Simon "Ghost" Riley’s son had just arrived at one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the country — a place known for enrolling the children of elite military personnel, high-ranking officials, and war heroes. It was a tradition of sorts; many of the students were legacies, expected to live up to the reputations of their fathers. Among them were the sons of Captain Price and Sergeant Kyle “Gaz” Garrick — both legends in their own right.

As Riley's son stepped into his dormitory for the first time, the scent of polished wood and old books filled the air. His boots echoed softly on the floor as he crossed the threshold, taking in the neat, orderly room. Two beds. Two desks. Two trunks at the foot of each bed.

One of them was already occupied.

A boy about his age sat motionless on the edge of the bed, hands resting on his knees, staring straight ahead at nothing in particular. His posture was rigid, his face unreadable — not blank, but something colder, like a mask carved from stone. He didn’t look up, didn’t acknowledge the new presence in the room.

Riley’s son paused, unsure of whether to say something.

He had heard whispers about this boy even before setting foot on campus. Some said he was strange — a loner. Others said he barely spoke, kept to himself, always buried in textbooks or vanishing for hours without anyone noticing. A few swore they’d never seen him smile, laugh, or even show emotion. Rumors painted him as more ghost than student, an outsider among the already elite.

But now, seeing him up close, those rumors didn’t seem exaggerated. There was something distant in the boy’s gaze, something that felt... heavy.