Training began the very next morning.
Akihiro closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, following the rhythm his mother's voice taught him. His breathing slowed, his thoughts stilled, and the faint spark inside his chest swelled.
*"Good," she whispered. "Feel the current. Do not resist it. Guide it."
The energy surged, filling his limbs. His body trembled as the first barrier cracked—then shattered. A rush of warmth spread through him, and when he opened his eyes, they glowed faintly.
He had stepped into Stage 1 of Energy.
His mother's voice was gentle, proud. "The foundation is laid. You have taken your first true step."
Ayame and Yueqin entered then, both pausing as they felt the subtle change in the air. Ayame's face broke into a smile. "Brother… you did it."
That night, they celebrated quietly. For the first time in years, laughter filled the room. For a brief moment, Akihiro allowed himself to smile back.
The Gift of the Lens
Before their return, Yueqin called Akihiro aside.
She handed him a small silver case. Inside lay a pair of shimmering glass lenses.
"These will hide your eyes," she said softly. "Red eyes belong only to the hero clans. If the clans discover you too soon, they will devour you. Do not remove them unless there is no choice."
Akihiro slipped them in. His crimson gaze dulled to an ordinary brown. He exhaled slowly, and Yueqin's expression hardened.
"This is not a gift. It is a shield. Remember that."
Return to the Mirror World
The ceremonial mirror rippled once more, and the three of them stepped through.
The oppressive energy of the Mirror World surged against Akihiro, but this time, instead of crushing him, it resonated faintly with his own spark.
Ahead loomed the towering gates of the Mirror World Academy, banners of the eight great clans fluttering proudly.
Whispers spread instantly as the students saw them:
"That's Ayame Shirakami, isn't it?""Who's the boy beside her? No clan sigil…""Maybe a servant.""No… look at him. Something's strange."
Akihiro kept his head low, ignoring their stares, while Ayame's eyes blazed in irritation.
The Headmaster's Voice
A tall figure stepped onto the platform above. His robe was black trimmed with silver, the aura of a mid-Emperor bending the air around him.
"Welcome, new students," he said, his voice echoing across the courtyard. "Here, you will learn to master yourselves—or you will shatter."
Crystal pillars rose from the ground, each glowing with different light.
Sword Arts – for warriors of body and blade.Archery – for precision and elemental arrows.Mage – for elemental and spell control.Alchemy – for talismans, potions, and creations.Soul Arts – for those who dare touch the spirit itself.
The crowd murmured with excitement as students stepped forward to choose.
When Akihiro approached, the headmaster's gaze fixed on him.
"No clan?" he said sharply. "Then you begin where all strays begin. With the outsiders. Prove your worth, and you may rise."
Akihiro clenched his fists, feeling the faint pulse of his new power. "I don't need a name to prove myself. I'll start from the bottom. I'm ready."
The headmaster's voice boomed:
"The Trials begin tomorrow. Rest well, outsiders—you'll need it."