Every step I took brought me closer to a revelation…
or perhaps to something far greater.
I still didn't understand what Professor Eclipse wanted from me,
but one thing was certain—
Something bad was about to happen.
The hallways felt longer than usual.
Empty.
Silent.
Yet…
I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.
"I'm not sure yet… but something isn't right."
Kim's voice carried a sharp edge of concern as she looked at Minho. Then her gaze shifted toward Airi.
"Follow him. Go after Dark—but don't let him notice. We can't leave him alone with that… woman."
Her tone hardened, almost feral.
A low growl escaped her throat.
"Got it."
Airi didn't hesitate.
She rushed out of the infirmary, moving quickly through the corridors, scanning every corner until she spotted me.
From there, she kept her distance—
Close enough to follow.
Far enough to remain unseen.
I reached the classroom door.
My hand rested against it.
I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly.
Alright… let's do this.
I stepped inside.
Nothing seemed out of place.
And yet…
That feeling didn't disappear.
Outside, Airi lifted her camera.
She began recording.
Hidden.
Silent.
Watching.
"Did you need something, Professor?"
I asked as I approached her.
Professor Eclipse sat on her desk, smoking calmly.
She looked at me.
Then stood.
Slow. Elegant. Controlled.
"I need to talk to you."
Her voice was serious.
Unusually so.
There was something beneath it—
Concern… or something pretending to be concern.
"Uh… yeah. Of course."
I frowned slightly, confused.
"Do you remember what happened yesterday?"
"A lot of things happened yesterday…"
"The creature that attacked you."
"…Right. That thing."
My voice trembled despite myself.
The memory still burned.
"Well," she continued,
"that 'thing' is the offspring of Aredath—one of the Greater Primordials."
There was frustration in her tone.
Subtle.
But real.
"And… I detected something unusual."
"What do you mean?"
She looked directly into my eyes.
"You are the unusual one."
A pause.
Heavy.
Crushing.
"He's coming for you.
They've marked you as a threat."
My heart slammed violently against my chest.
My breathing broke.
My hands trembled uncontrollably.
"No… no, no, no—this isn't real, right?
RIGHT?!"
My voice cracked.
"This has to be a dream.
All of this… powers, creatures… it's not real."
I stepped back.
Shaking.
"I'm losing my mind… I have to be…"
Her hand reached my face.
Gentle.
Cold.
"Calm down," she said softly.
"There is a way to get you out of this."
My eyes widened.
Hope.
Desperate and immediate.
I grabbed her.
"Really?! Please—help me! Is it like what you did with Minho? A ritual?"
She closed her eyes.
A faint smile formed on her lips.
"No."
The answer was sharp.
Final.
I turned toward the window.
And froze.
A massive shadow covered the sky.
Something enormous.
Watching.
Waiting.
"What… is that?"
Eclipse turned slowly.
"That bastard is already here…"
A pause.
Then she looked at me again.
Smiling.
"Very well. If that's how it wants to play…"
Her voice softened.
Almost regretful.
"Dark… I'm sorry for what I'm about to do."
A beat.
Her smile deepened.
"Or maybe I'm not."
"…Wha—?"
I never finished the sentence.
She grabbed my face—
And kissed me.
Airi's eyes widened in shock behind the corner.
"Professor Eclipse… kissed Dark?!"
But I—
I felt something else.
Pain.
Burning.
My lips ignited as if something was being carved into my flesh.
I pushed her away violently.
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!"
I shouted.
"To seal you," she replied calmly.
"With my cosmic breath."
I looked back at the sky.
The shadow—
Gone.
"…There wasn't another way?"
She shook her head.
"This is the easiest one."
I didn't respond.
I ran.
Airi flinched and hid quickly in the next classroom.
I rushed past, heading straight for the bathroom.
Behind me—
Professor Eclipse stood still.
Her expression shifted.
Slowly.
From confusion…
To something darker.
A smile.
Sharp.
Satisfied.
Why did she do that…?
I reached the bathroom and looked at my reflection.
My lips—
Marked.
Three glowing runes.
'𖤗𖤓𖤗'
The burning intensified.
Worse than any wound.
I splashed water—
"Ah—!"
Pain shot through my mouth.
Stronger.
Deeper.
I staggered back.
Minho said something…
There are two types of Luminari runes…
Luminal… and Umbral…
"These are… luminal."
I touched my lips carefully.
"The first and third… 'E'—for Eclipse."
A pause.
"And the one in the middle…"
My breath trembled.
"'A'… for Soul."
Meanwhile—
Airi burst into the infirmary, breathless, and handed her camera to Kim before collapsing.
"Just… watch…"
The video played.
Silence filled the room.
Xia.
Kim.
Won-ho.
All froze.
Eyes wide.
Kim's expression twisted.
Her jaw clenched.
Her hands trembled.
"…That bitch."
Her voice came out low.
Shaking.
Then—
She snapped.
"I'LL KILL HER!"
She slammed her fist into the wall.
Blood spilled from her knuckles.
"I'm showing this to Alya!"
She ran out at full speed.
Airi had already passed out.
Exhausted.
Xia remained still.
Thinking.
Processing.
Won-ho…
Smiled.
"…Finally."
He whispered.
Seconds later—
Xia stood up abruptly.
"Wait—none of you noticed?!"
"What?" Won-ho asked.
"In the video—"
Her voice sharpened.
"Dark had two black wings."
Silence.
Won-ho's eyes widened.
He replayed the memory in his mind.
And then—
Shock hit him.
Hard.
Meanwhile—
Kim was already running toward the hospital.
Toward Alya.
And everything…
Was about to get worse.