The entire first floor of the Aetherion Library seemed to freeze when Sarene asked,
"Can I talk to you… alone?"
Even the rune-lamps flickered, as if leaning in.
Kai's mouth fell open.
Rei dropped his book on his foot.
Students whispered urgently:
"Is this a confession scene?!"
"No way, already?!"
"They barely know each other!"
"She never talks to boys—why him?"
"What kind of plot twist is this?!"
Kai elbowed Avin so hard he nearly fell off the chair.
"BRO. STAND. UP. DON'T MAKE THE GODDESS WAIT!"
Avin sighed and stood, ignoring the burning stares from half the floor.
Sarene gestured gently.
"Outside. It's too noisy here."
Kai whispered as Avin passed:
"Bro… if she confesses… I'll faint. If she kisses you… I'll die."
Rei smacked him. "He's not going to die from that."
Kai whispered, "I meant I will."
Avin glared at them both and followed Sarene toward the exit.
They stepped into the courtyard where tall moon-pine trees cast long patches of shade. The air was cool—typical around Sarene, who always carried a faint frost aura.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Sarene finally turned to him, her peach-blonde braid shifting gently over her shoulder. Her eyes—icy blue with hints of silver—studied him with curious softness.
"You're calmer than I expected," she said.
"…Should I not be?" Avin asked.
"Most boys would faint," Sarene replied lightly. "Kai almost did."
Avin sighed. "Kai is… Kai."
Sarene's lips curved in the faintest smile.
Then she lowered her voice.
"I wanted to ask you something important… about your awakening."
Avin tensed.
Sarene continued, "During the tests… every time you used mana, something else responded."
He blinked. "Something else?"
"Yes." She stepped closer, eyes narrowing slightly. "Your mana didn't behave normally. It felt like… two sources responding at once."
Avin swallowed.
So she sensed it too.
Sarene leaned a bit closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"The second flow… felt ancient."
Her breath brushed his cheek.
Avin stepped back instinctively. "I—don't know what you're talking about."
Sarene didn't press.
She simply looked at him—carefully, almost tenderly.
"You don't have to tell me. Not yet."
A pause.
"But… if something ever feels wrong… you can talk to me."
Avin blinked, slightly confused. "Why?"
Sarene brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"I don't know," she admitted. "Instinct, maybe."
Her honesty startled him.
She slowly walked past him, then paused.
"And… Avin?"
"Yes?"
"You fought well today. Even if you hid it."
His heart skipped.
Sarene walked away, leaving a faint trail of frost behind her. Students watching from the library windows exploded with whispering chaos.
Kai ran out after her departure, nearly tripping on his own legs.
"BRO—WHAT—WHAT DID SHE SAY—HOW CLOSE DID YOU STAND—HOW MANY SECONDS—WAS THERE BREATH SHARING—WHAT DID I MISS?!"
Avin groaned.
"Too much. All of it."
Aetherion Academy was huge. The main path split into three routes:
• East Wing → Dormitories
• West Wing → Training Grounds
• North Wing → Academic Halls & Tower Library
As they walked through the North Wing, Avin noticed new students along the path—some staring at him, some whispering.
"Is that him?"
"His awakening was scary—my cousin from second year said even teachers talked about it."
"Then why is he ranked so low?!"
"Maybe he's pretending to be weak."
"No one pretends THAT weak."
Kai puffed his chest proudly.
"That's right! My bro is pretending. It's called… uh… reverse… intimidation."
Rei corrected him. "That's… not a term."
Kai snapped his fingers. "It is now."
Avin ignored them, but inside…
The second power throbbed—lightly, rhythmically.
Two sources?
Two flows of energy?
Why me?
He clenched his fist.
He wasn't sure if it was a gift—or a curse.
As they rounded the corner near the central gardens, a voice called out:
"You three—you're noisy."
A girl approached—slim, sharp-eyed, with bright cinnamon hair tied in a short ponytail. She wore fingerless gloves and a teal training uniform.
Kai gasped.
"Wow… she's cute. Dangerous vibe. Cute. Dangerous. Cute. Dangerously cute—"
Rei slapped him. "Control yourself."
The girl crossed her arms.
"You're Avin, right? The… weird awakening guy?"
Avin blinked. "That's me… I guess."
She smiled—playful, mischievous, almost flirtatious.
"Good. I've been looking for you."
Kai's jaw dropped. "BRO. WHAT IS THIS NEW LIFE YOU'RE LIVING?!"
Avin coughed. "Do I know you?"
"Not yet." She held out her hand.
"Call me Lyra."
Avin shook her hand politely.
Lyra leaned closer with a teasing smirk.
"I saw your tests. You move well. Really well. Subtle. Controlled. You hold back, don't you?"
Avin stiffened slightly.
Kai whispered dramatically, "BRO YOU'RE ATTRACTING THEM LIKE MOTHS."
Rei facepalmed. "Kai… stop."
Lyra chuckled.
"And… rumor says you saved a student from the elemental constructs. He's still bragging about it."
Avin blinked. "He is?"
Lyra nodded. "He said you moved like a ghost."
Her eyes scanned him from head to toe, slow and deliberate.
"Ghost boys are my type."
Kai choked on air.
"H-HER—TYPE?!"
Rei whispered, "I suddenly feel invisible."
Lyra stretched lightly.
"Well, I just wanted to say hi. And maybe… if you ever want sparring practice—look for me. I'm in the Combat Electives Division."
As she walked away, she glanced over her shoulder with a half-smile.
"And Avin? Don't hide too much. It's boring."
Kai grabbed Avin dramatically.
"BRO… YOU GOT ONE PRINCESS AND ONE PREDATOR. TEACH ME YOUR SECRETS."
Avin sighed deeply.
"I don't have any secrets."
Even though he knew that was a lie.
The group decided to wander a bit, letting the tension from the tests fade.
Rei led them through various parts of campus, excitedly explaining each area.
1. Elemental Practice Fields (West Wing)
Wide open grounds separated by elemental barriers.
Fire Field — red rune tiles, controlled heat
Frost Field — misty tiles, cold wind
Storm Arena — grounding rods, static clouds
Earth Ring — stone pillars that moved like puzzles
Students trained in groups, lightning crackling, frost forming, flames flaring.
Kai whispered,
"If we train here, don't let me near the Lightning Rod. Electricity loves me."
"You fainted last time," Rei reminded.
Kai gasped. "It KISSED me!"
2. Combat Simulation Hall
Rei's eyes sparkled.
"This place uses spirit-formed illusions. You can fight phantoms or replay historical battles. Expensive though—30 credits per session."
Kai groaned. "BRO THAT'S HALF MY WEEKLY BUDGET."
Avin tilted his head. "You spend your credits on what exactly?"
"…snacks."
Rei nodded. "He's honest."
3. Tower Library (Upper Floors Restricted)
A massive spire behind the main library.
"Floors two and three," Rei said softly, eyes full of longing,
"…hold the advanced manuals. Spell books. Combat formulas. Even relic theory."
Kai pressed his face against the tower door dramatically.
"Let me innnnnnn—"
A rune flashed:
[ACCESS DENIED]
Kai shrieked. "IT TALKED BACK."
Avin chuckled
4. Healing Annex
A serene building filled with glowing herbs.
Rei said, "Teachers rarely allow us here unless we're badly injured."
Kai whispered, "So… often?"
Avin nodded. "Yes. For you."
Kai gasped. "BRO. WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN TODAY?"
By late afternoon, the sun dipped low, tinting the academy gold.
They entered the East Wing dorm corridor—warm lamps, wooden floors, smell of freshly cleaned rooms.
Kai stretched. "Bro… I'm starving."
Rei agreed. "Let's eat before dinner rush starts."
Avin nodded, but something pulled him back.
His room felt… different.
He walked closer.
A faint silver glow pulsed behind the door.
Kai noticed too. "Uh… bro? Your door is glowing. I don't think that's normal."
Rei gulped. "Did… something awaken inside without you?"
Avin opened the door slowly.
Inside—
The room was normal.
But on his bed…
A faint silver mist hovered.
Avin approached carefully.
The mist pulsed—once.
And a whisper filled his mind:
"…You are not alone, Heir."
His chest tightened.
Two heartbeats echoed inside him again.
Kai peeked behind him.
"BRO—WHY IS THERE MIST IN THE ROOM—ARE WE HAUNTED—DO I NEED A PRIEST?!"
Rei whispered, terrified,
"Not a priest. A sealing master."
Avin didn't answer.
He stared quietly at the mist as it faded…
leaving more questions than before.