The training ground was silent that night. The lights were dim, just enough to illuminate the small circle where Damian and his friends sat. Their faces were drawn together in tense shadows. No one spoke. They were all waiting for one person.
Kaien sat with his back against the wall, one hand running through his slightly tangled dark orange hair. He took a deep breath, his gaze scanning each of his friends' faces one by one. "Okay…" he finally said, his voice low but clear.
"You deserve to know this."
Damian sat with his thin ice sword in his lap. Not to prepare for battle, just to calm himself. His fingers gripping the hilt trembled slightly. He knew Kaien's next words could change everything.
"I'm… not just a new student of Drakemarch," Kaien began, his tone different from usual—heavier, more honest.
"I'm also… just like you. I'm not originally from this world, because somehow I have memories of my past before I was born in this world."
Lucien immediately straightened, his face showed a picture of confusion. "What do you mean…?" His voice was almost trembling.
Damian, usually composed, glared at Kaien. "Don't joke. You sound like...."
"Yes." Kaien interrupted quickly, his faint smile vanishing, replaced by a rare seriousness. "I was also a victim of an accident in the old world. I died there… and woke up here."
The atmosphere froze.
Lucien stared at Kaien unblinkingly, as if trying to make sure he hadn't heard correctly.
Nero remained silent, but his gaze was piercing, as if weighing every word.
Damian held his breath, his chest heavy. Part of him had suspected this ever since the ancient painting had reacted. But hearing it directly from Kaien's mouth made everything different.
Silence fell once more. No one dared speak. The only sound was the flickering light of the training field lamps, as the new truth was finally revealed.
The atmosphere in the lower training room grew quieter. The blue crystals on the walls glowed softly, their light illuminating the faces of the students seated in a circle. All eyes remained on Kaien.
Kaien closed his eyes slowly. When he opened his mouth again, his voice dropped, heavier than before. "I still remember," he said. "About the accident I had before I came to this world."
Damian stared at him intently. The image felt all too familiar.
"After that," Kaien continued, his voice barely a whisper, "everything went dark. There was no more pain. Just silence."
Silence filled the hall. Everyone listened without interruption.
"And when I opened my eyes again…" Kaien opened his eyes, "I was in a room, held by my parents. In a new body that wasn't even my own."
Damian swallowed hard. "Just… exactly like us." His mind was spinning rapidly, as if all the pieces were coming together.
Lucien leaned back against the wall. His expression was serious, his tone firm yet calm. "That means the mural truly responds only to us… who come from the old world."
Nero remained silent in the corner, but his eyes glinted coldly, clearly listening intently to every word.
There was no denying it. The truth that had just come from Kaien's mouth made the circle even clearer: they weren't just Zephyrus's disciples. They were people from another world, and the ancient painting had been activated because of them.
The silence on the training ground was finally broken when Elric suddenly raised his hand high.
"OHHH! So we're all transfer students from another world. No wonder I always thought I was a genius. It turns out God gave us a bonus," he said loudly, a wide smile almost covering his face.
Damian reflexively patted him gently on the shoulder. "Your brain is just so-so," he said curtly.
Everyone held back laughter. Even the usually cool Lucien shook his head slightly, while Nero had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. The tension that had been pressing down on the room slightly eased.
Damian slowly stood from his seat. His steps were steady, though his breathing was still heavy after all the confessions that had just occurred. He approached Kaien and patted his shoulder. His gaze was serious, not merely polite.
"From now on," Damian said, his voice audible in the silent room, "you're not alone anymore. We'll face everything… together."
Kaien stared at him for a moment in silence. There was something in his eyes, a mix of relief, hesitation, and a hint of warmth, before a small smile appeared on his face. "Then," he said lightly, "I'll play."
Elric, who had been fidgeting with a sandwich on his lap, immediately raised it high. "Then let's celebrate our union with a big dinner today!" he exclaimed enthusiastically.
"ELRIC!" everyone instinctively shouted in unison.
The previously tense atmosphere was instantly broken by the sound of laughter.
Lucien let a faint smile cross his face.
Damian laughed along, his heart feeling lighter than before. For the first time, they were no longer just a bunch of students who happened to be on the same team, but comrades who were truly starting to open up to each other.
Above their heads, the blue crystal light continued to glow softly, as if bearing witness to the beginnings of a newly formed bond.
That night, in the Zephyrus training ground, a great secret was revealed, and a fragile friendship began to transform into something stronger.