Tears streamed down my face, and only then did I realize it was just a dream. I've had this same nightmare every single night since I was nine years old. Even after all these years, the feeling never fades. Every time I wake up, I am hit by the same crushing wave of sorrow, unbridled rage, and a bitterness that carves deep into my soul.
I sat there in a daze for a moment before glancing at the clock. It was already past 8:00 AM.
Today was September 1st—the first day of school. Realizing I was running late, I scrambled out of bed, washed up, and threw on my clothes as fast as I could. As I rushed downstairs, the familiar sound of my mother's voice reached my ears.
"Framd! What are you doing up there? You're going to be late for school. Are you out of bed yet?" my mother called out from downstairs.
"Yes, Mom! I'm almost ready!" I shouted back.
"Well, your breakfast is ready in the dining room. Make sure you eat before you leave, Framd."
"Okay, Mom."
But I knew I didn't have a second to waste. I shoveled a few bites of breakfast into my mouth, grabbed my lunch box, and bolted out the door. As I rushed out, the distant drone of the weather report caught my ear—something about rain expected later today.
Even though my school was close to home, the commute still required crossing two major highways. It was the beginning of summer in the nation of Hutalin, and the scenery was breathtaking. The Serli flowers were in full bloom, their delicate pink petals drifting through the air like a living masterpiece. It was a scene straight out of a painting.
As soon as I reached the school gates, I took a moment to straighten my disheveled uniform before stepping inside.
That's when I saw her—a girl my age, standing alone in front of the class assignment board. Despite the late hour, she didn't seem rushed; she stood there with an unnerving calmness, her eyes fixed steadily on the board. As I stepped up beside her to find my own name, she spoke.
"Framd, looks like we're in the same class."
I froze, my eyes widening in shock. How did this girl, a total stranger, know my name? Not only that, but she spoke to me with such casual familiarity that it felt surreal.
I looked at her properly for the first time. Her long hair was tied into neat braids that draped over her shoulders, giving her an air of quiet dignity. Her large, circular eyes and delicate, straight nose perfectly complemented her slender face.
"Oh... yeah," I managed to nod, unsure of what else to say.
The school bell rang, signaling the start of the orientation in the main hall. As I turned to leave, the mysterious girl followed.
"Let's go together," she said. "I'm new here, so I could use a guide."
For some reason, her presence felt like a forgotten echo in my mind. A blurred fragment of a memory tried to surface, but I pushed it down. I walked beside her toward the hall, the mystery of who she was trailing behind us like a shadow.
The interior of the Great Hall lived up to the prestigious name of "Nobelis." It was a masterpiece of architectural elegance and high-end technology. As we entered, glowing navigation lines on the floor guided each student precisely to their assigned seats. I found myself sitting right next to the mysterious girl from earlier. Once everyone was settled, the Headmaster ascended the grand stage.
"My name is Kevin Robelliam. It has been an honor to serve as the Headmaster of this institution for over four years. On this fresh summer morning, I would like to formally welcome all our new students to Nobelis Academy."
After his opening speech, the moment everyone was waiting for arrived—the announcement of the top-scoring student.
"I would now like to invite Miss Emma Guriel, our top entrance examinee, to the stage to receive her award," the Headmaster announced.
To my utter surprise, the girl sitting right next to me stood up. She turned toward me, offered a fleeting smile, and made her way gracefully to the stage. Emma Guriel... so that was her name.
At Nobelis, top-tier students are granted the exclusive right to choose their preferred classes and majors, along with other special privileges. For common students like me, we are assigned majors based on our remaining scores. The elite majors included Art of Magic-Mech, Magic Philosophy, and Secret Science. Meanwhile, the standard options ranged from Magical Engineering and Magic Research to the one I was assigned: Laws of Magic.
As the ceremony concluded and we headed toward our respective classrooms, a nagging question burned in my mind: She said that we have same class, So why would someone as brilliant as Emma choose a common major like ours?
Once everyone had settled into their seats, it was time for introductions. When it was her turn, the girl stood up with grace.
"I am Emma Guriel from the city of Athletic. It's a pleasure to meet you all. I hope we can support and help one another throughout the year. Thank you."
The entire classroom fell into a sudden, heavy silence. The name "Guriel" wasn't just any name; it belonged to the legendary hero, Dave, who had ended the Great War between Magic and Science over two hundred years ago. It was a title bestowed upon him by the Emperor himself. Emma was a direct descendant of a heroic bloodline—a family that held immense prestige and the favor of the Imperial Court.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of subject orientations. When the final bell rang, we bid our teachers farewell and prepared to head home. As I walked out of the school gates, I heard the rapid thumping of footsteps behind me.
"Framd! Wait up! Let's go home together," she panted as she caught up. "My family isn't picking me up today, so I thought I'd walk with you."
I stood there, momentarily dazed. How could someone like Emma Guriel—a total stranger—be so familiar with me? Since the accident, my childhood memories had been nothing but a clouded fog. Yet, looking at her, I couldn't help but wonder if she was a piece of the puzzle I had lost.
While I was lost in thought, Emma smiled warmly.
"Framd, can you see me as your friend? You might not remember, but you've been helping me since we were children. I've been searching for you ever since. I truly want you to remember me."
Her words struck a chord. I remembered my mother mentioning a girl who used to visit our house constantly when I was little. Could it be her? Without digging further into my fogged-up memories, I smiled back.
"I'd love to be your friend, Emma."
As we walked, the sky turned a bruised, ominous red. A heavy feeling settled in my chest—it was going to rain. Remembering the weather report, I opened my umbrella and gestured for her to stay close. She had a faint, ethereal scent. Normally, being this close to a beautiful girl would make my heart race, but with Emma, I felt only a profound sense of peace, as if she were a long-lost sister.
We stopped at a busy intersection, waiting for the light to change as cars sped past. A light drizzle began to fall, but strangely, the droplets evaporated into mist the moment they hit the pavement. It was unnatural.
"Framd, I have to tell you something," Emma said, her voice trembling.
"Yeah? What is it?"
"I'm running out of time. You have to remember... you must remember your entire past."
Before I could ask what she meant, the drizzle turned into a violent downpour. But it wasn't water. The rain turned a sickening shade of crimson—blood. My umbrella shredded like paper under the weight of the red rain. Beside me, Emma began to scream in agony as her body started to burn and wither. My vision blurred, and the world plunged into an abyssal darkness. I couldn't move. I couldn't scream.
Then, a flicker of light appeared, and a whisper echoed in the void:
"Time is up, Framd. I can no longer help you. From here on, you are on your own."