The streets of Origin Town buzzed with the gentle morning hum. Lanterns swayed faintly above, their glow soft against the rising sun. Kael walked beside Lusia, bread still half-chewed in his mouth, trying to steady his racing thoughts. The flickering glitch of "hel…help" kept echoing in his mind, disjointed and fragmentary, like a voice from far away. He squeezed his eyes shut briefly, trying to shake it off.
"What are you thinking about?" Lusia's voice pulled him back. She glanced at him, a teasing smirk playing at the corners of her lips.
"Nothing," Kael mumbled quickly, cheeks flushing. He still hadn't processed the vision—the fires, the fleeing crowds, the man and his wife clutching their belongings as buildings crumbled around them. It had felt so real, too real, and the word "hel…help" kept glitching through his thoughts, fragmented, insistent. Was it memory? A warning? Or some distant echo of the past?
Lusia didn't press further, but she gave his shoulder a quick tap. "Focus. First day, remember? Don't make me drag you inside."
Kael nodded, stuffing the last bite of bread into his mouth. "Right. First day."
Lusia walked ahead, her posture straight, uniform tidy. She carried herself with a quiet elegance even in the morning bustle, drawing the occasional glance from townsfolk as they moved along the cobbled streets. Kael could not help but notice the contrast—her composed presence against the swirl of people and the racing thoughts still gripping him.
"They'll be expecting you," she said over her shoulder. "Don't panic. Just follow along, and everything will be fine."
Kael gave a weak nod, unsure if it was reassurance or instruction. His thoughts tugged him back to that vision: the man holding his wife's hand, the retro phone, the photo, the watch. Humanity running for survival. So many questions, none of which had answers. Was this Earth? Was it the past? Or something else entirely? He shivered slightly, both from the memory and from the uncertainty of this new day.
The academy gates loomed ahead, large, carved from polished stone. Symbols glowed faintly at intervals along the gateposts, pulsating as students tapped their pendants before stepping inside. Kael's heartbeat quickened. The structure seemed older than the town itself, and its presence carried authority without any words spoken.
"Remember to tap your pendant," Lusia reminded him. "It's how everyone registers their entry. Don't worry—you'll get used to it."
Kael lifted his hand, bracelet snug against his wrist, and hesitated. A faint pulse of light reacted to his touch, sending a subtle warmth up his arm. Oris, he remembered suddenly, the voice from the bead reminding him that everything had already been prepared.
Students brushed past them, chatting, laughing, some giving curious glances at the newcomer with the bracelet. Kael felt eyes on him but forced himself to follow Lusia through the gate, letting the glowing symbols guide his steps.
The academy halls were wider than Kael expected, polished stone floors reflecting the morning light streaming from tall, arched windows. Students moved in clusters, some chatting, some tapping their pendants against the glowing doorposts. Kael's grip tightened slightly on his bracelet. Every detail felt deliberate, precise, yet entirely unfamiliar.
Lusia walked beside him until they reached the administration area. Behind the desk sat a woman with sharp eyes and neatly tied black hair. She examined Kael with a practiced gaze, scanning his posture, his height, his expression.
"This is Kael Apograntis?" she asked in a calm but firm voice.
"Yes, ma'am," Kael replied, keeping his tone steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest.
The woman—introduced by Lusia as Miss Varina Eryndor—typed swiftly into her device, her eyes flicking between the screen and Kael. After a few moments, she nodded.
"Very well," she said. "Given your age, aptitude, and current understanding, you will be placed in the same grade as Lusia, but in a different section. Her section is already full. You'll be with Section B. Report there immediately after registration."
Lusia leaned closer and whispered, "Don't worry. You'll do fine. Just keep your head up."
Kael nodded, drawing a deep breath. Though he didn't know this place well, Lusia's confidence gave him a small anchor in the chaos of new surroundings.
Kael followed the hallway to his classroom with the Lusia, the walls humming faintly with the morning warmth of bodies and voices. He stepped in and took in the room: wooden desks, maps on the walls, little brass instruments that measured something Kael couldn't name. Ms. Aveline Duclair stood at the front with quiet composure. She wore simple robes and watched the students assemble with steady, careful eyes.
Lusia stopped at the doorway."Good luck," she said softly, smiling. "Remember… it's all going to be okay. You'll see."
"Thanks," Kael said, feeling a strange mix of reassurance and nervous anticipation.
He stepped inside. A warm but commanding voice greeted the room.
"Class, we have a new transfer student today," said a female teacher with soft chestnut hair tied neatly in a bun. "This is Kael Apograntis. He will be joining us for this term, so please help him settle in."
The students glanced at Kael with varying degrees of curiosity, some whispering, some nodding politely.
"Kael," the teacher continued, "take the vacant seat next to… Miss Lyra Fenwick."
Kael turned and saw a girl with slightly pink hair tied into a single ponytail, her head bent over the desk. She looked up with wide, slightly startled eyes, then quickly returned to her notes.
"Um… hi," Kael said, shifting his bag to sit down. "I'm Kael. Nice to meet you."
Lyra's cheeks flushed faintly. "H-hi… nice to meet you too," she stammered, her voice soft, barely above the murmurs of the class.
Kael arranged his materials quietly and took his seat next to her. The teacher began the first lesson—math. Numbers and equations filled the board, but Kael realized quickly that he had missed no preparation for today.
He leaned slightly toward Lyra and whispered, "Do you mind if I look at your notes? I'm a bit… behind."
Lyra's fingers fluttered over her notebook as if rearranging the world into a safer order. She nudged the page toward him. Her hand brushed his for a second — a light touch, then gone. Kael felt an urge to smile and kept it small; the corner of his mouth lifted, and Lyra's eyes flicked up and held his for a heartbeat.
Numbers and equations slid by. Kael found he could follow, surprisingly. Oris's uploads of his past knowledge and the fractured lessons of language he'd been given, hovered under his skin and steadied his hand. He answered a question aloud before the teacher could call on him, and a few heads turned.
After math, the bell rang and students gathered for the language lesson. Kael now had the opportunity to select the language he wanted to study. A screen at the front displayed the options:
Gistina (the local, widely spoken language)
Ancient Language (the old scripts and knowledge preserved from long ago)
Silent Scriptures (a formalized sign language for the hearing-impaired and ceremonial use)
Kael looked at Lyra, who shifted slightly in her seat, fidgeting with the strap of her bag.
"Do you… um… have a preference?" Kael asked quietly.
Lyra's blush deepened. "I-I… I've already chosen Ancient Language and Silent Scriptures," she stammered. She glanced down at her notes, clearly nervous about his reaction.
Kael shook his head, smiling reassuringly. "Don't worry. That works perfectly. I think I'll go with the same."
She hesitated, then pointed at the options on the screen. Kael tapped the selections, Ancient Language and Silent Scriptures appearing beside his name. The system acknowledged his choice immediately.
"Alright," the teacher said, "everyone who opted for the same languages will follow me to the respective classroom. Let's proceed."
Kael glanced at Lyra and followed her quietly. The nervousness lingered, but having someone familiar by his side made the first steps easier.
They moved as one cluster, Lyra walking steadily with the patient focus of someone who expected little fanfare and practiced the gentle geometry of small steps.
Kael entered the language classroom, his eyes scanning the tiered seating like a cautious explorer. The seats were mostly taken, and even those with vacant spots seemed claimed in an unspoken way—friends clustered together, quietly ignoring the newcomer. He walked past several desks, offering polite nods, but no one invited him to sit beside them. The feeling of being invisible settled uncomfortably on his shoulders.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed her—Lyra. She sat a little apart from the others, near the back corner. It wasn't that anyone was excluding her—her small circle of friends had claimed the front rows, leaving her side empty. Kael hesitated for a moment, then approached her.
"Mind if I sit here?" he asked gently.
Lyra's face turned slightly away, cheeks faintly pink. In a soft, shy voice, she murmured, "Yeah… you can."
Kael settled into the seat beside her, grateful for the small window of calm in the bustling room. As the teacher began the lesson on Ancient Language, Kael focused on the screen, absorbing the symbols with an almost instinctual understanding. When he glanced down at Lyra's notes, she, without a word, shifted them slightly closer. Their hands brushed briefly as he adjusted the notebook. Kael looked up and offered a small, reassuring smile. Lyra's lips curved into a barely noticeable smile in return.
The teacher, Ms. Eryndor's assistant for the session, demonstrated script formation, tracing each symbol with precision. Kael followed along, his pen moving smoothly across the paper, picking up the rhythm naturally. Lyra's eyes flickered with quiet amazement at his ease, her initial shyness softening.
A small group above them tinkered with charms, claiming they enhanced memory retention. One charm bounced off a desk and clinked against another student's forehead. A few giggles erupted from the surrounding seats. Lyra glanced at Kael, muttering a quiet, embarrassed "oops." Kael suppressed a laugh, letting only the hint of a smile linger.
During a translation exercise, Kael noticed a phrase that clicked subconsciously. Leaning slightly toward Lyra, he whispered, "Does this make sense… or is it just me?"
Lyra peeked at his work, eyes widening for a moment, then nodded softly. "Yes… that's correct."
Throughout the lesson, they worked quietly together, sharing small gestures—nudging pencils to indicate correct answers, passing subtle glances, and leaning slightly toward each other over the notes. The scratch of pens, murmurs of other students, and the soft hum of concentration filled the room, but in their corner, it felt intimate and calm.
A tricky symbol appeared on the board, and several students struggled. Kael whispered an explanation to Lyra, who folded a note and passed it discreetly to a student in front of her. The student raised their hand confidently, and the teacher smiled approvingly. Kael felt satisfaction—not from praise, but from helping someone succeed.
Halfway through, a miswritten phrase caused a ripple of laughter. Lyra's pencil snapped, and she muttered quietly. Kael pushed a spare pencil toward her. "Here. Don't worry about it."
Her eyes met his briefly, and she gave a tiny smile. It was subtle, but it filled Kael with a quiet sense of connection.
By the end of class, Kael realized that even in a room full of strangers, this small corner beside Lyra—with shared notes, gentle smiles, and quiet collaboration—felt like a safe haven.
As the bell rang, Lyra packed her things slowly, glancing at Kael. "Thanks… for sitting here," she said softly, barely above the murmur of students leaving.
Kael nodded. "Anytime."
The lunch bell rang, echoing across the school corridors. Students hurried towards the common dining area, a spacious hall where trays and meals were handed out—known as the Cafetorium. Kael carried his tray carefully, scanning for a quiet spot. He didn't want to disturb Lyra, knowing she preferred a small circle and minimal chatter. She had already slipped away to join her friends, avoiding the bustling crowd.
Kael found an empty table and sat down, beginning to eat in quiet solitude. The aroma of freshly baked bread, roasted vegetables, and spiced stews filled the air, blending with the hum of conversations. Just as he was taking a bite, a familiar voice called out, teasing him.
"Hey! Mind if I sit here?"
Kael looked up to see Lusia grinning mischievously, her uniform slightly wrinkled but her aura unmissable even in the casual bustle of lunch.
"Did you feel scared without me?" she teased, nudging her tray closer.
Kael rolled his eyes, stuffing another bite of bread into his mouth. "Yeah, a little… but only in the beginning. For now, everything's going smoothly."
Lusia smirked, clearly pleased with his answer, and soon Mia and Ceyla joined them, their laughter filling the table as trays clinked and food was shared. Kael relaxed in their presence, feeling the warmth of familiar faces.
As they chatted, Kael's gaze shifted toward a group approaching from the other side of the hall. A boy with an aura of quiet confidence walked with his small clique. Passing by Kael's table, one of them muttered without real interest, "Well… who knows if Lusia will be able to manage, baby-sitting a 16-year-old."
Lusia said nothing, lips pressed together, eyes calm. Kael remained silent too, but his mind raced: No matter how good you are, there will always be people who hate. Lusia seems fine… it's not a big deal.
The lunch period ended too quickly. Lusia nudged Kael with a gentle smile. "Don't mind them—they're the kind you won't like. Always disturbing others and making bad comments."
Kael nodded, swallowing the last bite. Lusia waved goodbye, disappearing toward her next class. Kael finished up and rose, noticing Lyra had already left her group, slipping quietly down the corridor. With the others gone, Kael moved to his own classroom.
The classroom was already filling, but in the back corner, Lyra sat alone, absorbed in her work. Kael took his seat, careful not to disturb her. Her pink-tinged ponytail fell over her shoulder as she worked, fingers moving deftly over the delicate knitting needles.
Kael leaned slightly closer, curious, but silent. Lyra didn't notice him, so focused was she on the cloth. kael also kept silent, not even whispering a single word, he just watched her with patience impressed by her focus.
Lyra set her knitting aside and slowly stretched her arms above her head, her ponytail swaying gently with the motion. A few stray strands slipped free, brushing her neck and shoulders. She inhaled deeply, the rise and fall of her chest subtle beneath her uniform.
Her fingers flexed as she rolled her shoulders back, easing the stiffness from sitting so long. The gentle arch of her back and the soft line of her collarbone caught Kael's attention, as did the faint sheen of sweat on her forehead. She had such a cute face, revealed as her whole body could be seen at her utmost beauty—shy, delicate, yet somehow quietly captivating in the way she moved.
As she leaned slightly to the side, her ponytail brushed over her shoulder, her hair shimmering in the light. The small intake of breath, the fluid stretch of her body—it all radiated a gentle beauty, one that was both fragile and quietly alluring. Even with her eyes closed, there was a quiet, shy grace in every movement, completely unaware of Kael watching.
Just as she stretched fully, Kael's gaze met hers. Her eyes widened, cheeks flushing deeply, and she quickly dropped her hands, burying her head shyly on the table.
Kael raised his hands in a gentle gesture. "Sorry… I didn't mean to stare. You were too focused."
Lyra did not reply and moved her head a bit that was on the table covered with her arms. kael felt bad and apologized again for staring without her permission.
Lyra did not reply rather her face was so flustered that she could not even open her mouth or hear to kael's apologies. She felt embarrassed as she had shown her defenceless side to kael while she was stretching her arms. Lyra was confused. Thinking what kael would think about her... what if he tells about my knitting hobby to others or even worse bully me.
Kael poked her shoulder "Sorry Lyra, don't think that I will make fun of you". Finally kael's words reached Lrya's ear. She thought about it and then mustered up strength in her lips and peeked up slightly, voice barely above a whisper, "It's… okay… but… knitting in class… is a bit weird, right?"
Kael smiled softly. "Maybe. But… having that much skill and focus is impressive. I don't mind you knitting. That piece looks beautiful… I'd love to see it once it's done."
Lyra pulled her face up slowly, her eyes flicked towards his, startled. A small blush colored her cheeks as she tried to speak but the words stayed locked in her mind. She only managed a shy, silent nod, internalizing her agreement.
Kael continued with a soft, relieved voice, "Good… I'm glad you're not upset... Also, you looked… cute when focused."
Lyra's blush deepened instantly. She lowered her head, hiding her face, fumbling with the yarn as embarrassment mingled with her own curiosity.
"What happened? Hello, Lyra?" Kael asked, leaning slightly forward, concerned.
She didn't answer, still too flustered to speak. The room's chatter filled the background as the next class began, leaving a brief, comfortable silence between them—a quiet tension born from shared focus, small compliments, and shy admissions.