Akitsu Shouga and Kaoru walked side by side through the wide hallways of Fiester Academy’s academic building. Sunlight streamed in through tall arched windows, illuminating stone floors etched with faint magical runes that pulsed gently with life. Students moved around them in clusters—some laughing, others whispering, all buzzing with the restless energy of a first day.

  They reached a crossroads where several corridors branched off in different directions.

  “Shouga-kun, I have to go this way…” Kaoru said, pointing down one of the halls. “I’ll see you later!!”

  She waved cheerfully before turning and jogging off.

  Akitsu raised his hand and waved back, watching her disappear into the crowd before heading toward the staircase leading upward. He climbed the steps at an unhurried pace until he reached his assigned classroom.

  Classroom 4-C.

  He slid the door open.

  The moment he stepped inside, the chatter died down.

  Dozens of eyes turned toward him at once.

  Whispers spread like wildfire.

  “Hey, isn’t it that kid who gave the speech this morning??”

  “Isn’t that the star student?”

  “To be honest, he looks pretty weak.”

  Akitsu ignored them and walked calmly to an empty seat near the back, right beside the window. He sat down, resting his elbow on the desk as he gazed outside at the courtyard below.

  Why are they staring at me?? he thought. Did I do something?

  A familiar presence materialized behind him.

  Seraphine Orion floated lazily in the air, her small white fox form sprawled midair as if she were lying on an invisible couch, her expression bored beyond belief.

  “No, you didn’t,” she said. “It’s probably because of the speech you gave at the auditorium this morning.”

  How did you know I gave a speech at the auditorium? Akitsu thought sharply. You weren’t even there!

  “Hey, I was there,” Seraphine replied smugly. “At the back of the auditorium so that I wouldn’t get caught by someone.”

  Akitsu chose to ignore her and returned his gaze to the window.

  A shadow fell over his desk.

  A boy with neatly combed red hair, red eyes, and round glasses stood beside him, fidgeting slightly.

  “Um… excuse me,” the boy said nervously. “Is this seat taken?”

  He pointed to the chair beside Akitsu.

  “I haven’t seen anyone sitting there,” Akitsu replied calmly. “I’m not sure, but you can sit.”

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  The boy’s face lit up as if he’d just been given permission to breathe.

  “My name is Ringo Akuzaki,” he said eagerly. “Do you want to be friends?”

  “Sure,” Akitsu replied. “I’m Akitsu Shouga. I’ll be in your care.”

  “Really?!” Ringo’s eyes sparkled. “You really want to be friends with a guy like me? I thought you’d reject my offer!”

  “You look like a promising guy,” Akitsu said simply.

  “O–Oh, thank you…” Ringo stammered. “I never thought I’d have a friend as cool as you!”

  “What do you mean?” Akitsu asked. “I’m not a cool person.”

  “But you gave that awesome speech at the auditorium!” Ringo said excitedly. “Only the most important people get to go up on stage. It’s very rare—and you did it on your first day!”

  Akitsu chuckled softly.

  “Is that so?”

  At that moment, the classroom door slid open.

  A short woman stepped inside, wearing a pink robe that looked slightly too large for her. She clutched a stack of books to her chest, her posture stiff with nervousness.

  She turned to the board and carefully wrote her name:

  Takumi Hoshino

  She faced the class.

  “Umm… everyone, please sit down?”

  No one listened. Conversations continued, laughter echoed.

  “Excuse me, umm…” she tried again, her voice trembling. “Could you all be seated and be quiet? The lesson is about to start!”

  A blond-haired boy scoffed loudly.

  “Shut up!” he said. “What kind of teacher are you supposed to be, huh?”

  He stood up and walked toward her.

  Akitsu slowly rose from his seat.

  He’s going down the wrong path, he thought. Arrogance will lead to failure.

  The boy stopped right in front of the teacher.

  “Who are you to talk so high and mighty?” he sneered.

  The classroom fell silent.

  “Please,” Takumi Hoshino said quietly, “go back to your seat and be quiet.”

  The boy leaned closer, invading her space.

  “And what if I don’t??”

  In the next instant—

  She grabbed his wrist, twisted it effortlessly, and slammed him into the floor with a bone-rattling thud.

  Gasps filled the room.

  Takumi Hoshino looked around at the stunned students, her expression cold and devoid of fear.

  “Sit in your seats and shut your mouth, got it?” she said calmly.

  “You all are nothing but filthy rodents to me. I’ll kill every one of you if I have to.”

  Every student froze.

  Chairs scraped as they hurried back into place.

  Akitsu slowly sat down.

  Looks like it was all under control, he thought. I think this school year is going to be fun.

  “All right,” Takumi Hoshino said as if nothing had happened. “Let’s start the lesson… Please open your textbooks to page sixty-nine.”

  After classes ended, Akitsu exited the academic building and spotted Kaoru sitting quietly on a bench nearby.

  He walked over to her.

  “Kaoru, how was your first day here??”

  She looked up and smiled softly.

  “It was good.”

  “All right,” Akitsu said. “Let’s head home for the day.”

  She stood, and they walked together toward the academy’s exit.

  As they passed through the gates, Akitsu’s eyes were drawn—once again—to the same dark alleyway he’d noticed that morning.

  It’s that same alleyway again… he thought. Should I check it out?? I feel like something is there… but I can’t leave Kaoru alone… Maybe I’ll check it later.

  “You’re planning to check it out tonight, aren’t you??” Seraphine whispered.

  Akitsu glanced at her, then looked away.

  Kaoru noticed his distraction.

  “Is there something wrong??” she asked. “What are you looking at so enthusiastically??”

  “It’s nothing important,” Akitsu replied. “There’s no need to worry.”

  They continued home as the sun sank below the horizon.

  Later that night, Akitsu entered the mansion’s vast library. Tall shelves towered over him, packed tightly with ancient tomes and scrolls heavy with dust and history.

  He walked slowly between them.

  “Is there any book about powers?” he muttered.

  “I don’t know,” Seraphine replied lazily. “Maybe you should check with your eyes!!”

  “What does it look like to you?” Akitsu said calmly. “I’m obviously trying to look for it.”

  “Oh!” Seraphine perked up. “I think that’s it!!”

  She pointed toward a book resting alone—its cover completely blank.

  Akitsu picked it up, frowning.

  “Are you sure this is the right one??”

  “Trust me,” Seraphine said confidently. “It’s always the books that are old and unused that are the ones we’re looking for!”

  “…Alright, if you say so.”

  He carried the book to a nearby desk and sat down, Seraphine floating beside him as he prepared to open it.