The halls of Haneul Academy thrummed with uneasy whispers as students filed into the grand assembly hall, the air thick with speculation. Min-jun Park's arrest had dominated the news for days, his face plastered across screens as the "high school murderer drunk on power." The drone footage, edited to highlight the gore—blood-splattered walls, mangled bodies, and the wounded "civilians"—had turned public opinion against him. Even at school, where he'd once been admired for his handsome calm and sharp mind, the tide had shifted. Girls who once giggled over his thoughtful gaze now averted their eyes, murmuring about the "monster" in their midst.
Vice Captain Seung-ho Han of the SDF's Second Division stood at the podium, his uniform crisp and his illusion powers—subtly inherited from his family line—casting a faint shimmer around him. As Soo-jin Han's older brother, he knew the stakes personally; she'd confided her crush on Min-jun, but more importantly, the SDF's plan hinged on swift action. "Students of Haneul Academy," he began, his voice booming with authority, "I am Vice Captain Seung-ho Han of the Special Defense Force. Today, I come with an opportunity—and a revelation."
The hall fell silent as he explained the new Recruit Squad Program: a pathway for underage mana users with potential to train under SDF guidance, gaining privileges like enhanced protection and advanced mana control, but without full rights until adulthood. "This program is for the future of peace," he continued. "And the first squad will be led by one of your own: Min-jun Park, as captain. Upon formation, he'll gain full SDF membership privileges, freeing him from civilian constraints."
Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by outraged murmurs. "A murderer as captain?" a boy shouted from the back, his voice laced with venom. "He slaughtered those people! Saw it on the news—blood everywhere, like a horror show!" Others joined in, voices rising: "He's dangerous! What if he snaps on us?" Girls who'd once fawned over Min-jun whispered harshly, their change of heart evident. "I thought he was cool, but now? He's scary. No way I'd follow him." The hall descended into chaos, students despising the boy they'd once idealized, fear twisting admiration into rejection.
Seung-ho raised a hand, illusions flickering to quiet the room, but before he could speak, Ji-hoon Kim leaped to his feet, his Asta-like energy exploding in a burst of kinetic mana that cracked the floor beneath him. "Shut up, all of you!" he roared, his smart eyes blazing with fury. "You don't know crap! Min-jun's been attacked—his family targeted by Black Lotus multiple times. The warehouse, the lot, now his home? He was defending his siblings, his dad! Those 'civilians' were plants—fakes to make him look bad. He's not a murderer; he's a hero keeping his cool while you cowards hide behind screens!"
The hall hushed, Ji-hoon's passionate defense cutting through the noise. His knowledge of Min-jun's Black Heart, buried since their childhood pact, fueled his resolve—he'd seen the gore up close, the shadows tearing thugs apart to save him, and the fear in Min-jun's eyes afterward. "I'll volunteer first," Ji-hoon declared, stepping forward. "If Min-jun's captain, count me in. Kinetic bursts ready to back him up."
Soo-jin Han, her cheeks flushing with a mix of sibling pride and romantic determination, stood next. Her illusion powers shimmered as she addressed the crowd. "Min-jun saved me from that sniper attack. He's thoughtful, smart—he doesn't deserve this hate. I'll join too." Whispers followed; her crush was an open secret now, but her bravery swayed a few.
Aiko Tanaka hesitated in the back, her green eyes conflicted. As a Japanese transfer student, joining a Korean SDF squad would breach diplomatic protocols—nations guarded their mana talents jealously. "I want to," she whispered to herself, wind powers rustling her uniform. But underage and foreign, a transfer like Lukas Braun's (the German expat) was her only path, and that required high-level approvals, nearly impossible in time. She slipped out quietly, frustration boiling; her Eclipse Collective ties could help, but not here.
Seung-ho nodded, noting the volunteers. "We need one more for the squad to form—at least four members, including Captain Park." The search continued, but time was slipping away.
Meanwhile, at the Korean Government Headquarters, Minister Jae-hoon Lee slammed his fist on the table, fire mana scorching the wood. Intelligence reports flooded in: the SDF's assembly at Haneul, the Recruit Squad Program whispers. "They're maneuvering to grant him full privileges," he snarled to Soo-min Park. "We can't let them poach him. Speed up the trial—from one month to one week. Once convicted, transfer him straight to the labs. Dissect that Black Heart control, weaponize it."
The aide nodded, issuing orders. Drones and reporters were already primed, the narrative locked: Min-jun as a public menace. The accelerated trial meant limited time for appeals—or SDF intervention.
At the SDF base, Division Captain Ji-yeon Kim received the update, her earth powers rumbling the floor. "One week? We need that fourth member now." Lukas Braun paced nearby. "The Japanese girl's out—diplomacy headache. Scan the school files; find someone fast."
In his cell, Min-jun sat meditating, shadows flickering weakly against the cuffs. His cool-headed mind pieced together the pieces: the trap, the SDF's play, the ticking clock. But as guards announced the rushed trial, the Black Heart stirred, whispering of escape in blood and shadows. Ji-hoon, Soo-jin, and the unknown fourth—his squad, his salvation. But with time running out, would they make it?