002 – Shadows of Memory
Seraph stood in a massive hall, as if it were the dwelling of giants.
The hall seemed like an eternal void stretching endlessly.
Its dark ceiling faded into a darkness beyond sight.
Along the walls, fiery torches clung to the cold stone.
Between the colossal pillars scattered strange creatures—some with human-like features twisted by time, others with dark wings or twisted horns, all whispering in languages that only darkness could understand.
At the far end of the hall rose a colossal throne, as if carved from frozen shadows, surrounded by a mysterious magical aura. No one knew if it was a throne of rule… or a throne of curse.
Above the mystical throne was a mural.
Inscribed in a language unknown to Seraph, yet he somehow grasped its meaning mysteriously.
The writing above the throne radiated authority, as if anyone who spoke it would inevitably face death.
Seraph's lips began to move on their own, uttering the words on the mural with a solemn voice:
"The strongest on the earth, the greatest under the sky."
As soon as he spoke, all creatures in the hall froze as if time itself had stopped. Every gaze turned toward Seraph.
"Seraph… Seraph… Seeraaf, awaken."
His eyes opened. Before him stood Teacher Lumiere, the principal of Malforin School, and some of his friends.
"Thank God you are okay," Lumiere said reassuringly.
"My head… it hurts. What happened to me? Oh, I remember… I dreamt the dream I always dream."
"Seraph, do you remember what happened to you?" asked a human student nervously.
"What happened to me? I remember leaving the classroom," Seraph said, holding his head.
"We found you collapsed on the classroom floor, your face drenched in sweat," Lumiere said, placing her hand on her chest worriedly.
The principal added, "Seraph, do you remember anything at all?"
Seraph tried to recall, but he couldn't. "I don't remember anything… but I feel something is wrong."
"Do you need a few days to rest?"
"No, I'm fine. I can continue," he said, straightening his back and inspecting himself.
"As you wish. I'll inform your parents about what happened," said the principal as she left the room.
The next morning, the sun rose slowly, lighting the capital city, Titanor.
"Oh my God, I'm late on my first day! Why didn't my mother wake me up earlier?" Lumiere exclaimed as she ran, school bag in hand, her hair messy as if she had just woken up.
Upon arriving at Malforin School, she rushed to the principal's office, catching her breath and tidying her hair and clothes before knocking.
"Enter," came a voice from inside.
Lumiere opened the door to find a large table and a library surrounding the room on all sides.
*"I apologize, I promise I won't…" Before she could finish, the principal, engrossed in a book, interrupted:
"You've been accepted as a teacher at Malforin School."
"Huh… accepted without any tests or student evaluations? Seems today is my lucky day," Lumiere thought, astonished.
"Begin your lesson on the sacred powers today…
the Soul, the Blood, and the Sacred Words," the principal instructed.
"Sacred powers? Shouldn't I start with the basics of the Heavenly Houses from the story of creation, as Titanor's laws require?" Lumiere asked, confused.
"Do you have a headache, or did you not sleep well? Go, the lesson will begin now," the principal said, flipping pages in her book.
"Understood, I'll head to the classroom now," Lumiere replied, bowing slightly and exiting.
Once in the classroom, Lumiere began her lesson on the sacred powers, explaining the basics of using the Soul, Blood, and Sacred Words.
After the lesson ended, the students began to leave.
Seraph approached his teacher and said, "The lesson was enjoyable today, Miss Lumiere. I also want to thank you for what you did yesterday. The students told me you were the one who found me in the classroom and took me to the medical room."
"What is he talking about? Ah… the student they said lost consciousness yesterday… seems he is still affected," Lumiere thought silently, not replying.
After a pause of five seconds, Seraph asked, "Miss Lumiere, can you tell me more about the Antarctican Wall?"
"What is this child talking about? Antarctica? I've never heard of it in my life," Lumiere thought, then smiled and said, "I haven't heard of that name before… where did you hear it, Seraph?"
"You told us about it yesterday, teacher. You said the icy wall surrounding the six kingdoms is called Antarctica," Seraph said confidently.
"Me? Yesterday? Antarctica? Seraph, are you still affected by yesterday's fainting? I wasn't even here yesterday; I was accepted into the school today. I suggest you take some rest, and forgive me, I have duties with the principal," Lumiere said sternly and left the classroom, leaving Seraph alone.
"What a peculiar child," she thought.
Seraph stood alone, a strange mix of confusion, tension, and suspicion swirling inside him.
"What does she mean she wasn't here yesterday? Is she joking, or is she forbidden to speak about Antarctica because it's a dangerous secret? Well… I'll find out myself."
On the school roof, someone was watching the classroom scene between Seraph and Lumiere.
She had white wings and a golden halo above her head.
It was Lumiere! But soon her face and body began to deform, settling into an entirely different form.
She became a girl with brown hair and black eyes, some strands covering part of her face. She let out a suppressed laugh.
"Seraph and the principal did not realize that today's Lumiere is not the same as yesterday's Lumiere.
Even the fool didn't realize this isn't her first day. Hahaha!"
The human laughed hysterically, then said in a majestic voice:
"The plan proceeds as the Most High wills…"
She then spoke a solemn text in a language not of this world:
"The strongest on the earth… the greatest under the sky!!!