stop now?”

Kael grinned.

Kael:

“No!”

He attacked again.

And again.

And again.

Adryan avoided every attack without striking back.

The students began whispering.

Student 1:

“Is he predicting Kael’s movements?”

Student 2:

“No…”

Student 3:

“He’s just too fast.”

Kael became frustrated.

Kael:

“STOP RUNNING!”

Adryan smiled.

Adryan:

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

Kael froze.

Kael:

“…What?”

Adryan’s expression changed.

For a brief moment…

A dark aura appeared around his body.

The entire arena became silent.

The air itself seemed to tremble.

Elara’s eyes widened.

Elara:

“That power…”

Adryan immediately suppressed it.

But it was already too late.

Kael had seen it.

The instructor had seen it.

And someone watching from far outside the academy…

Had seen it too.

⸻

Panel 7 — The Qawwiy Family

Inside the Qawwiy Palace…

Qayyum suddenly stood from his throne.

A servant rushed into the room.

Servant:

“Your Majesty!”

Qayyum looked toward the window.

Qayyum:

“He used it.”

Servant:

“Should we bring him home?”

Qayyum shook his head.

Qayyum:

“No.”

His expression became serious.

Qayyum:

“If we bring him home now…”

He clenched his fist.

Qayyum:

“…the world will know that Adryan has awakened.”

⸻

Panel 8 — The Beginning of Trouble

Back at Solaris Grand Academy…

Adryan stood alone in the arena.

Everyone was staring at him.

He slowly looked around.

His peaceful school life…

Was beginning to disappear.

Then—

A bell rang throughout the academy.

DING!

The academy’s emergency barrier suddenly activated.

Instructor:

“What?!”

The sky above Solaris turned dark.

A massive magical circle appeared above the city.

Adryan looked upward.

His eyes widened.

Adryan:

“…No.”

Kael looked at him.

Kael:

“What is it?”

Adryan clenched his fist.

He could feel it.

Someone was coming.

Someone who knew exactly who he was.

Adryan:

“They found me.”

Elara looked at him.

Elara:

“Who?”

Adryan looked toward the dark sky.

His expression was no longer that of an ordinary student.

For the first time…

The true heir of the Qawwiy Family appeared in his eyes.

Adryan:

“My past.”

TO BE CONTINUED…

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