The Sabharangam slowly quieted again. The faint sunlight gleamed through the Sabharangam Castle. The applause for the Cradle Section A trial faded into a gentle murmur as the children gathered once more beneath the vast golden ceiling. The thread-lantern above the dais glowed softly, its light rippling across the woven walls like sunlight on water.
The Headmistress stepped forward. "Those who completed the Path of Choice," she announced calmly, "will now proceed to the next stage of the Kazan."
Thirty-eight small hands tightened slightly at their sides. Thirty-eight children stepped forward. The Inimainashi Sisters guided them toward a staircase that curved downward beneath Sabharangam itself.
The air grew cooler as they descended. Some children gave slight purplish threads, and blue threads flickered violently as they shivered while descending the massive grey-threaded staircase.
The Inimainashi Sisters realized they were getting overwhelmed and suggested holding hands. Each small hand grasped another one by one, forming a chain.As they did, the threads began to change to mossy green. The children's shoulders loosened a little. It even felt warm and gentle for them, even though the air was cold and pressing.
The chamber below was unlike any classroom or arena the children had seen before. Its walls were not stone. They were woven.
Threads of gold and silver pulsed slowly across the curved surfaces like living veins. At the center of the chamber lay a wide circular arena, its floor shimmering faintly. Above it, several resonance crystals hovered.
As the Inimainashi Sisters stood before the massive arena, they assembled the children. The children stood anxious but also excited at the spectacle.
Sister Nurei raised her hand."Activate the amplifier. "The crystals gleamed with radiance. The air shimmered.
Then something remarkable happened. Around each child, faint threads began to appear. Green, blue, amber, violet — drifting softly around their shoulders and wrists like whispers made visible.Some of the children gasped.
"Do not fear," Sister Nurei said gently. This chamber simply reveals the resonance already within you."
Even more surprises lie ahead.
Across the arena stood several of their older students. Craft Section B. Their threads moved with more stability — amber strands flowing calmly around them.
"They will stand as your mirrors," Nurei continued. This is not a battle of strength." She paused. "It is a meeting of threads."
Tamara leaned lightly against the railing. Her golden threads shimmered faintly around her wrists. Beside her, Kodo watched quietly. "They look scared," he murmured.
Tamara smiled softly."They should be."
Tom, at their side, said, "Hello, I am here too," as he glanced at them both.
Tamara and Kodo looked at each other, flushed slightly, and giggled a little."Of course, you are included, too, Tom. You give your senior commentary then."
Tom cleared his throat and said, "Yes, let the thread resonance duels begin." Kodo then said, "Hey, sounds like Yu-Gi-Oh duels, huh? Ha ha."
Tom and Tamara looked at each other."Yeah… right. Let's get back to the arena." Kodo shouted, "Oi, don't just cut me out!"
Back to the arena, the lineups were called forward by the Inimainashi Sister Nurei.
"First pair," Sister Nurei called. Rinna of Cradle Section A."
A small girl stepped forward. Her braids trembled slightly as pale green threads flickered around her shoulders."
Sairi of Craft Section B."The older girl entered the arena calmly. Amber threads circled her in steady loops.She gave Rinna a gentle smile."Just breathe," she whispered.The amplifier hummed.
"You may start now," the Sister announced.
Rinna hesitated for only a moment, then she lifted her hands. Her green threads surged forward in a burst of nervous courage. Sairi responded immediately. Her amber threads curved outward, guiding the energy aside rather than striking it down.The two colors met with intensity. Pressure filled the arena.Rinna's threads flickered wildly.For a moment, both of them were pushed apart toward the ends of the arena.
"Steady your pulse," Sister Nurei said softly. Rinna closed her eyes. Her breathing slowed.
The green threads gathered again, this time moving more gently, flowing alongside Sairi's amber resonance rather than crashing against it. For a brief moment, the two colors spiraled together.
The amplifier released a soft musical tone. Applause rippled through the chamber. "Resonance stable," Nurei announced.Promotion approved."
Rinna blinked in surprise. Sairi laughed softly and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You found the rhythm," she said.
More duels followed. Each one carried a different emotion.
One boy rushed forward too quickly, his bright orange threads bursting outward like sparks. His opponent redirected them calmly until the energy settled. Two girls ended their duel laughing when their threads tangled like glowing ribbons in the air. Another child stood frozen for nearly a minute before releasing the smallest silver thread the chamber had seen that day, yet it remained steady long enough to pass.
Then another name echoed.
"Tarin of Cradle Section A."
The boy stepped forward with fierce determination. Across from him stood Lio of Craft Section B. Tarin's threads pulsed violently around him, with sheer ferocity, giving the amplifier a low, hurt tone. The Sister signaled to both competitors. Tarin gave Lio an intense stare as they met eye to eye.
The duel was signaled to start. Tarin attacked immediately. His orange threads exploded outward in wild bursts. Lio redirected them calmly as his amber threads met the unstable orange threads flung violently toward him.
Again, Tarin pushed harder. Again, the amber threads bent his attack aside.
"Slow down," Lio said gently."Why are you so intense? Relax and steady your threads,Tarin.
"I don't need help!" Tarin snapped. His threads flared with increasing fury. A sudden crack, the resonance field shuddered. The orange strands collapsed inward. Lio himself was pushed backward with massive force and collided with the arena floor. He lay there for a moment, staring at the enclosed dome. Children around the arena started trembling in nervousness.
Their purplish-blue threads flared like a storm. Panic began to spread. Tarin dropped to one knee. The Sabharangam Castle witnessed this chaotic spectacle and seemed to hold its breath. Kodo and Tamara gripped the railings of the balcony tightly, wondering if they should intervene.
But the Inimainashi Sisters of Mounagiri Gakuen are elite and a class of their own.
Sister Nurei stepped forward quickly, releasing calming pink threads into the air. The pink threads sailed gracefully and wrapped around the violent purplish-blue threads. Yet the chaotic threads remained overwhelming, as faint crimson strands began to mix within them.
Kodo and Tamara caught sight of the crimson threads. Tom also sensed something unusual. Eiroh grinned slightly from the corner of the balcony.
Kodo said, "That idiot… what does he think he is doing? I can't see this chaos anymore. I won't see my place turned upside down like this."His threads flared with ferocity as white threads gathered at the palm of his right hand.
Tamara immediately released her golden threads and restrained him gently."Kodo…"
"What are you doing, Tamara?" he said. Why are you stopping me? It's him who should be stopped." Tamara spoke softly. "I know, Kodo. I know. Me also. You know that too."
She held him firmly."But right now, we don't have any proof. If you confront him now, the blame will fall on you again. Tom and I cannot bear that. Please calm down."
Kodo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly, his threads settled under Tamara's golden light. "Okay. But what do we do? He will wreck this trial."
Tom and Tamara exchanged a glance. "Don't underestimate Mounagiri," Tamara said. Be patient."
Back in the arena, another Sister released gentle mossy green threads into the air. They collided with the crimson traces. In the resonance control room, the monitors reacted. "We got that crimson spike again!"
The crimson threads could not withstand the combined glow of the pink and mossy green threads. They faded and disappeared into the background. Eiroh's expression shifted slightly, looking disappointed.
"See that, Kodo," Tamara said quietly.
Madhabucho and the Headmistress received information at the podium that the crimson spike had been detected again.
Back in the arena, the chaos finally settled. The children relaxed slowly.
Tarin stared at the floor. Lio stood up and signaled that he was alright.
"I failed," Tarin whispered. Lio knelt beside him.
"You didn't fail," he said kindly."You just tried to run before learning how to walk beside someone."
Tarin gave a small sob and realized he had been reckless. He nodded slowly and lowered his head."I'll try again and do better next time."
"That," Nurei said gently, "is the purpose of Kazan."The chamber soon filled with shifting colors.
Thirty-eight young hearts learning how to steady their threads.
By the end of the trials, the results were clear. Out of thirty-eight students who entered the Chamber of Threads, Twenty-four showed resonance strong enough to advance to Craft Section B. Nine would continue refining their threads within Cradle training. Five would remain under guided mentorship until their harmonics stabilized.
The Headmistress stepped forward, lantern glowing warmly. "You have shown courage," she said softly and today you have taken the first steps toward skill."
The chamber lights dimmed. Above them, Sabharangam's lanterns flickered in quiet approval.