10 April, 2026, Sagar, India
A figure was running frantically through the corridor, breathing heavily.
"Uh-uh-uh... He made me late, the ceremony was already ended," the person muttered.
According to the Head Boy, the new session of Dark Knight Academy was beginning today. "Thanks to you all for your hard work in the entrance exam!"
Everyone started clapping, and soon, the students began leaving the ceremony hall.
"Where is he?" Reno asked, looking around.
"He's gone with Sam somewhere, but he said he will come back before the class starts," Asuna replied.
Vvvzzh!
Kirito dashed through the classroom gates. "Sorry, guys!"
"Kirito, where have you been all this time?" Reno demanded.
"It took us some time," Kirito answered, slightly breathless.
A snobbish voice cut in, "We have a part-timer with us. What a joke." It was Lucius Velgand.
"What did you say?" Kirito grabbed Lucius by the collar.
"Kirito, leave him! We are not here to fight," Reno pulled Kirito back.
"Oye, you commoner! How dare you touch Master Lucius!" David yelled at Kirito.
Ring!
Suddenly, the class bell rang, and everyone returned to their seats.
I am Kirito, I am from Japan. As much as I understand, Dark Knight Academy (DKA) is known as a University of Multi-Field Courses. From the outside, DKA operates like a normal university, but 40% of the students here plan to become Dark Knights. Our schedules were made so we could focus on both courses.
I chose to be in the Developing Branch. Reno chose Computer Science, and Asuna also chose the Developing Branch. So, only Reno has to be in a different class for two lectures. After that, all our classes are the same.
But why did Sherry say we will meet soon? I don't get it, Kirito thought, sitting in the last corner.
"Kaizawa-kun!" A voice came from his side.
I should talk to her after class, Kirito thought, still trying to process his schedule.
"Oye, bhadwe (idiot), listen!"
Sherry kicked him.
"Ouch, what is your—"
"Sherry," she smirked.
Kirito was shocked. "For how long are you going to ignore me?"
"Sherry, sorry but I really didn't notice you. And why are you here?" Kirito asked.
"Of course, I am here to study. I also got selected," Sherry said proudly.
"What is your rank in the entrance exam?" Kirito inquired.
"Better than yours. In the Top 50," Shenny announced.
"What?" Kirito was stunned.
"Who else is also here?" Shenny asked him.
"Hmm, me, Reno, Asuna, and my sister," Kirito listed.
"I thought you both were always together," Shenny commented.
"Say what you want, but we are just friends," Kirito corrected her firmly.
After the class ended, all the Dark Knight students were called to the ground.
"Good morning, students. I am your instructor, Yuki. Today, I will distribute your IDs, which will enable you to enter the training and research facility," Yuki announced.
Yuki gave the ID cards to everyone. "Now, dismiss!"
At Evening
"Oh man, I am exhausted," Kirito sighed.
"It was good that we got buses to drop us home, or walking all the way here would kill us," Asuna agreed.
All three of them were lying on the couch.
"What happened to you three? You were acting like you were going on construction work," Allya said, walking in.
"Huh, you came too early from school," Kirito noted.
"Al, I already told you. School gets out at 2:30," Allya replied.
"Sure, was the school timing different here from the one we had in Japan?" Kirito teased.
"You three, stop lying around. Catch it!" Sam threw a stack of IDs.
"What is this?" Reno asked, catching one.
"These are your new IDs with your nearest rank and your Mana Type. There are only a few students in the academy who were enrolled before completing the academy, so be proud," Sam explained.
"Give it here," Allya snatched Kirito's ID from his hand. She read the information: "Kirito Kaizawa, 5th Grade Dark Knight, Mana Type - Water."
"Then stop! My type is Water too," Allya complained.
"Don't be silly, you can't use magic," Kirito took his ID back.
"I am your sister, so I can. Sea Dragon's Roar!"
Allya cast a spell on Kirito. A large water dragon threw Kirito out of the window!
"Huh?!" Asuna was totally shocked. "What, when, how?"Reno got short circuit.
Sam applauded. "What wonderful progress."
"What an easy task," Allya said, full of joy.
Kirito jumped back inside, completely soaked. "Wait, you little cat!" Kirito glared at her.
"By 'batter' you mean that Allya can use magic?" Reno asked.
"No fighting," Sam interjected, giving Kirito a slap on the arm. "Go first, change your clothes."
Kirito walked toward his room. While going inside, he made a face at Allya.
"Sam!" Allya instantly hid behind Sam.
"Kirito!" Sam shouted at him.
"Yes?"
"But when did you learn to use magic?" Reno questioned Allya.
"Hmm, I guess six months ago," Allya admitted.
"That means her powers are as well-polished as Kirito's," Asuna realized.
"But how did you get it?" Reno asked.
"Aah, that's a long story," Allya sighed.
10th October, 2025, Tokyo, Japan
"Unaha," Allya mumbled, as she just backed up from her sleep. "Ali, it's already 8:30, I think brother has already left for school."
Allya opened the curtains of her room. She took a towel and went into the bathroom.
When she held her toothbrush to brush her teeth, Splash! A bucket of water poured down on her.
"Aaaha!" Allya was totally shocked. "What is this? Is this a prank?"
Allya got into a total rage mode, but when she looked up, there was no bucket to carry water.
"Hmm, that's strange."
Allya ignored this and got into the shower. While she was eating breakfast, a water bubble suddenly formed in front of her eye and dropped on the table.
"Devil!" Allya ran towards her room, grabbed her phone, and called Sam.
"Hello Sam... Sam, there... there is a devil in our house, he is following me!" Allya cried, full of fear and panic.
"Oh... Okay, don't get nervous. Get inside your room and wait there. I will be there soon," Sam reassured her.
Sam was stressed. He left his cabin. "Cloie, come with me fast!" Sam grabbed her hand and took her with him.
"Oye, what happened?" Cloie asked.
"Allya is in danger," Sam stated.
When they both reached home, the front door was already unlocked.
"Sam, it's open," cloie noticed.
"That's strange. Normally, when she is home, she always locks the front door," Sam said.
They both slowly entered the house and opened Allya's room door. Allya was sitting on her bed, totally wet and full of fear.
"Sam... Save me," Allya whimpered, trembling in fear.
"Allya, don't worry, it will be fine," Sam comforted her.
They both carefully checked the whole house. Suddenly, Allya shouted.
Sam and cloie ran towards her. "Sam, look..." Allya was crying.
"What is that?" Sam asked, pointing.
"A water bubble." Cloie understood that there was no devil in the house—it was just Allya's magic getting out of control.
"Sam, go and bring me lemon and turmeric from the kitchen."
"Yes,"
Sam ran and brought the materials. Cloie mixed the turmeric in the lemon juice.
"Allya, drink this," cloie said.
Allya drank it. Her eyes were full of tears. Cloie took off Allya's t-shirt, but suddenly she realized Sam was also in the room.
"You perv! Can't you see I am taking off her clothes?" Cloie glared at Sam.
"Sorry, I didn't notice," Sam apologized. He felt too guilty for not properly caring for Allya.
Inside the room, Cloie changed Allya's clothes, dried her hair, and made her feel warm. Soon, she came back to normal.
When Allya and cloie came out of the room, Allya lay on Sam's lap. Sam gently rubbed her head.
"I am too scared, please don't leave me," Allya begged.
"Don't be scared. I will never leave you," Sam promised.
"She awakened her powers. Are you going to train her too?" Cloie asked.
"No, or never. You know my relationship with them, so there was no chance of it. But for now, I'm going to hide her awakening from all," Sam replied.
"Because of Zeno?" Cloie questioned.
"No, because of someone else," Sam stated.
Present Time
"Sam, why did you use that spell on me?" Kirito demanded.
"Just to make Allya happy, right?" Allya quickly interjected.
"Yes," Sam agreed.
Allya and Sam were both desperately trying to cover up the mess.
"Why are you both lying to Kirito?" Asuna asked.
"And Kirito, use some brain. How can Sam use the same Water spell as you, while his attribute is Fire?" Reno pointed out.
"Allya really uses magic! She got awakened six months ago," Asuna shouted.
"Guys, why are you planning our funeral?" Allya suddenly yelled. Sam was stunned in place.
"What are they saying, Kirito?"
Kirito was at the peak of his anger and rage.
"What happened to him? He is giving scary vibes," Asuna whispered.
"It's your first time witnessing this, but I would say we cut the wrong wire," Reno muttered.
"My precious little sister, what will you say?" Kirito asked Allya in a dangerous voice.
"Hmm, Big brother... that... Sam said not to tell you," Allya chirped, shifting all the blame onto Sam.
"Why... Why me? Sam... Sam... let's have a chit-chat," Kirito said, his anger palpable.
"No... No... K-Kirito No... No... Kirito, I am sorry!" Sam started running in the house.
Allya locked herself in her room.
Knock-knock. There was a knock on their door.
Asuna opened the door. The house owner wasn't on the door. "Yes, Aunty?" Asuna asked.
In the background, Kirito was still chasing Sam.
"Beta, can you move your car a bit? The construction truck can't get through due to the car," the landlady said.
"Yes, Aunty, Reno, are you going?" Asuna confirmed.
"Yes," Reno replied.
Kirito caught Sam and beat the pulp out of him. When Reno returned, Kirito was standing in front of the beaten-down Sam. Asuna and Allya watched them from behind the couch.
"From this time on, he is on total rage mode," Reno observed.
"From next time, if you hide anything like this, I will surely kill you," Kirito warned Sam.
"I am going on a walk," Kirito announced. He opened the gate and left the house.
"Sam, you should have told this to him from the start," Reno said, pulling back the car key.
"Yes, I know. It's my fault," Sam admitted.