That night... felt different.
It wasn't dark. It wasn't cold. But it was too still. It was like time didn't flow here.
Damian stood alone in the middle of an empty white room. There was no floor. No sky. No boundaries. Only white light filled the entire space, enveloping everything in silence.
Then, slowly... other figures appeared.
Lucien. Elric. Nero.
They stood in a row, wearing high school uniforms. Their hair was disheveled. Their facial expressions were the same as they had been in their old world. When everything was still normal.
They stared at each other.
No one spoke. But a familiar feeling filled the room.
Then a voice rang out, very clearly.
It didn't come from any particular direction, but it was audible to all.
"Congratulations... the chosen children."
"You have passed the first test. Grief. Conflict. Awakening."
"This is my initial gift to all of you who have met and been reunited. I will give you memories of your faces and forms in your old world, so that you can remember and recognize your true selves. You are not to speak of your past to anyone other than you guys. I will also give the rest of your friends who have not yet met in person in this world to you. Tell them all of this, because a great calamity will soon descend upon Zephyrus. You must unite to fight that calamity, for the coming enemy is far stronger than before, and you must begin preparing now."
"This... is just the beginning."
"From now on, the fate of this world... lies in your hands."
Damian reflexively looked up, even though there was no sky there.
"...Why did you choose us to change the fate of this world?" Damian asked.
"I cannot answer that question yet, but as time passes, you will find the answer yourself."
"Your journey is still long. But... you have stepped onto the right path."
The light around them began to dazzle. Everything faded in a blink.
And... Damian woke up from the dream.
Morning came quietly over the Zephyrus sky.
In his dorm room, Damian Kade woke up with a cold sweat on his forehead. His breathing was rapid. His heart was pounding, as if he had just run a long distance.
He sat up slowly, holding his forehead.
"That… wasn't a normal dream," he said softly.
A few hours later, class resumed as usual, or at least, it seemed normal.
The students returned to their seats. The instructor entered carrying stacks of documents. The whiteboard was covered with notes and defense strategies. But there was a faint unease in the air. It was as if everyone knew something had changed, but didn't yet know what.
Liam sat next to Damian, his posture as straight as ever. But this time, his face was more serious than usual. He glanced at Damian occasionally, as if to make sure his friend had truly recovered.
In the back seat, Tessa sat with her arms crossed, looking irritated.
"Elric! Wake up! Do you want to be punished again?" she whispered to Elric.
Elric, who had fallen asleep with his head against the table, stretched lazily, muttering.
"I had a dream... I was in a white, limitless room..."
Damian's head immediately turned back.
"What did you say?" he asked, his eyes wide.
Elric opened one eye, confused.
"Why? Did you have a dream too?" he asked half-consciously.
Damian didn't answer. But the look in his eyes changed, sharper, more focused.
Because at that moment, he realized.
He wasn't the only one who had seen the dream.
The magic defense practice class proceeded as usual, filled with the sound of explosions, wild magic, and students trying to dodge attacks.
In the center of the training hall, Elric Blazekraal stood with his hand raised, holding a fireball the size of a human head.
His expression was... too relaxed for something that could explode.
"Blazekraal! Focus! That's a fireball, not just any ball!!" the instructor shouted from the side of the room.
But Elric just laughed. "But, Sensei! If I throw it like this, it's faster!"
Without waiting for permission, he pulled his hand back and threw the fireball straight at the wooden doll with all his might.
BANG!
The wooden doll exploded. Not broken, but completely shattered.
The training hall fell silent.
Some students looked down. Others were holding back laughter.
In the corner, Kyle sat leaning against the wall, covering his face with one hand.
"Why is it always him…" he said.
The Zephyrus cafeteria was quite lively during lunchtime. Tables were filled, chatter could be heard everywhere, and the aroma of warm food filled the room.
At one of the tables near the window, Damian sat with Liam, Tessa, and Rin.
But even as he ate, his mind was on something else.
"I have to know... I wasn't the only one who saw that dream. Could they be my friends…" he thought.
After the meal was over, Damian rose from his seat.
He looked around, then walked over to the three people he had come to trust.
"Lucien, Elric, Nero. Come with me for a moment," he said flatly.
The three exchanged glances, then followed Damian out of the cafeteria.
They walked through a quiet hallway to the academy's backyard, a place rarely visited during the day.
Damian stopped and turned to face them.
His face was serious.
"Last night…" he said softly, "…you guys had a dream, right? The old world. Uniforms. A voice… from someone invisible?"
Lucien paused for a moment. Then he nodded slowly. "Yes."
Elric scratched his head with a confused expression. "That… is strange. But yes."
Nero stared at the sky for a few seconds before finally answering.
"I saw it too."
Damian sighed.
Relief and tension mixed across his face.
"So it's true… I'm not crazy."
He looked at them one by one. His gaze was firm.
"We… all had an accident on the day we were going on vacation, remember? And here we are, all gathered in this world. Although some of us haven't gathered yet, I'm so grateful to see you all again," Damian spoke through tears, then hugged all three of them together.
For the first time, the four children stood together in a long time, and they knew their true selves.