While chaos brewed at the Luck Goddess Palace, Rey, Aiden, and Victor lingered in the shadow of a narrow street.
Aiden's sharp eyes moved over Rey's ragged attire. "So… what's the plan? Gonna walk into class like that?"
Rey blinked, then glanced down. His clothes, once intact, now hung in tatters. Sleeves torn. Shirt shredded. Pants no better than rags.
"When did this—?!" His jaw slackened. "I—I look like a beggar! And school starts in two minutes!" He clawed at his hair, panic rising.
[Calm yourself. I can resolve this.]
The familiar, calm voice of Zero surfaced in his mind. Rey nearly jumped.
"Zero! You're still alive! Oh sorry... Yes, yes, hurry! If I'm late again, I'm finished!"
Mana surged. A liquid silver sheen crawled across his skin, devouring fabric until only his shorts remained. The particles shifted, weaving thread and fabric over him like a tailor working at divine speed.
Grey trousers. Crisp white shirt. Neatly knotted tie. Polished black shoes that gleamed like glass.
Rey twirled, admiring himself. "Ohhh, that was amazing! Just like the transformation sequences in—"
The clothes suddenly inflated, hanging off him like a child lost in his father's wardrobe.
"Hey! Not like this—"
The uniform shrank back, moulding perfectly to his frame. Rey coughed, cheeks heating. "Right… maybe don't try that in public again."
He slung his bag over his shoulder. "Alright. Last day before the exam. Let's go."
The school gates loomed ahead. Closed. Locked. Sir Peter stood there with a book in hand, eyes scanning the late arrivals like a hawk.
Rey froze. "...Not again."
"I'm doomed."
Aiden smirked. "Why not climb the wall? You're not that weak anymore."
Rey hesitated. Then nodded. "You're right… I can do this."
He sprinted to a quieter corner, where the wall stretched about six feet. He leapt. Fingers scraped the edge, but slipped.
"Almost—!"
He tried again, putting more force into the jump. This time, his hand caught the top. He pulled himself up, swung his leg over, and rolled down the other side with a clumsy but triumphant grin.
"Easy."
Checking the coast, he darted to his classroom and slid the door open. The chatter stopped.
Dozens of eyes landed on him.
Girls whispered behind their hands, cheeks flushed. Boys scowled, jaws tight with envy. The class monitor, Jim, rose from his seat.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Rey tilted his head. "...What kind of question is that? I'm your classmate."
"This is the senior class. I don't recall anyone looking like you." Jim's glare deepened.
Rey's brow furrowed. "Huh? Stop messing with me. It's me—Rey Dragonstorm."
The silence was shattered. Murmurs exploded.
"Did he just say Dragonstorm?""No way. Rey's the skinny nerdy kid, remember? This guy looks like—like a different person!""Impossible. No one changes this much in two days!"
The commotion spilt into the hallway. Curious students from other sections crowded the doorway, expecting a fight. Instead, they found a stranger claiming to be Rey.
"What's going on?" someone demanded.
"That guy's saying he's Rey. But… that can't be Rey."
The name spread like wildfire until James, blond-haired and sharp-eyed, pushed through the crowd. His gaze locked on the boy sitting at his friend's desk, leafing through familiar books.
"Hey! Who are you, and why are you sitting there—"
"Oh, James!" Rey's face lit up. "Perfect timing! I was just about to find you and Evan. Where is he? Don't you two usually come together?"
James froze. The voice. The mannerisms. Even the way he smiled.
"Rey…?" His words trembled.
"Of course it's me. Why is everyone making such a big deal?"
James lowered his voice. "Because you don't look like you. Your face—it's… different."
Rey blinked. Then it clicked. "…Oh. So that's it. Heh. I'll explain later. Secret." He leaned closer. "But where's Evan? I don't see him anywhere."
James's expression darkened. "That's what I was going to ask you. He's been missing since the day you took leave."
Rey's breath hitched.
Before he could ask more, Aiden appeared at his side, invisible to everyone else.
"Boy. I need to tell you something."
Rey's thoughts turned sharp. What now?
Aiden's voice carried the weight of stone. "Your friend… is no longer in this world."
Rey's mind went blank.
His lips parted, but only one word escaped.
"Huh?"
To be continued…
Author's note: Why did Aiden say that? Is Evan truly gone? And another question: why did Rey refer to himself as Dragonstrom when his system panel names him Shadowthrone? Is there a story behind it? Stay tuned to find out.