The early morning sunlight filtered through the grand stained glass windows of the Academy's eastern wing, casting ethereal colors across polished marble floors. It was the beginning of another ordinary day for most students—except for the one sitting quietly in the back row of Class 3-S.
Kieran's clone.
Outwardly calm, quietly flipping through an introductory tome on Magical Theories of Mana Diffusion, he looked like the epitome of a model student: not too brilliant to raise suspicion, but focused enough to seem dependable. A faint smile touched his lips when a whisper echoed through his mind—a message from the true Kieran, hidden deep in the Hidden Valley.
"Remember to maintain a perfect score in magical history. It throws off the nobles."
The clone responded with a subtle twitch of the lip, suppressing a smirk. He'd already read this material months ago, but keeping up appearances meant blending in with the other students. He flipped another page and then looked up, just in time to catch the eye of Professor Avelina, the ice mage instructor who ran the class.
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than usual, calculating.
Kieran's clone immediately lowered his head, feigning modesty. His clone body wasn't too perfect—there were small mistakes, deliberate ones. This was necessary for his long-term plan. Nobody could suspect that he was anything but a diligent student.
But his mind? His mind was far from the academy's mundane walls.
Scene: The Ice Mage Classroom – Midmorning
Avelina stepped to the front of the class with quiet authority. She was an imposing woman in her late thirties, her ice-blue eyes icy and sharp, just like her magic. The classroom of around thirty students fell into a hushed silence as she began writing complex mana matrices on the board. Her words were deliberate and cold.
"Today's topic," she announced, her voice both a challenge and a command, "is the Theory of Mana Layering. You will each be assigned a practical exercise in conjunction with your theory exam. You must show that you understand how to layer different types of mana for enhanced spells. Anyone who fails to master this will be excluded from practical exams for the next two terms. This is not negotiable."
A cold shiver ran down many students' spines.
The clone's fingers tapped on the desk, trying to keep his thoughts from wandering too much. Layering mana, huh? A useful skill, but far beneath the powers he now commanded.
He already had a system of "mana manipulation" far superior to this academy's teachings. The Hidden Crown was where his true potential was realized, where his powers were being honed and expanded far beyond this mundane classroom.
"Focus. Maintain your image."
Kieran's voice echoed in his mind again. He'd been warned not to draw unnecessary attention.
As Avelina continued her lecture, he let his mind drift again, though not too far. His clone's eyes lazily followed her words, but his true attention was elsewhere, carefully analyzing the classroom dynamics. There were whispers and sidelong glances exchanged between certain students. Kieran had seen enough of these noble families to know that even within the ranks of the students, alliances and rivalries were already starting to brew.
Scene: Lunchtime – Academy Courtyard
The bell rang, signaling the end of the class, and the students poured out into the vast courtyard for their lunch break. Kieran's clone quietly walked among them, blending in seamlessly. His goal was simple today: to gather information, to test the waters, and to learn who was worth his attention.
As he walked, he overheard snippets of conversation.
"Did you hear about Lady Eleanor? She scored lower than usual in her combat magic exam," one noble student whispered to another.
"I bet it's that Kieran boy," another student responded. "I've heard rumors… about how he's got strange connections. I wouldn't be surprised if he had something to do with her failure."
Kieran's clone listened intently, allowing the students to speak freely. The rumors were subtle but clear—people were starting to take notice. His low-profile strategy was working. They underestimated him, assuming his nonchalant attitude was a mark of mediocrity.
But that, of course, was exactly what he wanted.
He took a seat at an empty bench under the shade of an oak tree, enjoying the quiet as his clone body took in food—purely for the sake of maintaining the illusion. Around him, a few curious students stole glances at him but kept their distance. None of them dared approach, not yet.
Perfect.
Scene: Evening – Study Hall
Later in the evening, Kieran's clone sat in the study hall, finishing up his homework. Several nobles were clustered together at one of the tables, whispering quietly. One of them, a blonde noble girl with sharp green eyes, glanced over at Kieran's clone.
"You know, I think he's been watching us," she whispered to her companion.
The boy with messy brown hair glanced up, visibly disinterested. "Who? Kieran? You're imagining things. The kid is as forgettable as they come. Average grades, no major skills. Just another commoner trying to play with the big leagues."
"But it's just strange. He's always there when something happens, always watching, always lurking around the edges of conversations." The girl pressed, frowning slightly.
The boy rolled his eyes. "Don't worry about it. If he's trying to get involved in noble politics, he'll end up buried by the time midterms come around."
Kieran's clone watched them, not making a move.
They were right, of course. He was always there, watching, learning, calculating.
But there was no need for them to know that.
Scene: Midnight – Outside the Dormitory
Later that night, Kieran's clone stood in the shadows, hidden from sight by the powerful void magic he had mastered. His clone's senses were heightened beyond the average student's, picking up even the faintest movements.
Through the window of the dormitory, he saw a small gathering—Alec Rivers, the self-proclaimed "unofficial" leader of the commoners, speaking with a group of first-year students. Their voices were hushed, but he could hear them clearly, thanks to his enhanced senses.
"They're saying Lady Eleanor's failure wasn't just bad luck… that Kieran kid's behind it. That he used his connections to mess with her exam results," Alec said, voice laced with suspicion. "I told you he was more than just a quiet student. There's something off about him."
A small smile tugged at Kieran's lips as he quietly backed away, unnoticed. The clone would report these findings to the real Kieran later, as planned. For now, it was enough to let the rumors spread, let them grow like a seed in their minds.
As he walked back to his dormitory room, the moonlight shone on his face, casting an eerie glow.
Scene: Kieran's Thoughts – Hidden Valley
Meanwhile, in the hidden chambers of the Hidden Crown's headquarters, the real Kieran sat cross-legged in a dark, candle-lit room. His eyes were closed as he meditated, synchronizing his thoughts with his clone's. He had long learned the art of multi-tasking, of manipulating multiple layers of plans simultaneously.
"It's working," Kieran thought, voice calm. "Let them believe I'm weak. Let them underestimate me, for now."
He smiled, looking forward to the upcoming tests and challenges. It was all part of the game.
For now, Kieran's clone would continue to follow the script, maintaining the perfect student persona. But behind the scenes, everything was falling into place. His reach would grow, his influence would spread, and soon, all of this would become part of his carefully constructed empire.