🏫 Monday Morning – A Normal-ish Disaster
Ren walked into school like a man walking into enemy territory.
Bruises covered his arms (hidden badly by long sleeves), his hair looked like it lost a fight with lightning, and he hadn't even finished his ramen.
"Dude," said Takashi, his seatmate. "You look like you got body-snatched by raccoons."
"Thanks, I feel like I got body-snatched by raccoons," Ren muttered.
Kiyomi sat three rows behind him, spinning a pencil like a dagger.
She was blending in… terribly. Her presence still screamed, "Yes, I might be part fire goddess, what of it?"
The teacher droned on about ancient history — which would've been funny, considering Ren was living it — but he barely heard a thing.
Why?
Because at the back of the classroom, someone new had arrived.
And they were staring right at him.
🧿 Enter: The Transfer Student
He was tall, too calm, and definitely didn't look 17.
Silver hair. Six rings. A coat that billowed even though the windows were shut.
Name: Zephyr Arclight.
Yes, really.
He transferred that morning.
Nobody knew from where.
Nobody knew how he knew Ren's name without introductions.
He walked up during break like they were old friends.
"You're Ren Kaido. Skyborn, right?"
Ren choked on his drink. "WHAT."
💬 The Conversation That Shouldn't Be Possible
Zephyr leaned casually on the desk. "I felt your energy last night. When you and your uncle vaporized that mid-tier Aberrant."
Ren whispered harshly. "How do you know that?!"
"I watch. I listen. I read old stuff that shouldn't be read."
Kiyomi appeared behind Zephyr, hand glowing.
"Should I turn him into a fireball?"
Zephyr smiled at her without flinching. "Not unless you want to burn a potential ally."
Ren looked between the two.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
"Nope. I'm from Sanctum. And I came here because the Rift is thinning. And you, Ren, are at the cen
ter of the storm."
🍥 Ramen Shop After Hours
Ren paced the back alley of Jin's ramen shop while explaining Zephyr to his uncle.
"And he just—knew. Everything. Like he'd read my entire character file."
Jin frowned deeply.
"Sanctum isn't a place people casually visit. It's an ancient stronghold of knowledge. Only those touched by the Rift survive there."
Ren scratched his head. "So... he's one of us?"
"Or something worse," Kiyomi said, arms folded.
"I don't trust people with six rings. It's always a power thing."
Kazuki squawked in agreement.
Jin looked thoughtful.
"Keep him close. B
ut watch his steps."
🌀 Meanwhile… In the City
The Sky Eater Seed had stopped.
It stood in a dark alley, staring at its hand, which was slowly morphing — turning flesh into glowing cracks.
It tilted its head.
Spoke a name.
> "Kaido..."
The hunt had narrowed.
🏫 The Next Morning
Zephyr joined Ren and Kiyomi at lunch.
He sat down and unwrapped a perfectly shaped triangle rice ball with terrifying precision.
"I've been watching the Rift pulses," he said casually. "There's an Aberrant flare about 4km west of here. And it's not the small kind."
Ren blinked. "Dude, we're trying to eat."
"Eat fast. We move at sunset."
Kiyomi narrowed her eyes. "And why are you helping us again?"
Zephyr looked up, his tone flat.
"Because if Ren dies
... we all die."
🌪 Chapter 12 Teaser:
> The team heads out to investigate the flare — only to find a destroyed shrine and a message scrawled in blood-red light: "THE GATE OPENS." Ren faces something new — an Aberrant that speaks. And worse… one that remembers his fathe
r.