The air around the courtyard twisted as the symbol in the fountain began to pulse with light—soft at first, then blinding.
Yohan shielded his eyes, but the glow wasn't just light; it was energy—raw, ancient, and alive.
A low hum filled the air, like a thousand whispers overlapping. Every leaf, every stone trembled as the seal awoke.
Ciel stepped closer, her journal falling from her hands. "That's impossible… The Origin Seal can't activate without a chosen key."
Yohan didn't move. His body felt heavy, like gravity itself had thickened around him.
"Then either the key's nearby…"
He paused.
"…or it's me."
The fountain's water erupted upward, spiraling into a vortex. Within it, glowing fragments of old runes circled Yohan—symbols older than the Academy, older than the current elemental orders themselves.
The ground beneath him cracked. The mark on the water expanded, stretching across the courtyard stones in lines of blue fire.
Ciel tried to reach for him, but a force pushed her back, gentle yet unyielding.
"Yohan!" she shouted.
He grit his teeth, feeling the pull of something deep inside—something that recognized the seal as if it had been waiting for this moment.
In his mind, a voice echoed—ancient, distant, and calm:
"The chosen of the Elements reborn, bearer of the fractured flame… awaken."
Flashes tore through his mind—visions of mountains crumbling, oceans splitting, and a vast city floating in the sky surrounded by golden chains.
Then, silence.
The light dimmed. The fountain stilled.
Yohan fell to one knee, gasping. Blue veins of light glowed faintly along his arms before fading back under his skin.
Ciel rushed to his side. "What happened? What did you see?"
Yohan looked at his trembling hands. "A memory… but not mine."
Before she could ask, the sound of boots echoed from the corridor—an instructor's voice followed, sharp and alarmed.
"Step away from the seal!"
A group of mages arrived, surrounding them. The lead instructor's eyes widened when he saw Yohan.
"You… you triggered an Origin Seal?"
Yohan stood slowly. "I didn't mean to."
"That seal hasn't been touched in five centuries," the man hissed. "Do you realize what you've done?"
Ciel's voice quivered. "He didn't—"
"Enough!" The instructor raised a hand. "Yohan Arclight, by order of the Council, you are to be brought before the Grand Seers immediately."
The crowd of initiates that had gathered watched in stunned silence as Yohan was surrounded and escorted away.
But in the fountain's reflection—hidden from all but one pair of eyes—the ancient symbol still glowed faintly.
And this time, it pulsed in rhythm with Yohan's heartbeat.