Beyond The Rules

He was never late—because he was too afraid of being left behind.

Mr. Zane had signed plenty of papers before.

Moved large sums. Finalized bigger deals.

But that night, he sat with the pen in his hand for a long time.

On the table was a thick packet—

a full contract for a private residential program for gifted youth.

Every page meticulously printed:

monthly routines, modular coursework, integrated counseling, even the detailed nutrition chart.

He read through it slowly.

And finally, when he reached the line marked "Parent or Guardian Authorization,"

he signed his name.

His grip on the pen tightened just a little.

**

This wasn't an education plan.

It was a new journey.

The moment Elric signed that contract, he would be placed into an isolated academic stream—

with his own account, a sealed curriculum, and a monitoring system usually reserved for high-level R&D protégés.

It wasn't a program for heirs.

It was a system for people who would one day

create a new world.

They didn't train rulers.

They filtered for those who could model the world itself.

**

The day of departure was overcast.

Wind from the city's high-rises filtered through the top-floor restaurant of a hotel.

The lighting was warm. The food elegant.

Elric sat across the table, his face expressionless.

He ate without urgency,

almost like a robot.

Mr. Zane didn't rush him. Didn't speak.

After a few bites, he reached into his coat and placed something quietly on the table.

A small, silver pocket watch.

"For you."

Elric looked up.

The case was worn around the edges, but the hands ticked with perfect steadiness.

He said nothing.

Just stared at it for a long moment.

Mr. Zane's voice was level:

"It's not to remind you to be on time."

"It's to remind you to think."

"When to speak. When to stay silent."

"When to wait. When to leave."

"And when it's your turn to decide."

He didn't say much.

But each word landed like a quiet stitch, sewing itself deep into a boy's spine.

Elric reached forward and took the watch.

He didn't thank him.

Didn't explain.

He simply slipped it into his pocket, gently.

And in that moment, he realized—

This wasn't just a farewell meal.

It was the end of a way of living.

**

He began to understand:

He no longer belonged to any single place.

But maybe, just maybe—

he could build a place of his own.

—

[Chapter Prologue]

It wasn't that he didn't miss where he came from.

He had just learned too early—

that time doesn't wait.

And he didn't want to spend his life waiting

in someone else's hands.