The Spectra courtyard buzzed with anticipation. It was graduation day for one of the academy's most legendary classes, and the ceremony had drawn big names from all over the world.
Guests filled the rows of seats, whispering and exchanging curious glances at the graduates lined up in the center. Among them, a few names stood out as real prodigies, young talents who had already made waves before even graduating.
Arthur, tall and strong, gave off that natural leadership vibe everyone already knew him for.
Seraphina stood beside him, looking like a fearless warrior, her red hair tied back in a sharp ponytail that screamed determination.
Derek wore his usual smug grin, the kind you'd expect from someone totally aware of his family legacy.
Luna, meanwhile, stayed quiet, her expression calm and unreadable, watching it all unfold.
Kai looked the most relaxed of the bunch, almost wild, with the kind of confidence that comes from diving headfirst into danger one too many times.
Arthur was the first to speak, tone steady, stance solid.
"We finally made it," he said with a small smile.
Kai chuckled, arms crossed.
"Who would've thought we'd see so many familiar faces here just to watch us dressed like this."
"I thought you'd be the first to skip out on the ceremony, Kai."
"Huh? I might not look it, but I actually like events like this."
"Hahaha, you?"
Derek smirked. "Doesn't matter. All eyes are on me anyway, the prodigious Derek."
Luna let out a soft sigh, giving a small smile.
"Is that what motivates you, Derek? Attention?"
Spectators watched them with admiration.
These were the children of powerful families, the next generation of leaders, expected to usher in a new era of glory.
Each seemed destined to carry part of the world's future.
But among them, one figure stood out in a very different way.
He stood quietly, gaze distant, like he was watching everything but not really part of it.
There was no heroic aura, no overwhelming presence.
He was almost invisible next to the others, and yet, everyone noticed the strange, shadowy figure of the red-eyed boy with the unreadable face.
From the guest seats, two people whispered about him.
"That's Evan, right?" one asked, trying not to stare.
"Yeah. He's not like the others," the other replied.
"No famous family. No big achievements. I don't even know how he got into Spectra."
"I heard he's a scholarship kid."
"Wait, really? He graduated with this class?"
"Shh, quiet. The headmistress is here, you know she hates that kind of gossip."
Elsewhere, a member of the Aureus Guild, there to scout promising talent, spoke up.
"So? What do you think of them?"
A tall man with long dark hair answered absentmindedly, eyes still fixed on the students.
"He doesn't shine like the others... but there's something different about him. It's hard to explain. Like he's in a different world."
"What? Who are you talking about, boss?"
"Ah... never mind. It's nothing."
====
Unlike the rest, he didn't have flashy achievements or an impressive background. But I knew he'd become one of the most important characters in the story.
Some readers would probably hate me for what I planned for him... but if it felt real, it'd be worth it.
As I typed the final sentence about him, I got this weird chill.
I shook it off and smiled.
"Just my imagination," I mumbled, closing the file.
'These are the characters of my novel...'
'And this is the universe they'll never leave...'
I shut my laptop and got ready for bed.
After that night, one thing was certain. And one thing... wasn't.
The certainty? That this universe was where they belonged.
The doubt?
Maybe they weren't just characters in my novel.