Meanwhile, Elijah introduced Sylphira to his friends Ayn and Anna. In the days that followed, he began training all three of them in fighting techniques. To his surprise, all of them—Anna, Ayn, and Sylphira—turned out to be extraordinarily talented. They learned far too quickly, beyond what he had imagined.
Now, the day had finally come—the one Elijah had been waiting for.
The day they would leave for Constantine High.
Morning sun lit the soft grass around Elijah's cottage as he stood tall and ready, wearing his Constantine High uniform. He knocked on Sylphira's door.
A soft click later, Sylphira stepped out. Her outfit matched his in every detail except for the long black skirt that fluttered slightly in the breeze. Her snow-white hair contrasted sharply with the golden-black of the uniform, and her crimson eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"How am I looking?" she asked.
Elijah glanced once and replied coldly, "Normal."
As he turned to leave, Sylphira smiled faintly and murmured, "Too cold."
They left the cottage together and handed the key to the village head. The villagers had gathered to see them off, offering their blessings and warm wishes. Elijah nodded silently, while Sylphira gave them a graceful bow.
At the station, Ayn and Anna were already waiting for them. As expected, they too wore the same ceremonial uniform as Elijah and Sylphira.
Elijah thought to himself, "Alaric once told me there are different groups in Constantine High, and each group has its own uniform."
Anna looked around and said cheerfully, "I think this 'outro uniform' makes us look like knights!"
Elijah raised an eyebrow. "What's an outro uniform?"
Ayn laughed lightly and explained, "That's just her made-up term. It's actually called the ceremonial dress, not the school uniform. The real school uniform will be given later—after we're sorted into our sects."
She added with a teasing tone, "But seriously, everyone knows this. Don't you?"
Elijah pretended to know. "Of course, just making sure."
But deep down, he hadn't known at all.
Just then, the train arrived with a loud whistle. The four of them boarded together, taking their seats near a window. The journey was long, but the scenery was mesmerizing—various birds, floating ships in the sky, and mysterious forests beyond the tracks.
As the train rolled on, Ayn and Anna talked excitedly about what the academy might be like. Elijah, on the other hand, remained silent—calm and cold on the outside, but quietly excited inside.
"We'll reach the station soon," he said.
After hours of travel, the train finally arrived at their last platform.
Ayn and Anna were the first to jump out, smiling wide with excitement. Sylphira followed, carefully carrying both her own and Elijah's luggage. Elijah stepped off behind them and called out.
"You two," he said in his usual cold tone. They turned to look at him.
"Who will carry your luggage? Don't let your joy consume you to the point that you forget to carry your important things."
His voice was sharp, like frost on steel. Beneath it was something more—like a venomous snake coiled in quiet anger.
Ayn and Anna flinched. Even Sylphira froze for a moment before nodding.
"Yes, sir," they replied quickly.
Elijah nodded and looked around. "As far as I know, we'll be taking a boat near the sea shore. That's the only way to reach the academy."
Ayn looked surprised. "What? A boat? Why?"
Elijah answered calmly, "There's no road to Constantine High. It's built on an isolated island. The boat leaves in the evening. Until then, we have some time to explore."
They agreed and set off toward the coastal market.
Then Elijah turned toward Sylphira.
"Hey," he called, his tone softer this time. "Can we talk for a moment… over there?"
Sylphira blinked in surprise but nodded, following him to the quiet side of the pier where the sea breeze blew gently and seagulls cried in the distance.
He stood silently for a moment, hands in his pockets.
"So," he said at last, glancing sideways at her. "How do you like this place?"
Sylphira looked around, her eyes shimmering as they reflected the vast sky.
"It's... beautiful. And a little overwhelming. But I like it," she said, smiling faintly.
Elijah nodded.
"I see. That's good."
Then he looked at her again. Without another word, Elijah took out a few silver coins and handed them to he
"You can buy something if you want," he said. "Consider this your reward for carrying my bag all this time."
Sylphira stared at the coins in her palm, a little surprised. "You're kind in strange ways," she said with a soft smile.
But Elijah already walked away, heading toward the other side of the port.
As he walked through the busy crowd, he noticed the number of students arriving. Some looked ordinary. Others wore strange clothes, had glowing tattoos.
"Are they from different worlds like me?" Elijah wondered. "If so, this journey might truly be... memorable."
As he wandered alone, Elijah noticed a tall man in a sleek black suit and matching hat walking calmly through the crowd. Their shoulders brushed.
"You finally came," the man whispered, his voice so low Elijah wasn't sure he heard it right.
Instantly, Elijah turned, eyes sharp, scanning. The man was already walking away, turning into a narrow alley.
Elijah's heart beat faster. "Who was that?"
Without hesitation, he followed. The crowd behind him faded. The alley was quiet, shadowed by buildings on both sides. The man didn't look back, yet his pace was measured—as if he expected Elijah to follow.
"This isn't coincidence", Elijah thought. "Someone knows me... but how?"