The moon hung low over the New Era Academy's spire, its silver light cutting through the silent courtyard. The night air was cool, but Shin's senses were sharpened — every sound felt magnified. He had just left the training grounds after the "1000-Year Stone" challenge, still thinking about how easily he had crushed the indestructible relic.
Yet, something was off. Footsteps… faint, but there. Someone was following him.
Shin slowed his pace, pretending not to notice, before suddenly darting down a dim hallway toward the abandoned west wing. The footsteps quickened behind him.
When he turned the corner — a shadow figure blocked his way. More emerged from the darkness, cloaked and silent, wearing a crest that Shin had seen before… the same mysterious sigil he'd been investigating.
One of them spoke in a low, almost mocking tone.
> "The boy from the Akehara bloodline… just as they described."
Before Shin could react, a magic barrier sealed the exits. This was a trap.
A voice echoed from the shadows — not from the cloaked figures, but deeper within the corridor. Shin's breath caught when he recognized it.
It was Aojin Hogosura.
> "You're too predictable, Shin."
Aojin stepped forward, his usual arrogance gone, replaced with an almost serious intensity.
> "You deserve to know the truth. But… I doubt you'll accept it."
And then, without warning, another voice joined — deeper, colder. A tall man with long, midnight-black hair and a sharp jawline stepped into view. His presence radiated authority and danger. This was Lord Hogosura — Aojin's father.
The clan leader's eyes locked onto Shin.
> "Do you still search for your brother, Jirou Akehara?"
Shin's chest tightened.
> "What do you know about Jirou?!"
Lord Hogosura smirked.
> "Everything. Because he… is the current head of Clan Hogosura."
Shin's heart pounded.
> "Liar. My brother would never join you!"
> "Join?" Hogosura's voice dripped with amusement. "No, boy. He didn't join us. We raised him… trained him… shaped him. His power in magic is beyond yours. He is the reason Haratsu will fall into our hands."
Aojin watched silently, his eyes betraying no emotion. Shin's fists clenched — every instinct screamed to attack, but his mind was reeling. Could Jirou really…?
Before Shin could demand more answers, the barrier shattered with a loud crack — Professor Raiden had arrived, his lightning magic surging like a storm.
> "Enough! This is not your hunting ground, Hogosura."
The cloaked figures vanished in a swirl of black mist. Aojin gave Shin one last unreadable glance before disappearing as well.
Shin stood frozen, his chest heaving.
If Jirou truly was the leader of the enemy clan… then the fight ahead was not just about Haratsu's fate — it was about saving his own brother.