(POV: Caspian)
Caspian shifted in his seat, testing the cold bite of the chains around his wrists.
They didn’t budge.
"Okay... then would you mind loosening these a bit?" Caspian said, lifting his hands slightly.
"Also... I’m curious. The other two — tell about them?"
Kist didn’t hesitate.
With a simple flick of his fingers, the chains loosened — enough for Caspian to move.
"Sure."
Kist leaned back in his chair, arms resting on the sides.
"They’re dead."
Caspian blinked.
"Dead? How?"
Kist’s expression stayed flat, almost bored.
"Outlings killed them."
The word hung in the air like a faint echo.
"They hunt the strong ones first," Kist continued.
"The ones who might beco a threat... they let them grow a little, test their limits, then remove them before they beco a real problem."
Caspian frowned slightly.
Does he know the future...? Did he read the novel too?
No... He doesn’t sound like it. He talks like soone who’s lived through it.
"Outlings?" Caspian asked, voice even.
Kist’s eyes didn’t blink.
"The ones who ca from another world. The ones trying to take this one."
He leaned forward slightly.
"You can call them demons if that makes it easier. It’s close enough."
Caspian felt sothing cold stir in his stomach.
"They... look like us?"
Kist gave a soft snort.
"Of course."
His voice dropped, low and matter-of-fact.
"More than five percent of rulers. Kings. Queens. High-ranking council mbers. Even so academy board mbers..."
He let the words settle.
"...Outlings."
Caspian stared at him, forcing himself not to look away.
"And no one knows?"
Kist shrugged.
"So do. Most pretend not to."
"If nothing changes... this world will belong to them in ten years."
The room stayed quiet.
Caspian felt a strange knot tighten in his chest — not fear.
Sothing else.
"The academy...?"
Kist leaned back again, eyes sharp.
"You ever wondered why, during your entrance exam — and your first year — the biggest challenge wasn’t monsters or beasts... but each other?"
Caspian swallowed once.
"Why you’re pushed to fight one another... compete... break each other down..."
Kist gave a slight tilt of his head.
"They’re watching. Recording. Studying."
His voice dropped.
"Finding out who the future stars are. Who needs to be... removed."
The realization settled over Caspian like a slow, creeping shadow.
"You rember the reward they offered after the knockout matches?"
Kist’s voice ca quiet but clear.
Caspian t his gaze.
"Yeah. The A-Rank portal mission."
Kist gave a slow nod.
"Blue Portal... first-year students... A-Rank."
The words lingered for a mont before Kist spoke again.
"Doesn’t that sound strange to you?, you are fighting among yourselves and your reward is to fight a beast and monsters,"
Caspian blinked once.
"It’s a reward."
"No," Kist said flatly. "It’s a clean-up."
Caspian frowned slightly.
"You think it’s normal for first-year students to be pushed into A-Rank missions?" Kist asked.
"Have you checked how many top-ranked students from academies... actually co back from those?"
Caspian’s breath slowed.
"Most of the ti..." Kist continued, "they don’t."
A pause.
Kist leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees.
"The ones who show real promise? The ones who rise too fast? They’re sent straight into those portals... and conveniently... they never co back."
His voice stayed calm, low. Like stating the weather.
"You won’t notice it until you look back after your second or third mission. But by then... it’s too late."
Caspian stayed silent, watching him.
"They monitor you. They learn your fighting style. Your limits. And when they’re sure... they send you to the wolves."
Kist’s expression didn’t change.
"And if anyone notices... anyone asks too many questions?"
"They get silenced. One way or another."
The room felt colder now — not from fear, but from understanding.
"The Outlings..." Kist said, leaning back again, "...they’re not strong enough yet. Not by power. They’re adapting, slowly. Right now, they’re around S-Rank level... maybe a few higher. But that’s not their ga."
He t Caspian’s eyes, steady and unreadable.
"They don’t win with strength. They win with people."
He raised a finger slightly.
"They offer exactly what you want — money... fa... desire... and when you take it?"
He dropped his hand again.
"You’re their pawn. Willingly or not."
Caspian felt his jaw tighten slightly.
"So they control kings... nobles... guild heads... students?"
Kist nodded once.
"And they’re coming after you?" Caspian asked.
A faint smirk played at the corner of Kist’s mouth.
"They’ve been trying."
He leaned forward again.
"They made sure I’d be marked. Labeled a criminal. Sent to a hellhole prison. They even made sure soone inside would finish the job for them."
Kist gave a soft shrug.
"Except I went there myself. On my terms."
Caspian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Why?"
"Because I needed people," Kist said simply.
"People like . Frad. Discarded. The ones nobody would question if they disappeared."
He leaned back, folding his arms loosely.
"And now?"
He gave a faint smile — thin, sharp.
"I ca back with a team. Strong ones. Ones the world called criminals."
Caspian absorbed the words quietly.
"And the best part?"
Kist’s voice dropped, laced with dry humor.
"The ones hunting us... the ones who think they’re saving the world?"
"They’re our own Special Forces."
"One more thing you should know," Kist said, voice low.
L
He stood now, casting a faint shadow across the dim room.
"You think our Special Forces... the sa ones who wipe out SS-rank portals... can’t clear the Ruined Continent?"
Caspian watched him carefully, saying nothing.
"You think it’s coincidence? That they’ve let a beast-infested wasteland survive on the sa world they control?"
Kist’s lip curled slightly, not a smile — sothing sharper.
"They leave it there... because that’s the Outlings’ ho base. Their breeding ground. Their passage into this world."
The words felt heavier than any chain Caspian had worn.
"That’s why I burned half their nests on my way out."
Caspian’s eyes narrowed.
"You... destroyed the Ruined Kingdom’s strongholds?"
Kist gave a small nod.
"Not sure if I got all of them. The place is... massive."
He turned slightly, glancing over his shoulder toward the faint outline of the window.
"Imagine your Australia... that’s the scale of the Ruined Continent in this world."
For a mont, neither spoke.
Then — with a flick of his wrist — Kist reached into his coat and pulled sothing out.
A small, silver locket. Faint engravings lined its edge — nothing flashy, nothing ornate. But it humd faintly with an unfamiliar mana.
He tossed it lightly toward Caspian.
"Keep this on you."
Caspian caught it instinctively.
"If you’re ever in a situation... one you’re sure you won’t walk out of — it’ll glow black. All you need to do is break it."
Kist turned fully, adjusting the cuffs of his coat.
"Might just save your life. Consider it a parting gift... from your senior."
He walked toward the door, his steps unhurried.
"You can get back to the academy on your own, right?"
Caspian nodded slowly.
"Good." Kist gave a faint nod. "Then... I’ll be seeing you."
He reached for the door.
"Wait."
Caspian’s voice stopped him.
Kist turned, eyebrows raised slightly.
From his own void space, Caspian pulled out a small, black-covered notebook.
"Take this."
Kist caught it with one hand, flipping it open briefly. His eyes scanned the neat rows of writing before flicking back to Caspian.
"And this is?"
"Details. Of future events... ones that will happen in this world."
For the first ti, Kist’s eyes sharpened — not with suspicion, but interest.
"Future... huh."
He flipped another page.
"You planning to explain?"
Caspian gave a faint grin.
"I was hoping you’d stay for a chat."
...
[Two Hours Later]
The soft crackle of fire filled the room now — faint, steady.
Kist leaned back in the chair again, hands folded.
"So... you’ve got a power linked to sacrifice....,hmmmp... your power are screwed and sa goes for your life here,"
"Haha, sorry! sorry!,"
Caspian nodded.
"Yours not anything better."
Kist smirked slightly, setting the notebook down.
"I knew you weren’t normal... but this?" He shook his head lightly...
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