Morning draped the city of Akarius in a golden sunlight that pierced through the windows of the old library at Oxoford School. Inside, the stillness was broken only by the soft patter of footsteps and the gentle creak of wood from towering bookshelves that stood like the walls of an ancient age.
Someone was walking slowly between those shelves—a silver-haired schoolgirl whose hair reflected the morning light like strands of silk, and whose calm brown eyes softened her presence. Hana, a second-year student of Bronze Class, was searching for a novel.
"Huff… This shelf is too high… but if I recall, the book should be here."
She squinted, raising both hands to reach for a thick book titled The Phoenix Knight. Her small fingers were just about to brush the spine.
However—
"Hey, Hana! Go buy us some food!"
A shrill voice from behind made Hana freeze instantly. Her shoulders stiffened.
She turned slowly. Five Bronze Class girls stood there casually, though arrogance glimmered in their eyes behind their fake smiles. Weapons slung across their bodies—commonplace in this school, yet still enough to make the atmosphere suddenly tense.
"Them again… always them…" she thought, her face expressionless.
"Oi, Hana! Answer us. Simple, right? Just say yes. Your parents are rich. Don't tell me you're stingy about buying food?"
One of them twirled her weapon lazily as she spoke.
Hana lowered her head slightly. She did not reply.
"Hey, she's talking to you! What's your problem?"
Another girl's patience began to wear thin.
"N… No," Hana answered softly, like a whisper reluctant to live.
Suddenly, one of the girls pointed her weapon at her. Her smile thinned into something dangerous.
"Try saying 'no' again and see what happens. We're hungry, you got that?"
DOOR!!
A bullet shot upward as a warning. Its echo resounded, bouncing across the library. Outside the window, startled birds scattered into the air.
Hana closed her eyes tightly.
"That's enough. Not funny."
A deep, calm voice cut through the tension like a blade.
The five girls instinctively turned. From the shadows of the bookshelves emerged a black-winged figure—elegant, with glasses and white hair—Duv, the Knight of Elizabeth. He stood with casual poise, yet his cold aura made the air bristle.
"S-s-sorry! We were just joking!"
The girls bolted immediately.
Hana remained silent. Her hands trembled slightly. She looked at Duv with a conflicted mix of gratitude and shame.
"T-thank you…" she murmured, barely audible.
Duv approached, adjusting his glasses.
"You're welcome. But seriously, you looked like a preschool kid back there. Just standing still instead of fighting back," he said casually, in a teasing tone.
"Ggh…" Hana turned her face away, her cheeks flushed red. "If I could… I'd have scolded them myself."
Duv raised an eyebrow. He slipped a book into another shelf, then noticed Hana once again trying to reach for The Phoenix Knight she had left behind earlier. But—
"Still can't reach…" she muttered in frustration.
Duv chuckled softly, then easily plucked the book from the shelf and looked at her.
"Thanks for showing me the spot. Now I know where it is," he said with his usual calm smile.
A smile that, without her realizing, heated Hana's cheeks all the way to her ears.
"I… I'm going home now!"
Hana suddenly turned and hurried toward the exit.
"Eh? Where are you going?" Duv caught up and tapped her shoulder lightly.
"Going home!" she answered quickly.
"Home? Now? Aren't you supposed to be in class?"
"It's Sunday," Hana replied without looking back.
Duv froze in place.
"Oh… right. I forgot. Here I am, all fired up like it's a battlefield morning."
He stood there alone, watching Hana's back disappear beyond the doorway.
"She's so strange… But for some reason, I want to read this novel with her next time." he murmured, glancing at the book in his hand.
---
Amid the towering shelves of Oxoford Library—filled with the scent of aged paper and the soft hiss of air conditioning—the air felt peaceful, yet full of small undercurrents. Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting shifting beams across the wooden floor.
In one corner, Kaito and Mag sat comfortably in cushioned wooden chairs beneath a portrait of an Oxoford student whose sharp gaze seemed to evaluate the IQ of anyone passing by.
"Teacher," Mag began, swinging her legs casually while twirling a Komodo Armament D5 on her index finger like a toy spinner, "has the Chameleon gotten out of his cell yet?"
Kaito turned, as if pulled from a long daydream. He sipped his iced coffee from a paper cup.
"Not yet," Kaito replied in a quiet but steady tone. "Still locked up in Central Prison. Five years left on his sentence."
Mag narrowed her eyes. "Huh… I thought he'd have escaped by now. Usually someone that cunning can't stand being caged."
Kaito gave a faint smile. "He might be clever, but he has principles. Though… sometimes they're absurd."
Footsteps approached steadily. Duv, clad in his elegant coat, came forward carrying a thick, gold-and-red-covered book titled The Phoenix Knight.
"Well, I've found the novel," Duv said flatly, though with his trademark calm smile. The sharpness in his gaze suggested he was used to dealing with far more than books and literary debates.
Mag accepted the book. "Nice, kid. This'll be the main prop for the drama at the cultural festival."
Kaito nodded slightly, then asked, "Where's Hana?"
"She went home," Duv replied.
"Hah!?" A voice came from behind a stack of books—Anwar. He closed his own book with a thump! and adjusted his glasses. "Home? Already?"
"Yeah," said Duv, straightening his hair. "But before leaving, she handed this book to me herself."
"Wow… I thought she just bolted like usual," Anwar chuckled.
Mag turned toward the window. Sunlight refracted through the glass, catching the edge of her sharp eyes.
Suddenly, Kaito's phone vibrated softly—an intrusion into the calm. He pulled it from his pocket, unlocking the screen to see a message from Mila:
"Teacher, got time? If yes, meet me at Proskif Park, Kovonsis School. I'll be waiting…"
Location data automatically opened on the map.
Kaito exhaled—a deep sigh that made Mag glance his way.
"Huft… No chance to rest, and now I'm being sent out again. How long will it take to settle all this?" he thought, staring at the blank phone screen.
Before he could pocket it, Mag's low voice followed, as if reading his mind.
"Teacher, before solving this city's problems… you have to know the city first. Understand its schools, its students… and yourself."
Kaito turned sharply.
"Huh? How'd you know what I was thinking?" he asked, half curious, half suspicious.
Mag grinned. "I don't, really… it's just your expression gave you away," she said, spinning her weapon again.
Kaito stood, adjusting his slightly askew coat collar. "Alright. I'm heading out. Mila's waiting at Proskif Park."
"Send her my regards, Teacher!" Anwar called, waving.
"If she challenges you to another garbage-truck race, record it for us," Mag added.
"Noted," Kaito replied flatly, before leaving the library with slow, steady steps.
But in his heart, one thought lingered…
"Why do I feel… today's going to be stranger than yesterday?"
---
Proskif Park, Akarius — 09:26 AM
The morning sky over Akarius was painted a pale blue. The sun had just begun greeting this city of armed schools, lighting the falling cherry blossoms drifting gently across Proskif Park. This park was famous as a place where students from all schools came to date—or simply daydream—in the middle of conflicts that never truly ended.
On one long bench sat a girl in striking attire: an orange-and-white uniform, a color pairing that only someone confident could pull off—like Mila.
Her white cap sat at a jaunty tilt, her orange shoes pristine.
"Huh… Teacher is so slow. Former commander, but can't even beat a schedule…" Mila thought, idly playing with her loosely tied hair.
Before long—taptaptap—footsteps came from the park's entrance. From behind the cherry trees emerged the silhouette of a young man in a dark blue coat, his expression as always: flat, rigid, and… tired. His phone was still lit, showing Mila's last message.
"Finally, Teacher shows up~" Mila greeted with a bright smile, standing. Her cheerful expression contrasted sharply with Kaito's piercing gaze.
"Huh… So, why'd you call me here, huh?" Kaito asked bluntly, slipping his phone into his coat pocket.
"Ehehe~ Don't be like that, Teacher. I just wanted… to take you out for a walk," Mila said casually, spinning in place.
Kaito closed his eyes briefly. "A walk? In the middle of all this? Seriously?" he thought.
Before he could protest, Mila had already tugged gently at his sleeve.
"Come on, let's stroll around the park. There's a lot here worth seeing. Might help you stop thinking about war for a bit~"
"…Mila." Kaito's gaze sharpened. "You know my job isn't to wander… especially not in some flower garden."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. But—look over there!" Mila pointed toward a group of students from various schools—Glaxina, Oxoford, Ixirus, Primanoel, and more.
Some held hands, laughing and chatting—still carrying weapons like mini AKs, dummy grenades, or training-grade energy rifles.
"They… most of them don't have homes. This city is their home," Mila said quietly, her tone far more serious now.
Kaito fell silent.
Cherry petals landed on his shoulder, and for a moment, there was no gunfire, no alarms, no tactical reports. Only… warmth, and a touch of absurdity.
He glanced at Mila. She was looking down, her face serious, though her cheeks still held their natural blush.
"…Mila," Kaito murmured. "Is this really just a walk?"
Mila quickly turned, smiling again. "Well… maybe I just wanted to be with Teacher too. Feels like you're always alone."
"…Tch." Kaito turned away, suppressing his emotions. "If you keep talking like that, I really will smack you."
"Hehe~ Teacher being angry means you care~"
He raised his hand to tap her head—but froze. Mag's voice from that morning echoed in his mind:
"Teacher, before solving this city's problems… you have to know the city first. Understand its schools, its students… and yourself."
He drew a deep breath. "Mag… why do you have to be right at the most annoying times…"
He lowered his hand, muttering under his breath.
"Huh… Why am I even mad? Moments like this are exactly when I can study this city's situation."
"Back when I was thirteen… every time I sat like this, all I heard were attack reports and casualty numbers. No laughter, no parks. Maybe… I'm jealous of these kids."
Kaito resumed walking beside Mila along the park's path. Cherry trees swayed gently in the wind. In the distance, a small fountain shaped like the Akarius emblem sparkled.
"Mila," Kaito asked in a softer voice, "do you believe… this city can change?"
"Of course!" Mila replied instantly. "As long as you're not like Alke, we can totally rebuild this place together!"
"Heh. So I'm the revolution's tool now?"
"Not a tool, but… the revolution's teacher~"
Kaito only sighed.
"Who knows what tomorrow will bring… But for now—maybe I can learn from them."
Hands in pockets, he walked with his usual alert eyes despite the calm pace. The morning was pleasantly warm, and the faint, dewy scent of the park gave a peace—too peaceful, he thought.
Beside him, Mila stepped lightly, occasionally kicking pebbles along the path. Her loose hair swayed with each movement.
"Hey, Mila," Kaito broke the silence with his trademark lazy tone, "tell me about this Kovonsis School. I still don't really get what kind of place it is."
"Okay, okay," Mila nodded, raising a finger like a lecturer about to start class. "Kovonsis is a neutral school. It's right in the middle between Glaxina, Haxogun, and Ixirus."
"Neutral? Like a neutral country but… a school version?" Kaito asked.
"More or less! Because it's neutral, the school doesn't have enemies—and it's actually a favorite hangout or… recreation spot for others."
"Recreation?" Kaito raised a brow. "You sure this is a school, not a theme park in disguise?"
Mila laughed. "People do say that. It's got so many facilities—gardens, hot springs, art galleries, flower fields. That's why Robin, the strongest student here, is said to be better suited as a tourism ambassador than a fighter."
"But don't be fooled. He's deadly serious about the school's safety."
Kaito glanced around, shrugging. "If it's neutral, I guess they don't have a military force?"
"Oh, they do. They're called the Ophiuchus Unit," Mila said lightly. "They're like the school's security force. But they're rarely seen… only when something suspicious happens."
At that moment, Kaito's gaze locked onto a pair of students walking hand in hand—a boy with bright blue hair, a girl with pastel purple hair. They laughed softly, trading shy smiles as they passed.
"A peaceful teenage life, huh… Feels weird to see this."
"Where I trained, two people holding hands would immediately be suspected of exchanging secret codes…"
Suddenly, Kaito spotted another figure—a student in a purple-and-white military uniform, standing under a cherry tree. On his left chest gleamed a large insignia: the emblem of Ophiuchus—a serpent coiled into an "Ω", head facing left. Futuristic. Authoritative. Full of meaning.
"That emblem…" Kaitomurmured.
"The serpent and circle… protection, cunning, and authority. The purple stands for wisdom. These aren't just ordinary guards."
The student gripped a SCAR rifle, scanning the area without expression. Though still, his alertness radiated like a radar sweep.
"Looks like he's guarding this park," Kaito thought.
Another student in the same uniform approached quickly. "Frank, come with me. There's an unidentified flying object over the south sector."
"Copy." The two moved off swiftly, their trained steps soundless.
Kaito narrowed his eyes, following their direction. Then, through the trees, he saw something in the sky—a massive aircraft hovering slowly above the buildings. Metallic brown, shaped like an aircraft carrier.
"Mila… what is that?" he asked, pointing upward.
Mila turned—and her eyes widened. "Oh, that… Aethertech Academy."
"A SCHOOL!?" Kaito almost leapt. "You mean… the school flies?"
"Hehehe, yeah. Weird, right? But it's true. They don't have permanent land, so the school is that ship."
"Cool… but a little terrifying."
"They used to be. Back then, they were notorious for raiding other schools for materials and supplies—like sky pirates."
"Wow. So, basically, teenage air pirates?"
Mila chuckled. "Pretty much. And they had two main weapons—two Striders: Lellium 37 and Prosgof 12. When those Striders were deployed, most schools waved the white flag immediately."
Kaito muttered, "Striders… heavy-class combat mechs."
"I once piloted one. Half the size of a standard Strider. Still… I took down three enemy units alone. But… at a steep price."
"But now they don't raid anymore. Because…" Mila sighed, "…their fuel started running out. Plus, the Devil Wolf and White Wolf gangs—once mortal enemies—are slowly becoming friends."
"Shocked everyone. Some even said, 'If Max and Mag can make peace, then your ex can get back with you.'"
"…Ouch," Kaito covered his face. "That's way too personal."
"Hahaha!" Mila patted his shoulder. "But because of that, Aethertech agreed to peace—on the condition they could fly anywhere, as long as they stayed neutral."
"And now?"
"They've become a specialist school for mechanics and pilots. Their strongest student is named Zero—third-year junior high—but already the pilot of Lellium 37."
"…Third-year junior high? At that age, I was just learning to copy maps without mistakes," Kaito muttered.
They finally reached the park's center. A heart-shaped statue stood there, surrounded by drifting cherry petals.
Mila gazed at it, smiling. "This is my favorite spot. Peaceful, quiet, and… full of memories."
Kaito stood beside her. The wind brushed against his hair.
"This place is too peaceful… But for some reason, I don't want to run from it."
"Maybe… just maybe, I can start over from here."