Bus Preparations
The first light of dawn touched the stone-paved paths of the campus as students gathered at the Academy's front gates. Massive, black, rune-forged buses lined up in order, each bearing the silver-lit crest of Lock Academy. The rumble of engines, the dragging of luggage, and the hushed chatter of excited voices blended into a restless symphony.
Whispers filled the air:
"I wonder what we'll see in Holberg?""I heard it's not just a simple trip… there'll be danger too.""Do you think the masked instructor is coming?"
And indeed… the figure everyone whispered about walked steadily toward the buses.
Arthur and Donna
Arthur boarded the bus, black mask on his face, Shinkai no Yari strapped to his back. Every student's gaze turned toward him, whispers rising like a tide—but none dared speak aloud.
At the very back, where the teachers' seats were reserved, Donna was already waiting. Draped in her violet training uniform, she sat with effortless confidence. When Arthur approached, an amused smirk touched her lips.
Donna:
"The masked instructor… So you'll be riding with us. You do realize you're only fueling their curiosity even more, don't you?"
Arthur:
"Their curiosity is no burden to me. The real question is whether they're ready for what awaits in Holberg."
Donna's gaze sharpened, her smirk fading.
Donna's inner thoughts:
Douglas was right… Just his presence forces the students into line. I still don't know the true limit of his power. But why now, why here? Arthur… what are you after?
Whispers Among the Students
At the front rows sat Amanda, Kevin, Melissa, Emma, and Jin. Their eyes, whether they realized it or not, all drifted toward the back—toward Arthur.
Amanda:
"Look at him… still with the mask. Do you think he'll ever show his face?"
Kevin:
"Doesn't matter. Did you forget how he flattened Gilbert in a single strike?"
Melissa:
"With him among us, Holberg will be safer. But at the same time… it means we're living in his shadow."
Jin (snarling):
"I don't care. Even if he's S-rank, no one has the right to belittle me."
Amanda frowned.
Amanda:
"If you can say that after seeing what happened to Gilbert, you're even more foolish than I thought, Jin."
From behind them, scattered whispers spread:
"If only he'd take off the mask, just for a moment…""Are you insane? I couldn't even hold his gaze—seeing his face would shatter me.""Still… admit it. He's terrifying, yes… but also captivating."
The Journey
With a low roar, the rune-powered engines stirred the bus into motion. Outside, misty forests and looming mountains slid past the windows. Inside, silence pressed down like a weight. Every student shared the same unspoken question: What awaits us in Holberg?
At the back, Arthur sat with his eyes closed. The seal in his pocket pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat. Donna cast a sidelong glance at him, whispering:
Donna:
"A man like you… why reveal yourself now? Why this Academy, why at this moment?"
Arthur slowly opened his eyes. The icy gleam behind the mask froze her where she sat.
Arthur:
"To be in the right place, at the right time. And right now… there is no other place I can be."
Donna shivered despite herself, turning her gaze back to the passing scenery. The bus rumbled onward, deeper into the long road toward Holberg.
Ren's Thoughts
Ren sat by the window, silent. Around him, students whispered excitedly—some about Holberg, others about the masked instructor. But Ren's mind was caught in a very different storm.
Ren's inner voice:
"In the novel, there was never a scene like this. The masked figure… he was never part of my story. And yet his presence is so strong, so undeniable… I can't ignore him. Especially because that man… is my brother."
Resting his head against the glass, Ren stared out at the mist-covered forests sliding away into the distance.