The early morning light filtered softly through the window. It was 7:30 AM when Sayaka gently nudged Rin awake, holding her close.

  Rin stirred, her eyes fluttering open. “I… I forgot the dream,” she murmured, her voice trembling. “It felt so real… the only thing I remember… my cn’s symbol.”

  Sayaka sighed softly, brushing a strand of hair from Rin’s face. “It’s best you don’t remember the rest. Some dreams… are too terrifying for now,” she said gently.

  She helped Rin to her feet, preparing her clothes with calm efficiency. “You carry great power… and a cursed bloodline,” Sayaka expined, her tone reassuring. “It’s normal for fragments of your past to visit you… even in dreams. But you’re not alone—I’ll be here every step of the way.”

  Rin’s lips curved slightly at the comfort, though the memory lingered like a shadow.

  After helping Rin into the shower, Sayaka went to wake Izan. She knocked softly at his door. When he opened, he was already dressed in his uniform.

  “They already had the uniforms in the closet—full sets,” Izan remarked casually.

  Sayaka giggled. “I forgot, I trained you to wake up early. I was going to come get you myself.”

  “I know, I’m special,” Izan said with a proud smirk, though his eyes were still heavy with sleep. “I hardly slept… I can’t wait for breakfast and to learn more—about the school, its history, the world, all the secrets hidden in the cssrooms, the stories of the strongest students, and even the legends behind the countries. I want to understand everything… every power, every rule, every story.”

  He flopped back onto his bed before sitting upright again. “Hey, by the way… where’s Rin?”

  “She’s in the shower,” Sayaka replied. Then, with a serious gnce, she added, “Be extra kind to her today. She had a bad nightmare st night.”

  Izan nodded, absorbing the warning.

  “You can explore a little early if you want,” Sayaka continued. “Or go to the cafeteria and then to homeroom before nine. I’ll be… watching your soul, so don’t try anything sneaky.”

  Izan pouted pyfully, earning a soft ugh from Sayaka as she hugged him. His cat, sensing the movement, leapt off the couch, ready to follow him.

  “Oh, and Izan,” she said, handing him a small keycard, “don’t lose this. And don’t give it away.”

  Izan accepted it with a nod, slinging his bag over his shoulder, already packed with school supplies. Stepping into the hallway, he noticed it was still empty.

  The cafeteria was quiet but inviting. They served oatmeal topped with fresh fruits and orange juice, or rice balls with miso soup. A variety of teas lined the drink station. Izan grabbed the oatmeal and ate quickly, impatient to get to homeroom.

  When he entered, some students were already seated. Two twins caught his attention—one calm, staring out the window, the other wild-eyed, gncing at him with a piercing gaze before he even opened the door. Her left eye was blue, her right purple, a white symbol fshing briefly in her gaze.

  “Shut the door!” she snapped, her voice sharp.

  Kaito let out a deep sigh, eyes still on his papers as he murmured, “Yeah… no need to start the day with yelling.”

  Izan quietly shut the door and apologized, his cat padding after him as he settled in the fifth row, an empty seat perfect for him. Around him, a few other students drew nonsense on their papers, while a serious boy simply watched the clock. The room was quiet, and Izan waited patiently.

  Meanwhile, Sayaka finished brushing Rin’s long hair, letting it fall gracefully down her back. Rin thanked her softly, and the two walked out together. They ate rice and soup with tea before heading to Rin’s homeroom.

  “Good morning!” Valeria called brightly as they entered. “It’s great to see you both bright and early.” She hugged Rin warmly before pulling Sayaka aside. “We need to talk in my office for a moment,” she said.

  Rin was dropped off in the same homeroom as Izan, who waved at her. She returned the gesture, smiling softly as his cat leapt into her p and purred.

  “Hey, Izan… sitting here so casually,” Rin said quietly. “Some students get a little scared.”

  “Huh? What do you mean?” Izan asked.

  Rin’s expression grew serious. “Some of the students downstairs are the commanding students—they’re the strongest in the school.”

  Izan’s eyes widened. “Which ones?”

  She pointed toward the twins. “The calm one is Aiyana. She’s admired by almost everyone. And the wild one… Ayame. People fear her. That serious boy with the scar—Shiranami—wields a legendary sword, making him one of the strongest as well.” She paused, nodding toward the younger students. “The furry boy and little girl? Kazama and Yukiko. And there’s one more, but he’s in another homeroom.”

  Izan swallowed nervously. “No wonder… that crazy girl’s aura felt… scary.”

  Rin chuckled softly, while Ayame snapped her neck toward him, her eyes wild. Izan quickly looked away toward the window, heart racing.

  Kaito began the css with math, followed by nguage arts, and finished with history. Some students dozed off, but the teacher didn’t seem to mind, expining the lesson without pause.

  “The world has ten major countries,” Kaito said, pointing to a rge map. “In the north, we have the War Country and Justice. The south has the Storm Country and Volcano. To the west are the peaceful nations: Overpeace, Fortante, and the Land of Mothers. The east has three: Waters, Deserts, and Medicine. Each country’s name honors the most powerful beings in its history. Every nation has its own stories and legends, which we’ll learn about in time. But for now, let’s focus on our country—The Land of the Waters.”

  He continued, “We’re not the strongest, but not the weakest either. Our fw? Too many people from the north come here, bringing corruption and violence. That’s why we must be vigint.”

  Izan and Rin scribbled notes eagerly, absorbing every word.

  By the time they reached the cafeteria, a long line stretched as far as they could see. Rin and Izan exchanged a gnce, both raising an eyebrow. “Is it even worth it?” Izan muttered.

  The cat perched on Rin’s head let out a soft, unimpressed meow, as if agreeing.

  “I’m… not even hungry,” Rin admitted quietly.

  “Same,” Izan said with a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. They hesitated at the end of the line, questioning if the wait was really worth it.

  After a moment, Rin shrugged. “Forget it. Let’s just walk around for a bit.”

  Izan nodded, and the two of them weaved through the bustling cafeteria, the cat perched on Rin’s head meowing softly as they moved, exploring the space without any real pn.

  Izan and Rin moved away from the bustling cafeteria, weaving through quieter hallways until they found a retively empty corridor. The noise of the crowd faded behind them, repced by a calm, almost serene silence. Rin’s cat stretched zily atop her head, letting out a soft, uninterested meow.

  “So…” Izan began, leaning slightly on the wall as he studied her, “what’s your schedule today?”

  Rin straightened, gncing at him. “Aurelia… Yurei… then Drex,” she replied matter-of-factly.

  “Ah,” Izan said, grinning. “All magic csses, huh? You really are focusing on that.” He tilted his head, curiosity sparkling in his eyes. “Wait… I don’t think I ever asked—what’s your power?”

  Rin hesitated for a moment before speaking softly. “I have the potential to control all light… without limit. In other words…” She paused, her eyes flickering with a mix of pride and caution. “…a Mortal God. That’s what Valeria said. But…” She gnced down, fidgeting slightly. “That’s only if I train hard enough. She also said that only ten Mortal Gods across the ten countries have ever awakened their power fully.”

  Izan’s eyes widened, a spark of excitement lighting his expression. “That’s… incredible! You’re amazing, Rin! I mean, controlling all light? That’s… that’s insane! You could literally change the world!”

  Rin’s cheeks flushed, and she looked away, embarrassed. “That’s… only if ten people out of billions actually manage it…”

  Izan grinned reassuringly, stepping a little closer. “Hey, don’t downpy it. Even if it’s rare, you’re already capable of more than most people could ever dream of. You just have to believe in yourself… and I know you can do it.”

  Rin’s eyes widened slightly at his words, a flutter of warmth and uncertainty crossing her expression. She could feel her heart beating faster, her cheeks still tinged with pink. The cat on her head let out a soft, zy meow, as if echoing the quiet calm of the moment.

  Meanwhile, elsewhere, Sayaka and Valeria had been talking in low, serious tones. Sayaka listened intently as Valeria spoke, the words slowly sinking in. Her eyes grew wide, her brows furrowing with shock and confusion. Memories she had buried for years began to surface—fragments of Aermi, of past events, and of her own experiences.

  Sayaka’s hands trembled slightly as she gripped her p. Her breathing became shallow, each memory like a weight pressing down on her chest. The room seemed to blur around her as the realization of everything she had forgotten came crashing back, unrelenting. Her knees threatened to buckle, but Valeria’s hand rested gently on her shoulder, grounding her.

  “It’s… a lot to take in,” Valeria said softly, her voice calm and steady, a contrast to the storm brewing inside Sayaka. “But you’re not alone. I’m here. We’ll face this together.”

  Sayaka’s eyes welled with tears, a mixture of fear, sorrow, and relief. She slowly lowered herself to sit on the floor, Valeria kneeling beside her, guiding her through the wave of memories without rushing. Each fragment of Aermi’s history, each hidden truth, threatened to overwhelm her—but Valeria’s presence gave her a tether, a lifeline back to the present.

  “I… I remember,” Sayaka whispered hoarsely, her voice cracking. “I remember… some of it… but not all…”

  “That’s okay,” Valeria said gently, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. “Memory isn’t all at once. It comes in pieces… and that’s enough for now. Take it slowly. Breathe.”

  Sayaka nodded, taking a deep, shuddering breath, trying to steady herself. The tears didn’t stop immediately, but she felt the crushing weight inside her ease slightly. Valeria stayed by her side, letting her lean on her as the memories continued to trickle in—a painful, yet healing process.

  Meanwhile, Izan guided Rin through the halls, weaving through the steady flow of students. Soon, they reached Aurelia’s cssroom. The quiet murmur of voices filled the room as everyone took their seats, books and notebooks already id out. Rin and Izan slipped in and settled down, ready for the lesson to begin.

  Aurelia, calm and composed as ever, moved to the front of the room. “Good afternoon, everyone,” she said, her voice steady and melodic. “Today, we will begin with mana control. “Make sure to take detailed notes from your textbooks. Knowing how mana works is just as important as using it in practice.”

  Ten students stepped forward, distributing the books to each desk with quiet efficiency. The room fell into a studious hush as Aurelia continued.

  “While you study,” she said, pointing to the glowing white crystal embedded in the center of the floor, “I will call students one by one—alphabetically by st name—to test your mana levels. This floor itself is enchanted to detect the strength and flow of your mana,” she expined, her gaze sweeping over the css as the crystal pulsed softly beneath her feet.

  Students opened their books and began scribbling notes diligently. The soft scratch of pens on paper and the occasional turning of pages filled the room, creating a quiet rhythm of focused study.

  Meanwhile, Aurelia began calling students one by one, watching carefully as each stepped onto the glowing floor crystal to have their mana measured. Her eyes scanned the list quickly before she spoke: “Rin Amagawa.”

  At the sound of her name, heads lifted across the room. Quiet whispers rippled through the css as Rin stood and slowly made her way forward. Aurelia raised a hand calmly. “Everyone, return to your studies.”

  Most obeyed, though several eyes lingered on Rin as she stepped onto the detector. The crystal beneath her feet glowed softly.

  Aurelia studied the results for a moment before nodding. “Rin… your mana pces you at Junior Disciple. It’s far above what’s expected for someone your age, even reaching levels close to some of the commanding students. Keep training with Yurei, and you’ll reach your full potential.”

  Rin nodded quickly and stepped back, As Rin walked back to her seat, heads still turning and whispers rippling around her, she lowered herself into the chair, her shoulders tense. Some students looked disappointed, as if expecting more. Her lips pressed into a thin line, trying not to let the sting show.

  Izan leaned slightly toward her, his cat settling back onto her p with a soft, zy purr. “Hey… don’t let them get to you,” he said quietly. “They already know your power, Rin. They know what you’re capable of. But that doesn’t mean you have to be the strongest at everything—especially at your age.”

  He studied her carefully, noticing the way her eyes flickered with self-doubt. “Your bloodline… yeah, it’s famous. People expect a lot. Too much. But those expectations? They’re not yours to carry. You shouldn’t think you have to be perfect in every single thing—magic, strength, everything—just to prove yourself.”

  Rin blinked, stunned into silence.

  Izan smiled gently, letting his words sink in. “You’re already incredible. Way beyond most students here. Way beyond what anyone your age could even dream of. So stop punishing yourself for not meeting someone else’s standards.”

  He went back to his notes, then leaned closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “I know this might sound random… but there are things no one else in this school can do. No one here can truly change the world.” His eyes were steady as he looked at her. “Except us.”

  He smiled softly. “There will be times I’ll need you for more than just being my friend. You’re my sister—someone I can trust. We’ll protect each other, and one day… we will change the world together. So just keep training, keep learning… and don’t pressure yourself to be perfect.”

  Rin’s lips trembled, and tears threatened to spill. Slowly, she curled up under the desk, hiding her face as she y her head in Izan’s p, covering herself from the eyes of the other students. His cat hopped onto her back, nuzzling softly as she let out quiet, trembling sobs.

  She clutched the cat gently, curling into a small ball, crying softly until exhaustion overtook her and she drifted into a shallow sleep.

  Izan watched her carefully, a warm smile tugging at his lips. Pride mixed with tenderness swelled in his chest—not just for her power, but for the trust she had just given him. He gently stroked her hair, feeling a quiet satisfaction in knowing she would rely on him, as they shared a rare, unspoken understanding.

  For a moment, everything felt calm, like the world had paused just for them. Izan lingered there a little longer, savoring the quiet connection they shared, before letting himself sit back and enjoy the simple comfort of the moment.