The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, at least, not in the way Zeke expected it to be.
They sat for a while longer beneath the open sky.
The ghost of Kaito's broken laugh, like a distant echo, lingered on.
A soft breeze rustled the grass nearby, stirring loose petals from a flowering tree that arched over the field. No one spoke. No one needed to.
When they finally stood, it was with a quiet agreement.
The air lingered behind them as they left the plaza, the statue of Orion looming behind them,a silent observer witnessing a story known to few. Their footsteps echoed faintly against the cobblestones, no one spoke at first. Not out of awkwardness—something else. Something unspoken had settled between them, fragile but real.
Zeke walked slightly behind the others, hands in his pockets, his gaze drifting between the shifting clouds overhead and the backs of the three who walked ahead.
Something had changed.
It wasn't just the heaviness in the air. It was the way Rian had glanced back at him twice, a subtle check-in Zeke might've missed before. The way Tala stayed close to Kaito's side, but didn't flinch when Zeke neared. The way Kaito, though quieter now, didn't radiate hostility.
Instead… there was a tension that had unraveled, even if only a little.
Zeke didn't know how to name it.
Was it trust? Comfort? Familiarity?
He wasn't used to either.
Then Rian threw an arm over Zeke's shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Zeke froze.
"What, this new to you?" Rian chuckled, totally unfazed. "You've got that brooding protagonist energy down pat."
Thankfully, Rian pulled back on his own with a grin. "Chill, bro. Just messing with you."
Tala turned back with a smile, eyes still a little red but brighter than before. "You'll get used to it. We are all big huggers."
Zeke wondered if anyone else felt something weird about that sentence but didn't push.
Kaito snorted, a hint of a smile on his face. "Speak for yourself."
They laughed. Not loud, but genuinely, for a moment, Zeke just let himself listen to it. Let it sink in.
He didn't laugh with them. Not yet.
But the corner of his mouth curled just slightly.
They weren't just traveling together anymore.
They were walking as friends.
Zeke still didn't fully understand what that meant or how to act but something told him that was okay. Maybe he would learn from them in his own way.
The academy path opened into a wide arch, a sliver of afternoon light filtering through vines crawling across the stonework. Up ahead stood a low, circular building—metallic panels and smooth white stone forming an arena shape. Zeke could feel the mana thrumming faintly in the air, the density rising as they got closer
"That must be the training hall" Tala said, her voice steadier now, but still gentle. "We should get familiar with the facilities before orientation."
Zeke followed their lead as they walked down the path lined with little garden lights and stepped through the door.
The air inside was cooler, charged with mana. The walls shimmered slightly, laced with protective enchantments. Rows of combat dummies lined one side of the room. On the other, platforms floated midair, designed for aerial sparring.
A few students were already inside—some sparring with weapons, others practicing techniques under the watchful eye of a floating orb that pulsed whenever it detected unsafe mana fluctuations.
Zeke's eyes widened. "This place is... insane."
Rian smirked. "Welcome to Virtutes Arcanae."
"Please..." Tala Rolled her eyes. "Stop repeating what Professor Lira said... Its your first time here too."
"Think they'll let us test anything out?" Kaito asked, already cracking his knuckles, eyes darting between the weapons rack and the training equipment.
"Probably. They said it's open-access, we just have to stay in the area for first and second years." Zeke nodded toward a board listing usage rules.
Before they could test anything out, a sudden cheer rang out across the training hall — loud, unified, and full of awe.
Zeke turned toward the source just as another round of shouting followed. The sound drew them like a magnet, the heavy atmosphere that had clung to them now thinning, replaced by curiosity.
They made their way across the hall, weaving through clusters of students until they reached the edge of a growing crowd. In the center stood a massive machine, sleek and metallic, with a glowing panel and a large, reinforced pad at the front — the impact sensor.
A student stepped up, cracked his knuckles, and launched a punch. The force triggered a burst of light across the display: 742. A ripple of impressed murmurs rolled through the crowd.
"That's…" Tala whispered, brows raised.
Before anyone could say anything else, Rian muttered under his breath, "I could do better."
He clearly hadn't meant for anyone to hear it — but of course, they all did.
The crowd went silent.-
Zeke glanced sideways. Kaito let out a chuckle. Tala sighed.
Then they all turned to Rian, the grin on his face fading away, realising everyone heard him.
The student who'd just thrown the punch — a tall guy with hair tied up in a bun and a cocky grin — turned toward the group.
"Didn't quite catch that," he said, voice dripping with smugness. "You said you could do better?"
Rian crossed his arms, feigning disinterest. "Yeah. So what."
A beat of tension passed. Someone in the crowd whistled.
"Alright then, let's see it, tough guy."
With a shrug that was more bravado than confidence, Rian stepped up to the pad. He rolled his shoulders, took a breath, and launched a punch.
403.
The machine beeped with a sad little tone.
The crowd exploded with laughter.
Even Zeke blinked in surprise. Tala covered her mouth, and Kaito outright snorted.
Rian's face flushed red, but he lifted his chin with a forced sneer.
"Whatever. I'm not a front line fighter anyways," he muttered. Then, louder, pointing at Zeke, "Wait—he'll do it. Let him try."
Before Zeke could object, Kaito gave him a playful shove, giggling like a little kid. "C'mon, Show us what you got."
More laughter followed. Eyes turned to Zeke — lean, unassuming, clearly not the muscleheaded, strong type.
Zeke sighed, the dormant energy within him activating fully.
If fighting Jake had only taken 30% of his energy, then this punch used at least 70%.
He stepped up to the pad, and raised a fist.
He punched.
Silence.
No number.
The screen stayed dark.
Someone in the back started laughing. Then another. And another.
Tala furrowed her brow, glancing between Kaito and Rian. "Wait… what just happ—?"
"Hey, Zeke—" Rian started.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.
The machine disintegrated, starting from the sensor and slowly moving back.
The leftover forced rippled out, smashing into the enchanted wall beyond. Runes flared, then flickered, the enchanted barrier shimmering like it might collapse.
The hall went dead silent.
Everyone stared.
Zeke looked at the pulverized remains of the machine drifting into the air, flexed his fingers, and muttered.
"…I think I hit the off switch."