Morning light filtered through the curtains like soft dust, brushing across Arin's face.
He woke with a sharp inhale.
For a moment, he wasn't in the academy hostel.
For a moment… he was back in that dim room with Lyris—
the crushing pressure—
his heartbeat hammering against his ribs—
the memory of almost collapsing—
Arin sat up instantly, hand clutching his chest.
Rav mumbled from the other bed, face squished against his pillow.
"Bro… why are you awake? It's not even sunrise… let me die in peace."
Arin exhaled slowly. "…Just couldn't sleep."
Rav peeked one eye open. "You okay?"
"Yeah."
It was a lie, but Rav didn't push.
He just yawned and said, "Well… if you faint in training today, I'm not carrying you. You're heavy."
Arin let out a small laugh despite himself.
The breakfast hall was already loud when they entered.
Students were shouting, arguing, trading food, trying to show off. Plates clattered, chairs scraped, someone at the back was yelling about burnt bread.
Mira spotted them instantly and waved.
"Arin! Rav! Over here!"
Rav sat beside her like he was summoned by the gods themselves.
"Miraaaa," Rav said dramatically. "You look radiant today—did you change your hairstyle? Aura? Soul?"
Mira blinked. "I literally just woke up."
Arin almost smiled at Rav's stupidity.
Mira looked at Arin a second too long.
"Are you okay? You look… tired."
Arin froze.
"…Just didn't sleep."
She didn't believe him. Her brows tightened slightly, but she let it drop.
Rav whispered to Mira, "He snores like a demon. Nightmare fuel."
Arin elbowed him lightly.
Mira giggled.
For a brief moment, breakfast felt normal.
But across the hall, Arin caught a pair of eyes watching him — a familiar silver gaze.
Instructor Lyris.
She wasn't eating.
She wasn't talking.
She was just watching him…
…and the moment Arin blinked, she was gone.
Like she had never been there.
A chill crawled up his spine.
Instructor Serah stood at the center of the training field, holding a glowing sphere.
Johan stood beside her, arms crossed.
"Listen up," Serah said. "Today, we learn how to stabilize Astra under pressure. Most of you think you're strong until your mind collapses."
Callan snorted loudly. "Speak for yourself. Some of us are naturally talented."
Serah didn't even look at him. "Callan, last week you fainted because of your own echo backlash."
The entire class laughed.
Callan turned red. Arin didn't laugh—he was too distracted.
His body still felt… wrong.
Too light.
Too shaky.
Lyris's test left a shadow in his mind.
"Arin," Johan called out suddenly.
Arin straightened. "Yes, sir?"
"You'll be with Mira today. I want to see your synchronization control."
Mira grinned. "Let's do our best."
Rav whispered from the back, "Lucky…"
The exercise was simple in theory:
Two students must release a small amount of Astra and allow their energies to touch—
but keep both stable without overpowering each other.
Most pairs struggled.
Some clashed.
Some overloaded.
One pair accidentally burned a patch of grass.
Mira breathed slowly, calm and steady.
Her Astra glowed a soft green—gentle but firm.
Arin focused, releasing a tiny thread of his own energy.
A faint blue pulse flickered from his palm—
—and instantly destabilized.
Crack.
His energy snapped like a broken string.
Serah looked up, brows tightening.
Johan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Arin," Mira said softly. "Try slower. You're… tense."
He nodded.
"Right… sorry."
He tried again.
This time he stabilized it for three seconds—
before a faint tremor ran through him.
Memory flashed.
Lyris.
The crushing pressure.
His mind cracking.
The energy flickered again.
Arin clenched his fist, stopping the flow before it burst.
He exhaled sharply.
Mira frowned. "…You're not okay."
Arin forced a smile. "I'll be fine."
But Mira didn't buy it.
She just whispered,
"If you ever want to talk… I'm here."
Something warm stirred in Arin's chest.
During break, Callan approached with two boys behind him.
"Well, well," Callan smirked. "If it isn't the forest boy."
Arin ignored him.
Callan stepped closer. "You know… for someone who made a scene during recruitment, you're awfully quiet."
Mira moved instantly between them. "Callan, leave him alone."
"Oh?" Callan raised an eyebrow. "Protecting him? Cute. But you should know high-class students don't mix with strays."
Arin's jaw tightened.
Rav looked ready to punch Callan.
But Arin simply said,
"…Are you done?"
Callan blinked.
"What?"
"I asked if you're done."
Callan stepped closer—
but stopped suddenly.
Arin's eyes had a faint, cold darkness in them.
Not power.
Not Aura.
Something deeper.
Callan's throat tightened involuntarily.
"…Tch. Whatever. Waste of time."
He walked away quickly.
Rav whispered, "…Bro, what did you do to him?"
Arin didn't know.
But Mira kept staring at him with quiet worry.
Johan stood before the class, tossing a chalk piece into the air.
"Echoform isn't a weapon," he said. "It's your inner voice made physical. If your mind is unstable—your Echo becomes a monster."
Arin froze.
Johan continued, "Before you chase power, fix your fear. Fix your past. Or it will control you."
Arin felt like every word was aimed at him.
Lyris was watching from the back again.
Silent.
Unreadable.
When classes ended, the sky had turned orange.
Students laughed, joked, ran toward the dorms.
Rav slung an arm over Arin's shoulder.
"Long day, huh? Come on, dinner's waiting. I heard they have mana rice tonight!"
Arin nodded faintly.
Mira joined them, walking on Arin's other side.
"If tomorrow is like today," she said, "we'll survive. Barely."
Rav laughed. "Barely is my specialty."
Arin looked at both of them…
And for the first time in many days,
he didn't feel lost.
But when they reached the dorm…
Arin saw a figure standing by the stairs.
Instructor Lyris.
She spoke only one sentence.
"Arin. Your test… is not finished."
Arin's breath halted.
Mira and Rav looked confused.
Arin stepped forward slowly.
"…What do you want from me?"
Lyris's eyes glinted faintly.
"Not what I want," she said.
"But what's inside you."
The wind seemed to stop.