Lost In Chaos

Kaz sat in the dimly lit hallway, leaning against the cold steel wall, his mind adrift.

The entrance exams loomed ahead, but he wasn't worried about them. He was smart—smarter than most of the initiates here. And in recent years, he had learned to be ruthless. After all, there was no one left to hold him back.

Not since his mother and brother died.

He once had a family. A real one. A mother, a sister, two brothers. Now, the only ones left were Felix and Elsie. But even they were distant.

Felix—the younger brother he barely knew anymore—had forgotten everything. The crash had stolen not just his past but his entire identity. He didn't even remember Ban, their dead brother. Didn't even flinch when his name was mentioned. It was like Ban had never existed.

And Elsie… she was something else entirely.

Kaz sighed, running a hand through his black hair. Elsie had always been different. With her deep brown skin and dyed purple hair—so light it almost looked grey—she had an aura that set her apart from others. Her hazel eyes held a sharpness most people lacked, a relentless energy that made her stand out.

But unlike Felix, Elsie remembered everything. She just didn't care.

After that day—the day she was rifted away—she had changed. She became a Rift Officer, working directly under the government. The job made her powerful. Wealthy. And yet, despite her overflowing bank account, all she ever sent Kaz was just enough to keep him alive.

Not enough to live comfortably. Not enough to escape the broken-down house he barely called home. Just enough to survive.

Kaz clenched his fist. Where is she now?

Would she be overseeing the exams? He had no idea. She came and went like a ghost. He doubted he'd even see her again anytime soon—

But just as the thought crossed his mind, a familiar figure entered the gym.

A hush fell over the crowd.

Kaz's blood ran cold.

A tall woman strode into the gym, her purple hair swaying as if caught in an invisible breeze. Her hazel eyes gleamed with something between excitement and calculation, scanning the room like a predator sizing up prey.

No way…

The whispers spread like wildfire.

"That's Lady Elsie!"

"What's she doing here?"

"She's so strong in person… Do you think she's looking for recruits?"

Kaz stiffened. Shit.

He moved before he could think, slipping into the hallway. His heart pounded in his chest as he pressed himself against the cool metal wall. He knew exactly why she was here. And if she saw him—

"You weren't avoiding me, were you?"

A hand clamped down on his shoulder.

Kaz froze.

He turned his head slowly, already knowing who it was.

Elsie stood behind him, her lips curled into a teasing smirk.

She hadn't even been in the hallway a second ago. How did she move so fast?

Kaz forced a neutral expression. "Why would I avoid you?"

Elsie's smirk deepened. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe because of the marriage proposal?"

Kaz groaned internally. Not this again.

A few years back, after Elsie had gotten rifted, she had been immediately hired by the government. She had spent a short time living with Kaz, but once she proved herself in battle, everything changed.

After killing a lesser leviathan-ranked Rift beast, the top three clans took notice of her. Darkbloom, Fallen Sword, and Flameheart. These were the most powerful human clans—founded by Rift Lords themselves. The strongest warriors, the most elite fighters, all came from them.

And now, Elsie had the chance to be adopted into one of them.

The problem? The Fallen Sword clan's heir was looking for a suitor.

And Elsie, in all her twisted logic, thought it would be a brilliant idea to set Kaz up with him.

"I already told you," Kaz said flatly. "I'm not interested."

Elsie sighed dramatically. "Kaz, think about it. If you marry him, I'll send you more money. You wouldn't have to live in that broken house anymore."

Kaz stared at her.

"That's your pitch?" he deadpanned.

"What's wrong with it?"

"Everything," Kaz muttered. "For one, I don't need you playing matchmaker for me. I don't care if he's from one of the top three clans. I don't care if he's the son of a Rift Lord. And I sure as hell don't want to be tied to some guy I don't even know just because you think it's convenient."

Elsie rolled her eyes. "You act like it's the worst thing in the world."

Kaz crossed his arms. "It's not the worst thing. But it's not happening."

Elsie studied him for a moment, her eyes calculating. Then, with a shrug, she immediately dismissed him—just like always.

Kaz clenched his jaw. He had seen this before. When she decided something wasn't worth her time, she erased it from her mind.

He had been erased a long time ago.

Without another word, Elsie turned and walked back into the gym. Kaz followed moments later, blending into the crowd as if nothing had happened.

At the front, Elsie stood before the initiates, her presence commanding attention.

"Apologies for the delay," she said smoothly, as if she hadn't just been arguing with Kaz in the hallway. "I had an urgent matter to attend to."

She shot a sharp glance in Kaz's direction, but no one noticed—too mesmerized by her beauty.

Kaz exhaled slowly. She's always straight to the point.

Elsie continued, "Normally, we would hold an entrance exam. However, due to the rising death toll in Rifts, the standard exam has been canceled. Instead, you will be evaluated based on your class performance and combat ability over time."

The room buzzed with murmurs. No exam? That was unheard of.

Elsie ignored the chatter. "After this meeting, you may sign up for classes and submit your abilities to the academy staff. Once processed, you will receive your official assignments."

With that, she vanished.

Kaz sighed. That's it?

She never stuck around longer than necessary. That was just how she was.

Shaking his head, he walked toward the front desk. The receptionist glanced up as he approached.

"Name?"

"Kaz Steel."

She tapped on her screen, then glanced at his watch. "Your rank and rarity?"

Kaz kept his expression neutral. Thanks to Ryuma, both were listed as Initiate.

The receptionist barely glanced at the results. "You'll be placed in Dorm C." She handed him a keycard. "Your schedule will be uploaded to your watch."

Kaz took the card and walked off without another word.

Perfect.

He was officially just another nobody.