Morning crept in slow. The towers of Murrchel caught the first bit of light, gold streaks sliding across wet stone. You could still smell the rain, the storm from last night hadn't fully gone. Everything felt heavy but clean.
Abraham rolled his shoulders, stretching until something popped. His chest still hummed—that strange tug from the Awakening Gauge always there, like a pulse behind his ribs.
Jennifer was already there, of course. Leaning on the pool's edge, hair still and steady damp and sticking to her neck, sunlight catching on the strands, she looking like the sun need light to reflect from her.
She idly flipped a water orb in her palm, like she had nothing better to do… which, apparently, she didn't.
"Ready for the first session?" she said, voice light but eyes sharp.
"Yeah," Abraham said. "Mostly." His fire spark flickered, just a faint ember.
Instructors stood in a half-circle. Master Song moved forward, tall, silver hair that looked almost metallic. His eyes—violet, tired, sharp. The kind that saw through people.
"Elemental Hollow Cry and synergy," he said, tone calm but not soft. "Some of you will work alone. Others—paired. You two…" He nodded toward Abraham and Jennifer. "Your Awakening data shows uncommon balance. You'll train together. Fail to synchronize, and you'll face… complications."
"Complications?" She lifted one eyebrow, slow and deliberate, like she was half-impressed and half-annoyed.
Song's mouth twitched for a moment maybe it's irritation or fade smile. Hard to tell with him. He got a face of nameless to be honest.
"Your field is unstable. Rogue entities remain. Consider it practice."
Abraham grinned. "So basically a live fire test."
"Something like that."
Jennifer sighed. "Wonderful."
The arena spread out before them, wide and echoing. Stone walls traced with glowing runes, heat rising from the fireproof patches like the place was alive. Something shimmered in the air, slow at first, then snapping together into a shape—half shadow, half smoke, all wrong. Hollow eyes, black fire inside.
Rogue Spirit — Level Unknown
Abraham's interface blinked.
[Dual Hollow Cry Detected
Partner Nearby
Sync Level: 15%]
He exhaled. "Guess this is us."
"Don't lag," Jennifer said, splitting her water orb into two.
The thing lunged. Abraham's flame darted forward, met water in mid-air. Steam exploded outward, hot and loud.
[Combo Hit! ]
[Damage: Moderate counted ]
[Mana: Abraham 2 / Jennifer 2 ]
[Awakening Progress: +10]
They fell into rhythm fast. Jennifer's water curved and redirected his flames like she'd been reading his mind. Every time she shifted, he adapted.
Steam thickened. The rogue spirit flickered.
[Sync Level: 37% — Improved]
Abraham grinned through the haze. "We're getting there."
"Don't get cocky," Jennifer muttered—but her voice carried that small smile again.
They cornered the spirit near the barrier. The shadow flickered, pulsing once… twice… like it had its own rhythm. Abraham felt it in his chest, weird and familiar.
Abraham felt it. The mark on his wrist burned.
That rhythm… the same as before. The beast.
He let it guide him. Flames surged, wrapped around Jennifer's water flow until both merged—fire twisting through liquid, forming steam that burst like a cannon.
[Critical Combo! ]
[Damage: High ]
[Mana: 1 + 1 ]
[Awakening Progress: +20]
The rogue spirit screamed, tearing apart into black mist. Silence followed.
Jennifer wiped her brow. "That actually worked."
"Of course it did," Abraham said, grinning, half-exhausted.
[Quest Updated: Dual Hollow Cry — Synchronization Achieved
Reward: Affinity Boost, Awakening +15]
Later, a few first-years came over—three girls, chattering, bright-eyed.
"You two were insane out there!" one said, silver hair catching the light.
Another crossed her arms. "You're Abraham, right? The fire user? I've heard things."
Jennifer looked mildly amused. Abraham noticed the way the system blinked.
[Harem Potential: +5]
He almost laughed out loud.
The girls jabbered on a bit, curiosity written all over their faces, mixed with… something else he couldn't name.
Jennifer stayed quiet, leaning back slightly, but the way she watched them said more than words ever could.
The academy wasn't just training—it was politics, attraction, survival. And Abraham knew it.
That night, he sat alone in his dorm, hands aching, mana almost empty.
Mana Low — Rest Recommended
He closed his eyes. That faint gold pulse under his skin shimmered again. The beast mark. Waiting.
Then—a knock.
Jennifer. Again. She stepped in quietly, dropped a small bag on his desk.
"Restoratives," she said. "You burned through too much energy today."
Abraham blinked. "You're… actually looking out for me?" He blinked, caught off guard by how normal the question sounded, even though it wasn't.
She shrugged, a faint pink dusting her cheeks. "Don't get any ideas. I'm not your babysitter or anything.". "I just don't want to rebuild the dorm after you blow it up."
They both laughed—soft, awkward, too quiet for comfort.
She turned to leave, and he caught the faint warmth that lingered. The interface flickered again.
[Awakening Progress: +35 ]
[Partner Synergy: Active ]
[Hidden Trait — Beast Hollow Cry Rising]
He smiled. Tomorrow would be something else.