"Commander! Wake up! Commander!!"
A child's voice rang out sharply, echoing in a cramped, dimly painted room. The boy's breath came in short gasps, his small but steady hands shaking the body of someone lying on the cold floor, cushioned only by sandbags and the torn scraps of a military flag. He couldn't have been more than eleven—dressed in worn military fatigues, a too-large combat helmet slipping over his brow, clutching an AK-47 almost bigger than his own frame.
Kaito's eyes opened slowly. His vision was still blurred, as if he had been carved out from another world. He turned his head... and froze.
"Eh… this…," he muttered under his breath.
His hands touched his own clothing—a dark green combat uniform, child-sized. Before him, a shadow from the past had come alive once again.
"Why is my body… back to how it was back then?" he thought, now thirteen years old again, his small frame returned to the days when he had been the youngest commander in the history of the outer-wall military cities.
"Where… are we?" Kaito asked, his voice heavy, as though reluctant to accept reality.
The boy looked at Kaito with trembling eyes, but there was still courage there.
"Back garage of the main HQ, Commander! Enemy assault came outta nowhere… our infantry unit… they're all… they're all gone," the boy's voice shook. "Artillery unit's wiped too… we're the only ones left…"
Two children. In an adult world that killed without reason.
"Why… did it have to be me as their leader?" Kaito thought bitterly.
Before he could respond, loud knocks reverberated from the direction of the steel gate.
DOOM. DOOM. DOOM.
The boy instantly raised his AK-47 toward the door.
"Commander, get ready! They're comin—"
BRAGHHHH!!!
The door exploded inward. Blinding light and a shockwave of wind slammed into them like a hammer. Both were thrown back—Kaito's spine flared in agony as his back hit the wall, his ears ringing.
Half-conscious, his hazy eyes caught sight of a massive silhouette entering the room.
Someone clad in black armor scarred by countless battles. Heavy steps. On his back—a greatsword, now drawn and lifted high.
"NOOO!!!" Kaito screamed.
Too late.
SHWIP!
The boy's head rolled, painting the floor with hot blood. His small body slumped, lifeless.
Kaito was frozen, his body refusing to move.
The armored figure turned toward him, removing the mask slowly…
The face—unfamiliar, yet somehow known. A crooked grin spread as the man spoke in a mocking tone:
"Hahaha… Little Commander, finally beaten, huh?"
---
"Huff!"
Kaito jolted awake, breath ragged. Cold sweat clung to his temples and the nape of his neck. The sheets on the bed of his 6th floor quarters in Menara Amiratul Hukm were tangled and damp.
He turned his head… and found someone sitting casually in a chair by the window. Office attire, neatly combed hair, a teacup in hand.
"Morning," greeted Zaid, Governor of Akarius, with a small smile. "Looks like you had a nightmare, huh?"
Kaito stayed silent, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.
"...Thank God it was just a dream," he murmured.
Zaid set the teacup down on the small side table.
"Let me guess… it was about your past trauma—back when you were the 'Little Commander', right?"
Kaito turned his head slowly.
"Hah… Of all people, how'd you know about that?" he sighed. "Ken tell you, or… can you read minds?"
Zaid chuckled.
"When you were a teen, you were on national TV like five times a day. I still remember your sulky face—like you were carrying the whole world's weight," he teased. "So… what was the dream?"
Kaito shook his head.
"Nothing."
"'Nothing', but you were mumbling 'no' in your sleep."
Kaito frowned. "Hah!? I—eh? Seriously?"
"Seriously. And you kept saying 'Little Commander'… sounds like your worst trauma, huh?" Zaid smirked, standing to adjust his suit jacket.
Kaito looked away, getting up to remove his rumpled coat.
"I'm taking a shower," he said curtly, dodging the subject.
Zaid picked up his teacup again.
"Alright. And don't forget to brush your teeth, Little Commander~," he added playfully, strolling out of the room.
Kaito stood frozen.
"...He repeated that word."
Little Commander…
Suddenly, the face of the armored man from his dream resurfaced—and that same phrase, Little Commander, spoken in the exact same mocking tone.
"Is this… just a coincidence?" Kaito whispered.
A cool breeze drifted in from the window. Outside, Akarius had yet to sleep. And in Kaito's heart, the dream… felt far too real to be dismissed as just a dream.
---
The skies over Akarius hung heavy and grey, casting a muted, melancholic glow—almost as if the city itself sensed that Kaito's steps today were more than a simple daily routine. The asphalt roads were still damp from last night's rain, and a gentle breeze swept along loose dust and dry leaves, greeting the quiet, steady pace of the Flying Teacher whose calm stride hid a deep weariness.
Kaito walked along the sidewalk, dressed neatly in a suit and shirt since morning.
"Oxoford, huh… the so-called most problematic school. This should just be a simple administrative task, but… for some reason I've got a bad feeling."
His left hand held the strap of a small shoulder bag containing student records, while his right hand scrolled through his phone, making sure the files from Governor Zaid were securely stored.
But then—
His steps stopped.
Up ahead, on the very same sidewalk, right in front of the rusted iron gates marked with the Oxoford School crest, stood… an absurd figure.
The person stood with his back to Kaito, wearing an oversized white coat, black pants lined with glowing blue trim, and a tilted fedora with the word RATIO flashing across it. On his shoulders were armor pads emblazoned with GIGA MODE, and in his hands… something that was either a briefcase or a portable sound system—it was impossible to tell.
And the strangest thing of all—he was crouching, studying ants at the edge of the pavement.
"I… have to ask. This is weird. Even for Akarius standards."
Kaito approached slowly, the sound of his shoes tapping on the damp ground the only noise between them.
Kaito:
"Hey. You… a student?"
The figure didn't immediately turn around. Instead, he replied in a calm—but utterly bizarre—tone.
The figure (without turning):
"Hmm… Do you believe these ants are plotting a coup d'état… on a micro scale?"
Kaito fell silent. Pardon?
Kaito (confused, replying softly):
"...Not really."
Finally, the figure rose to his feet with unnecessary flair—tipping his hat dramatically before turning toward Kaito with the glitched smile of an NPC stuck in a loop.
Sigma:
"My name… is Sigma. From Aethertech Academy."
He then snapped into a salute—in a T-pose—before freezing mid-motion.
Sigma:
"Oops. Still in beta test."
Kaito blinked. "What the hell did I just witness?" But he forced himself to continue the basic questioning.
Kaito (taking a breath, trying to be polite):
"Alright, Sigma… you're from Aethertech, huh? So why are you here near Oxoford?"
Sigma popped open the case in his hands. From inside came the sound "BRUH", accompanied by RGB light flashing like a gaming PC.
He showed Kaito a blurry photo of some small metallic object.
Sigma:
"This thing is missing. A prototype hypermemetic transmitter. Last tracked… somewhere around Oxoford. I'm just carrying out the mission."
Kaito (thinking):
"A hypermemetic transmitter? That's… insanely dangerous tech. But why is he alone? Or… was it released on purpose?"
Kaito:
"Have you gotten permission from Oxoford?"
Sigma (dab motion, casual tone):
"Permission is just a concept invented by cowards. I already carried out T-pose diplomacy earlier this morning."
"Alright… I give up. This guy isn't from reality." Kaito thought, resigned.
Without another word, Sigma closed his case and began walking away at a leisurely pace.
Sigma (waving over his shoulder):
"See you later. And don't forget to always… Ratio your enemies."
Kaito (standing frozen):
"Is that… a new battle strategy? Or just controlled madness?"
When Sigma finally disappeared around the street corner, Kaito could only scratch his head.
Kaito:
"... People used to say I was unmatched in logic… now I've been out-logicked by an absurd kid like that."
He continued his walk toward Oxoford, his steps now heavier—not from physical fatigue, but from mentally processing the surreal encounter.
"A student from Aethertech… he really is absurd, huh."
---
The skies over Akarius were overcast, the clouds hanging lazily as if deliberately hiding the sunlight that usually blazed upon the sidewalks. The faint scent of aged paper mingled with dust greeted anyone who approached the old colonial-style building: Oxoford School's Main Library. Its towering structure stood proud, like a silent witness to the countless students who had shaped their destinies through stories and knowledge written on its shelves.
The click of Kaito's leather shoes echoed steadily as he climbed the library steps. From time to time, he glanced to his left and right, still unaccustomed to a calm atmosphere free from the sounds of gunfire.
"Hm… Strange. It's only my second day, but it already feels like a week… I've missed this kind of peace, far from the battlefield."
At the entrance, Kaito spotted two people speaking in hushed tones. One was a student with neatly pressed attire and glasses, standing perfectly straight as though competing in a national debate championship.
"Anwar?" Kaito greeted casually, giving a small wave.
Anwar turned, his smile brightening. "Oh! Teacher! How are you?"
"Still breathing. That's good news, right?" Kaito replied with a crooked smile. "Uh… and who's this?"
He glanced toward the girl standing beside Anwar. She wore the brown uniform of Brownze School, her eyes a soft chestnut, her silver hair falling neatly to her shoulders. She clutched a book tightly to her chest, as though guarding it from potential thieves. Her head was lowered, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Her name's Hana. Second-year from Brownze High. She loves reading here," Anwar explained with enthusiasm before nudging Hana's arm lightly. "Go on, say hello to the teacher."
Hana lowered her head even further, her voice emerging soft, barely above a whisper carried by the afternoon breeze. "N-nice to meet you…"
"Haha, relax. My name's Kaito. Flying Teacher these days. Nice to meet you too, Hana," Kaito replied, giving a polite bow. Inwardly, he chuckled.
"Amusing… I once recruited a shy sniper just like her… But on the battlefield, she was the bloodthirstiest of them all. Maybe Hana's that type too?"
Anwar chuckled along. "Please be patient with her, Teacher. She doesn't talk much—except with her cousin."
"No problem. I've had subordinates like that before. Usually, they turn out to be the most dangerous," Kaito replied, narrowing his eyes slightly while giving Anwar's shoulder a friendly pat.
"So, what are you two doing here?" Kaito asked, letting his gaze sweep over the towering shelves.
"Oh… we were just talking about Mag and Duv, who said they're coming here to find a novel," Anwar answered.
"A novel? Hmm… what kind?"
"Not sure. But apparently they're looking for material to adapt into a performance. There's going to be a cultural festival at Elizabeth School soon. All schools are invited," Anwar explained, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
Kaito nodded slowly. "A cultural festival, huh? Surprising they're planning something peaceful for once…"
"Back at headquarters… the most entertaining 'performance' was watching enemy broadcasts panic as their base got raided."
Suddenly, from behind the bookshelves, a deep yet cheerful voice cut into their conversation.
"Well… so much for keeping my plan a secret…"
All three turned at once.
"MAG!?" Anwar exclaimed.
Mag stood casually, one hand tucked into the pocket of his Islamic-style robe, the other resting on the hilt of a Komodo Armament D5 strapped across his back. His expression was relaxed, but there was an untamed mischief in his aura. Beside him was a student with an eye-catching appearance—an elegant suit, synthetic black wings, perfectly kept white hair, and an AK-47 in hand. This was Duv, a student from Elizabeth, known as one of its "Knights of Honor."
"Ehe~ Surprised, kid?" Mag grinned at Anwar.
"Oh come on… Yeah! Don't just pop out like a ghost!" Anwar scowled, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest.
Mag ran his fingers through his hair lazily. "We're looking for a legendary novel here. The Phoenix Knight by John Scarlin. Rumor has it there's only one copy in all of Akarius… and it's here."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "That's a heavy read. I've read it before… back when I wasn't a teacher yet. Great for motivation."
"As for where it's kept…" Anwar glanced at Hana. "I think Hana knows?"
Hana nodded slightly, then quickly walked off without a word, vanishing down an aisle between the shelves.
"Give her a moment," Anwar said with a sigh. "She'll bring the book."
Mag watched Hana disappear and murmured with a grin, "That girl's like a ninja. Silent steps… but if she's angry, she'll wreak havoc on the bookshelves."
"Just like that sniper from my old unit," kaito muttered.
Anwar glanced around. "Uh, speaking of… where's Duv?"
Suddenly, Duv had vanished from Mag's side, as if swallowed by the library's shadows.
"Relax… I sent him to search for the novel from the other side," Mag replied calmly.
"But… you two didn't even say anything just now?" Kaito asked, puzzled.
"Our communication is different, Teacher," Mag said with a smile tinged with mystery.
"Like… the wind?" Anwar guessed, trying to sound poetic.
"Close, kid. But not quite. We use Morse code… through eye-blinks." Mag stopped briefly, turning toward Kaito.
"...Eye-blinks?" Kaito guessed, his gaze sharpening at Mag.
Mag gave a thumbs-up. "Exactly. Guess it's different talking to a war-hardened commander instead of a regular student."
Kaito only gave a faint smile, but inside…
"Eye-blinks, huh? I used to train a small unit with a similar code. But… they're all gone now."