Sunlight seeped through the shutters, striping the room with gold.
Under the king‑size blanket, a faint shift — Ronóva's fingers, then a slow blink. Her eyelids fluttered open. For a moment she lay still, gathering herself, then pushed herself up.
"W… what happened?" she whispered, hand to her forehead.
She peeled her hand away. Her snow‑white bangs fell back into place; her eyes sharpened. The soft, sleepy air vanished like mist.
"Oh, right…" Ronóva murmured as memories returned. She'd been unconscious.
From outside the closed door a maid's voice piped up, anxious and proper.
"You can't enter the princess's room without permission—!"
The door opened before the rebuke finished. A man filled the frame: voluminous blond hair, a natural golden sheen, almond‑shaped green eyes that held a teasing warmth. He grinned like this was the most natural thing in the world.
"Long time no see, my fiancée!" Aurelian said with an easy smile.
Ronóva stared back with a face like ice. No answer. No welcome.
A few moments later, they sat opposite each other in a sunlit salon of white and gilded trim. Ronóva perched on a white couch; Aurelian lounged across a low tea table.
"So," Aurelian began, voice casual but edged with concern, "how are you holding up? I heard about your father…"
Ronóva's tone was flat. "Fine. Why are you here?"
Aurelian cocked his head. "To see my future wife."
"Wife?" Ronóva repeated, unimpressed.
(Father made a pact long ago—an arranged marriage to secure trade. Now that he's gone, they expect me to accept. I can refuse.) she thought, expression unreadable.
(Marry him? Hell no.)
She crossed one leg over the other, cool as frost. "I'll decline," she said plainly.
Aurelian's smile dropped. "You can't be serious. Do you know what happens if you refuse? My father—your king—will cut trade. Your nation's economy will collapse."
Ronóva stood and stepped toward the door, voice steady as a knife. "I'm grateful for your family's help over the years. But we no longer need it." Her words were flat, final.
Aurelian's face darkened. "So you were using me until something better came along?"
"That's right." Ronóva opened the door and walked out, closing it behind her like a verdict.
She moved down the palace corridor, her gaze cold and narrow. The marble and banners blurred around her—annoyance folding into calculation.
(Annoying childhood friend. I'll deal with him if he becomes a problem.) she thought, steps echoing in the lofty hall.
Somewhere else—
Atop a vast mountain peak, the world stretched wide with no edge in sight. Short green grass rippled across the plateau, dotted with wildflowers that swayed under the steady wind. The sky was pure blue, flawless and endless.
Kaito, Renji, Ayame, Shizuku, Aya, Amara, and Takumi stood in a line. Their eyes fixed on Haruto, who faced them calmly. His hair, now shoulder-length, shimmered in a gradient of deep indigo at the roots, fading into pale blue at the tips, starry sparks flickering faintly through the strands like cosmic dust.
"Wow…" Ayame grinned. "Teacher looks even more handsome with long hair."
"Really?" Haruto tilted his head slightly.
Takumi frowned. "I'm surprised. I thought you'd be stuck in some kind of timeless state."
"I can," Haruto admitted evenly, "but there's no reason to. Anyway…" He let his gaze pass across them. "We have training to do."
"Training?!" Renji blinked.
"Yes. Soon, you'll spar with another school. I need to see what you're capable of."
Kaito smirked. "Are they strong?"
"Pretty much," Haruto replied without hesitation.
Shizuku leaned forward. "So… what kind of training?"
"Simple." Haruto's voice carried the weight of command. "All of you—attack me at once."
"Eh?!" Aya's eyes widened.
Amara jumped with excitement. "Finally! Let's go!"
"Don't hold back," Haruto added with a faint smile.
"Wouldn't be stupid enough to!" Ayame shot back with a smirk.
---
Amara struck first. She launched into the air and came down with a fierce downward kick.
"Ah?!" She gasped as Haruto caught her leg mid-strike. Shock spread across her face before he casually swung her aside, spinning her through the air.
"Wha—!" Kaito leapt forward, catching Amara by the collar before she hit the ground.
Haruto's gaze flicked down. The earth beneath his feet rumbled—Aya's magic had taken hold. A massive circle lit beneath him, pinning his body into the ground.
"Everyone back!" Takumi shouted.
The others scattered. Renji extended both arms, palms forward. The glowing circle pulsed as his voice rang out:
"Fire Magic!"
The mountain shook with the roar of an explosion. Flames tore upward, a pillar of fire devouring the sky. The shockwave ripped across the plateau, but the group braced together, holding formation.
When the flames began to settle, Shizuku conjured a bow of pure water, drawing its liquid string. A shimmering arrow formed at the ready.
But then—the flames above vanished. Smoke peeled away, revealing Haruto standing calmly, a condensed orb of crimson fire hovering in his hand.
"Impossible…" Renji muttered.
"Now!" Shizuku fired. Her arrow streaked like lightning toward Haruto.
Haruto smiled faintly, raising a finger. The fireball floated before it, humming with power. In a flash, he released it—the beam of flame collided with the arrow mid-air, each spell grazing past the other.
The water arrow veered sharply at the last second, curving away from Haruto as though the air itself rejected it.
"That's not fair!" Shizuku cried, face twisting in frustration.
"Absolute Ward—First Layer: Veil of Denial." Haruto's calm tone explained nothing, yet everything. "Elemental and force based attacks are useless against me."
Meanwhile, his flame beam crashed against Aya's barrier. She poured more mana into the spell, teeth clenched as cracks spread through her defense. Inside, Kaito, Renji, Shizuku, Takumi, and Amara huddled close, straining to hold it together.
Haruto's eyes flicked—and narrowed.
"Ayame," he muttered.
Behind him, a flash of silver. Ayame stood with a snow-white sword in both hands, its black hilt firm in her grip. She swung at his neck with precision.
"Got you."
"Not even close." Haruto's smirk cut sharper than her blade.
Her strike sliced air. He had vanished—reappearing behind her before she could blink.
"Very good," he murmured, tapping her neck with one finger.
Her eyes rolled shut. She collapsed softly to the grass, unconscious.
Haruto turned toward Aya's crumbling barrier. "Enough."
The flame beam flickered out. His voice rang like a commandment:
"Sleep."
In an instant, they all slumped where they stood. Vox Ordinis—the Voice of Order, is a sub skill born of Seraphina's authority. His words carried law itself, binding reality to obedience.
Silence fell. Only the wind remained.
"They're strong," Haruto admitted quietly, "but not yet strong enough to defeat Selene or the others."
His gaze shifted across the unconscious group. "Renji is the most promising. His mana reserves are vast; his magic will be devastating with refinement. Second is Shizuku—her water magic has potential, though she'll need a spirit contract. Then Aya. Kaito and Takumi… tied. Both rely on mental tricks."
He paused over Ayame's form. "And her…"
A rare smile curved his lips. "Ayame is special. I'll take her under my wing."
Finally, his eyes lingered on Amara. "She's last—not because she's weak, but because physical attacks mean little in this world."
The wind tugged at his indigo hair. Haruto turned away, his expression unreadable.
Some moments later, in the classroom, Haruto's students lay with their heads on their desks, faces drained of energy and defeat.
Haruto stood at the front, hands in his pockets, observing them quietly.
(They have zero chance of defeating Selene and the others… all those unique skills make them almost untouchable. Only another unique or ultimate user could harm them.) Haruto thought.
(I can't forge unique skills from their identities… their souls are too weak. Any attempt would tear them apart instantly.)
Renji lifted his hand, breaking the silence.
"Teacher!" he called, earning the attention of both Haruto and his classmates.
All eyes turned to him, waiting.
Haruto nodded. "Yes?"
Renji lowered his arm. "How… how do we get stronger?" His gaze burned with determination.
The others lifted their heads, inspired. Amara clenched her fists. "Yeah! What do we need to do to get stronger?"
(Hmm… maybe there's still hope…) Haruto mused.
"Alright," he said. "First—tell me. How many types of magic can you each use?"
"I… I can only use one," Aya replied quietly, seated at the front row next to Shizuku.
"Only one or two types!" Shizuku added.
Haruto's face turned blank.
"Are you serious?" he asked, voice flat.
"Dead serious," Takumi said from the row behind Aya.
Haruto exhaled slowly. "In one month, I want all of you to be able to wield all seven elements."
Kaito nearly fell out of his chair. "Hah!? That's impossible! We're only human!"
Haruto smiled faintly. "You won't know if you don't try."
"Teacher… why do we need all seven elements?" Takumi asked.
Haruto turned to the blackboard. "Imagine this: you're facing an opponent using water magic. If you only know fire magic, you're at a disadvantage. Water beats fire—you die. That's why mastering all elements matters."
On the board, he wrote the title Elemental Counter System and listed the seven elements vertically: Water, Fire, Air, Light, Ice, Earth.
Tapping on Water, he explained, "Water is strong against Fire and Earth, but weak against Light and Ice. Each element has counters. Knowing them all will keep you alive—and make you versatile."
"So… you're going to teach us?" Aya asked hopefully.
Haruto waved a hand. "Nope. This time, you'll learn it yourselves."
"What? We can't do it alone, Teacher!" Amara protested.
"I believe you can," Haruto said firmly. "Learning it together will force you to understand the concepts. Only then will you be ready for advanced magic."
Shizuku clenched her fists. "Then let's give it our best, everyone!"
Kaito and Renji nodded silently. The school bell rang, signaling a break.
"You can take your break now," Haruto announced.
The students filed out. Only Ayame remained, standing by the door.
"Teacher?" she called, turning with a confused look.
Haruto smiled gently. "I decided you won't be learning magic with the others."
"What… do you mean?" Ayame asked, worry tinting her voice.
"You're not suited to be a mage," Haruto explained softly.
Ayame's face fell. "B…but—" The words caught in her throat.
Haruto reached out and patted her head. "I'm not kicking you out. Don't be sad. There's something else I have for you."
Her eyes widened. "Something else?"
"Yes. A swordsman's path will suit you better. You should focus on developing your skills there."
"A swordsman?" she repeated, hope flickering.
"I'll train you personally. You have a lot of potential," Haruto reassured her.
Ayame wiped her tears away and smiled brightly. "I'll do my best. Thank you, Teacher!"
Outside the classroom, leaning against the wall, Renji crossed his arms.
(I made the right choice coming here… good luck, sis.) he thought, a small smile on his face.