Azura, Easton
The early morning in Azura bloomed with chatter—the casual voices of townsfolk mingling with the soft, rhythmic chirping of birds.
A gentle breeze drifted in through the half-open window.
Code's eyes fluttered open.
The golden light of dawn poured into the room, momentarily blinding him. He sat up, rubbing his eyes and inhaling the fresh morning air. His shoulders relaxed. He closed his eyes again, breathing in deeply… slowly… peacefully.
But when he opened them—
The world was gone.
He now stood amidst a sea of red—crimson and endless—its slow, swirling tides humming with a soundless rhythm. The sky above was black, not from clouds, but from something darker, more ancient. The horizon was a void.
"...This place again."
Code stared at the unfamiliar, dreamlike expanse. His breath caught in his throat.
FLASH.
He jerked awake.
A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek.
He clenched his fists.
"…Twice now," he muttered, staring at his hands. "Why do I keep ending up there?"
Van's words from before rang in his mind:
"That must've been his realm."
Code frowned.
"But... who was he talking about? Aidra?" he asked aloud, though no one answered. The thought gnawed at him.
After a few moments of stillness, he sighed and stood up, brushing the lingering tension from his shoulders.
"I'll figure it out later."
He left the room, quietly shutting the door behind him as he stepped into the hallway.
Laughter and bickering could already be heard echoing from the parlour.
"Nara! Don't eat the sugar cubes!"
"Uhh? But I want it!!"
Code stepped into the room, blinking at the chaos.
Hina was halfway across the dining table, reaching for Nara's hand, which was buried deep in a sugar packet. Van, seated calmly beside them, sipped tea while flipping through a newspaper like none of it concerned him.
Code let out a small chuckle.
"…Hey guys."
No response.
"Guys?"
This time he raised his voice.
All motion stopped.
Hina froze mid-lunge. Nara halted, hand hovering over the sugar. Van slowly looked up from the newspaper.
Their eyes locked on Code.
And then—
"You're alive?!" they all blurted out, expressions wide with disbelief.
"…Huh?" Code blinked. "Alive? What do you mean I'm alive?"
"You slept for two whole days," Hina said, voice dropping to a near-whisper, like she still wasn't sure he was real.
"Two days?!" Code's eyes widened. "I'm not even a big sleeper…"
"Oh yeah," Nara chimed in. "We were even planning your send-off. Right, Van?"
Van gave a solemn nod.
"W-what?! Why are you guys so obsessed with funerals?!"
"Ask him!" Hina snapped, jabbing her thumb at Van.
Van chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Well, I just said we should... emotionally prepare ourselves."
Code groaned and slumped into the chair across from Van.
"I can't believe you guys…"
"Want some coffee?" Hina asked sweetly, holding up a kettle as if none of that just happened.
"Oh—uh, yeah. Thanks."
Nara slid beside Van, snickering.
Van folded the newspaper. "So, I heard you perfected the flow phase."
Code's eyes lit up as he took the coffee cup from Hina. "Yeah… it was insane. My body moved like it wasn't even mine. I felt like—like lightning was pulsing through me."
"That's how it feels," Hina said, pouring herself a cup. "Bzzzt! Electric."
"So!" Code raised his cup, eyes gleaming. "Since I've mastered it, that means I'm ready for the emission phase, right?!"
Van opened his mouth to answer—
"BLUUUUHHH!"
Code spat the coffee straight back into the cup, his face contorting.
"Why is this so bitter?!" he yelled, furiously scraping his tongue.
Hina shrugged. "Don't blame me. I wasn't the one who ate all the sugar cubes."
Code's eyes slowly turned to Nara.
Nara gave a philosophical wave. "Sugar's not good for kids."
"Uh?!" Code exclaimed, looking like he was dying inside.
The morning light shone a little brighter through the window.
Everything felt... normal again.
"So, can I move on to the emission phase?" Code asked, leaning forward with anticipation.
Van exhaled slowly, setting down his cup.
"For a Zero…" he muttered, eyes narrowing. "The emission phase might be… impossible."
"Eh?!" Code blurted out, his whole body stiffening. "What do you mean impossible?!"
"It's your tenzen and anti-tenzen balance," Hina cut in, arms folded.
"Yeah," Van nodded. "Because of that unstable flow between both, emitting might be difficult for you. Almost… unnatural."
"Ugh—seriously?!" Code's voice cracked. "But—but wait…"
A dreadful realization hit him.
"If I don't master the emission phase, I won't move up a sorcerer grade… and if I can't move up a grade, I can't join a guild legally…!" he wailed, grabbing his head in panic.
"Correct," Van said, his tone turning grim. "Sorcerer ranks are phase-based. Only those ranked 7th-grade and above can form or officially join a guild."
"Aww, come on! I always wanted to be in a guild…" Code mumbled, slumping against the table.
"But wait," his eyes shot toward Hina. "That means you and Nara are…?"
Hina nodded. "Nara's 7th-grade. I'm 6th."
"Hey! You weren't supposed to tell him that!" Nara shouted, his cheeks flushing. "That's private information!"
"Hmph. He was gonna figure it out anyway," Hina said, shrugging.
"So it's true…" Code whispered. "If I don't reach emission phase, I can't climb the ladder…"
He stood up suddenly, fire in his eyes.
"Then I'll just train harder until I break through! I'll enter the emission phase no matter what!" he declared, pumping his fist with such intensity that a puff of smoke burst out from his nostrils.
"That's the spirit!" Hina laughed.
"I know a place you can train!" Nara chimed in, eyes sparkling.
Hina turned to him slowly, giving him a knowing gaze.
Nara froze. "W-What? It's a good spot!"
"I'm going to enter the emission phase at all cost…" Code thought to himself, determination radiating from his stance.
But then… he paused.
His brow furrowed.
"…Wait a second," he muttered.
"Uh?" Nara blinked.
"What's wrong?" Hina asked.
"If I remember correctly… even a 7th-grade sorcerer can't form a guild alone. You need five people, right?" Code said, slowly raising three fingers and pointing them in Van's direction. "But I only see three of you here…"
Van sighed. "Agh. He's done his homework."
"There are two others," Hina replied, casually grabbing the cups from the table.
"…Two?" Code blinked, confused. "You mean there are two other members in this guild?"
"Yep," Nara said, not elaborating.
"Where are they?!" Code asked, scanning the room as if someone might pop out of a cabinet.
"They're usually traveling," Nara replied.
"That's why we finally have some peace," Hina added with a pout, stacking the cups with a tired sigh.
"…Huh?" Code stood still, head tilting slightly.
"Just forget about them," Hina said, her voice dropping. "They're… the weirdest guys ever."
The room fell silent.
A slight chill passed through.
No one elaborated further.
"…Weird, huh," Code whispered.
***
TBC