Hypers Academy stood like a crown above the Elvendom Forest.
Silver spires pierced the sky, engraved with ancient runes that shimmered faintly under daylight. Stone bridges connected floating towers, and the air itself hummed with controlled magic. It was the most respected academy in the realm—where gifted youths were trained in combat, strategy, and arcane arts.
On this morning, however, something felt wrong.
The usual energy of training and laughter was gone.
Ivandoe Horntail stood in the grand courtyard, sensing it before anyone spoke. His blue eyes scanned the academy grounds. Students whispered in clusters. Guards stood in places they never usually did.
Something had changed.
"Students," a voice echoed.
Professor Orion stood at the top of the marble staircase.
But his expression was not the same warm mentor they knew.
It was distant.
Official.
Cold.
"I regret to inform you…" he began, pausing as though choosing words carefully. "Hypers Academy is undergoing immediate restructuring due to external debt claims."
A murmur spread across the crowd.
Ivandoe frowned. "Restructuring?"
Orion raised a hand.
Silence fell.
"As part of this decision," he continued, "a number of students have been reassigned to external service contracts."
A pause.
Then the words that shattered everything.
"Indefinite relocation under foreign authority."
Confusion turned into panic.
"What does that mean?" someone shouted.
Ivandoe stepped forward. "Sir… explain clearly."
Orion's eyes avoided his.
But before he could answer—
The gates of the academy slammed open.
Armored enforcers marched in.
Red visors.
Chain restraints.
And glowing suppression devices hanging from their belts.
The courtyard erupted.
"No—!"
"This is a mistake!"
Students tried to run.
Magic flared instinctively—
But the air responded with suppression waves.
Power weakened instantly.
Ivandoe reached for his mana instinctively—
Nothing.
A shock ran through him.
The academy itself had been sealed.
"This is not a negotiation," the lead enforcer announced. "You have been transferred."
Chains were deployed.
Students were restrained one by one.
Ivandoe resisted violently.
But a device was forced onto his neck—
A cold metal collar.
The moment it locked in place, his energy vanished completely.
He staggered.
"What… did you do to us?"
The enforcer said nothing.
Only motioned forward.
Ivandoe and several others were dragged toward waiting transport carriages.
Across from him, in another carriage, he saw her.
A girl with dark blue-black hair and sharp eyes.
She was watching everything carefully—not panicking like the others.
Calculating.
When their eyes met, she didn't look away.
Ivandoe studied her. "Are you alright?"
She hesitated.
Then—
"Narissa Vandel," she said quietly. "And no… none of us are alright."
She touched the collar around her neck.
"They're suppressing our mana. Completely."
Ivandoe clenched his fists. "So we're prisoners."
Narissa's voice lowered.
"Worse. We're cargo."
Silence settled between them.
The carriage began moving.
Outside, Hypers Academy faded into the distance.
A place that once represented safety… now looked like a lie.
Narissa finally spoke again.
"If we don't figure something out… we won't get another chance."
Ivandoe stared at the locked door.
"I don't plan on waiting for one."
And deep inside the moving carriage—
Something in the forest beyond the trees seemed to shift.
Watching.
Waiting.