Two days had passed since the last lesson, and the villa-turned-restaurant, Hoshikawa, was already settling into a rhythm. The four children — Asar, Mitsuki, Nax, and Rei — moved with a quiet efficiency behind the counters and through the kitchen. They were young, yes, but their lives before me had forced them into maturity far beyond their years. They knew struggle, loss, and the bitter taste of being abandoned. And in that, they shared a thread of understanding, silently binding them together.
I watched from my seat near the entrance, golden eyes scanning the room as they worked. Asar carried trays with ease, the faintest flicker of excitement in his movements. Mitsuki polished the cutlery with precise, deliberate motions, her brow furrowed in concentration. Rei quietly took orders, her voice soft but clear, while Nax hefted sacks of supplies with a strength that, even now, seemed just shy of abnormal.
And yet… I noticed it.
The faint hum, barely audible, resonating from each of them. Tiny sparks of energy dancing at their fingertips, near imperceptible, but undeniable. The first signs. Their circuits — the hidden threads of potential lying dormant — were awakening.
I rose, my golden wings flickering faintly behind me, a silent reminder of presence and authority. The children glanced up, curiosity mixed with that familiar reverence they held for me.
"Follow me," I said softly, voice calm but carrying weight. They obeyed instinctively, wiping their hands and placing their work aside. I led them to the back courtyard, far enough from the main floor that the customers would not feel the faint tremors of raw energy about to stir.
"Sit," I instructed. "Do not panic. What you are about to feel… is your own power. You have survived the world when it abandoned you, and now the world will begin to recognize your potential."
I let the words hang in the air. Silence, save for the faint hum of awakening circuits, filled the space.
"Asar," I began, turning to the boy who had been most restless, "you carry a fire inside you. Not just anger, not just warmth, but energy waiting to take form. This is your Circuit. It calls itself Flameheart. Focus — do not fight it, do not try to control it. Allow it to speak to you."
His brown eyes widened as a soft orange glow sparked from his palms. A single, small flame hovered, spinning lazily. His lips parted in surprise, then determination. I nodded. "Good. You will not just wield fire. You will master it, bend it, and understand its nature. It is an extension of your will. Treat it as a companion, not a tool."
Next, Mitsuki stepped forward. "Your patience and precision… have prepared you," I said, letting her feel the calm pulse of her circuit awakening. Her aura shimmered faintly, a crystalline glow enveloping her hands as a sword materialized — pure energy, perfect in form. "Your circuit, Bladesong, allows you to feel, manipulate, and master any sword in existence. Even if you have never held it, it becomes a part of you. Do not fear the weight. You will become its master."
Mitsuki's hands trembled slightly as the sword hummed faintly, resonating with her heartbeat. She raised it experimentally, eyes shining. I allowed a small smile. "Good. Every cut, every block, every strike — it obeys your mind, your intent. Respect it, and it will serve you flawlessly."
Rei was next. The smallest, yet often the most stubborn. "Your circuit," I explained softly, "is Frostveil. Ice is not just cold. Ice preserves, shields, and slices. Your emotion guides its manifestation. Focus, do not resist."
Her small fingers trembled as icy shards formed in the air above her palms, swirling softly like a miniature storm. Her eyes sparkled, a mixture of fear and awe. "It's beautiful," she whispered.
"Yes," I replied. "And it is yours. You will learn to control it, to protect, to strike, to survive. It will be a part of you, Rei. Not a weapon against others — a weapon to preserve what you love and what you must protect."
Finally, Nax. I let him breathe a moment longer, observing his natural strength, his rapid adaptability, and the glint of ambition in his young eyes. "You, Nax, awaken Transmirage. Your body… is not limited to a single form. You may split into duplicates, each holding the strength of the original. It is an immense gift, but be warned — the strain falls upon your mind, not your body. Mental clarity is required, or you may falter."
Nax frowned, trying to understand the weight of his circuit. I nodded. "This is power that few understand at first glance. It is not just physical strength — it is strategy, positioning, endurance. Your clones obey your mind, but your mind must endure. That is the true test."
I stepped back, letting them feel their power, letting the glow of their circuits illuminate the courtyard like a sunrise of potential. Each one of them had their spark, unique and potent. I allowed them to explore, to play, and to practice safely.
"You may experiment here," I said, voice calm but firm. "Do not disrupt the city or its people. Your growth is important, but control comes first. Always control."
Asar's flames leapt higher, dancing in spirals. Mitsuki swung her blade, slicing through phantom targets with precision and grace. Rei's ice formed intricate patterns in the air, sharp yet beautiful. Nax split into three duplicates, each performing tasks with flawless strength, and then recombined, staggering slightly as his mind adjusted.
"Good," I murmured under my breath. "You are learning… faster than I anticipated."
They were children abandoned by the world, yes, but within them lay the seeds of something extraordinary. And under my guidance — not just as a teacher, but as a mentor, as a big brother — they would grow into beings capable of standing against threats no ordinary adult could comprehend.
I allowed the session to continue until the sun dipped low, shadows stretching across the courtyard. When I finally called them back, their faces were flushed, eyes bright, and bodies buzzing with raw energy.
"Remember this feeling," I instructed. "Your circuits are part of you, not something separate. Master them, and you will be more than the world expects. Fail, and learn. Every spark, every glow, every mistake — it is your foundation."
They nodded, silently understanding, silently trusting. And as I watched them gather their things and prepare to return to their duties in the restaurant, I allowed a rare smile to cross my face.
The fire, the frost, the blade, the strength — all of them awakening under my watch. And in time… they would be ready for anything.
Hoshikawa wasn't just a restaurant anymore. It was a forge. A school. A sanctuary. And these four — Asar, Mitsuki, Rei, and Nax — were its first true apprentices in the art of power and survival.
And I would make sure that, no matter what the world threw at them, they would not just survive — they would thrive.