Chapter 6: Cracks in the Wall
The sun dipped beneath the horizon, painting the skies of Musutafu in orange and violet hues. U.A. High's towering silhouette cast long shadows over the city, but within those walls, a new resolve had begun to settle.
Rayan lay sprawled on his dorm bed, his muscles aching, eyes half-lidded with exhaustion. The first day of tests had pushed him far beyond what he expected. Not just physically — mentally, emotionally. His memories whispered truths that didn't belong to this world. A flicker of another life, another world, sparked in the edge of his thoughts every time he blinked.
"Ari…" he called out softly.
A faint chime echoed in his mind as a soft voice responded, serene yet ever-present.
"I'm here, Rayan."
He turned his head to the ceiling, his voice barely audible.
"Something's… not right."
"You're adapting faster than projected. The strain of merging soulline memories with your current consciousness is causing fractures—manifesting as déjà vu, dream echoes, and emotional overload. It's expected."
"It feels like I'm not me."
"That's because you are more than you. You are Rayan… but also more than Rayan."
Silence filled the room again, except for the muffled sounds of students talking and preparing for bed in other rooms. The test results would be out in the morning, but that was the last thing on his mind.
He walked over to the window, sliding it open to let in the crisp evening air. Lights sparkled across the city. So normal. So distant.
He didn't notice how his reflection shimmered faintly against the window glass — for a fraction of a second, his hair was longer, his eyes golden instead of green. Another version. Another echo.
---
Elsewhere in U.A.
Aizawa-sensei reviewed the first day's footage in silence. He paused on a moment where Rayan dodged a falling robot with movement far beyond beginner reflexes — his expression had shifted, calm, calculating… inhumanly composed.
"Something's off about that one," he murmured.
Yamada leaned over. "You mean Rayan?"
Aizawa nodded. "He has instinct like someone who's seen war… but he's what, fourteen?"
Yamada raised a brow. "Kids these days."
Aizawa didn't laugh. He zoomed in on a still frame where a faint flicker — a distortion of color, almost like heat haze — shimmered around Rayan. Too quick for the others to notice, but Aizawa had always been the observant type.
---
Midnight, Dorm Halls
Rayan found himself walking, feet silent against the polished floor. Something was calling him. Not a voice. A pull. A tension in the air.
He followed it to the end of the hallway, where an unused storage room sat. The door creaked as he opened it. Dust danced in the moonlight pouring through a narrow window.
Then—he saw it.
A crack.
Not in the wall itself, but in space. A thin, glowing fracture hovering just a few inches above the ground, pulsing with a soft, eerie light. He stepped closer, and for a moment, it pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat.
"Ari… what is this?" he whispered.
Ari didn't respond right away. When she did, her voice was quieter.
"An anomaly. A breach fragment. You're not supposed to see it yet."
Rayan reached out, and as his fingers neared the crack, the air shimmered again—and he saw flashes.
A burning city.
A girl with silver hair and crimson eyes standing amidst chaos.
A boy—himself?—with white flames in one hand and black lightning in the other.
He gasped and stumbled back, chest heaving.
"That wasn't a dream."
"No," Ari said. "That was a memory. Or rather, a memory of another you."
Rayan closed his eyes, steadying himself. "I thought this was just my life. Just… training to be a hero."
"It still is. But you're not just a hero in this world. You're a piece of something much larger — a soul fragment sent into this universe by Nivaan, the source. You are meant to grow, evolve, and one day… reunite in purpose, though not in form."
He let those words sink in. The weight of destiny was heavier than any test at U.A.
---
The Next Morning
The dorms were alive with chatter and speculation.
"Do you think Bakugo scored the highest again?"
"Iida was insanely fast in the mobility trial!"
"I'm just glad I didn't come in last…"
Rayan sat at the breakfast table, silent. His eyes met Izuku's for a moment, who gave him a nod — friendly, curious. Behind that smile, Midoriya was probably already analyzing his test performance. Rayan couldn't blame him.
When Aizawa walked in, the room immediately went quiet.
"Results are up," he said, pointing to the screen. "Check them before homeroom."
As the others scrambled, Rayan moved slowly, watching their reactions more than the results. Some celebrated. Others groaned.
His name sat solidly in the top ten.
"Impressive," Momo said, glancing at him. "I didn't expect you to analyze the battlefield so efficiently."
"I didn't either," he replied honestly.
Ari whispered in his mind: "Instincts from another life guiding you. You'll need them."
---
Later That Day – Training Field Gamma
While others trained with partners, Rayan was called aside.
Aizawa approached, arms crossed. "Rayan, walk with me."
They moved through the training field's edge, surrounded by trees.
"You've adapted fast," Aizawa said, "but there's a coldness in your movements. Like you're not afraid to break things… or people."
Rayan looked at him carefully. "I don't want to hurt anyone."
"I believe you. But power without emotional grounding is dangerous. You remind me of someone… someone I lost."
They stopped.
"Whatever you're carrying, make sure it doesn't break you before you become the hero you want to be."
Rayan gave a small nod. "I'm trying."
---
That Night – Dorm Rooftop
The sky above was infinite. Stars blinked like memories waiting to awaken. Rayan sat with knees to his chest, wind brushing his hair.
He whispered: "Ari… will the cracks get worse?"
"They will grow as your soul stabilizes. You'll see more, feel more… and eventually, others may too."
"What happens then?"
"Then, Rayan… you'll have to choose. Between staying in this world or awakening what lies beyond."
He didn't respond.
Not yet.
But deep inside, he already felt the cracks forming — not just around him, but within.