The grand auditorium of Wysteria Academy hummed with anticipation. An arc of spelllight framed the front of the hall, where the three head professors stood like titans before a sea of eager young warriors.
Professor Su-ho's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he addressed the class. "Now that you've mastered the art of creating pocket dimensions," he said, his voice smooth yet commanding, "it's time to learn how to shrink them."
A murmur ran through the crowd.
Professor Lee stepped forward, arms crossed, his tone more serious. "Shrinking a pocket dimension is no trivial matter. It's an essential technique for those who wish to carry entire worlds in their hands."
Then came Professor Su-yang, graceful and radiant as always. Her voice was melodic, but layered with profound wisdom. "You see, each pocket dimension you create is a microcosm—its own universe. To shrink one, you must compress its energy core and stabilize the space-time matrix without collapsing its structural integrity."
The students leaned in, captivated. Muhan's expression remained focused, but his fingers twitched with energy. Mi-cha, Ji-hoon, and Soo-ah watched the demonstrations with wide, gleaming eyes—each concept sparking a thousand new ideas in their minds.
Above the stage, complex glyphs danced in the air. Streams of condensed light and energy folded inward as the professors illustrated various compression techniques—energy signature locks, temporal stabilizers, entropy dampeners.
Then it was the students' turn.
All across the auditorium, shimmering miniature worlds floated midair—glowing forests, crystalline cities, starlit fields. Mi-cha, Ji-hoon, and Soo-ah worked in perfect sync. Their dimension, once vast and filled with fantastical wildlife and terrain, shimmered as it began to shrink—compressed into a glowing orb that could fit in the palm of a hand.
Meanwhile, Muhan stood alone, his aura silent but potent. With a single hand gesture, his dimension collapsed into a feather-light blue crystal, radiating immense energy sealed perfectly within.
The professors walked among the students, offering nods of approval and refined advice. But when they reached Muhan, they paused—visibly impressed.
> "Impressive as always, young Muhan," Professor Su-ho murmured, his voice laced with admiration.
Cheers erupted as each student succeeded. Laughter, high-fives, and sighs of relief echoed throughout the hall.
> "We actually did it!" Mi-cha beamed, gripping her orb-like dimension tightly.
> "That's one for the books," Ji-hoon chuckled.
> "And we're one step closer to becoming real warriors," Soo-ah added.
Professor Su-ho addressed the class one last time, his voice filled with gravitas. "You've taken a great leap today. Remember—wielding the power of creation and compression is no game. You carry galaxies within your grasp. Use this gift wisely."
---
Three years passed like sand through the hands of time. The once-budding students of Wysteria Academy had blossomed into fierce young warriors, admired by peers and feared by would-be rivals.
Now sixteen, Muhan Lockhart stood as one of the academy's strongest. His Level 100 Aura pulsed with refined, disciplined might. Rumors whispered about him across campus—his duels, his solo missions, his unparalleled control over dimensions.
Beside him, Mi-cha had grown into a dazzling mage, mastering advanced spell-weaving and enchanting techniques. Her prowess was recognized across her year, and she was often praised in official academy bulletins.
Ji-hoon had perfected his blade techniques, while Soo-ah mastered psychic precision and elemental fusions. The four were no longer just students—they were legends in the making.
That morning, they strolled through the sunlit courtyard, exchanging greetings with other students. The air buzzed with energy and camaraderie. Laughter and chatter filled the space between trees and marble fountains.
And yet—beneath the joy, Muhan felt it again. That creeping sensation. A subtle, almost imperceptible wrongness. It gnawed at him silently like a whisper just out of reach.
---
Night fell over Wysteria Academy like a velvet curtain. The stars blinked into place, and lanterns illuminated the quiet walkways.
After another long day of training, Muhan and Mi-cha sat together in their shared lounge, textbooks and notes scattered around them. The lamp above flickered softly, casting a golden glow across their faces.
Mi-cha closed her book, biting her lip.
> We're alone... Now might be the right time.
Without another thought, she turned to him. Her gaze held a rare gentleness, her eyes glowing like twin moons.
"Muhan…" she whispered.
Before he could respond, she leaned in.
Their lips met—soft, uncertain at first, but warm and full of everything they hadn't said over the years.
Muhan's breath caught. His heart pounded like a war drum in his chest. The world slowed.
When they pulled apart, Mi-cha's cheeks were flushed, but her smile was luminous.
> "I've been wanting to do that for a long time," she admitted, voice trembling.
Muhan's face broke into a genuine, rare smile. He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her into his chest.
> "I've been wanting you to do that for a long time," he murmured, his words soft as feathers.
---
The next morning, the students awoke to an unexpected announcement—a free day.
No classes. No combat drills. No assignments. Just a rare, golden opportunity for leisure.
The quartet wasted no time. They gathered early, fresh with excitement.
> "What do you guys want to do?" Muhan asked, grinning.
> "Wysteria Woods," Ji-hoon suggested immediately. "There's a legend about a hidden waterfall deep inside. No one's seen it."
> "I'm in!" Mi-cha exclaimed, eyes sparkling.
> "Then it's settled," Soo-ah smiled. "Let's go."
With that, the four friends embarked on a journey through the forest. The deeper they went, the more the mundane faded. The air thickened with ancient magic, and the trees towered like silent sentinels above them.
Hours passed. The path narrowed. Then—
A burst of mist. A rush of sound.
And before them stood a hidden waterfall, cascading down shimmering crystal rocks into a glowing pool below. The mist sparkled with a rainbow-colored aura.
> "This is incredible…" Mi-cha gasped, utterly enchanted.
Ji-hoon and Soo-ah sat on a smooth boulder, watching the scene unfold like a painting come to life.
> "Perfect way to spend a free day," Ji-hoon murmured, eyes closed in peace.
Muhan and Mi-cha stood close together. She leaned against him, her heart calm, full.
> "I'm happy to be here with you," she said quietly.
> "Me too," Muhan replied.
They sat there, a moment suspended in time. Four friends beneath the heavens, wrapped in the serenity of nature.
---
As twilight bled into starlight, the group set up a picnic beneath the trees. Mi-cha unfurled a blanket, while Ji-hoon and Soo-ah laid out an impressive spread.
Freshly baked bread, fruit, fizzy nectar drinks, even pastries shaped like dragons—they feasted under the glow of the moon, laughter echoing through the forest.
Mi-cha leaned into Muhan's side, her fingers brushing his.
> "This has been the perfect day," she said, voice sleepy but content.
> "I couldn't agree more," Muhan replied, wrapping his arm around her.
Ji-hoon and Soo-ah exchanged knowing smiles across the blanket.
The fireflies danced above their heads. The stars glittered overhead. The waterfall's music lulled the world into a dream.
The evening drew to a close.
Mi-cha and Muhan waved goodbye to Ji-hoon and Soo-ah. Then Mi-cha tugged gently on his hand, leading him toward the path to her dorm.
At her door, she turned to him.
> "Goodnight… Muhan," she whispered.
> "Goodnight," he replied.
She lingered for a moment before vanishing into the warm glow of her hallway.
Muhan walked back to his own dorm in silence, the cool air brushing against his skin.
Inside, the calm of his room wrapped around him.
Without thought or hesitation, his body moved.
Down.
One hundred push-ups.
One hundred squats.
One hundred sit-ups.
Each motion precise. Fluid. Repetitive.
The familiar rhythm of his daily system quests grounded him. Muscles burned, but his mind cleared. This was his ritual. His anchor.
As the moonlight streamed through the window, Muhan stood tall once more—ready for whatever tomorrow would bring.