The morning bell rang through Eclipse Academy, cutting through the lingering fog that hung over the courtyards.
Students streamed between the stone paths, laughter and chatter blending with the faint hum of mana channels flowing underfoot.
For the Combat Division, it was supposed to be an ordinary morning — drills, conditioning, and basic weapon forms. But today was different.
A notice had been posted on every dorm board at dawn:
Combined Lecture — Combat & Mage Divisions: Mana Theory and Combat Applications.
Instructor Chang Soomin & Instructor Baek Gunho.
The kind of class where most first-years prayed not to embarrass themselves.
Jiwoo adjusted his uniform collar as he walked beside Minjae across the courtyard. The air still smelled faintly of oil and stone dust from yesterday's drills. His body felt fine, though a dull heaviness still lingered in his chest — like he hadn't fully woken up.
"You sure you're good?" Minjae asked, hands tucked behind his head. "The nurse said you were out all day. Thought you'd be bedridden for a week."
"I'm fine," Jiwoo replied. "It was just mana fatigue."
"Mana fatigue," Minjae muttered. "You collapsed after sparring with Baek Gunho, dude. That's like saying 'I just tripped into a tank.'"
Jiwoo gave him a small look. "You talk too much in the morning."
"Habit," Minjae grinned. "Helps me cope with impending death-by-lecture."
The lecture hall was massive — tiered seats, crystal screens projecting glowing mana diagrams, the faint hum of circulation runes etched into the floor. The front rows were already packed with students from both divisions — Combat uniforms in gray and silver, Mage students in blue trim.
At the front stood two instructors.
Baek Gunho leaned against the desk, arms crossed — the scar on his jaw catching the light.
Beside him stood a woman in a dark blue coat, her long black hair tied into a neat braid. Her eyes were sharp, calculating — the kind of gaze that could pin someone to their seat.
"I am Instructor Chang Soomin," she said, her voice clear and calm. "S-Rank, Mage Division. Today, we'll discuss mana synchronization between combatants and casters — and how lack of control can kill both."
Whispers rippled through the room.
"Wait—Chang Soomin? The strongest mage in Korea?"
"No way, that's why she can't be seen anywhere."
"What's she doing teaching here?"
Baek cut the noise with a glare. "Quiet."
Chang continued, unfazed. "Our goal today is simple — understand the link between mana flow and physical discipline. I'll explain theory. Instructor Baek will demonstrate how not to die using it."
That earned a few nervous laughs.
Jiwoo and Minjae found two open seats in the middle row.
Minjae plopped down next to a girl with auburn hair tied up in a short ponytail. She turned slightly, flashing him a grin.
"Morning," she said. "Didn't think you'd survive the Combat drills yesterday."
"Barely did," Minjae chuckled. "You?"
"Almost got hit in the face by my own mana rebound. Five times."
She leaned on her desk, noticing Jiwoo take the seat beside Minjae.
"Hey—who's the chick-faced guy with you? Haven't seen him around."
Minjae blinked. "Chick-faced—? Oh, him?" He pointed to Jiwoo. "That's Han Jiwoo.
He was stuck in the nurse's office all day. Long story short, he kinda sparred with Instructor Baek yesterday."
The girl's jaw dropped. "He sparred with Instructor Baek?!"
The words came out louder than she meant — and silence rippled through the nearest rows.
Heads turned. Even students two aisles away perked up.
"Did she just say he fought Baek Gunho?"
"No way. He's a first-year."
"That's suicide."
"Wait—Han Jiwoo? Isn't that the guy from the Association? The one who blew up the resonance chamber?"
"The E-rank kid?!"
Baek cut the noise again with a glare. "Quiet."
Whispers spread fast — faster than mana conduction itself.
The combined lecture ended with the chime of the dismissal bell.
Students began filing out of the hall, buzzing with low whispers. Jiwoo could feel the eyes trailing him again — some curious, others sharp with judgment.
"Man, we're so doomed," Minjae muttered as they walked out. "Half the class is already gossiping. You're officially the Academy's hottest topic."
Jiwoo said nothing, only adjusting his bag strap as they stepped into the sunlight. The chatter behind them faded into distant echoes — his name carried somewhere in between.
By the time they reached the cafeteria, the smell of cooked rice and mana broth filled the air. The noise was louder here — hundreds of students talking over clattering trays.Jiwoo and Minjae grabbed theirs and made for a corner table by the window, far from the crowd.
"Man, today's been a circus," Minjae muttered, slumping into his seat. "You'd think you summoned a dragon or something."
Jiwoo gave a quiet hum. "You said that already."
"Yeah, but now it's more true." Minjae stabbed at his food dramatically. "At least dragons don't gossip."
Jiwoo almost smiled. Almost.
Before he could reply, a voice called from nearby — clear, a little hesitant.
"Hey."
They both turned.
Kang Rina stood by their table, tray in hand. Her auburn hair caught the light, eyes bright but nervous. "Mind if I sit here?"
Minjae blinked, surprised. "Uh—sure, go ahead."
She slid onto the bench beside him, setting her tray down carefully. For a moment, she looked between the two of them, her usual confidence dimmed a little.
"About earlier," she said, her voice quieter now. "Sorry for blurting that out. I didn't mean to… you know, shout your business across the room."
Jiwoo looked at her for a moment, then shook his head. "It's fine. You didn't know."
"Still," she said, frowning a bit, "doesn't mean it was cool of me. People here love turning everything into gossip."
"They were going to find out eventually," Jiwoo said simply.
Rina studied him, as if expecting more, but Jiwoo's calm expression didn't change. She sighed and gave a small grin. "You're a weird one. Most people would be angry."
Minjae grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Told you. He doesn't react to anything. I've seen him sleep through fire drills."
Rina laughed softly, the tension easing. "Guess that's a good thing. I'm Kang Rina, by the way. First-year Mage Division."
"Han Jiwoo," he said. "Combat Division."
"Yeah, I figured." Her smile turned playful again. "You kind of scream 'Combat.'"
"Is that a compliment?" Jiwoo asked.
"Depends," she said, picking up her spoon. "You tell me, combat boy."
Minjae groaned. "Don't start flirting at the lunch table, Rina. Some of us are trying to eat in peace."
"I'm not flirting," Rina said, though the grin on her face said otherwise. "Just being friendly. Oh, and before you ask — A-rank. So you two better keep up."
Jiwoo raised an eyebrow slightly. "A-rank, huh?"
"Surprised?" she asked, tilting her head.
"No," he said, quietly amused. "You talk like one."
Minjae nearly choked on his drink. "Did you just—wait, did Jiwoo just joke?"
Rina laughed, covering her mouth with one hand. "Okay, I'll give you that one. You've got a dry sense of humor. I like it."
The three of them talked for a while — light conversation about classes, dorm life, and rumors already spiraling out of control. Minjae filled Rina in on Jiwoo's fight, exaggerating as usual, while Rina listened wide-eyed.
"Wait, wait," she said, leaning forward. "He actually hit Baek Gunho?"
"Cut him, technically," Minjae corrected. "Just the cheek, but still. The guy didn't even yell."
Rina whistled softly. "Wow. So the rumors weren't exaggerated for once."
Jiwoo gave a quiet shrug. "It wasn't anything special."
"Not special?" Minjae gawked. "You literally scarred an S-rank!"
Rina chuckled. "You're a humble one, aren't you?"
"I just did what I was told," Jiwoo said, sipping his drink. "He told me to attack."
Rina smiled faintly. "Still, most people would've frozen. Guess you've got more to you than you let on."
"Or less," Minjae muttered. "Still not sure if he's fearless or just bad at reacting to danger."
"Maybe both," Rina said, grinning.
They all laughed — quietly, but it felt easy, natural.
For the first time since arriving at Eclipse, Jiwoo didn't feel the weight of the whispers pressing on him. The cafeteria noise faded into the background, replaced by something simpler — conversation, warmth, the faint hum of magic in the air.
Outside the window, sunlight broke through the clouds, casting long streaks of gold across the courtyard.
Rina glanced outside, her expression softening. "You know, it's kinda nice. First week, and we're already making headlines."
Minjae groaned. "You mean you're making headlines. Jiwoo's the poor guy they're gossiping about."
She smirked. "Then we'll make new ones. Better ones."
Jiwoo looked at her, caught off guard by the certainty in her tone. "That easy, huh?"
Rina shrugged. "Everything starts somewhere. Might as well start with lunch."
He smiled faintly — just a flicker, but real. "You sound like my sister."
"Oh? Should I take that as a compliment too?"
"It depends," he said, voice quiet but edged with amusement. "She's scarier than you."
Minjae groaned, covering his face. "Please don't summon another Han into my life."
The three of them laughed quietly, their voices blending into the cafeteria noise.
Outside, the sunlight had softened to gold. The courtyard shimmered under it, calm and distant. Jiwoo's reflection flickered faintly in the window — almost invisible, like a shadow moving behind him.
He blinked once. It was gone.
And the pulse in his chest thrummed, just once, before fading again.