The first day at Min Academy dawned with quiet intensity. The academy stood like a living monument of marble and woven sigils, threads of energy pulsing faintly through its walls. It was a place where destiny was studied, dissected, and rewritten — a sanctuary for those who sought to understand the invisible strings that bound all existence.
Kaito walked through the academy's main gate, his calm eyes scanning the vast courtyard. Hundreds of students filled the area, each bearing a faint glow that revealed the awakening of their Thread Resonance Index, or TRI. Some threads flickered weakly, others shone like steady embers — but none compared to the hidden storm swirling deep within Kaito's soul.
His thoughts were steady and analytical. So, this is the birthplace of the next generation of Weavers... tools of fate being trained to think they're free.
He entered the main lecture hall, where the air itself hummed with tension. Floating sigils marked the center, forming a giant tapestry of moving energy. An elderly man stood before it, his long gray hair tied neatly, his robe embroidered with thousands of minuscule glowing threads. His eyes gleamed with a wisdom that seemed to pierce through reality itself.
"Welcome, new Weavers," the old man said, his voice resonating across the hall. "I am Professor Lian Xuan, your instructor for Thread Fundamentals. Today, we begin with understanding who — and what — you are."
The murmuring crowd fell silent. Even the air felt sharper.
Professor Lian raised a hand, and from his fingertips, golden threads extended, forming words in the air: 'The World is a Loom.'
"Everything," he said, "from the birth of stars to the blink of an eye, is connected by Threads. They are the fabric of fate, time, and existence. And you—Thread Weavers—are the ones who can touch them."
He turned to the class, eyes narrowing. "But to touch them, you must awaken your Thread Resonance Index—your TRI. Without TRI, you are merely a mortal gazing at the threads of gods."
The air shimmered. Students leaned forward, fascinated.
"Your TRI determines how well your soul resonates with the universe. Only when that resonance is stable can you call forth your Vital Thread—your life's essence, your personal thread of fate."
The professor's voice deepened. "Remember this: your Vital Thread must remain your greatest secret. For it defines your existence and your weakness alike."
Kaito's gaze darkened slightly. "My Vital Thread… the Karma Thread. If they ever knew… they would kill me."
Lian Xuan gestured again, and new threads appeared — each with a different hue.
"There are many forms of threads, but today, you will learn the two foundations."
---
The Vital Thread
"The Vital Thread," Lian said, as golden light shaped into a glowing spiral, "is unique to every Weaver. It is your soul's purest frequency — the very rhythm of your life. Lose it, and you die. Strengthen it, and your existence ascends."
He looked over the class. "Some Vital Threads heal. Some destroy. Some manipulate time, matter, or memory. Each has its own temperament, and each defines the kind of Weaver you will become."
The students whispered in awe. A girl with amber eyes raised her hand. "Professor, is it true that a Vital Thread can evolve?"
"Yes," Lian replied, smiling faintly. "But evolution demands sacrifice. To elevate your thread, you must feed it — with energy, experience, or… other threads."
A murmur spread across the room. Kaito listened silently, his expression unreadable.
---
The Lifeline Thread
Professor Lian's next thread was silver, thinner but sharper. "The Lifeline Thread is different. It is not born with you. It is gained."
He waved his hand, and the silver thread split into several fragments. "You can acquire Lifeline Threads through inheritance, trade, or hunting Wild Threads and elevate them. But beware—Wild Threads resist control. They are remnants of dead Weavers or chaotic forces that roam the world."
His tone hardened. "Forcing a thread above your rank can destroy you. Imagine a child wielding a sword forged for giants. That's what happens when a Rank 2 Weaver tries to claim a Rank 3 Wild Thread."
Several students shuddered. A few smiled nervously.
Kaito only smirked. I've done worse than that.
---
Ranks of the Weavers
Professor Lian turned toward a great chart etched into the floor — nine ascending lines, glowing faintly with runic light.
"There are nine ranks among Weavers," he explained.
Rank 1: The beginning — mortals awakening to their threads.
Rank 2: The average Weaver, able to control basic weaves.
Rank 3: The talented — those with C,B,A-class potential.
Rank 4: Leaders of clans, governors of fate.
Rank 5: The peak of mortals.
Rank 6: The Immortal Ascendants — those who touch the divine loom.
Ranks 7 to 9: Legends. Few have reached them, fewer still remain human after doing so.
His eyes glinted. "Remember, every rise in rank shakes the threads of fate. It is not strength you gain—it is responsibility."
---
Virtue and Vice
Lian raised his palm again, and this time two colors emerged — white and black threads twisting around each other.
"There are two paths of weaving," he said. "Virtue Weavers and Vice Weavers."
"The Virtue follow harmony, healing, balance. They align their souls with the cosmos and strengthen others."
His gaze darkened. "The Vice Weavers… walk alone. They weave for themselves, bending destiny to their will. They are selfish, chaotic, and powerful beyond reason."
A hush fell over the hall.
---
The First Lesson
The professor's tone shifted, more practical now.
"Now, close your eyes. Feel the hum in the air. That is the Loom responding to your TRI."
Kaito obeyed, though his resonance had long been awakened. Around him, threads shimmered faintly as students began to connect — some threads flickered weakly, others pulsed with promise.
Then came whispers of astonishment.
"Kaito Fei's thread… it's faint, but stable!"
"How's he doing that so calmly?"
Professor Lian's eyes narrowed slightly. "Impressive. Controlled and quiet. The mark of a Weaver who hides more than he shows."
Kaito slowly opened his eyes. His thread—a thin, colorless line—faded instantly, invisible to all. No one noticed the faint crimson glow deep beneath it, pulsing like a sleeping storm.
Good, he thought. Let them think I'm ordinary.
---
When the lesson ended, students spilled into the courtyard, chattering excitedly. Kaito lingered in the shadow of the great loom-hall, gazing up at the sky where unseen threads shimmered like constellations.
He whispered to himself, "Virtu,fate, balance… all just threads waiting to be cut."
The faint hum of his Karma Thread stirred within his soul, its voice low and cold:
Rewrite them all, Kaito. Even gods bleed when their threads are severed.
He smiled faintly.
The first day of learning had ended—
and the first step toward godhood had begun.
---