Kaito stood at the entrance of Crescent Academy, his hands tucked deep in his jacket pockets, a slight frown creasing his brow. The wind swirled around him, carrying with it the scent of the freshly blooming cherry blossoms from the courtyard. Yet, despite the picturesque scene unfolding before him, his mind was elsewhere—focused on something far more important than the normal hustle and bustle of the school.
The labyrinth beneath Crescent Academy.
Rumors had swirled since his arrival about strange occurrences beneath the school, most dismissed as nothing more than fantastical legends shared over lunch. But Kaito knew better. His senses, honed over the years as the Holy Mage, had picked up something—an eerie pulse of magic coming from deep underground.
He hadn't told anyone about it. Not yet, at least. He wasn't sure if anyone, even Aiko or his growing group of friends, could understand the significance of the presence he'd felt. It was dark, ancient, and powerful, pulling at him like a whisper from a time long forgotten.
"Kaito!" A voice broke through his thoughts. He turned to see Aiko jogging toward him, her school uniform fluttering slightly in the breeze. She was smiling, but there was an undertone of concern that only Kaito could catch.
"You look like you're deep in thought," she said, pausing in front of him. "Something on your mind?"
Kaito hesitated. Should he tell her? He wasn't one to keep secrets, but this was... different. It was dangerous. If what he suspected was true, it could change everything.
Before he could decide, the bell rang, signaling the start of class. With a small sigh, Kaito gave Aiko a faint smile. "Nothing you need to worry about. I'll catch up later."
Aiko raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Alright. But don't keep me in the dark for too long, Kaito." Her tone was light, but there was a deeper layer to her words—one that told Kaito she wouldn't let him shut her out forever.
As she walked off toward the school building, Kaito's mind wandered back to the underground labyrinth. The pulse was still there, as if beckoning him.
Later that afternoon, after his classes had ended, Kaito took the opportunity to explore the grounds of Crescent Academy. It was a sprawling campus, filled with towering trees and stone paths that twisted and turned like a maze. Most students were busy with their after-school activities or hanging out with friends, leaving Kaito with a rare moment of peace.
He made his way toward the northern edge of the academy, where the older buildings were located. The air grew cooler as he approached the stone archway that led into the older, unfrequented part of the school. Beyond that, the forested area stretched out, dense and ancient, hiding the entrance to the labyrinth he had sensed.
It didn't take long before Kaito found what he was looking for. Tucked beneath an overgrown ivy-covered staircase was a heavy iron door, partially hidden by the wild growth of years past. He crouched down, brushing the leaves away to reveal a series of runes carved into the stone—runic symbols that glowed faintly, pulsating with the same dark magic he had felt earlier.
Kaito's heart skipped a beat. These runes weren't something he had seen before, but they felt strangely familiar. There was a deep sense of dread mixed with the pull of curiosity.
Before he could touch the door, a voice called out, snapping him from his thoughts.
"Kaito?"
Kaito straightened up quickly, turning to see Miyu standing a few feet away. She was holding her violin case, the cool evening light casting long shadows across her features. Unlike the others, Miyu often kept to herself, quiet and reserved, but there was an undeniable connection between her and Kaito. He couldn't quite explain it, but they had shared a bond since their childhood—a bond neither of them had acknowledged until now.
"Miyu," Kaito said, a hint of surprise in his voice. "What are you doing here?"
"I was looking for you," she said, her voice soft yet steady. "I've been meaning to talk to you... about something."
Kaito raised an eyebrow, unsure of where this was going, but before he could ask, Miyu's eyes shifted to the door he was standing near. Her gaze hardened, and Kaito could sense the change in her energy—a quiet alertness, as though she was sensing the same thing he was.
"You feel it too, don't you?" she asked quietly.
Kaito blinked. "Feel what?"
"The magic," she replied. "There's something... wrong here. I've been hearing strange music in my dreams lately, and when I came to this part of the school, it was like the air itself was charged."
A cold shiver ran down Kaito's spine. Miyu had always been attuned to certain magical vibrations, but for her to pick up on this... it meant the presence beneath the school was even more dangerous than he had anticipated.
He nodded slowly. "I think this is where it starts. Whatever is happening, it's coming from beneath this door."
Miyu stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "What is it, Kaito? What's down there?"
Kaito shook his head, torn between wanting to protect her from the danger and feeling the overwhelming need to investigate it himself. "I don't know yet, but I intend to find out."
For a long moment, Miyu didn't say anything. Then, without warning, she spoke, her voice low but unwavering.
"Then I'm coming with you."
Kaito turned to her in surprise. "Miyu... this isn't something you should—"
But Miyu interrupted him, a determined look in her eyes. "I'm not afraid of the dark, Kaito. I've always been here, and if something's threatening this school, I won't stand by and let you face it alone."
There was a weight to her words, an unspoken history that Kaito could feel between them. It wasn't just about magic—it was about trust.
Without another word, Kaito nodded. "Alright. But we need to be careful."
Together, they pushed open the door.
The smell of earth and age filled their noses as they stepped into the darkened passageway beneath the school. It was like stepping into a forgotten world. The walls were slick with moss and dampness, and the faintest glow from the runes on the walls illuminated their way. The air felt thick, oppressive, as if the darkness was closing in around them.
Kaito walked ahead, his senses on high alert. The pulse of magic was growing stronger the deeper they went, a hum that seemed to resonate in his very bones. He could feel the power of it, ancient and overwhelming, like an ocean that threatened to swallow everything in its path.
Miyu followed closely behind him, her presence a comforting anchor in the otherwise empty darkness. She was always there when Kaito needed her, a steady presence amidst the storm. But he could tell that even she was unnerved by the eerie atmosphere of the labyrinth.
"Do you think anyone else knows about this?" Miyu asked quietly, her voice breaking the silence.
Kaito shook his head. "I doubt it. This place has been hidden for a reason. And whatever's down here... it's not something anyone should meddle with."
Miyu nodded, her face serious. "Then we have to be careful. You can't do this alone, Kaito. You don't know what we might be dealing with."
Kaito smiled, though it was faint. "I never thought I would do it alone. But you're right... we need to stick together."
The corridor seemed to stretch on endlessly. The deeper they ventured, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. It felt like the walls themselves were watching them, pressing in from all sides. The hum of magic was now a low thrumming noise, vibrating beneath their feet. It was almost as if the very foundation of the school was alive, pulsing with an energy that had lain dormant for centuries.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they arrived at a large chamber. The room was vast—far bigger than anything Kaito had expected. The air was thick with a heavy, magical presence, and at the center of the room was an enormous, glowing portal. It crackled with dark energy, swirling like a storm contained within a glass dome.
The portal was unlike anything Kaito had ever seen. It shimmered with an otherworldly glow, shifting in color from deep purples to sickly greens. There was something ancient and malevolent about it, as if it had been waiting for centuries to awaken.
Miyu gasped, stepping forward cautiously. "What is that?"
Kaito felt his heart race as he stepped toward the portal, drawn to it by an unseen force. It was as if it was calling to him, urging him to come closer, to step into it. He could feel the weight of its power, an immense and terrifying force that seemed to beckon him toward something far beyond his understanding.
"I don't know," Kaito said softly, his voice trembling with a mixture of awe and fear. "But I'm about to find out."
Suddenly, the portal pulsed, and a wave of dark energy shot out from it, knocking both Kaito and Miyu off their feet. The chamber seemed to tremble as the magic surged, and for a moment, the very fabric of reality seemed to twist and warp.
Kaito struggled to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. "We need to shut it down!" he shouted, his voice desperate. But as he looked at the portal, he knew deep down that whatever was waiting on the other side was far more than just a simple magical anomaly.
This was only the beginning.