Ahhh…
A soft breath escaped Isamu's lips as his eyes fluttered open. The morning sun pierced gently through the curtains, painting golden streaks across his modest room. But something felt… off.
A strange wetness clung to the corner of his eyes.
"…Tears?"
Blinking in confusion, Isamu reached up and touched his face. He stared at his fingertips—two drops of moisture shimmered there under the sunlight.
"Why am I crying?"
"Is this… an illusion? Or did I cry because of a dream?"
"But… what was the dream? I can't remember anything…"
His brows furrowed as he sat up, trying to grasp at the fleeting fragments of sleep. No images came, no memories—just the lingering weight in his chest, like an invisible pressure pressing against his heart.
Shaking off the confusion, Isamu got up from bed and walked into the washroom. He washed the tears from his hands, splashed water on his face, and stared into the mirror.
"Maybe it was just a coincidence… but then again, why did it feel like I was hurting?"
For a long while, he simply stared at his reflection, his thoughts running deeper than usual. His hands trembled slightly as he examined them, as if expecting to find answers in the lines on his palms.
"I never wake up this early," he murmured. "That's another surprise…"
Still unable to make sense of what had happened, Isamu decided to let it go. A voice calling from outside suddenly pulled him from his thoughts.
"Isamuuu!!! Are you even awake yet?!"
He blinked, recognizing the voice instantly. A grin crept across his face as he rushed to get dressed.
"Nothing serious, probably. Let's see what's going on outside."
Moments later, he opened the door.
"Hey Yumi… What's up???" he asked with a goofy smile.
Standing before him was Yumi, his classmate and longtime friend. She was 16, just like him, with long white hair that flowed like silk and sharp pink eyes that burned with passion. Yumi was known for her intelligence, strong will, fierce loyalty, and unfortunately… her short temper.
"You idiot!" she snapped, arms crossed. "I've been calling you forever! Are your ears just decorations???"
"What? No way! I didn't hear anything until just now." Isamu scratched the back of his head. "Your lies are evolving every day. Impressive."
"Don't twist things!" she huffed. "If I said I've been calling you, then I have. Stop accusing me and just accept the truth!"
"Yeah, yeah, fine." Isamu raised his hands in surrender. "But now you're making us both late for class."
Huff.
"I'M making us late? You're the one who overslept!" she retorted, refusing to take the blame.
He chuckled. "Alright, alright. You win. Let's get going already."
As they left the house, Yumi took the lead while Isamu locked the door behind him. He jogged a little to catch up, his usual relaxed smile never leaving his face.
"Hey… Isamu?" Yumi suddenly said, her tone shifting.
"Yeah? What now?" he replied, hands in pockets.
"I wonder who it'll be…"
"Who what?"
She glanced at him with wide, curious eyes. "The new student. You forgot? The teacher said someone new's joining today."
"Ah, right…" Isamu shrugged. "Probably just another guy who's more your type. Maybe you two will hit it off and become a couple?"
Yumi's eyes narrowed like daggers. "Shut up! I'm just curious, okay?"
"Exactly what I said. What's the big deal?" Isamu replied coolly.
"Ugh… let's just get to class already. Talking to you ruins my mood."
He glanced at her from the side, unbothered, and suddenly threw a punch into the air.
"Hah!" he grinned, fists raised.
Yumi looked at him, baffled. "What… was that?"
Without another word, she rolled her eyes and kept walking.
The academy bell had already rung. Inside the classroom, Takao-sensei, their teacher, was mid-lecture when the two students knocked on the door.
"Can we come in, Takao-sensei?" they asked in unison.
He looked at them with a soft smile. "Of course. Though… earlier would've been better."
They gave a sheepish nod and took their seats.
But this wasn't just any ordinary school.
📖 This World
In this world, children don't just learn numbers or words. They learn to control their power. Most academies across the seven nations focus on awakening and refining each student's Mindcore Energy—the mystical source of every person's strength.
Every human is born with Mindcore Energy. It flows through the body like a second bloodstream, invisible but powerful. As a person grows, so does their capacity to store and wield it. The greater the energy reserve, the more potential one holds.
But power isn't raw—it's shaped.
That's where the Elenvyr come in.
The Elenvyr are the five elemental forces that govern the world:
Ignis (Fire)
Aeris (Air)
Terra (Earth)
Aqua (Water)
Spatium (Space)
These five forces form circles within every soul. When someone channels their Mindcore Energy, it naturally flows into one—or sometimes more—of these elemental circles. The one it resonates with most becomes the user's core element.
A child whose energy flows into the Aqua circle becomes a Water Elemental. Another whose energy burns in Ignis becomes a Fire Elemental. Rare individuals can synchronize with more than one… and rarer still can bend the very balance of nature.
For Isamu and Yumi, their journey was just beginning.