Astral Academy – S-Class Dormitories
The common room had long since quieted. The laughter faded, the teasing subsided, and the night wrapped itself gently over the floating towers of Astral Academy.
Stars blinked above like ancient sentinels. Cool winds brushed through the trees, rustling leaves that shimmered faintly with spiritual energy. The academy, once alive with buzzing students, now slept in peaceful silence.
Inside his room, Anay stood by the window, hands tucked in his hoodie pockets. He gazed out toward the illuminated training domes. Beyond them, the sky stretched wide and unknowable.
The memory of Saki's teasing still lingered, and Ashwajeet's smile during training returned to him like a quiet echo. Everyone was growing stronger. They were becoming stars—together.
A soft buzz broke his thoughts.
[ Naman]
"Outside. Need to talk."
Anay blinked. The message was brief—but something about it felt… final.
He pulled on his sandals and stepped out.
Under the Moonlight – Dorm Balcony Edge
Naman stood leaning against the stone railing of the outer corridor, half-lit by the moon. His hair was a mess of curls, tousled from the wind. He wasn't wearing his academy uniform—just a simple black jacket, his eyes distant.
When Anay approached, Naman didn't look up at first.
Then—
Naman (quietly): "Thanks for coming."
Anay (grinning lightly): "You usually come to yell at me during dinner. What's with the midnight vibe?"
Naman chuckled once but it didn't reach his eyes.
Naman: "I wanted to tell you this first. Before anyone else."
He took a breath. The wind shifted.
Naman: "I'm leaving Astral Academy. Tomorrow."
Anay's smile faded.
Anay: "...What?"
Naman (softly): "I've been summoned back to my home country America. My family's council... They've requested my return. It's not just a visit. It's... a recall. I don't know for how long."
Anay's throat tightened.
Anay: "But… you're part of the Top 10. You just fought with me in the Trials. You said you were aiming for the Elite Ranks."
Naman nodded slowly.
Naman: "I still am. But where I come from… family obligations aren't requests. When the banner is raised, we return."
He turned to face Anay fully, eyes earnest.
Naman: "I tried to fight it. I told them about the Academy, about my growth here. But they reminded me that my spiritual roots come from both Earth and Sky. My grandfather is passing on leadership. I'm next in line."
Anay (quietly): "...So, this is goodbye?"
A long pause.
Naman (softly): "For now."
The night carried their silence like a sacred offering.
Two Souls, One Memory
They sat on the stone steps near the edge of the balcony, legs hanging slightly over the edge. The moon hung above like a watchful eye.
Anay: "Remember when we first arrived? You were all arrogant fireball. And I thought you were going to explode during the gravity trial."
Naman (snorts): "You almost did. I thought you'd faint after the second pulse."
Anay: "We were different then."
Naman: "We still are. But somehow… we ended up fighting side by side."
Anay smiled gently.
Anay: "You've become a brother, Naman. More than a teammate."
Naman glanced at him, then away, swallowing the emotion.
Naman: "Same here, idiot."
A gust of wind rolled past them. The stars shimmered brighter, as if leaning in to listen.
Naman (after a pause): "I'm scared."
Anay looked at him, surprised.
Naman (quietly): "I'm scared I won't belong back there. That I'll forget what this place gave me. That when I return… I won't be the same."
Anay placed a hand on his shoulder.
Anay (firmly): "You won't forget. Because we won't let you. No matter how far you go, this bond—this brotherhood—it's carved in spirit."
Naman's eyes glistened for a moment, then he wiped them quickly.
Naman: "You're too poetic for your own good."
Anay (laughs): "And you're too prideful to admit you're gonna miss me."
Naman: "Of course I'll miss you, dumb frost."
They shared a laugh. Bittersweet. Unspoken promises hung in the air.
Farewell on the Horizon
The sun had not yet risen when Naman boarded the transport the next morning. Only a few staff and instructors were awake. Anay stood alone near the gates.
Their eyes met once more.
No words.
Just a salute.
A smile.
And as the portal shimmered to life and the flames of his clan flared, Naman disappeared into the light.
End Scene – Back in Anay's Room
Anay stood quietly, .
Even among rising stars… one had flown elsewhere.
But Anay knew one truth burned brighter than absence.
Brothers bound by fire and frost don't fade.
They just wait for the next storm to reunite them.