Chapter 28 - Memory Gaps

    Seconds passed by, but even though the student under Su Yang''s feet continued to squirm, no one from the freshman class intervened.

    It seemed like everyone had accepted the beatdown as something natural, and no one had the guts to confront Su Yang about it.

    Perhaps it was because of his background, because he belonged to one of the six great clans. Or perhaps it was because of his domineering eyes, the kind that dared anyone to step up—only to crush them if they did.

    Whatever the reason, silence reigned.

    Until—

    Click. Click. Click.

    The synchronized rhythm of multiple boots echoed into the mess hall.

    Heads turned instinctively toward the entrance, as a group of second-years walked in, moving with an air of effortless superiority.

    At the front of the group strode a young man with blonde hair and a sharp, refined presence.

    It was Du Liang. Another scion of the six great clans.

    His gaze swept over the mess hall, as he wondered why it was so quiet today, before looking at Su Yang, as he figured out why.

    Du Liang did not look surprised.

    If anything, he looked mildly disappointed.

    "Su Yang," he called out smoothly, his voice neither harsh nor particularly friendly. "Are you seriously starting fights on day one? In the mess hall, of all places?"

    Su Yang finally glanced up, his foot still pressing down on the beaten recruit, as his lips curled into a smirk.

    "Long time no see, Cousin Du, I was hoping I''d meet you here in the academy you know–" Su Yang replied, as he seemed to already be acquainted with Du Liang, perhaps due to a shared familial bond.

    Du Liang sighed as if he had seen this a hundred times before.

    "If the instructors catch you, it won''t end well," Du Liang remarked. "In Rodova Military Academy we have some rules. If you have a grievance against another student, you file for an official duel. Otherwise, you''re breaking academy protocol, and can be punished severely for your actions. Thankfully, there''s no teachers around the mess hall right now, or you would be in a disciplinary holding cell by now—"

    A few of the second-years behind Du Liang chuckled, clearly entertained by the interaction.

    Su Yang snorted but finally lifted his boot off the recruit''s shoulder, allowing the kid to cough and suck in air desperately.

    But rather than backing down, Su Yang merely crossed his arms and turned toward Du Liang with an unreadable expression.

    "Do you know why I did this?" Su Yang asked.

    Du Liang arched a brow, his curiosity mildly piqued.

    Su Yang gestured down at the trembling recruit, his lip curling in disgust.

    "This worm was trying to pass himself off as a Mu Clan descendant by faking memory loss."

    And Leo had no intention of ever being anyone''s punching bag.

    That said, he sincerely hoped he would never find himself at odds with that madman.

    There was a brutality to Su Yang''s actions that unsettled him—not in fear, but in the sheer lack of hesitation.

    Su Yang wasn''t just arrogant. He was smart, ruthless and seemed to have the skills to back his attitude.

    He walked around with a sort of certainty.

    A certainty that came from knowing exactly where he stood in the world, from being raised in an environment where he was undeniably superior to others.

    Even the way he spoke, the way he carried himself, the way he walked—it all reflected his background.

    Leo had never paid much attention to how a person''s gait could reveal so much about them, but now, after watching Su Yang and Du Liang''s interaction, he understood.

    There were tells. Subtle but undeniable.

    A man''s past wasn''t just in his words—it was in his posture, his instincts, the way he moved through a room.

    And if that was the case, then Leo had a problem.

    Because he didn''t know his own tells.

    He didn''t know what his mannerisms said about him.

    He didn''t even know what they were supposed to say.

    His memory loss wasn''t just an inconvenience—it was a massive blind spot.

    And to make matters worse, without his memories, he felt like he lacked the context to make sense of half the conversations happening around him.

    Every mention of the Six Great Clans, the Mu Clan, or the Clan Heirs, were all just names to him, fragments of a bigger picture he had no access to.

    And in a place like the Rodova Military Academy, not having the ability to decipher the bigger picture was undoubtedly a big handicap.

    Leo clenched his jaw slightly, a quiet resolve settling within him.

    He needed to fix this.

    He needed to learn about this world, and fast, for if he did not start filling in the gaps in his knowledge soon... he wouldn''t just be another faceless recruit. He''d be prey—hunted before he even knew the rules of the game.

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    /// A/N - This bonus Chapter is sponsored by patron Cervantez91, please thank him in the comments for the same.

    Current castle target progress - 4/10.

    Let''s go! I know we can make it. ///