Hiko returned home later than usual that day.
Not because of detention.
Not because of extra training.
But because he had stayed behind in the Elite-2 hall, sitting alone for a while after everyone else had left.
His body still remembered the feeling of Magic Coating.
That thin layer.
That almost-real boundary between his mana and the world.
It had only lasted a moment, but it had been enough to change how he thought about power.
Not as something he used.
But something he became.
When he finally opened the door to his house, the familiar smell of dinner filled the air.
"Hiko?" his mom called from the kitchen. "You're late."
"Yeah," Hiko replied, slipping off his shoes. "Training ran long."
She peeked out from behind the counter.
"There's a letter for you."
Hiko blinked.
"…A letter?"
She handed him a simple envelope.
No school seal.
No academy stamp.
Just his name written neatly on the front.
That alone felt strange.
He took it slowly, went to the living room, and opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
Short.
Formal.
Your Diverse Dragon is now officially registered as a member of Elite-2.
Please prepare appropriate accommodations.
Hiko stared at it.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
"…What?"
He reread it.
Then again.
Then he slowly looked up at the ceiling.
"…My dragon… is in my class?"
The devil inside his mind was silent.
Even it seemed confused.
Hiko felt his heart start racing.
"…That means… it's coming to school?"
He suddenly stood up so fast he knocked over the chair.
"Hiko?" his mom called. "Is something wrong?"
"No!" Hiko said quickly. "I mean—yes. I mean—no. I mean—my dragon is in my class now."
She paused.
"…Your what?"
"Never mind," Hiko said. "Long story."
He went to bed that night unable to sleep.
Not because of danger.
Not because of enemies.
But because of excitement.
The next morning, he arrived at school earlier than usual.
Elite-2 was already gathered.
Goru and Daizen were arguing about something stupid as usual.
Kaiser was flipping his coin.
Holo was half asleep on a bench.
And then…
There was a large blue egg-shaped creature sitting beside Hiko's seat.
No.
Not an egg anymore.
A small dragon.
Its scales were mostly blue, but streaked with shifting colors, like oil on water.
Its eyes were big.
Too big for something that strong.
It tilted its head when it saw Hiko.
"…You're kidding," Daizen muttered.
Goru froze.
"…Is that—"
The dragon chirped softly and waddled toward Hiko.
Hiko's brain shut down for a second.
"…You're actually here."
The dragon sniffed him.
Then sneezed a tiny puff of colorful flame.
It accidentally singed the edge of Hiko's sleeve.
Hiko laughed.
"…Yeah. That checks out."
The dragon crawled into his lap.
Just sat there.
Like it belonged.
The entire class went silent.
Jin stared.
"…So your pet is a future calamity."
Kaiser blinked.
"…That thing could eventually rival a Radiance."
Holo leaned forward.
"…It is adorable and terrifying."
Daizen slowly walked closer.
"…Can I touch it?"
The dragon looked at Daizen.
Then turned its head and ignored him.
Daizen froze.
"…It just rejected me."
Goru laughed.
"…You got friend-zoned by a dragon."
The dragon curled around Hiko's arm and closed its eyes.
Hiko felt something strange.
Not mana.
Not cursed flame.
A connection.
A real one.
Like the dragon recognized him.
Not as a master.
Not as an owner.
As a partner.
Then the doors opened.
Yogan entered.
He looked at the dragon.
Paused.
Then said calmly.
"…So the paperwork was correct."
The class exploded again.
"So it is official?!"
"It is actually part of the class?!"
"This is insane!"
Yogan walked closer and scanned the dragon.
"Diverse Dragon. Rank 2 at birth. Potential Calamity-class entity."
The dragon yawned.
"…It is sleeping."
Yogan nodded.
"That is normal."
Hiko looked up.
"…So it really is in Elite-2 now."
"Yes," Yogan replied. "And it will train alongside you."
Daizen grinned.
"…Our class is broken."
Yogan continued.
"Now."
The dragon opened one eye.
Yogan spoke again.
"Before we continue training, you need to understand something fundamental."
The class quieted.
Yogan raised one hand.
"Mana flows from the stomach to the body."
Everyone blinked.
"…What?"
Yogan continued.
"Your mana core is centered around the lower abdomen. That is where energy is generated and circulated."
He raised the other hand.
"Magic originates from the brain."
Hiko frowned.
"…So mana and magic are not the same thing?"
"Correct," Yogan said. "Mana is fuel. Magic is instruction."
The room was completely silent now.
"You burn mana."
"You shape magic."
"But Magic Coating requires both to synchronize."
Holo's eyes sharpened.
"…So we were forcing mana onto our bodies without syncing magic."
"Yes."
Kaiser whispered.
"…That is why it collapsed."
Yogan continued.
"When mana and magic flow in opposite patterns, coating fails."
"When they align, embodiment begins."
Daizen clenched his fists.
"…So it is not about power. It is about coordination."
Yogan nodded.
"Now try again."
The class sat down.
Hiko closed his eyes.
This time, he focused on two things.
The warmth in his stomach.
The awareness in his mind.
He let them move together.
Not pushing.
Not forcing.
Just aligning.
The dragon on his lap glowed faintly.
Not with flame.
With mana.
For a moment, Hiko felt it again.
But stronger.
Clearer.
A layer formed around his body.
This time, it did not collapse.
Flames ignited around him.
Not wild.
Not violent.
A controlled, swirling flame cloak.
It did not burn the air.
It bent it.
Hiko opened his eyes.
"…I am still holding it."
Daizen's body began changing too.
Stone formed over his skin.
His muscles thickened.
His body grew heavier.
He looked like a living golem.
"…This feels insane."
Kaiser's aura turned green and yellow.
Not explosive.
Subtle.
The air around him seemed to distort slightly.
A pencil fell from a desk and somehow missed hitting him by centimeters.
Holo's body became semi-transparent.
Digital patterns formed around him.
Floating symbols.
Lists.
Data-like screens.
His eyes widened.
"…I can see…"
"…Two seconds ahead."
The class stared.
Selene gasped.
"…Everyone is doing it."
Around the room, students were glowing.
Different colors.
Different effects.
All of them maintained it.
Three seconds passed.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Hiko was still burning.
Daizen was still stone.
Kaiser was still lucky.
Holo was still digital.
Yogan looked at them.
"…Six seconds."
Silence.
Then Daizen laughed.
"…We actually did it."
Hiko looked down at the dragon.
It was glowing too.
In sync with him.
The devil inside his mind finally spoke.
Not mocking.
Not amused.
So now you are wearing your power.
Hiko smiled slightly.
"…Yeah."
And for the first time, it felt true.
Not just for him.
But for all of Elite-2.
They were no longer just students with strong abilities.
They had taken the first real step toward becoming something else.
Something closer to legends.