In the academy corridor,
Esther rushed toward the notice board to check which class they'd been assigned to. Luke followed, shouting,"Esther! Stop running! You'll fall!"
Felix trailed behind, smiling to himself. His thoughts wandered.She never changes. Always in a hurry, never caring for herself. Even as she grows older, she's still the same… but maybe that's what makes her special.
He sat on a bench in the corner of the corridor, gazing out at the peaceful view of the town. But the calm didn't last.
"Oh, my sweetheart! You look so handsome today!" a loud voice sang out.
Felix froze. His bravery was legendary when it came to danger—but not when it came to that voice. His heart dropped.
Before he could turn around, someone grabbed his hands and spun him around. Of course—it was her. Sakshi, the most popular and beautiful girl in the academy. The daughter of one of the five richest men in the nation.
She smiled confidently and tugged him toward her. "Come on, walk with me."
Before Felix could respond, Esther stormed over, furious. She pushed Sakshi aside, grabbed Felix's hand, and dragged him away toward the back of the academy.
Meanwhile, Luke, understanding what was happening, snatched a cup of coffee from the girl beside him and "accidentally" spilled it on Sakshi to create a distraction. Then he sprinted after them.
Behind the Academy
Esther was silent—dangerously silent. Felix could feel the guilt rising in his chest.If she yelled at me, I could explain… but this silence is worse. Did I make her mad again? But it's not my fault!
Luke arrived moments later, grinning, which only made Esther angrier. She started chasing him to hit him, but Felix stopped her.
"Hey, hey, calm down," Felix said, hoping she'd cool off.
But before he could explain, Esther cut him off sharply."You don't have to explain anything! If you want to go with her, then just go! Sorry for being annoying—I thought you didn't like her. Guess I was wrong."
Felix sighed. "Hey, angry bird, hold on. Let me say a few words, okay? First off, I don't like Sakshi. And second, when did I ever say anything that made you think otherwise?"
Esther froze, blushing at his words. He doesn't like Sakshi? But she's the most beautiful girl in the academy… The thought made her heart race. She looked down at the ground, trying to hide her smile.
Luke broke the moment. "Uh, guys? You do realize we're at the back of the academy, right? This place is restricted for students."
Felix turned and noticed the locked gate. It looked old—too old—and oddly well-guarded.
Esther tilted her head. "What could be behind that gate?" she whispered, stepping closer.
When she reached out to touch the lock, Felix quickly stopped her. "Don't. My mom warned me never to come here. I think… this is what she was talking about."
Esther crossed her arms. "Felix, stop thinking like a kid. We're adults now—we should explore, learn, experience things! Don't lock yourself up because of old rumors."
Felix hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. But if we're doing this, we're careful. The lock might trigger an alarm. Let's jump the wall instead."
Luke agreed instantly. "That's the spirit."
They stacked a few rocks to climb and hopped over the wall into the restricted area.
Inside the Restricted Zone
The air felt heavier. Ahead of them, a dark cave glowed faintly from within. Drawn by curiosity, they entered.
Inside, they found an apple tree—an ancient one, standing alone, with a single bright apple hanging from its branch.
Esther's eyes lit up. "Luke, I'm starving. Please, can you help me reach it?"
Of course, Luke never refused his sister. He lifted her up so she could grab the apple.
While they focused on the fruit, Felix wandered closer to the cave wall, using his lighter to examine strange markings. His eyes widened as he read the words carved there.
"No… wait! Don't touch the apple!" he shouted, running toward them.
But it was too late.
As Esther plucked the apple, a blinding light filled the cave. A glowing magic circle appeared beneath their feet, humming with ancient power—then, in an instant, they were pulled inside, their bodies swallowed by the light.