Kael walks away from Kresor with a calm face, but the moment he turns the corner of the west corridor, his expression falls into a deep, unreadable stillness. His footsteps echo softly as he descends a staircase hidden behind a false timber panel. Cold brass lanterns flicker to life as he moves, illuminating the narrow stone passage.
He reaches a massive chamber sealed away from the world an underground sanctum carved of obsidian and veiled in swirling aetheric smoke. Kael kneels instantly.
Before him stands a titanic shadow, its vague silhouette bending reality, its edges dripping like dark ink. nameless, faceless, ancient. The pressure around it compresses the air. Kael bows his head. "Everything proceeds as planned. The boy… he awakens at the expected pace. His instincts respond well. He will be ready."
A second figure steps forward or more precisely, glides. A tall, elegant shadow with glowing blue eyes, sharp as fractured stars. He kneels beside Kael, voice soft but cutting: "I want to test him. His potential… intrigues me."
Kael stiffens. "No. It's too soon. He's raw. If you test him now, he may break." A low rumble reverberates from the massive shadow a sound like an ancient beast exhaling. "Enough," the main antagonist whispers, its voice cold as winter storms. "The boy must survive until the seed ripens."
The figure with blue eyes tilts his head. "As you command. But his fate is already moving." He steps backward into the veil, dissolving into darkness. The chamber dims. Kael rises, mask of calm restored, but his eyes hold a flicker of fear. "Soon…" the ancient shadow whispers. Kael stands again we see he is in an abandon office, Kael wears his Coat and Hat, Dusting off Dust from Hat, He went outside the room where Agent Ryth Guarding The room, Agent asks Formly "Commander do you really think that the boy is not a threat to us" Kael gently Answered "If his power will be a threat than I will Stop him" than The scene collapses into black.
ACADEMY TRAINING FEILD
The world snaps back to brightness.
Kresor stands on the training grounds with Seren Greylune beside him. The air carries the metallic tang of steam engines and the faint hum of gears Dawnfall Academy's signature blend of aether and machinery.
Tall brass pylons encircle the open grounds, crackling softly with aetheric currents. Students practice with swirling energies, mechanical familiars, and rune-engraved weapons.
Seren claps his hands lightly. "Alright, Kresor. Focus. Try to feel that energy again the one inside you." Kresor nods, inhaling slowly. The unfamiliar power burns gently inside his chest, like a sleeping star turning in its dream.
He raises his palm.A faint ripple of light shivers through the air. Seren grins. "Good! Keep it steady." Kresor tries. The energy flickers, then swells, then collapses. Seren steadies him with a hand on his shoulder. "Don't rush. It's not supposed to obey instantly. Power like yours… it has a personality of its own." Before Kresor can reply, a playful voice cuts the air.
"Well, well… the new boy is trying to look cool." Kresor turns. A girl strides across the training yard confident steps, storm-blue hair tied loosely, silver eyes bright with mischief.
Clauisy Greylune.Same age as Kresor. Younger sister of Seren. Her uniform sways with her movement white fabric, trimmed with gold and brass, marking her as a Foible-A lineage student. Seren sighs."Clauisy, stop teasing him." She smirks. "Why? It's fun. He doesn't even know his Foible or Catena. How do you survive without knowing the basics?" Kresor scratches his head softly. "…Foible? Catena? I really don't know." She opens her mouth again probably to tease more but Seren interrupts gently.
"Let me explain."
Seren gestures toward the training grounds where students unleash varying forms of energy. "A Foible is the innate expression of your aether. Think of it as the shape your soul prefers. Fire, metal, light, shadow… six common ones. Countless rare ones." Clauisy folds her arms. "Some Foibles are so rare they only appear once in a hundred years."
Seren continues, "A Catena is your rank. From 10 to 1. Ten means untrained. One means apex." Clauisy smirks again. "I'll reach Catena-1 someday. Then I'll protect every kid who grew up like me. That's my goal." Her eyes flick to Kresor.
"And what's yours?"
Kresor hesitates. "I… don't know yet. Maybe… I want to know who I am." Seren smiles softly. "That's a good start. Identity is a journey, not a fact." Clauisy rolls her eyes, but there's warmth beneath it.
Seren stretches. "Alright. Clauisy is taking the entrance exam too. "Kresor brightens. "Then she'll be a good rival… and maybe a friend." Clauisy stops.Her cheeks redden slightly barely visible but she huffs loudly. "Friend? Rival? Who said I'm accepting that?" Kresor smiles gently."Then I'll just prove it to you."
She stares at him for a long second… then looks away with a tiny "Hmph." Seren grins proudly. "Now that's settled training resumes."
Hours blur. Then more hours.
The day stretches into night as Kresor, Seren, and Clauisy train nonstop. Seren guides. Clauisy critiques. Kresor adapts. By the end of 16–18 hours, they all collapse to the ground, breathless.
Seren laughs softly. "Good enough for today. Come on you two can rest in my hostel room." The academy towers loom ahead dark stone walls lined with brass lanterns, clockwork elevators, and aether-powered rail gliders. Pipes run along the ceiling, pumping glowing liquid energy.
Inside the hostel wing, warm lamplight fills the halls. Students' laughter echoes distantly. Seren opens his door. His room is modest but cozy two beds, shelves filled with books on Foibles, training gear, and a large window overlooking the academy courtyard. He gestures to the spare mattress. "Kresor, you can take that. Stay with us tonight."
Kresor nods gratefully. "Thank you… really." They sit for dinner bread, soup, roasted vegetables. Seren asks gently, "Kresor… what about your past? Your family?" Kresor stares at the table. "I don't know much. Only my parents… and then the carpenter. He treated me badly. Sold me for money sometimes. I never had… anything."
Clauisy lowers her spoon slowly, eyes softening. Seren smiles sadly. "Kael saved me and Clauisy too. From child smugglers. We also grew up without parents." Kresor looks up for the first time feeling… connected. After dinner, Seren yawns."I'll sleep. You two talk if you want."
He collapses instantly.
Clauisy taps Kresor's shoulder. "Hey… come with me. The full moon is beautiful tonight. I want to show you." Kresor blushes faintly but nods.
They climb to the terrace. The wind is cool. The sky is clear. And the moon…huge, silver, glowing like a tear in the heavens. Kresor whispers,"…It's beautiful."
Clauisy smiles softly. "I knew you'd like it." He watches the moonlight wash over the brass rooftops, the towering academy spires, the quiet city lights far beyond. Everything feels peaceful like the world itself is holding its breath. Then Clauisy speaks quietly.
"You know… my brother is everything to me. He protected me when no one else would. He's my strength." Her voice trembles slightly.
Kresor nods. "I understand. Seren is kind. And… it's the first time someone treated me like a person." Clauisy turns toward him, eyes glistening faintly."My dream is to reach Catena-1. To protect children like us. No one should grow up afraid." Kresor smiles softly."That's a beautiful dream."
She steps a little closer. "Kresor… what's your dream?" He takes a slow breath."…I just want to know who I am."
Silence.
Then a gentle breeze. Their shoulders almost touch. A quiet moment lingers warm, fragile, real. Clauisy's cheeks tint pink. "Maybe… maybe we can help each other."Kresor nods quietly.Their eyes meet soft, unsure, hopeful.
but they were both unknown that someone is watching them from the shadows Far away, unseen on a nearby rooftop…A tall figure with glowing blue eyes watches them silently. His cloak ripples with unnatural shadows. He whispers to himself, voice dripping with eerie calm:
"The seed is planted.""Soon… it will grow."
His silhouette dissolves into the darkness. And from that darkness, tiny shadow-beasts emerge winged, sharp-tailed creatures no larger than sparrows. Their bodies flicker like living smoke. With a shrill, eerie screech, they dive straight at Kresor, swarming his left arm. A burst of pain tears through him as their claws rip into his flesh. Clausiy's eyes widen in terror. "Kresor, run! I'll hold them off!" she shouts, trying to push him back. But Kresor freezes. He can't leave her. He can't just run. His breath shakes, fear gripping him by the throat. I'm useless… Please… someone… some miracle… let me save her…
Before the thought even finishes, a hand touches his shoulder from behind. Warm light floods into him. Kresor gasps as his shredded left arm closes, the wounds knitting in seconds. "Don't worry," Seren says, stepping past him with calm certainty. "The miracle has arrived." He walks toward the swarm. His presence alone seems to bend the air.
Seren raises his hand. "Purity Conjugate." A sword of blazing fire ignites in his grip white at its core, bleeding into gold and crimson flames. The beasts screech, sensing death. Seren moves. One flash. One swing.
"Lverel Hellfire."
The slash erupts like a sunburst. Fire blossoms outward, consuming every shadow-beast instantly. Not even ashes remain the purity energy is too overwhelming. The terrace shatters, the entire floor around them scorched and collapsing under the force. The light fades. Smoke drifts upward. Seren is already moving, sprinting toward Clausiy. He kneels beside her, placing a palm over her injuries. A soft glow envelops her wounds as they seal. "Kresor, she'll be fine," he says gently.
Kresor stumbles forward, shaken. "W-What was that? What… what did you just do?" Seren glances back. "Kresor, you still have much to learn. That was just my Purity Conjugate a basic attack."
A basic attack. The words echo in Kresor's skull. He lifts his gaze and freezes. Behind Seren, an immense purity aura rises like a blazing inferno. It isn't holy. It isn't gentle. It's overwhelming… monstrous.
A demon's… aura… The world tilts, and Kresor collapses unconscious.
Above them, hidden in the shadows of a tower window, someone else has been watching. Kael. He pulls his hat low again, the brim hiding the small smirk curling at his lips. A faint flame flicks as he lights his cigar. "Hmm… interesting. I was certain Seren would make a fine companion… and an even finer tool for Kresor." He flicks the cigar off the ledge, slips on the coat hanging behind him, and murmurs:
"Let the water sprinkle on the seed."