A collective sigh of awe rippled through the small crowd that had gathered around the makeshift tennis court. Kojo, still sore from the hit he received from Yukio rubbed his abdomen but grinned. He was happy that at the very least Yuki wasn't mad at him anymore. The adrenaline still coursed through him, a pleasant hum beneath his skin. The racket He was holding disappeared in a burst of sparks and he put his hands in his pockets walking out of the court.
Before he could fully absorb the quiet satisfaction of a well-played match, a figure detached itself from the small group of onlookers and approached him. She moved with a stately grace that belied her age, her presence radiating a gentle authority. Her silver hair, neatly tucked beneath a crisp white wimple – the familiar head covering often associated with religious orders – framed a face etched with the wisdom of years. Fine lines crinkled around her kind, intelligent eyes, and a small, dark mole punctuated the smooth skin beneath her left eye. She wore a simple, yet elegant, white dress that flowed around her comfortably built frame.
"That was a spectacular game, young man," she said, her voice a warm, melodious tone that resonated with a familiar cadence in Kojo's ears.
"Truly captivating. What exactly is this… game called?" She paused mid-sentence, a hand fluttering to her mouth as a soft giggle escaped her.
"Oh dear me," she chuckled, her eyes twinkling.
"Such a display quite stole my manners. Forgive me. My name is Elara, and I am the Assistant Vice Chancellor of the Luminaria Academy." Her smile was genuine and welcoming, radiating a motherly warmth that put Kojo instantly at ease.
Kojo's brow furrowed slightly. That voice… he knew that voice. "Wait, aren't you…?"
But Elara simply placed a slender finger, adorned with a simple silver ring , against her lips. A playful wink followed, deepening the lines around her eyes.
(Indeed. I certainly didn't expect to encounter the Seventh Radiant in such… informal circumstances.)
Elara turned to address the small gathering of students, her voice regaining its formal tone, yet still retaining its inherent warmth. "Students, and faculty members" she announced, gesturing towards Kojo with an open hand.
"I would like to introduce you to the newest member of our academic community. This is Kojo Atari. Some of you may have heard of him due to recent events in Ezkanur. He is here for various reasons, but while he is with us, he will also be sharing his knowledge as a teacher at Luminaria Academy."
Kojo, feeling a touch self-conscious under the collective gaze, awkwardly pulled one arm out of his long, grey coat and offered a casual wave.
"Yo," he said, trying to inject a bit of levity into the somewhat formal introduction.
Elara smiled indulgently at his informal greeting.
"As you have just witnessed," she continued, her gaze sweeping over the students.
"Mr. Atari possesses a unique body of knowledge, one that you are likely unfamiliar with. I urge you all to cooperate with him and to take full advantage of this invaluable learning opportunity."
Turning back to Kojo, her expression became more personal.
"I would be happy to escort you to your assigned classroom, Mr. Atari."
Before Kojo could respond, a voice, sharp and clear as a bell, cut through the air. "Excuse me, Assistant Vice Chancellor Elara."
Yukio descended gracefully from where she had been observing, her movements fluid and almost ethereal. Lin followed close behind her.
"I have something I need to discuss with Kojo," Yukio stated, her gaze fixed on him. "Would he be pardoned from his duties for the remainder of the day?"
A warm smile touched Elara's lips.
"Of course, Lady Yukio. That would be perfectly acceptable. Mr. Atari," she said, turning back to Kojo.
"I shall expect to see you at the academy tomorrow then."
With a curt nod, Yukio turned and launched herself into the sky, hovering for a moment before streaking away. Lin, with a smaller but equally swift movement, followed her lead.
Kojo watched them go, a sense of curiosity bubbling within him. Then, with a decisive movement, he unfurled his own dark silver wings which seemed to manifest out of thin air. A collective gasp rippled through the remaining students at the unexpected display.
Elara simply smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. As Kojo launched himself into the air, beating his powerful wings once to gain altitude, she turned to the stunned students, gently shooing them.
"Alright now, back to your studies. Nothing more to see here."
Valeri was the only one who remained, her gaze fixed on the disappearing figures in the sky, a mixture of awe and perhaps a hint of something else in her expression before she finally turned and walked away.
Kojo swiftly gained altitude, the wind whistling past his ears. It took only a few powerful strokes of his wings to catch up with the two women.
"What's up?" he called out, drawing level with Yukio.
She glanced at him, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
"It's time," she announced, her voice carrying clearly through the air, "I introduced you to my team."
"Team?" Kojo echoed, a sudden suspicion dawning on him. "Wait a minute… don't tell me…"
"Yes," Yukio confirmed, her grin widening. "Time for you to meet the Glory Knights of the Church Of Undying Light."
***†***
Aria, her skin like polished alabaster catching the faint blue luminescence of the ice caverns, moved with an almost ethereal grace like a wolf made of liquid silver. The towering ice pillars, some slender as frozen reeds, others thick and groaning under the weight above, presented no obstacle to her. She navigated the treacherous terrain with an innate understanding, her translucent white hair, so pale it seemed to absorb the light, flowing behind her like liquid moonlight. With each subtle shift in the frigid air, she tilted her head, a delicate sniff betraying her heightened senses.
A faint whimper, swallowed by the vastness of the ice, snagged her attention. Her fluid movements became more purposeful, her pale skin seeming to shimmer as she glided towards the sound. It led her to a small alcove, a pocket of relative darkness within the crystalline labyrinth. There, huddled against the icy wall, was a small boy.
Aria stopped, her icy blue eyes widening slightly at the sight of his injuries. Raw, angry welts crisscrossed his small frame, remnants of the Knights' brutal assault in Eldrida. His thin shoulders shook with silent sobs.
" Lyrien." She called as she slowly, cautiously, moved forward and knelt before him. She reached out a slender hand, her touch feather-light. The boy flinched, then looked up. Seeing the gentle concern in her gaze, he lunged forward, burying his face in her embrace. Aria held him close, her own slender arms wrapping around his small body.
"It's alright," she murmured, her voice a soft whisper in the echoing ice. Her fingers traced a particularly deep gash on his back, and as she did, her icy blue eyes, the color of a winter sky, flickered with an intense, chilling rage, her gaze hardening into the frozen depths of the cavern.
"It's alright now," she repeated, but the unspoken promise of retribution hung heavy in the frigid air.