Morning in Caldonia did not announce itself gently.
Carriages rattled over stone. Steam hissed from vents beneath the streets. The city was loud--yet free of pain--as laughter and cheer replaced the anguish of the night.
Hordes of students rushed towards the academy. Among them was Enark.
He wore his uniform neatly. Bandages on his right arm with another against his cheek where the blade cut him. His eyes--no longer hidden behind a black blindfold--were shielded by circular shades, blue like the ocean.
He stood there like a ghost amid the crowd, as if time had slowed down.
He listened.
Footsteps striking stone. Breaths drawn and released. Heartbeats. Gossip. Joy. Hope. He raised his hand and bit off a piece of toast, chewing thoughtfully.
The city was awake, and Enark grew a faint smile on his face, treading forward with his fellow students.
Enark had been blind since he was ten years old - a truth known only to his close family. To everyone else, he merely postured, steering attention away from his peculiarities.
*BRRNNGG!*
The homeroom bell shrieked through the air.
"Oh--shoot, I'm gonna be late! Enark nearly choked on his breakfast as he broke into a sprint into the academy.
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The classroom buzzed with restless chatter as students filed into their seats. Wooden desks scraped against stone floors. Pages flipped. Someone laughed too loudly before being shushed.
Enark quietly strolled in and chose his seat in the middle row, beside the window. As he settled, a familiar trio of scents cut through the air filled with ink and parchment, heading towards his classroom.
He turned his head as three figures stepped into the room together.
"Whoa—check it out. We're all in the same class," said the boy at the center, his voice bright with surprise. "Hey, look, Enark's here too."
He was of average height and slightly chubby, with dark brown hair and warm yellow eyes that stood out against his brown skin. A cheerful presence seemed to follow him wherever he went.
"Oh, you're right! I didn't even notice him there," replied the girl beside him. Her hair, white as fresh snow, fell to the middle of her back, framing eyes the deep blue of lapis.
"Of course you didn't," the third girl cut in dryly. She towered over the other two, with black hair pulled into a ponytail with loose bangs at her face. Emerald eyes glanced down at them with faint amusement. "Not with that height."
"Archie. Suzune. Kirsty, what are YOU guys doing here?" Enark greeted, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"You look like you got jumped by your bed," Archie grinned.
Suzune leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Is that a bandage? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Enark replied easily. "I just fell down the stairs."
Kirsty crossed her arms. "You say that every time. "
Before Enark could respond—
The door slid open.
The room fell quiet.
A man in a pressed coat stepped inside, silver thread tracing the academy's crest along his collar. His presence alone straightened backs.
"Good morning," he said calmly. "Welcome to the Western Branch of the Xiphonos National Academy and State Institution."
A murmur rippled through the room.
"This academy exists to educate the future pillars of our nation," he continued. "Whether born to nobility, royalty, or merit—you are here because you were chosen."
His gaze swept the room, lingering on crests stitched in gold, silver, and plain thread alike.
"Take your seats. We have a long day ahead."
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By mid-morning, Enark had survived a lecture on History of Caldonia without dozing off, though the chalk dust made him sneeze twice. Suzune had even started debating philosophy with a professor on the first day, her sharp questions earning a mix of admiration and exasperation. Kirsty had declared herself the champion during P.E., effortlessly outperforming anyone who dared challenge her in sword forms and sparring drills.
Suzune, Archie, and Kirsty spent half their lunch searching for Enark, who had secluded himself in a quiet corner, the cafeteria's noise pounding in his head. Meanwhile, freshmen gathered along the railings of the upper levels, watching their upperclassmen wield a mysterious power they had only ever heard about in stories.
The afternoon dragged with lessons on law, etiquette, and geography. Every hallway bore faint traces of shimmering energy from the upper floors—a whisper of the final class they all awaited. Enark felt it like static on his skin, prickling and impossible to ignore.
Finally, the bell rang. The murmur of the hallways faded. Students filed into the classroom, their voices bubbling with excitement.
"Did you see that guy in the upper levels?" a boy whispered to his neighbor. "He made the air spark like lightning!"
"I heard last year's festival champion can bend metal with just thinking!" a girl replied, eyes wide.
Enark leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "You guys think this is going to be easy?" he murmured.
Archie grinned, nudging him. "Easy? Dude, don't pretend like you're not excited."
Suzune's eyes widened, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. "I… I hope I can actually understand it. It sounds… impossible."
Kirsty tilted her head, smirking faintly. "Impossible or not, we're all here for the same thing. Might as well pay attention."
Enark groaned, half amused, half exasperated. "This is it—the chance to learn about the 'power' my master told me about." He leaned back, staring at the ceiling, as his thoughts swirled.
"Finally… I get to see it for myself. All those stories my master told me… now it's real. I just hope I can follow along,"he thought to himself, a spark of anticipation flickering in his chest.
Just then, the door slid open.
Instantly, the chatter died. Heads turned. The hum of excitement drained from the room, replaced by a tense stillness. Even the sunlight seemed to hold its breath.
A woman entered. Her long black hair fell like ink down her back, framing eyes deep and crimson, as if they had swallowed fire itself. She was slender, yet every movement carried a quiet authority that made the air feel heavier. She scanned the room, not with casual curiosity, but with the precision of a predator measuring its surroundings.
"Good evening," she said, her voice calm but resonant, carrying across the classroom without needing to raise it. "I am Yamamoto. Yamamoto Kazuna." She paused, letting her gaze sweep over the students again, lingering just long enough to make a few of them straighten instinctively in their seats.
"Welcome to your first lesson…" She paused, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"...in Prime Energy."