The detention room was unusually quiet. Dust floated lazily in the afternoon sunlight that crept through the tall windows. The faint ticking of a clock echoed through the empty space.
Ragnar sat slouched in his chair, legs on the desk, spinning a pencil between his fingers.
Yuuki, sitting a few seats away, looked ready to collapse, his head resting on his arms.
"Man…" Ragnar sighed. "How long we gotta stay here?"
Yuuki lifted his head just enough to glare. "It's been five minutes."
Ragnar blinked. "Wait, seriously?"
Before Yuuki could respond, the door creaked open and in walked Light, holding a detention slip like it was a trophy.
Ragnar squinted. "Wait Light? What the hell are you doing here?"
Light shrugged casually. "Blew up the training dummies again. Apparently 'accidental mass incineration' counts as destruction of property."
He took the seat behind Ragnar, stretching out lazily. "So… what are you two in for again?"
"Being late," Ragnar and Yuuki said in perfect unison, then glanced at each other.
Light grinned. "Man, you two sound like a pair of convicts"
Ragnar threw a pencil at him. "Says the guy who made a training dummy explode."
"It was for science," Light said with mock seriousness. "I was testing if lightning reacts differently to low-tier metals. Turns out, it really does."
Yuuki groaned. "You're all hopeless."
Ragnar grinned. "Come on, Yuuki. You can't tell me you never blew something up by accident."
Yuuki adjusted his glasses. "Nope. My magic is perfectly controlled."
Light leaned forward. "Then why did the lab catch fire last month?"
Yuuki froze. "...That was an experiment in thermal conduction."
Ragnar burst out laughing. "You mean it failed, dude!"
They all cracked up, their laughter echoing through the empty classroom. For a few minutes, the air was light just three boys joking around, trading nonsense and stories.
Light leaned back with a sigh. "Man… you ever think how weird Saint High is?"
Ragnar looked at him. "What you mean?"
Light gestured at the window. "Think about it we're learning to bend reality, summon fire, mess with gravity, and half the school still struggles to wake up before breakfast."
Yuuki chuckled. "Magic's easy. Waking up's the real battle."
Ragnar pointed dramatically. "Exactly! I can fight a wyvern, but I can't fight the alarm clock."
Light snorted. "You can't even fight time management."
Ragnar shrugged. "Fair point."
They laughed again loud and real, the kind of laughter that makes you forget everything else for a while.
But the laughter died the moment the door opened again.
The door swung open with a loud creak, revealing a tall man in dark clothing Vincent Wryd. His sharp eyes scanned the room, and his brow twitched the moment he saw Ragnar.
"...You have got to be kidding me."
Ragnar blinked. "Oh. Hey, Vince."
Vincent pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're in detention?"
Ragnar smiled sheepishly. "Heh. Maybe?"
Yuuki muttered under his breath, "Definitely."
Vincent let out a long sigh. "Unbelievable. You've been summoned by the royal court, and you're wasting time here."
Ragnar looked confused. "Royal court? What for?"
Vincent was about to speak, but the door opened again — this time revealing Lilia, holding a clipboard.
"Mr. Wryd. Mr. Sato. Mr. Excalibur," she said sharply. "I see you've made yourself comfortable."
Her expression softened slightly when she noticed Vincent. "Oh, you must be the visitor the headmaster mentioned."
Vincent straightened. "Vincent Wryd. I'm here on royal orders."
Lilia nodded politely. "Lilia Meldric, Saint High instructor."
Vincent's brows furrowed slightly. "Wait… you're a teacher? You look… seventeen."
The room went silent. Ragnar choked on air.
Lilia smiled sweetly too sweetly. "That's because I am seventeen."
Ragnar's head snapped around. "WHAT!?"
Light nearly fell off his chair laughing. "No way, bro! She's our age!"
Lilia's smile didn't falter. "I've been teaching for two years. Youngest graduate in Saint High history."
Ragnar blinked. "Wait—you graduated at fifteen!? I was still learning how to tie my uniform tie and I'm almost fifteen!"
Lilia crossed her arms. "Some of us pay attention in class, Mr. Wryd."
Light whispered, "This explains the rage issues."
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" Lilia snapped, slamming a ruler on the desk.
Yuuki whispered to Ragnar, "She's scarier than the Headmaster."
Vincent exhaled slowly. "...I can see this is going to be painful."
After a moment of chaos, Vincent gestured for silence. His tone shifted heavy, serious.
"Listen. This isn't just a visit. You three were summoned by the King of Valtoria himself."
The room fell silent. Even Lilia's expression hardened.
"Why?" Ragnar asked cautiously.
Vincent hesitated for a moment. Then, finally, he spoke.
"The King received a message from the King of the Monster Nation the one across the eastern border."
Light's eyes narrowed. "I've heard of them… They don't usually deal with humans."
"Exactly," Vincent said grimly. "But this time, they did. And they requested you three specifically."
Ragnar frowned. "Requested? What for?"
"That's the problem," Vincent replied. "We don't know. But their message said, 'Send us the young demi-humans of Valtoria. They possess potential beyond their age.'"
Yuuki leaned forward. "Demi-humans…? You think they mean us?"
Vincent looked directly at Ragnar first. "My parents told me before they died… that you were half monster, Ragnar. But they never knew what kind. You don't have any monster traits which is… almost unheard of."
Ragnar froze, his smile gone. "...You're saying I'm not human?"
Vincent's voice softened. "Half, maybe. But you're still my brother, Ragnar. That doesn't change anything."
Light looked away, his tone quieter. "So that's why they want us?"
Vincent nodded slowly. "You, Ragnar, because of your unknown heritage. Yuuki because… you have otherworlder blood inside you."
Yuuki's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't speak.
And you, Light…" Vincent paused. "The King of Monsters said it was because you have fairy blood."
Light blinked. "...Fairy?"
Vincent nodded. "At least, that's what they claim."
Light's jaw tightened, but he said nothing more.
Ragnar looked between them. "So what are we supposed to just go with them? Just like that?"
Vincent crossed his arms. "The King is considering it. He's… afraid of provoking a war. The Monster Nation has grown stronger lately alliances, armies, even new leaders emerging from the shadows. If we refuse outright…" He trailed off.
Lilia's expression darkened. "Then Valtoria could be facing another war."
The weight in the room grew thick like the air itself had turned heavy.
Ragnar finally broke the silence. "So we're sacrifices, then."
"No," Vincent said firmly. "You're chosen. And I'll make sure you stay safe whatever happens."
Yuuki looked down. "Why us, though? There are thousands of demi-humans."
Vincent shook his head. "Not like you. Not this young. The Monster King said your 'potential is extraordinary.' Maybe they want to use it. Maybe they want to control it. We just don't know."
For a long moment, no one spoke.
The air buzzed with tension and confusion the quiet before a storm.
Then Ragnar stood, his voice steady but low. "...I hate this."
Light sighed. "Yeah. Me too."
Yuuki nodded. "But… if refusing means war…"
Ragnar clenched his fists, eyes burning. "Then we'll go. But we're not going down as victims."
Vincent gave a small, tired smile. "That's the spirit I was hoping to see."
Lilia placed a hand on Ragnar's desk. "You three better prepare yourselves. Whatever happens next… Saint High will stand with you."
The silence that followed wasn't empty it was heavy, filled with unspoken fear and stubborn determination.
Ragnar finally smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "Guess detention wasn't so bad after all."
Light grinned faintly. "Yeah. Best detention ever."
Yuuki sighed. "You two are insane."
Vincent exhaled sharply but smiled. "You've got no idea how much trouble you're about to cause."
Ragnar looked up at him, eyes sharp. "Then let's make it worth it."