The academy stood tall and silent under the dawn, its ancient stones soaked with centuries of magic and secrets. For the trio — Mike, AO, and Jay — these walls marked not just a school, but a cage filled with expectation, fear, and fragile hope.
Day One — Arrival
Morning light spilled through stained glass, casting fractured rainbows on polished floors.
Mike tugged his cloak tighter as he walked the long corridor. He spotted a group of students laughing by the fountain—brothers and sisters of noble houses, faces bright with magic and privilege.
AO and Jay trailed behind, quiet, scanning the faces, the halls, the scent of old books and fresh parchment.
In the grand dining hall, they sat awkwardly at a long wooden table where the chatter hummed like bees.
Their classmates eyed them with thinly veiled suspicion.
"Who are those three?" whispered a boy with silver hair, eyes sharp and calculating.
"That's the Hero Clan's lost heir, Michael Star," a girl murmured, "the one who can't do magic."
AO's jaw tightened as he overheard.
Jay, arms crossed, muttered, "Guess they're waiting for us to embarrass ourselves."
Day Two — Training Grounds
The training yard was alive with energy. Students sparred, casting sparks and bolts with practiced ease.
Mike watched his sister, Star, practicing gracefully. Her hands wove spells that shimmered in the air like delicate ribbons.
He tried to mimic the motions but felt nothing. No power, no spark, just emptiness.
Star caught his gaze and smiled softly. "You'll get there, Mikey."
He forced a smile back but the ache inside wouldn't fade.
Day Three — The Library Hideout
The trio sought refuge in the academy's vast library, a place where silence ruled.
They played small games to distract themselves—rock, paper, scissors; thumb wars; whispered challenges like old friends.
Between jokes and laughter, they talked about the names given to them by their new families.
"Michael Star," Jay teased, "sounds like a washed-up hero."
AO grinned. "Arien Sheen. Fancy enough for a prince."
Mike rolled his eyes. "Jayden Aishan. Sounds like a villain in a soap opera."
They laughed, the sound soft but genuine.
AO's gaze then fell on a dusty, leather-bound tome tucked away on a shelf — The Three Headaches.
Curious, he pulled it out.
Days Four and Five — Discoveries and Doubts
In the quiet corners of the library, the trio poured over the strange book.
Tales of the Forbidden Gods whispered through its yellowed pages. Stories that conflicted with what their elders taught.
AO's voice dropped low. "This… this doesn't add up. The gods, the war, the king… it's all twisted."
Jay frowned. "Great. So the history we learned is probably just a fairy tale to keep us in line."
Mike flipped a page, pausing at a scrawled note hidden in the margin — "3… 2… 1…"
AO's eyes narrowed. "It's a countdown… or a code."
Day Six — Cafeteria Clash
Lunch was usually the worst time.
The trio sat at a corner table, eating in silence.
A group of students approached — siblings from prominent houses, their faces hardened with disdain.
"You don't belong here," the tallest boy sneered. "No magic, no blood. You're just a stain on this academy."
Jay clenched his fists but said nothing.
Mike felt Star's small hand brush his under the table — a silent reassurance.
AO stood slowly, voice steady. "We may not have magic, but we have something stronger. We survive."
The group scoffed and walked away, but the tension lingered like smoke.
Day Seven — Quiet Moments
That evening, the trio found themselves on the rooftop, the city lights stretching out below like stars fallen to earth.
Jay broke the silence. "You ever wonder if we're just stuck here, waiting to be forgotten?"
Mike shook his head. "No. We're here for a reason. We just haven't found it yet."
AO looked to the sky. "And maybe… this book is the key."
They sat close, the weight of the unknown pressing down, but the comfort of their bond pushing back.
Day Eight — A Sister's Struggle
Mike slipped away before dawn to watch Star at her magic practice.
Her hands glowed faintly, but frustration creased her brow.
She faltered during a difficult spell.
Mike's heart clenched. He wanted to protect her, to shield her from disappointment, but he had no power to offer.
He whispered to himself, "I'll find a way. I have to."
Day Nine — Library Shadows
Back in the library, AO carefully traced the strange markings in the book.
Footsteps echoed.
They froze.
A tall figure approached — the librarian, eyes cold and sharp.
AO's grip tightened on The Three Headaches.
The librarian's voice was low but firm.
"Curiosity can be dangerous here."
The trio exchanged glances. The safe haven of the library was no longer certain.
Day Ten — The Calm Before
The days blurred into a rhythm of lessons, training, whispered secrets, and cautious friendship.
But beneath it all, an unseen tension thickened — like the air just before a storm.
The trio knew: something was coming.
And whatever it was, it would change everything.