The morning after the fight felt unreal.
Riku woke up to sunlight cutting through the cracked blinds, slicing his room into lines of gold and shadow. His body ached everywhere. His muscles throbbed, his breath burned, and his right hand still shimmered faintly — a ghostly glow where Lira's mark had etched itself into his skin.
He sat up slowly. "Still alive," he muttered.
"Barely," came Lira's voice.
She floated lazily near the ceiling, upside down, her silver hair falling like liquid moonlight. Her expression was unreadable — equal parts amusement and judgment.
"Next time," she said, "try not to use forbidden resonance in the middle of a back alley. It's embarrassing."
Riku rubbed his temple. "You're welcome for not letting you get captured."
She tilted her head. "I didn't say I wasn't impressed."
That almost made him smile. Almost.
The moment didn't last long. A knock came from the door — sharp, confident, three times.
"Riku Vane?" a voice called. "We need to talk."
He stood, every muscle protesting, and opened the door.
Two figures stood outside — both wearing long black coats lined with glowing threads of blue. On their chests gleamed the symbol of the Spirit Academy: a pair of wings wrapped around a basketball-shaped orb.
The taller one stepped forward — a woman with red hair tied back and eyes that looked like burning glass. "I'm Kaori Blaze, top scorer of the East Division. This is Officer Vale, Spirit Division medic."
Riku blinked. "You're from the Academy?"
Kaori's lips curved slightly. "That's right. And you, Riku Vane, just triggered a Class-A soul disturbance. The entire city's spiritual grid lit up because you went Supernova in an alley."
Vale, a calm-looking woman with soft blue eyes, stepped forward. "No harm done, thankfully. But your bond… it's unstable. That spirit shouldn't even exist."
Lira materialized beside Riku, her eyes narrowing. "Excuse me?"
Vale didn't flinch. "Phantom-class spirits are illegal for a reason. They feed on emotion until their masters collapse."
"Funny," Lira said, her voice dropping to a dangerous calm, "that's exactly what your gods said before they tried to cage me."
The air went heavy. Blue light rippled from Vale's body — a defensive field.
Riku quickly stepped between them. "Enough! I'm not interested in being arrested or exorcised. If you came here to fight—"
Kaori raised a hand. "Relax, street king. We're not here to cuff you. Actually… we're here to offer you a deal."
Riku frowned. "A deal?"
Kaori's eyes glowed faintly, the reflection of flame dancing within them. "The Academy wants you to enroll. You're strong, reckless, and you just bonded with one of the most dangerous spirits in history. That makes you valuable… and dangerous."
Vale nodded. "At the Academy, you'll learn to control your resonance — or die trying."
Riku looked between them. "That's your pitch?"
Kaori smirked. "That's the truth."
For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he exhaled slowly. "Fine. I'll go."
"Good." Kaori turned. "Pack light. We leave now."
Lira floated closer to him, whispering in his mind. You sure about this? The Academy's run by the same gods who banned me.
Riku thought back to his old team — to the screams, the burning courts, the feeling of helplessness. "If I stay weak, I'll lose you too," he whispered. "I'm done running."
Lira's eyes softened for a split second. "You're still a fool," she murmured. "But… my kind of fool."
They left the city as dusk painted the sky in violet and gold. A sleek aircraft — half-machine, half-spirit — waited on the outskirts. Its wings shimmered with soul energy, runes glowing as it hovered silently.
Kaori climbed aboard first, folding her arms as Riku and Lira followed. Vale took the pilot's seat. "Destination: Spirit Academy — Celestia Campus," she announced, her voice calm.
As the craft rose above the city, Riku watched the skyline shrink — the streets, the alleys, the ghosts of his past fading into mist.
Lira hovered near the window, gazing out. "I've seen a thousand cities fall," she said quietly. "But humans still build new ones on top of the ruins."
"That's what we do," Riku replied. "We keep rebuilding — even when it hurts."
For once, Lira didn't tease him. She just watched the horizon.
Hours later, clouds parted — and the Spirit Academy appeared.
It wasn't a school. It was a kingdom. Floating islands suspended above a sea of light, connected by shimmering bridges. Giant arenas, training domes, and crystal towers pulsed with energy. Thousands of phantom courts glowed beneath the stars, each alive with matches between players and their spirits.
"Welcome," Kaori said, her tone almost proud, "to the heart of the Soul League."
As they landed, the air buzzed with raw energy — the resonance of hundreds of spirits in motion. Students walked in teams, their spectral partners trailing like living shadows. Some had animal spirits, others had humanoid avatars made of light or metal.
Riku could feel every heartbeat, every echo of power. It was overwhelming.
A few students stopped to stare at him — or rather, at Lira.
"Is that—?"
"No way… that's the Phantom Queen!"
"Didn't she destroy her last master?"
Whispers rippled through the crowd. Lira floated taller, her gaze sharp, unfazed by their fear.
Kaori shot a glare at the murmuring students. "Back to practice! You'll face him soon enough."
Riku raised an eyebrow. "Face me?"
Kaori smirked. "Oh, didn't I mention? You're not just enrolling. You're being tested."
Vale handed Riku a small crystal disk. "Arena 9. You'll fight your entrance match in one hour."
"Fight? Already?"
Kaori shrugged. "Welcome to the big leagues, street king. This is where legends either rise… or vanish."
She turned, fire crackling around her hands as she walked away. "Don't make me regret recruiting you."
Riku watched her go, his pulse quickening. He felt Lira's presence stir beside him, her tone soft but warning.
She's dangerous. Her spirit burns brighter than most gods I've met.
"Then she'll make a good rival," he said, cracking his neck.
An hour later, the arena roared.
Thousands of students filled the seats, spirits glowing like constellations. The court beneath Riku's feet shimmered — pure soul crystal, alive with shifting color.
Across from him stood Kaori, her red hair blazing, her spirit manifesting behind her: a phoenix wreathed in golden fire.
"This isn't a friendly match," she said. "The Academy doesn't need weak hearts. Show me if you deserve that forbidden power."
Riku smirked, summoning the phantom ball, his aura pulsing with violet light. "I'll do more than that."
The referee spirit raised a spectral whistle — and the game began.
Kaori moved first — faster than sound, her steps leaving fire trails as her phoenix soared above. The air cracked as she dribbled, launching a flaming shot from half-court.
Riku dodged, the heat licking his face. The ball slammed into the barrier behind him, exploding in a shower of light.
"Not bad," he said.
Lira's voice echoed in his head. You're enjoying this.
"Maybe a little."
He charged forward, energy spiraling around his legs. Every dribble echoed like thunder. The phantom ball flared, forming spectral afterimages — impossible fakes.
Kaori smirked. "Street tricks won't work on me."
"Guess we'll see."
He spun once, twice — then disappeared. The crowd gasped.
"Where—?!"
Behind Kaori, the ball reappeared — and Riku slammed it through the hoop in a burst of violet light.
The arena erupted.
Kaori landed, smiling despite herself. "Fine. You've got moves. But let's see how you handle the real game."
Her aura surged, flames spiraling skyward. The phoenix screamed, and the entire court turned molten red.
Lira's eyes widened. That's Soul Fusion — she's already mastered it.
Riku grinned. "Then it's time to test ours."
Violet and gold collided midair, shockwaves rippling across the stands.
And in that instant — as their auras clashed and the court split with light — Riku felt something awaken deep within him, deeper than the bond with Lira.
A pulse. A call.
Like the game itself was watching.
To be continued...