HEROS OF LALANTIA ARC
AT SCHOOL
The academy courtyard buzzed louder than ever. Students crowded the gates, craning their necks, whispering, and pointing toward the descending airship, its white metal hull glowing faintly with golden runes.
"Finally!" August exclaimed, practically bouncing in place. Her grumpy toad croaked irritably from her shoulder as she clutched a notebook and pen. "I'm getting their autographs no matter what!"
Jimmy sighed, leaning lazily against a post with his arms crossed. "Try not to embarrass yourself."
"I will not be embarrassed," August snapped, adjusting her hair and glaring at him.
Beside them, Adam adjusted his jacket nervously, his chinchila perched on his shoulder like a tiny sentinel, while Liana stood silently, calm as ever, though her sharp blue eyes followed the descending ship with quiet focus.
The ramp lowered with a hiss, and the five girls stepped off in perfect unison. Conversations stopped mid-word, the crowd falling into reverent silence.
The Five Heroes
Alexandra – The LeaderLong jet-black hair tied into a high ponytail, sharp violet eyes scanning the crowd with calm authority. She wore a pristine white combat uniform with gold accents, a polished sword strapped to her back. Her presence alone commanded silence.
Ceila – The MageFlowing silver hair cascaded down to her waist, her pale blue eyes glowing faintly with restrained mana. She was dressed in an elegant blue-and-silver robe, its hem glowing with arcane runes. A staff pulsed softly in her grip.
Selena – The ArcherShort blonde hair, sharp emerald-green eyes, and a posture of quiet readiness. She wore a black leather combat suit with green accents, a bow slung casually across her back and twin quivers strapped to her thighs.
Sharika – The BrawlerFiery red hair cropped short, amber eyes alight with restless energy. She wore a sleeveless crimson tunic with black gauntlets glowing faintly from enchanted seals, her muscular build making her look more like a warrior than a student.
Cassie – The HealerSoft chestnut-brown hair tied into a loose braid, warm hazel eyes glowing with calm kindness. She wore a simple white-and-gold healer's robe, the crystal pendant at her neck glowing faintly with a soothing light.
The courtyard erupted into cheers. Students surged forward, trying to get closer, their voices blending into a chorus of awe and excitement.
"Autograph! Please, sign this!" August squealed as she darted forward, waving her notebook.
Sharika smirked and signed it with a flourish. "Don't faint on us, kid."
"I— I won't," August stammered, cheeks bright red as the grumpy toad croaked smugly.
The five heroes walked through the parted crowd, their steps steady and deliberate. As they passed, Jimmy's sharp eyes tracked them, expression unreadable.
"They're… flashy," he muttered under his breath, though something in their refined mana signatures caught his attention — powerful, yes, but eerily controlled.
IN VARION´S OFFICE
The heavy wooden doors to Headmaster Varion's office creaked open, revealing the most powerful mage in Avalon seated behind his ornate desk, his staff leaning nearby.
The five girls stepped inside, their presence filling the room.
Alexandra bowed her head slightly. "It's an honor to be here, Headmaster Varion, sir."
Varion offered a rare smile, eyes sharp but welcoming. "The honor is mine. Avalon Academy is pleased to have the five of you here. Now… why exactly have you come?"
Ceila stepped forward, her voice calm and polite. "The King of Lalantia requested we join Avalon Academy to establish an alliance between our kingdoms — to build trust instead of continuing the endless conflicts that plague other nations."
Sharika cracked her knuckles with a grin. "And to keep an eye on things. You know, exchange students to see if we can actually work together."
Cassie added softly, her tone gentle but steady, "I hope this won't be a problem for your academy, Headmaster."
Varion's smile faded slightly. "No. Not a problem. But you should know — we've recently had… incidents."
Selena, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, her voice sharp and calm. "Incidents?"
"Demon attacks," Varion said evenly.
Sharika slammed her fist into her palm, eyes blazing. "Demon attacks? Here? Point me at them. I'll crush them myself."
Varion shook his head, tone grave. "They're already dead. Taken care of… by a student."
That earned the five girls' full attention.
"A student?" Selena's sharp green eyes narrowed, studying the old mage carefully. "One of your students killed demons that strong?"
"Yes," Varion said simply, his eyes flickering for the briefest moment, as though thinking of a certain scarf-wearing boy.
The office was silent for a moment, the air thick with surprise.
"A student," Alexandra repeated slowly, her sharp violet gaze never leaving the headmaster. "One of your students defeated demons strong enough to breach the academy's defenses?"
"Yes," Varion said, his voice calm but firm. "Not just one — three demons. And the last was… far beyond the others. Evolved. A Second Face."
Ceila's brows knit in confusion. "That's… impossible. Even trained mage knights struggle against Second Faces. Who was it?"
Varion rested both hands on his staff, leaning forward slightly. "His name is Jimmy. Sixteen. First-year student. Quiet, reserved, but… exceptional."
Sharika leaned back, a grin spreading across her face. "Sixteen and already taking down Second Faces? He's either a genius…" She cracked her knuckles. "…or crazy strong. I like him already."
Cassie tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her warm hazel eyes. "Did anyone get hurt?"
"Students were injured, yes," Varion admitted. "But thanks to his quick actions, no one else died that night."
Selena's green eyes narrowed slightly, sharp and calculating. "What kind of magic does he use?"
Varion paused for a moment, as though considering how much to reveal. "…Fire and ice. At an advanced level. He fights with unusual efficiency — precise, fast, and relentless. His mana feels… old. Experienced."
That drew a subtle look between Alexandra and Ceila — not fear, but recognition.
"Old mana…" Ceila murmured, her silver eyes glinting.
Alexandra crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Where is he now?"
"In class," Varion said simply, leaning back in his chair. "Trying, I suspect, to remain unnoticed. But…" His sharp gaze turned toward the window, as if he could already sense the scarf-wearing boy somewhere across campus. "…the moment you step into his world, you'll understand. He's not like the others."
Sharika's grin widened. "Perfect. Then I want to spar with him."
"Not yet," Alexandra said firmly, her tone commanding enough to quiet even Sharika. "We observe first. Then… we decide."
Cassie smiled softly, almost to herself. "He saved people… That's enough for me to know he's good."
Selena didn't respond, though her keen eyes remained sharp and calculating, already forming questions.
Outside the office, as if on cue, Jimmy walked the quiet corridor on his way to class, scarf fluttering behind him, unaware that his peaceful days at Avalon Academy were about to become much more complicated.
The lunch bell rang, and the cafeteria buzzed with its usual noise — students laughing, trading stories, and whispering about the five heroes now roaming the academy grounds.
Jimmy sat at his usual table with Adam, August, and Liana, quietly eating a bowl of spicy ramen. Adam's chinchila perched on his shoulder, nibbling a nut, while August excitedly scribbled in her notebook about the Lalantia heroes, still starstruck from her earlier autograph.
Then the room went silent.
A heavy, confident set of footsteps echoed through the cafeteria. The chatter died instantly as Sharika, the fiery red-haired brawler, strode in, her sleeveless crimson tunic and glowing gauntlets catching the light. Her amber eyes locked on Jimmy like a predator spotting its prey.
"Yo," she called out, her voice sharp and brimming with energy. "You. Scarf boy."
Jimmy didn't even look up from his ramen. "That's not my name."
Sharika grinned, her sharp teeth flashing. "Don't care. You're the one who took down the Second Face, right? The big, scary demon everyone keeps talking about."
August froze, eyes wide. "Oh no…"
Adam slowly set his chopsticks down, already sensing where this was going. "Jimmy, don't—"
"What do you want?" Jimmy asked flatly, finally looking up at her, his brown eyes calm but unreadable.
Sharika slammed her fist into her palm, the gauntlet glowing faintly. "I want a fight. You and me. Arena. After class. No holding back."
The cafeteria erupted in gasps and whispers. Students leaned in, some already pulling out their crystal phones to record or take notes.
"Is she crazy? Challenging him?" one whispered."She's one of the five heroes! She'll crush him," another whispered back."No way, didn't you see the crater he made in the cafeteria last week?"
Jimmy slurped the last of his broth, set the bowl down, and wiped his mouth with his scarf. "No."
Sharika blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean, no?"
"I mean no," Jimmy said simply. "I don't fight people for fun."
Sharika's grin turned sharp and dangerous. "What, scared you'll lose?"
That made August shoot up from her seat, slamming her hands on the table. "Scared? Are you insane? He killed a fused demon! You think you—"
"August." Jimmy's voice cut through hers like ice. Calm. Controlled. She sat down instantly, cheeks flushed with frustration.
Sharika smirked, stepping closer until she stood right in front of him. "Fine. Don't do it for fun. Do it for pride. Everyone here wants to see what the 'hero of the cafeteria' can really do. Unless…" She leaned forward, her amber eyes gleaming with challenge. "…you're just a fluke."
The cafeteria went dead quiet.
Jimmy exhaled slowly, his gaze steady as he stood, scarf fluttering slightly with the movement. He looked down at her — calm, collected, but with a flicker of something dangerous in his eyes.
"Fine," he said quietly. "After class. Arena. But don't cry when you realize what you asked for."
Sharika's grin widened. "Perfect. Don't hold back, scarf boy."
As she walked away, the cafeteria erupted into chaos, students shouting, betting, and running off to secure seats in the arena for what was already being called the fight of the year.
Adam groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Jimmy, why do you always do this?"
Jimmy sat back down, expression unreadable. "I didn't start it. But I'll finish it."
August grinned, excitement practically radiating from her. "Oh, this is gonna be good."
Liana just stared, quiet and thoughtful, her icy-blue eyes fixed on Jimmy like she knew there was more to this than anyone else realized.