The morning sun had yet to breach the horizon. The house was drowned in silence; only the faint whisper of wind slipping through the kitchen window stirred the air. Arthur closed his bag and secured Shinkai no Yari across his back. In his pocket, the seal throbbed like an oath pressed against his heart, pulsing with every breath, reminding him of the weight he bore.
As he stepped into the corridor, Samantha appeared at the doorway. Her eyes shimmered with both worry and pride.
"Arthur… will it be long this time?"
Arthur lifted the mask in his hand. After a brief silence, he answered:
"I don't know, Mother. But know this… this journey is mine. When I return, I will no longer be the same."
Ronald rose from his chair, his steps heavy as he placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder.
"My boy… wherever you go, your family will remain here. No matter how far your strength carries you, we will be waiting."
At that moment, Nola shuffled out, still drowsy, clutching her teddy bear tight.
"Brother… leaving again? But you promised!"
Arthur bent down and touched his sister's forehead gently.
"My promise remains, little star. When I return, I'll tell you an even greater story."
He lowered the mask over his face. The door shut behind him, and silence reclaimed the house.
At the city's heart, the train station gleamed beneath the newborn rays of dawn, its steel domes catching fire in the light. The hiss of steam engines, the metallic clash of rails, the restless murmur of the crowd—Arthur passed through them masked and silent. Eyes followed him, yet none dared approach.
In the crush of people, the seal in his pocket shimmered faintly. In that instant, all other sounds faded, leaving only the heavy breath of the train. Arthur raised his gaze to the sky.
"Where will this road lead me?"
He showed his ticket and boarded. Taking a seat by the window, he watched as the train began to move, the city shrinking into the distance. Mountains, forests, and mist-laden plains unfurled like fleeting shadows. In his mind, the words of the God echoed again: Five wishes… Shinkai no Yari… and this seal.
His fingers brushed over the seal. It seemed alive, beating like a heart.
"A chain… or a key?" he whispered.
Hours passed before the train reached the city that housed Lock Academy. The sky was awash with twilight hues. In the distance, the Academy's towers rose like a black fortress piercing the heavens. Each window blazed like a star, casting sprawling shadows across the city.
Stepping off the train, Arthur was engulfed in a sea of students and families. Blue, green, and crimson uniforms painted the crowd—faces brimming with hope and ambition. Yet Arthur, masked and silent, was a stranger among them. With every step, the seal glowed brighter, pressing down on his chest like a burden too heavy to carry.
At the North Gate, colossal black doors loomed. Armored guards stood in formation, scrutinizing every student, their documents examined with unwavering precision.
When Arthur's turn came, a guard barked:
"Identification?"
Arthur drew out the black seal. Crimson runes flared, illuminating the gate. Tension spread across the guards' faces.
"This seal… such a thing is given only to high-ranking professors. Who are you? A forgery, perhaps!"
Whispers rippled through the crowd. Eyes locked onto the masked stranger, the air thick with unease.
And then—a heavy presence emerged, parting the crowd like a shadow made flesh.
Jerome Wilson. The Diamond Destroyer.
With his towering frame, braided hair, and eyes as cold as stone, he strode forward. His aura made the very air tremble. He examined the seal, then turned his gaze to Arthur.
"This seal belongs to the Academy's High Council. It cannot be false," he declared, his voice as unyielding as granite. He glanced at the guards. "Let him pass."
Arthur bowed slightly.
"Thank you."
Jerome stepped closer, his gaze locked on the mask. His voice dropped low, meant for Arthur alone.
"This seal will open doors for you, boy. But remember… every door hides an abyss. If you fall, no one will be there to save you."
With that, he turned and walked away, his steps echoing like thunder.
The gates groaned open. Arthur crossed the threshold, met by a vast courtyard, towers stretching skyward, rune-etched stone paths, and the murmur of thousands of students. All eyes turned to him—the masked stranger, carrying one of the Academy's highest seals.
Behind the mask, his blue eyes gleamed.
"Ren… our paths will soon cross."
As the gates closed behind him, Arthur's new life began.