That afternoon, Zephyrus's center garden was bustling with students taking a break. The sun was starting to set, filtering light through the trees. Damian and his friends sat together on one of the benches; some were on chairs, while others were on the grass.
The afternoon breeze was cool, relaxing enough to help them relax after their training. But the calm didn't last long. Elric, as usual, was the first to speak.
"If there's an eating contest at the festival next week," he said confidently, "I'll definitely win."
Kaien, who was casually nibbling on an apple, glanced over. "Probably the sleeping champion."
"WHAT?!" Elric half-stood up, his face bright red. Damian quickly held his shoulders before he could make a real fuss. "Never mind. You can win second place," he said lightly.
Kaien grinned slightly, satisfied with his reaction.
Tessa, sitting on the other side of the bench, flipped her long hair elegantly. "I don't think there's anything more embarrassing than an eating contest."
Rin turned, her smile small but sincere. "I'd like to try. It sounds fun."
Elric turned quickly. "HAH! See? Someone's supporting me!"
Rin laughed softly, while Tessa just sighed, not wanting to continue the argument. Kaien took another bite of his apple, deliberately not adding any further comment.
Liam sat quietly beside Damian. He didn't say much, simply observing his friends one by one with a calm gaze.
Damian paused for a moment, looking at his friends one by one. They laughed, joked, and even argued a little. It all felt simple but enjoyable. For that moment, Damian forgot the ancient painting, the rumors, and the other threats. All that existed was this afternoon, their togetherness, and the feeling that they were starting to become a team.
The afternoon breeze blew gently, carrying the sound of their laughter through Zephyrus Park.
That afternoon in the school's central garden, the atmosphere was calm. The other students were busy chatting, while Damian and his friends sat together, some on wooden benches and some on the grass. They were laughing, and the atmosphere was relaxed.
Lucien broke the silence with a serious tone. He opened his thin book, his index finger tracing the pages. "If we seriously practice our fighting rhythm," he said flatly, "our combined strength can rise two levels."
Nero, who sat a little away, his face half-shadowed, only lifted his head briefly. He gave a slight nod, once… twice. He didn't say anything else, but it was clear he heard and agreed.
Elric glared, leaning forward. "Level up? You mean like the rankings on that magic board?" his voice was full of enthusiasm.
Damian turned, smiling faintly. "Magic board. It's how the world judges achievement and strength here. A kind of reminder… of who is superior in the public eye."
Tessa snorted, staring lazily at the evening sky. "Rankings only matter if you care about politics. I prefer to focus on myself." Her tone was cold, but firm.
Kaien chuckled, taking a bite of the apple in his hand. "That sounds very arrogant. It suits you."
Tessa's sharp gaze immediately turned to him. But Kaien simply shrugged casually, his smile remaining. There was no further provocation, but it was enough to make Tessa sigh in annoyance.
Damian watched the interaction, then smiled faintly. This conversation may have been trivial, full of jokes, even a hint of sarcasm. But to his ears, it all sounded lively. To Damian, the light laughter, the brief comments, even Nero's cold silence—all of it signified one thing: they were slowly growing closer.
The afternoon atmosphere in Zephyrus' central park was briefly broken by light laughter. Elric was still busy arguing with Kaien about rankings, while Tessa flipped her hair with an annoyed expression. Rin giggled softly, Liam remained silent, but his eyes were warm, and Damian enjoyed the warmth of their small circle.
But the sound of soft footsteps interrupted everything.
Professor Limbert stood behind them. The evening shadows stretched behind him, a thick notebook in his hand. His gaze, as usual, was sharp but level.
No one immediately dared to speak. Rin and Tessa instinctively sat up straighter, Elric closed his mouth as he was about to comment, and Lucien silently straightened his book.
"It seems you're starting to understand the meaning of a team," Limbert said in a low, almost flat tone, but enough to pierce.
Damian, who had been sitting, immediately stood up, his body slightly stiff. "Professor—" his voice choked, unsure of how to respond.
But Limbert simply closed his notebook slowly. "Continue. You'll need it."
Without waiting for a response, he turned away, leaving them with mixed feelings.
Damian stared at his teacher, who walked away from them. There was something different about his words than usual. They weren't just a reprimand, but a warning. "What does he mean?" he thought.
The small circle fell silent again. Even the usually restless Elric scratched his head, pretending to be busy with the leftover bread. Kaien merely narrowed his eyes, as if trying to decipher the meaning of the words. Lucien remained silent, but his pencil pressed harder than usual.
Together, they all felt the same thing: Limbert's warning wasn't just a mere word. Something bigger awaited them ahead.
That night, far from Zephyrus, the atmosphere was eerily quiet. The night wind blew strongly over a high cliff. There, a figure in a black cloak stood silently. From there, he could see the faintly glowing roof of Zephyrus Academy in the distance.
He didn't move for long. His hooded eyes stared intently at the academy.
"Those children…" he said quietly. His voice was a hint of mockery. "They were the ones who defeated Velgrin. You idiot Velgrin."
He smiled faintly. Velgrin's defeat was nothing to him, merely a joke.
The figure stood tall, unconcerned by the cold wind or the height of the cliff. Only one thing mattered: observing the students who were now beginning to be noticed by the world.
His gaze narrowed, as if planning his next move. "Those children are different. And that difference... could be the key."
Slowly, his body merged with the darkness. Shadows swallowed him until he disappeared without a sound.
All that remained was the silent cliff, with the night wind continuing to blow.
Laughter erupted again in the park that night when Elric enthusiastically challenged Kaien to a push-up contest on the grass. Both men immediately dropped to the ground. Elric's swift movements made his face red, while Kaien looked relaxed, as if he were just killing time.
"ONE! TWO! THREE!" Rin stood beside them, counting with exaggerated enthusiasm. His wide smile never faded, his eyes sparkling as he watched the two compete.
Tessa, on the other hand, crossed her arms. "So childish. What's the point of all this?" she muttered, though she kept her head turned, clearly unable to ignore the spectacle.
Lucien sat a little apart, his thin notebook open on his lap. He wrote down numbers calmly, recording the number of push-ups expressionlessly. "Twenty-three... twenty-four..." he said flatly, as if there was nothing special about the commotion before him.
Damian, who had been observing, let out a long sigh. This time, however, a faint smile spread across his face. He looked up at the night sky. The stars twinkled faintly above, partially obscured by thin clouds. There was something in the starlight that resonated with the atmosphere below—small, simple, yet meaningful.
"We may still be far from ready," Damian thought silently. "But for the first time, I feel… this is the beginning of something big."
A light tap landed on his shoulder. Damian turned. Liam stood beside him, his gaze calm as always. "You're not alone," he said simply.
Damian stared at him for a moment, then his smile widened. "I know."
Around them, the sounds of Elric's laughter and silly protests filled the air again. The night may have been simple, just a get-together after practice. But to Damian, this small circle was no longer just academy mates. They were the beginning of something that would shake the world.
That night, Zephyrus Academy was quiet. But in the headmaster's office, the atmosphere was different. Crystal light illuminated shelves filled with books and documents. Professor Limbert stood before a large desk with a map of the world of Altareon spread out on it.
With a calm hand, he marked four key points.
North – a snowy and harsh region.
South – a hot desert and a troubled port city.
East – an ancient forest full of magical secrets.
West – a mountain range known for its danger and infested with bandits.
Each point lit up briefly, then dimmed.
"It's time to prepare for the secret mission," Limbert said quietly. He stared thoughtfully at the map. "The four corners of the world… will be their next test."
Outside, the academy remained quiet. The students slept, unaware of the grand plan underway. Their peaceful days were about to change.
And for Damian and his friends, what awaited them was no longer training, but a true test that would determine who they were.