After the storm's fury the night before, the morning sun rose with an almost mocking brightness.
Warm rays spilled across Torma's bed, as if the world itself had already forgotten the chaos.
He stirred, stretching with a long yawn, his body moving like someone who had enjoyed a peaceful night's rest.
But as the haze of sleep began to fade, a question struck him like lightning.
How… am I here?
Shaking off the thought, he dragged himself into the bathroom. Cold water splashed against his face—
and then he looked up.
Stunned by what stared back at him, a scream tore through the silence.
The reflection was his own… yet not. His left eye burned an unnatural crimson, scarlet fire blazing within his iris, as if it stared straight from his soul.
He stumbled back, heart pounding, terror and disbelief clawing at his chest.
My eye… it's red.
Another glance at the mirror sent him staggering out of the bathroom. Still shaken, something else caught his sight.
By the wide window of his room, framed by sunlight, sat a girl—bare and unashamed, her figure bathed in the morning glow. Her raging red hair swayed with the breeze like rose petals drifting on the wind. She gazed toward the horizon, as though longing for freedom.
Slowly, she turned. Her eyes met his—shaded the same crimson as her hair.
"Oh," she said calmly, almost playfully.
"Good morning."
Her drapes slipped down, revealing her unclothed form.
"U-Umm…"
Torma gulped, nearly speechless. She, however, remained completely unfazed.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Reaching out instinctively, Torma panicked.
"N-NO!"
He covered his eyes, turning away.
"Huh?"
"You—You don't have to get up!"
His voice quivered, unable to face her.
"Oh?"
"Hmmm."
She smiled slyly.
"Who exactly are you, and what are you doing here?" Torma demanded.
She glanced around, as if confused.
"Hmmm… are you talking to me?"
"Well who else is on my bed?!" he shouted.
"Hmmm? So you are talking to me."
"How are you still confused about this?!"
"Well," she said casually, "I figured that since I saved your life, the first thing you'd say would be 'thank you.'"
"Thank you?"
"But it seems I was mistaken," she added, pouting slightly.
Saved me…?
His thoughts rattled violently.
That's right. I was about to die… and then—
"I can't believe this—"
"—Thank you!"
He bowed his head, sniffling.
"Hmmm?"
"You have no idea what this means to me. I honestly can't thank you enough."
The girl smiled gently.
"It's the least I could do, Torma."
She knows my name?
Wiping his eyes, he refocused.
"Who—no, what exactly are you? And how do you know my name?"
"You may refer to me as Rheas, Master Torma. As for what I am—
I am a spirit. More precisely, one of those you call an Alternate."
His heart sank.
"Y-You're a spirit? An Alternate?!"
"That's right. Though it's more accurate to say I am your bonded spirit."
"How is that even possible?!"
"I thought my spirit was innate! And there's no way it was meant to be an Alternate!"
Her gaze sharpened.
"I heard you call out to me."
"Me?"
She turned toward the sky, watching the clouds drift.
"Through the storm."
"What? This doesn't make sense! How could I have summoned an Alternate?"
"You're looking at it the wrong way," she replied softly.
She turned back at him, her ruby eyes shimmering.
"You didn't summon me. I reached out to you."
Turned back to the sky.
"I can't promise you the world—we parted ways centuries ago. But I can offer you a chance to change your fate."
"I only wish to see this old companion once more."
She smiled faintly, almost fragile—but Torma remained tense.
"How can I be sure you won't try anything?"
"Like what exactly, Master Torma—"
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Hey, Torma!"
Anos.
Torma jumped, rushing toward the door.
"Oh no—!"
"A-Anos? Is that you?"
"Well yeah, who else would it be?" Anos replied.
"We were heading to Olympus and figured we'd check if you overslept again. Your front door was open so we came in. Are you—"
"HEY TORMA, TIME'S WASTING!"
Lee's voice cut in.
"You're this close to witnessing the birth of the greatest legend of all time and you overslept! Let's go!"
"Don't worry," Anos muttered sarcastically. "I was just about to tell him, 'your majesty.'"
"What's he even doing in there?" Lee asked, trying to peek.
"A-Anos, I'm almost done changing!"
"You heard him," Anos said. "He's changing. Let's go."
"What? No way. After all this time?"
"Let me check for myself!"
"No, Lee!"
"Come on, it's not like he's a girl—"
"No, Lee!"
A scuffle broke out at the door as Torma struggled to hold it shut. Behind him, Rheas watched with barely contained giggles.
The two crashed into the room, knocking Torma aside.
An eerie silence followed.
Only Torma stood there—half-dressed.
SMACK!
Anos smacked Lee on the head.
"Ouch"
"Happy now?"
"Sorry, Torma. Finish up. We'll be outside."
They left.
"I swear he was hiding something," Lee whispered.
"The same way your brain hides from you," Anos muttered.
"Must be frustrating."
Torma stood frozen.
They didn't see her?
"They wouldn't," Rheas said softly.
"Not unless you allowed it. Still… that was entertaining."
She giggled, then grew quiet, sorrow shadowing her face as her head strayed away from him.
"Master Torma, I felt your pain in that storm."
Flashes and thunder claps resounded in his mind.
"And I can say this with full confidence that I want to be your guide. Your companion. Your friend."
"To give you what you desire most."
"I want to see this world—it's marvels and most of all, these moments, I want feel alive again."
"To live?"
"At what cost exactly?"
"Not a Cost—Nor a Condition—This is just my truth."
"What's yours?"
"My truth?"
"All I want…" Torma murmured, crushing his fist with pain of all his regrets.
"is the power to defy my forsaken fate."
"And that," she said, extending her hand,
"is why I am here."
He reached out—then recoiled.
"WOULD YOU AT LEAST PUT SOME CLOTHES ON FIRST?!"
"Oh?"
Light shimmered around her as she stood, fully clothed.
"Is this better, Master Tor—"
"You don't have to call me Master. Torma is fine!" He flustered.
She smiled.
"Alright, Torma."
She took his hand, sealing their unity.
Moments later, Torma finished getting ready. Together, the group headed toward their old campus—
Alpha Academy.
The Exhibit was only moments away.