Morning, Classroom 1-B
Damian walked into his classroom, notebook in hand. The room felt quieter than usual. The rows of desks and chairs were neatly arranged, but many were empty, creating an unusually quiet atmosphere.
Liam was already seated in his chair near the window. Upon seeing Damian, he waved.
"Morning, Master Damian. It feels strange, doesn't it?" he said with a faint smile.
Damian pulled out his chair and sat in his usual spot. "It's like studying in a private class," he replied, his eyes briefly glancing at the empty chairs that were once full.
On the other side of the classroom, Rin and Tessa were already in their seats. Rin was looking down, tidying up her writing utensils, while Tessa was busy opening a book. The two didn't say much, only occasionally exchanging glances as if they both sensed the strange atmosphere that morning.
At the back of the classroom, Elric stood, leaning casually against an empty table. He was talking to one of the students in their class, his gestures as enthusiastic as ever. Lucien listened, occasionally responding with a nod or a brief comment. From the way they talked, it was clear they were both trying to keep the quiet classroom from sinking into complete silence.
Damian lowered his gaze to the table, his fingers lightly tapping on the wooden surface. The usually bustling classroom was now filled with only small talk. The atmosphere made him realize how much had changed at the academy in such a short time.
Morning, Classroom 1-B
The classroom door opened, the sound of its hinges making several students turn. A teacher entered, a notepad in hand. He stood at the front, gazing out at the entire classroom.
"Morning, everyone," he said flatly but clearly. "Today we have a new student. He's from the western region and will be joining our class from now on."
The teacher gestured, and from outside the door a boy entered. Damian recognized him immediately. Black hair, a steady stride, and a neatly fitted academy uniform, the same figure he had seen standing in front of the Zephyrus gates yesterday afternoon.
The boy stood tall at the front of the class, his gaze sweeping calmly across the room. "My name is Kaien Draymoor, you can call me Kaien," he said simply. His voice was calm but firm, enough to cause small whispers to erupt among the students.
Some stared at him with interest, others chose to remain silent and observe. It was a natural reaction to the arrival of someone who had seemed so different from the start.
Damian and Liam glanced at each other, as if they both sensed something strange. Rin raised a thin eyebrow, watching with a questioning gaze. Meanwhile, Tessa stared at Kaien for a long time, as if trying to decipher something from his face and demeanor.
The class, which had previously felt quiet, suddenly filled with curiosity again. Kaien simply stood quietly at the front, completely unfazed by the attention of dozens of pairs of eyes fixed on him.
After a brief introduction, the teacher immediately announced the magic power training session. The students lined up neatly and then exited onto the spacious training field.
Damian stood with Liam, Rin, and Tessa at the side of the arena, watching each student being called forward. Some performed basic magic, a small fire, a gust of wind, or a thin earthen shield. The atmosphere was casual, though still captivating, as everyone wanted to show off their abilities in front of the new students.
Finally, it was Kaien's turn. He stepped forward to the center of the field, his gaze unwavering. The atmosphere immediately became more focused; the other students held their breath, waiting to see what he would show.
Kaien raised one hand. The air around him vibrated lightly, as if mana were converging on a single point. Within seconds, a silver magic circle formed on the ground before him. Light radiated from the symbols engraved within.
From the light, a magical creature emerged: a large wolf with gray fur and glowing blue eyes. Its body was muscular, but its movements were calm. The creature sat obediently beside Kaien, as if bound to its master's commands for a long time.
Whispers immediately broke out among the students. There was awe, but also a sense of wonder. Only a few dared to look directly at the creature, but everyone knew what it meant.
"Summoning Affinity…" one student whispered.
Damian stared at the sight longer than the others. Beside him, Liam frowned, Rin suppressed a look of shock and the urge to hold the wolf because she loved animals, while Tessa seemed to be trying to comprehend the details of the magic circle she had just seen.
In the center of the field, Kaien remained standing, saying nothing. He simply placed his hand on the gray wolf's head, as if to show that the creature was completely under his control.
Elric stepped forward to the center of the field, his usual wide smile. He turned to Kaien, who had just demonstrated his summoning abilities.
"Hey, new student," he said loudly. "How about a light duel? Just to see how good you are."
The field immediately became lively, with whispers echoing throughout the class. Several students exclaimed, curious about the outcome. Damian, Liam, Rin, and Tessa also watched intently.
Kaien stared at Elric for a moment. His face remained expressionless, showing no excessive emotion.
"If that will satisfy you, go ahead," Kaien replied curtly.
The two of them stood facing each other. The teacher supervising gave a brief signal for the duel to proceed within safe limits. At the signal, Elric immediately moved his hand. A magic circle appeared beneath his feet, and from the ground rose a small stone golem. Its body was hard, its rough arms raised, ready to attack.
But Kaien didn't move much. He simply lowered his hand slightly, commanding the magic wolf standing beside him. The creature leaped swiftly, its body nearly disappearing from view. Nimbly, he dodged the golem's attack, then circled back and cornered the stone creature.
The swift movement left Elric with no time to react. In a matter of seconds, the golem was pinned to the ground, its magical claws right in front of his face. Elric paused for a moment, then chuckled, raising his hands.
"Alright, I give up," he said lightly, still in his characteristic tone.
The other students cheered softly, some in awe, others whispering about the new student's abilities.
"Not bad," Elric commented as he stepped back, this time without losing his smile.
Kaien simply nodded curtly. He raised his hand, and the magical wolf disappeared in a flash of silver light. The field fell silent again, leaving behind a strong impression of his brief appearance.
Damian stared with a frown, still harboring questions. The premonition he had felt since yesterday afternoon was now stronger: Kaien Veylar was no ordinary student.
Damian had been watching Kaien from the start of the duel until his magical creature summoning disappeared. It wasn't just the wolf that caught his attention, but also the way Kaien moved. There was something different, something that felt… similar to something he'd seen before.
Liam, who was standing beside him, also watched. He glanced at Damian briefly, then said, "Did you see something about him, Master Damian?" he asked quietly, his voice almost drowned out by the murmurs of the other students.
Damian didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained fixed on Kaien, who remained standing in the middle of the field, calm and expressionless. Finally, he nodded slowly, just enough to give his friend his answer.
Damian's gaze never left the figure. His hunch grew stronger: Kaien Draymoore was holding a big secret.