Where is he?
Elysia scanned the crowded hall, her eyes flickering over familiar faces, but none of them were his.
She had managed to pull fragments of truth from Ash earlier — not because he told her directly, but because she had sensed the lies he wrapped around his words like armor.
Piece by piece, between his avoidance and half-truths, she had understood: that demons would be attacking today.
But she didn't know when. Or how.
She didn't even know how Ash had come to know something like this. Many questions burned in her mind, She wanted to confront him, to say she knew about the lies, about the half-truths he tried to bury beneath that calm face.
But she had held herself back because — the moment he spoke of the world ending, something in her heart shifted.
Because if it was Ash…
Then he'd never tell her anything. Not if it meant keeping her away from danger. Not after he'd already lost her once.
That bastard is still an idiot… if only he had confronted me, we wouldn't need to play this stupid game of hide and seek…
And if he thinks staying away from me makes me safe, then he's wrong. Has he forgotten who I am?
If he really believes I'll just leave him alone… then he's dreaming.
That's when her eyes landed on him.
A boy with silvery white hair, leaning casually near one of the pillars, staring right at her. He wore a grey shirt, collar loose like he couldn't be bothered, and a stare that made the rest of the world look too loud.
Uhh...he will look much better if he smiles...
I don't know if it's coincidence or not, but… why does our hair look almost the same…
That's when an indecent thought caught her off guard. Her cheeks flushed faintly as her mind wandered too far.
No. Stop. What are you even thinking? We're still kids. The world's about to end — I can't be thinking about things like that now.
She shook her head lightly and turned back toward the others, trying to mask her expression.
"We should split up," she said, her tone brisk, slipping back into the role of a leader before anyone could ask questions. "Look around. If you notice anything strange, tell me immediately."
The others nodded, sensing her seriousness.
"Did Melissa pick up the call?" Grace asked, her voice low.
"No. I don't know where she is," Elysia replied, trying not to let her disappointment show too much. Her fingers twitched restlessly at her side.
"Should we tell the boys about this? They might be able to help," Lyra suggested carefully, glancing between them.
Elysia paused for a moment. That suggestion... it made sense. But her silence lingered.
She wanted to go to Instructor Elva, to shout the warning loud enough that someone had to believe her. But something inside her stopped her.
What if I ruin everything Ash is trying to do by interfering? What if he's planned something already...?
She had only told the people she could trust—the ones who would listen without questioning her sanity. Because she couldn't afford doubts. Not tonight.
As she turned the thought over, Amelia hesitantly raised her hand and spoke up, her voice small.
"Umm... T-that... I, um... I had a dream. About today."
All eyes turned to her. Even the music in the background felt quieter for a second, like the moment was holding its breath.
"In my dream..." Amelia continued, fidgeting with her sleeves, "the instructors... they all vanished. Like they were teleported somewhere else. And then... demons. They started pouring in from a portal. There was screaming, and... and blood. So much blood. And Ray... Ray was fighting at the front."
Her voice broke at the end, the words trembling as if afraid to exist.
Everyone stared at her.
Grace's expression turned sharp, her voice colder than usual.
"How exactly is your dream related to reality, Amelia?"
"I-I don't know," Amelia stammered. "I thought it was just a nightmare, but with everything happening... it doesn't feel like one anymore."
Lyra opened her mouth, trying to brush it off with a light laugh. "It's just a dream, Amelia. We've had tough days. Maybe you just—"
"Go inform the instructors," Elysia said suddenly, her voice slicing through the noise like a sword through fog.
They all froze.
Even Amelia stared at her, eyes wide—not because of the command, but because of what she felt.
From Elysia, Amelia felt myriads of emotions—concern, anger, and a kind of deep, aching longing, but there was no fear. It was so unlike Grace, who masked her uncertainty behind control. So unlike Lyra, who flinched with fear even as she smiled.
There was something about Elysia that didn't match the rest of them.
What is she...? Amelia thought, unable to look away.
"Go tell Instructor Elva," Elysia repeated, her voice still calm, but firmer now. "If we can stop it, even a little, we must try. I'd rather risk being wrong than watch people die."
Before anyone could reply, she turned and walked away, her steps swift and purposeful.
Amelia, Grace, and Lyra exchanged glances. No more words were needed between them.
They hurried toward Elva, who was at the middle of the hall, each step echoing with urgency that hadn't been there moments ago.
The banquet, once filled with careless laughter and soft music, suddenly felt different—like the first raindrop before a storm.
***
[Aurora Starborn]
The banquet was loud and way too sparkly for her taste.
Aurora Starborn stood at the center of it all, surrounded by instructors and students who probably wouldn't have even looked at her twice a year ago. Now they couldn't stop.
Ever since her trait *[Blessed by Stars]* awakened, everything had changed.
She used to be just some commoner girl with second-hand robes and no last name worth mentioning. People laughed, whispered, pitied. But then star mana burst out of her like it had been waiting for the right moment to show off—and just like that, the laughter stopped.
But what truly made it special—what set her apart—was its versatility.
She could use any spell with star mana. Fire, water, wind, lightning... didn't matter. It blended with them all. Of course, mastering every element was a nightmare and a half, and she wasn't anywhere near that yet, but still—just the potential was wild.
And one day, if she pushed hard enough, she could create spells meant purely for star mana. Ones no one else could use. Ones that felt like her.
Her own little galaxy of magic.
Just the thought made her lips twitch into a grin.
She liked how people respected her now.
...At least at first.
"Miss Aurora, I must say, your mana control is truly divine—"
"You're the future Saint, no doubt!"
"Would you consider joining our Guild? I believe the guild master himself—"
She smiled, nodded, acted polite.
Okay. Can someone please shut up for like two seconds. I'm not a relic, stop polishing me with words.
She wasn't even that old. Just thirteen. Barely fourteen. They talked like she was already halfway to becoming some ancient sage.
She glanced around, eyes flicking from one table to another, quietly stepping away from the crowd. She didn't hate praise, no. It was…nice. But when it got too much, she felt like choking.
I swear if one more old dude calls me 'young lady of stars,' I'm jumping out the window.
Walking toward the quieter side of the hall, she tugged at her sleeves, the embroidered stars along the hem twinkled with every step she took, almost as if they knew she was the reason the air buzzed tonight.
And then her eyes landed on someone.
A boy.
He had black hair just like her, his golden eyes shined like gems in the darkness, and the air he excluded was of confidence. He was eating the food present in the banquet.
Ray.
She'd heard about him, Although he didn't top the entrance exam, but was the strongest first-year anyway. He wasn't just strong—he was…weirdly quiet about it, which made people even more curious.
So that's him. Strongest first-year, huh?
Huh... kinda cool looking and cute.
She tilted her head slightly, amused. There was something off about him. Not in a bad way—just… different.
And maybe that's why her feet started moving on their own.
Well, I'm the strongest second-year. He's the strongest first-year. We should at least say hi, right? That's what normal powerful people do, yeah? Make connections and stuff.
And also... maybe I'm just bored.
So she walked toward him, trying not to look like she was trying too hard.
***
[Ray Dawson]
I don't know what to do…
Ray thought, chewing the cake slowly.
He was confused—torn between two headaches. On one side, someone in the academy was messing with his fate, pulling strings from the shadows. And on the other side, there was… a choice.
A stupid one.
Between saving one person.
Elysia or Senior Aurora.
And he hated that.
{What's so confusing about it? Just kill the girl you don't like. Problem solved.}
Stop reading my thoughts, dammit
{It's not like I want to. That's just how the connection works.}
Yeah? Then your last master must've had a garbage personality for you to turn out like this.
{Don't you dare insult my Master.}
I am your master.
Silence.
For once, the sword actually shut up.
Ray let out a long sigh and reached for another piece of cake. His mind was still spinning. He didn't want to think anymore.
But fate clearly didn't care what he wanted.
Because that's when he heard it.
A soft, sweet voice from behind.
"Hello, junior~"
Ray froze, his mouth was still stuffed with cake.
He turned around slowly.
And there she was.
The source of his current stress.
The one person he didn't want to see right now.
"S-Senior A-Aurora…?"
***