Rolin woke up exactly at seven.
He opened his eyes slowly.
No shouting.
No chaos.
No insolent, fiery creature mocking him.
…strange.
He got up, walked to the bathroom, and let the warm water cascade over his body.
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the water wash over him.
Today… was combat class.
He smiled faintly.
"Perfect… more beating."
He stepped out, dried his hair, and put on the simple black attire with streaks of red—the uniform for the training academy.
He was adjusting his shirt collar when—
A knock.
He froze.
He looked at the door.
"At this hour?"
Cautiously, he opened it.
No one was there.
Instead—
A tiny package floated in the air.
Wings of paper, glowing faintly with magic, flapping slowly… until they stopped as he opened the door, and the parcel gently landed in his hands.
'What… is this?'
He closed the door and stepped inside again.
He placed the parcel on the dark table in front of him.
A small red box.
Elegant.
Plain, without ornamentation.
Alongside it, a letter.
He opened the letter first.
The handwriting was neat, delicate… unmistakably feminine.
"This is what you wanted from me."
And at the bottom—
Julia.
Rolin froze.
His fingers clenched the paper slightly.
"…Julia."
He didn't open the box immediately.
He just stared at it for a long moment.
Then—
He opened it.
The moment he saw what was inside—
His eyes widened.
"…Finally."
A whisper escaped him, tinged with emotion he rarely allowed himself to feel.
"I thought… I'd lost you."
Inside the box—
A silver chain,
slender, pure, gleaming faintly.
At its center, a small, circular blue gem glowing softly.
Surrounding it, seven tiny silver triangles—
arranged like frozen sunrays.
A necklace.
But this was not just an ornament.
It was… the most precious thing he owned.
The only thing that had remained untarnished in his past life.
Taken from him… the day he chose to surrender.
Before his journey to the Irthi Mountains.
He remembered that moment.
The restraints.
The stares.
The farewell that was never really a farewell.
Julia had been the only one who didn't look at him like a criminal.
She saw him… as a person.
He reached out slowly, touching the gem.
Cold.
But as it met his skin—
It pulsed.
A soft pulse.
Likath stirred within his chest.
'Oh…'
"What?"
'This isn't just a stone.'
Rolin smiled faintly.
"I know."
He lifted the necklace and wore it around his neck.
The gem rested directly over his chest.
And the moment it settled—
He felt something.
Calm.
Not power.
Not energy.
Balance.
As if something missing inside him… had returned to its place.
He took a deep breath.
"…I haven't forgotten."
He whispered to himself.
"And I won't."
Likath muttered inside him, in a tone less sarcastic than usual:
'Is she really that important… to you?'
"…Yes… I'm truly grateful Julia returned it."
'Fine. If she betrays you… I'll burn her.'
Rolin chuckled softly.
"She's not that kind of person."
He stood.
Gazed at his reflection in the dark screen.
Black clothes.
Slightly messy hair.
And now—
The faintly glowing blue gem over his chest.
He no longer looked like an ordinary student.
Rather… like a noble.
Something he loathed the most.
A soft knock echoed from down the hallway.
The sounds of students preparing for class.
Combat class wouldn't wait.
He carefully closed the box, placed the letter inside, and hid it in his desk drawer.
For the first time since arriving in Lokarina—
He felt he hadn't come empty-handed.
He opened the door.
And before stepping out, Likath whispered:
'Tell me…'
'Will you remain like this… without a lover?'
Rolin gave a small, different smile this time.
"…Definitely."
And he closed the door behind him.
Rolin hid the necklace beneath his black clothes.
He let the gem rest against his skin, the chain settling comfortably.
For a brief moment, it was cold… then warm, as if it had immediately adapted to him.
"No need to draw more attention than yesterday."
He whispered.
Likath stretched lazily inside him.
'Yes… enough that you're the "official weapon" of the class.'
He ignored him.
At that same moment—
The door next to his opened.
Kyle stepped out.
Time seemed to pause.
Morning light streamed through the tall windows, casting golden lines on the stone floor.
Kyle was already prepared.
Black-and-red training uniform hugging his broad frame perfectly.
His black hair neat, his gaze alert.
When his eyes fell on Rolin—
He smiled.
A natural, effortless smile.
"Good morning."
Rolin blinked, as if his brain lagged half a second processing it.
"…Morning."
A brief silence followed.
Kyle gave him a quick, evaluating glance.
"Did you sleep well?"
A simple question.
Yet Rolin felt like he was being examined again.
"Yes."
Half a lie.
Kyle glanced briefly at his chest—
a passing glance.
Rolin tightened his shoulders unconsciously.
Did he notice…?
Likath whispered slowly:
'If he were smart, he'd sense something's different.'
Kyle looked back into Rolin's eyes.
"Don't let what happened yesterday pressure you."
Rolin raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You mean… when the professor threatened me with existence?"
A short chuckle escaped Kyle.
"Something like that."
Then his expression grew serious.
"He doesn't hate you."
"That's… a relief."
"Rather…"
He paused.
"…I think he's interested in you."
Silence.
That… wasn't better.
Rolin exhaled slowly.
"Worse."
Kyle smiled.
Then started walking toward the stairs.
"Come on. I don't want to be the first in or the last out."
Rolin followed.
The difference between them was obvious.
Height.
Shoulders.
Confident strides versus lighter steps.
Rolin felt that sticky sensation in his chest again.
Likath wasted no time.
'There it is again.'
'Don't start.'
'What will you call it today? A moral objection to gene balance?'
"…Shut up."
Kyle glanced at him.
"You said something?"
"No."
"You really need to stop talking to yourself."
They descended the stairs.
Students below cast secretive glances.
Some admiration.
Some curiosity.
Some… love.
Kyle, of course—not the scrawny, odd boy next to him.
At least now, there were new eyes on him.
Rolin was no longer "the weak boy."
He was—
The boy who had felled a giant in two moves.
Kyle noticed the stares.
He whispered quietly:
"Others will challenge you today."
"Shut up… I know."
"They won't be kind."
Rolin smiled faintly, a sideways smile.
"I just want a peaceful life."
For a moment—
Kyle stopped.
Gave him a different look.
Deeper.
"You're… strange."
Rolin didn't look at him.
"And you… a charming rogue with the girls."
Silence between them.
When they reached the combat class corridor—
Rolin felt a faint pulse beneath his clothes.
The necklace.
Once.
Kyle stopped suddenly.
"Did you feel that?"
Rolin froze inwardly.
"What?"
Kyle frowned slightly.
"…Nothing. Maybe you imagined it."
Likath whispered slowly:
'Hmm… intriguing.'
Rolin tugged his shirt collar lightly.
"Come on. We don't want to attract the professor's attention more than we already have."
Kyle nodded.
But before they entered the classroom—
He said quietly:
"By the way."
Rolin looked at him.
"Why did you point at me yesterday?"
Rolin paused.
"Because you did it."
"No."
Kyle smiled faintly.
"I mean… why didn't you stop me?"
A short glance between them.
Rolin answered simply:
"…Because… uh… I didn't think about it."
Silence.
Then—
They entered the combat classroom.
Little did they know—
The necklace, hidden beneath simple black clothing…
Had already started catching the attention of something else.
Something that didn't belong to the academy.
Nor to this world.
The wind whispered softly.
Too quiet… too unnatural.
The training arena—
empty.
No students.
No whispers.
No usual tension.
Rolin exchanged a brief glance with Kyle.
"…Did we come too early?" he muttered.
Kyle looked around, eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Or too late."
The emptiness was unnatural.
Even the floor seemed too clean, as if nothing had happened here for days.
At that moment—
Soft footsteps approached.
They turned.
A tall young woman, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, her sharp green eyes glinting with intelligence.
Her uniform bore the academy's colors, though less practical than training gear—more academic.
Kyle whispered quietly:
"She's in charge of History and Knowledge."
She stopped in front of them, her gaze sharp yet not cruel.
"What are you doing here?"
They looked at each other.
Kyle spoke first, respectfully:
"We're here for combat class, but it seems empty. Thought we came early."
She studied them for a moment. Then exhaled lightly.
"Professor Kainos' class?"
They nodded simultaneously.
Her expression shifted slightly.
Something between sympathy… and pity.
"Class is in Training Hall Five."
She paused, then added:
"It started about half an hour ago."
…
Rolin blinked slowly.
"Half… an hour?"
Kyle clenched his jaw.
"But the schedule—"
"Professor Kainos doesn't follow schedules."
She said calmly.
"Students follow it."
A direct blow.
Likath erupted in laughter inside Rolin:
'Ha! I love this man more every minute.'
'Not now.' Rolin hissed inwardly.
Kyle looked at Rolin.
"Run?"
"Run."
But before they moved—
The woman said calmly:
"If you're later… he'll take it as a challenge."
They stopped.
"…A challenge?" Rolin asked cautiously.
She gave a tiny smile.
"He believes discipline is the foundation of strength."
Then looked at them directly.
Rolin's blood froze.
"Great…" he muttered.
Kyle bowed briefly in respect.
"Thanks for letting us know, ma'am."
She nodded, then added as she turned:
"By the way…"
She glanced back at them one last time.
"Training Hall Five… is not inside the building."
…
"What?"
But she was already gone.
Kyle looked at Rolin.
"I think I know where it is."
Rolin didn't like the tone.
"And why do I feel like you're about to say something terrible?"
Kyle took a deep breath.
"Because Training Hall Five…"
He paused.
"…is beyond the outer barrier."
Silence.
Likath whispered slowly:
'Ah… this is getting fun.'
Rolin stared at him.
"You mean… outside the academy?"
Kyle nodded.
The wind rustled through the nearby trees.
For the second time this morning—
Rolin felt the faint pulse beneath his clothes.
The necklace.
He closed his eyes for a second.
"Alright."
Opened them.
"Let's hope the professor doesn't consider running part of the test."
Kyle smiled faintly.
"I do."
And they took off.
Unaware that the delay wasn't accidental.
And that Training Hall Five…
was not just an arena.
They ran.
A minute… two… then five.
The polished stone buildings behind them faded.
The paved ground turned gradually into a dirt path lined with dense, towering trees.
After ten minutes—
They were closer to death than to life.
Kyle, despite his strong build, was breathing heavily.
"Tell me… why… don't they… put this hall… inside the academy?"
Rolin couldn't respond.
His eyes burned,
his feet hurt,
and his sandy hair clung to his forehead with sweat.
Likath purred inside him:
'Ha… fragile body indeed.'
'Shut up… or I'll lock you up for a week.'
'Dare you?'
"There!" Kyle finally said, pointing ahead.
Through the trees—
An open circular area appeared.
A dark sand floor,
surrounded by tall stone pillars, as if remnants of an ancient arena.
In the center—
Professor Kainos stood.
Arms clasped behind his back.
Perfect posture… motionless.
Around him—
The other students.
Lined up.
Silent.
As if waiting.
Rolin slowed his steps.
"Don't tell me…" he muttered.
Kyle exhaled slowly.
"Yes."
The moment they stepped into the sandy circle—
Kainos' eyes shifted toward them.
No anger.
No surprise.
Just… expectation.
"Azir."
He said calmly.
Then:
"Lyncard."
Both froze.
"You're late."
He said it plainly.
Kyle tried to speak—
But Kainos raised a finger.
"Excuses… are for those I do not care about."
A heavy silence.
Rolin felt all eyes on them.
Some pity.
Some gloating.
A brief glance from Selen landed on him.
Her face calm.
But her eyes were not.
Finally, Kainos said:
"Everyone has finished warm-up."
Then looked down at them.
"You… will start where the others left off."
Rolin swallowed.
"And… what does that mean?"
A faint smile appeared on Kainos' face.
"Twenty laps around the stone barrier."
Silence.
"Laps?" Kyle repeated.
Kainos pointed to the side of the arena.
There—
Massive uneven stone blocks.
Heavy.
Clearly for a purpose.
Likath chuckled slowly:
'Oh… I like this.'
Rolin looked at the stones.
Then at the track.
Then at the sky.
"…Can I go back to sleep?"
"Begin."
Kainos said.
Kyle glanced at Rolin.
A sideways smile despite his ragged breaths.
"At least… we won't be bored."
Rolin exhaled slowly.
Then whispered inwardly:
'If I die here… take the necklace and burn this place.'
'Finally… a reasonable request.'
Likath purred happily.
Rolin bent to lift the stone.
Unaware—
This was not punishment alone.
It was another test.
---
After an hour—
They could no longer be called "students."
There were two young men… or what remained of them.
Walking slowly, almost inhumanly,
Stone blocks tied to their shoulders,
Feet dragging through the sand.
Their faces pale.
Sweat dried into white streaks on their skin.
Chapped lips.
Shallow, ragged breaths, as if each inhale was a battle.
They walked like the dead.
Kyle let out a hoarse sound, barely escaping through his teeth:
"We… finished… lap twenty…"
He swallowed with difficulty.
"Just… ten… meters…"
Rolin didn't respond.
He had no luxury to speak.
He only saw the track ahead, doubled.
His feet heavier… heavier than the stones themselves.
'Ha…'
Likath breathed slowly.
'You didn't use me.'
'I told you…'
'Stubborn.'
Rolin lifted his head slowly.
Looked at Kainos with exhausted… yet steady eyes.
And for the first time in the class—
No fear.
Only a cold determination that said:
I will not fall… before you.