The training yard was still buzzing with whispers about Arin's strange awakening when the instructors dismissed the first round of tests.
Arin walked toward the edge of the ground, head lowered, still feeling the cold echo of that mist inside him. It wasn't weakness he had felt… it was something else. Something ancient. Something that breathed in silence.
Kai matched his pace, lightly bumping his shoulder.
"Don't make that face, brother. If your power wants to stay mysterious, let it. Makes you cooler."
Arin exhaled softly. "Feels… empty inside."
"Empty? More like dramatic," Kai said. "Just wait—one day that smoke will fill the whole sky."
Arin didn't believe that.
But Kai's confidence made the heaviness a little lighter.
Before Arin could think further, the students began gathering again. Someone shouted:
"Hey! It's starting—the Four House Demonstration!"
The energy of the crowd instantly amplified.
And Arin found himself standing among dozens of curious students, all pushing toward the center.
He looked up…
and saw Sarena stepping forward.
Sarena walked into the middle of the arena with her usual quiet aura — graceful, cold, and strangely kind at the same time. Her hair shimmered like pearl-frost in the sunlight, and her calm expression made her seem untouchable.
She wasn't alone.
Three other girls stepped forward:
Lyra Ironblood
Short crimson hair, powerful build, confident smirk.
Her red armor reflected the sun like she was forged in fire.
Elira Starweave
Long lavender hair, eyes sparkling like early dawn starlight.
Soft movements, but a dangerous elegance.
Marella Solarcrest
Golden hair tied in a high ponytail, vibrant smile, sun-patterned gloves ready for combat.
Her very presence felt warm.
Kai inhaled sharply.
"Brother… this is the most beautiful battlefield in history."
Arin gave him a side-eye.
"You say that about everything."
"No, no. This time it's true. Look—there's elegance, power, cold beauty, warm beauty—this is an entire festival!"
Arin shook his head, but he couldn't deny it…
even he was drawn in by the scene.
And for reasons he couldn't explain, his eyes lingered the longest on Sarena.
Maybe because she felt familiar.
Maybe because she had spoken to him.
Maybe because—
Kai whispered,
"She's glowing again."
Arin blinked.
"Stop saying that."
"I'll stop when it stops being true."
The crowd fell silent instantly when Instructor Lyria stepped closer.
Her silver eyes swept across the students.
"Representatives of the Four Great Houses," she announced. "Demonstrate your abilities."
No theatrics.
Just a quiet command — yet it carried more authority than shouting ever could.
As soon as the light-circle formed beneath the girls' feet—
Marella launched forward, golden flames bursting around her palms.
Lyra responded with a ground-shattering punch.
The impact cracked the stone floor.
Elira's starlight threads danced through the air, catching attacks in silky nets.
Sarena simply lifted her hand.
Frost bloomed silently.
The temperature dropped.
Ice spread like whispered poetry.
Every student inhaled sharply.
Even Kai froze.
"Bro… she didn't even try. How can she be that pretty and that terrifying? Is that legal?"
Arin was mesmerized.
Not just by her beauty…
but by how unbothered she looked.
How easily she stood among giants.
A pressure formed in Arin's chest—
a strange tug, like the world inside him stirred in response to the clash of elements.
A low hum throbbed in his ears.
Awaken…
Arin stumbled.
Kai caught him quickly.
"Hey! You okay?"
"Yeah. Just felt dizzy."
From the center arena, Sarena's eyes flickered…
and for the briefest moment, she looked directly at Arin.
As if she felt something too.
The match shook the arena a few more minutes before Lyria raised her hand.
"Enough."
The four girls stepped back, breath uneven but eyes bright.
As soon as the girls left the stage, the murmurs returned.
But this time… not about them.
About him.
"That's the smoke boy."
"The strange awakening."
"No power, right?"
"Probably can't even use it."
Arin's stomach tightened.
He hated how true their words sounded.
He hated the emptiness he felt inside.
He hated—
Kai suddenly stepped in front of him, blocking the stares.
"Oi! Stop looking. Haven't you ever seen mysterious people before?"
Then louder, "Mind your own awakenings!"
The crowd quickly looked away.
Arin couldn't help but smile faintly.
Kai wasn't a shield…
but somehow, he acted like one anyway.
Just as the crowd started settling, a soft gust of wind rippled through the yard.
A woman walked through the circle of students—tall, calm, wearing blue-white robes etched with glowing runes.
Her steps were quiet, yet everyone moved aside instinctively.
She was beautiful in a distant, ethereal way.
Pure.
Serene.
Untouchable.
"Instructor Althea," Lyria introduced. "Specialist in soul resonance."
Kai whispered,
"Oh no. Another beauty. I'm going to faint. Protect me, Arin."
Arin sighed.
But then—
Althea's gaze drifted across the crowd.
Passed over dozens of students.
Passed over the girls from the Great Houses.
Then stopped.
On him.
A soft, unreadable smile touched her lips.
"Interesting," she murmured.
Arin felt a cold, tight feeling inside.
Her eyes felt like they saw through flesh, bone, memory—
straight into whatever was hiding inside him.
He swallowed.
Why him?
What did she see?
After the session, students walked toward the dorms, buzzing about the demonstration.
But Arin only stared at his hands.
At the faint trembling he couldn't stop.
Kai walked beside him, humming casually.
"So. Good news and bad news."
Arin glanced at him. "What good news?"
"You didn't collapse."
"And the bad?"
"You… almost collapsed."
Arin groaned.
Kai threw an arm around him.
"Don't stress. You're still mysterious. That's cool. Better than being boring."
Arin chuckled weakly.
But inside, the voice whispered again—
"Soon…"
And this time, Arin felt it deeper.
Stronger.
Closer.
Something inside him wasn't sleeping.
It was waiting.