A dull throb pulsed behind Free's eyes, a familiar ache that had haunted him for a good part of the previous day. His body felt heavy, as if it had been weighted down by rocks, and every muscle seemed to protest as he tried to shift. The pain in his neck was the worst, a sharp, twisting knot that made him groan. When he opened his eyes, he was met with a plain, unfamiliar ceiling—a stark white expanse with a single, unadorned light fixture. It was not the ceiling of his room, or his friends' room, or any ceiling he had ever seen.
For a long moment, Free just lay there, the headache making it hard to think. He focused on the steady, rhythmic warmth pressed against his palm, and a slow-growing warmth began to spread through his hand. He tilted his head slightly, ignoring the protest from his neck, and there she was. Star was curled up in a chair by the side of the bed, her head resting on her knees, sleeping soundly. Her fingers were laced with his, holding on with a gentle but firm grip.
He felt a pang of guilt. She had been with him the entire time, even when he wasn't aware of it. Her presence was a comfort, a quiet promise that he wasn't alone. He tried to sit up, the muscles in his neck protesting fiercely with a new wave of pain. The small movement was enough to stir her. Her eyes fluttered open, the soft light of the room making them look like two pools of amber. She looked at him for a moment, her brow furrowed in concern, before a small, relieved smile touched her lips.
"You're awake," she whispered, her voice a little hoarse. She squeezed his hand gently. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I've been hit by a truck," Free mumbled, but his gaze never left hers.
Just as he was about to say more, the door swung open with a soft click, revealing a man standing in the doorway. He was tall, maybe six feet, with a lean and athletic build. A jagged scar ran across his face, passing right over his left eye. He had a look of calm authority that made Free instantly wary.
"Are you alright?" the man asked, his voice low and even.
"Yes, I think so," Free replied, a little surprised. "But who are you, sir?"
The man stepped into the room, his eyes scanning Free with an unsettling intensity. "I am Gin," he said. "I brought you and your friends here to ask you some questions. Your friends said they had nothing to do with that group, and honestly, it's pretty obvious. But you can't be too careful." He paused, his gaze hardening just a little. "I almost forgot, how did you know we were coming?"
Free thought for a moment, recalling the moment right before everything went black. "I heard it," he said, the words coming out slowly. "The sound of your feet. It just… got louder and louder."
Gin's expression shifted, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. "I see. You have quite a high level of sense, huh? Well, no matter. Now that you're awake, I'm going to erase your memories and send you all back to the human world."
"W-wait, what do you mean, 'human world'?" Free stammered, his eyes wide. He looked at Star, who was gripping his hand tighter now. "Are you saying we're not in the human world?"
"Yes, that's what I'm saying," Gin said, his voice flat. "You are indeed in a different world."
"Then... could you please let me stay?" Free asked, a sudden desperation in his voice. "I want to know about this world. I want to know if I have a chance at something more."
Gin raised an eyebrow, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "I think you should ask your friends that question first."
Before Free could respond, the door to the room was thrown open with a loud thud. Victor, Tyr, Yuna, Lucas, and Adelaide all stormed in, their faces a mix of determination and worry.
Tyr, ever the leader, spoke with a finality that brooked no argument. "There's no need to talk. We're all staying."
Lucas, a mischievous glint in his eyes, grinned and threw his hands up in a playful surrender. "Yeah, we were actually just talking about this before he woke up," he said, looking like a cat that had just swallowed a canary. "We came to the brilliant conclusion that if he wants to stay, we all stay. We all have our own reasons, you know? But we figured it was best to let you know as a group, so yeah. We want to stay."
Gin sighed, a slow, weary sound. "You can stay," he said, and Free felt a rush of relief. "But you will still be kicked out in a month."
Free's heart sank. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice a whisper.
"Humans can't live here," Gin explained, his tone betraying no emotion. "The only way for a human to live in this world is if they either awakened—or they got abducted by the higher nobles."
Free felt a surge of hope, a small spark in the darkness. "I see. Is there... a way to stay here?"
"There is a way," Gin said, "but it might be difficult for all of you."
"Can you tell us?" Free asked, a shared sense of resolve passing between him and his friends.
"Enroll in the academy," Gin replied. "The Agarthians Academy. The examination is in 27 days. Do you want to enroll?"
"Yes, of course," Free said, the words tumbling out in his eagerness. He looked over at Gin, a mix of gratitude and anticipation in his eyes. "But... how do we even start? You said we need to learn about... 'mana'?"
"Exactly," Gin replied, his tone as even as ever. "But I'll explain outside. Let's go. I assume you're all feeling well-rested now, right, Free?" He gave Free a quick, appraising look. "You can still feel the pain, but there's no more serious injuries. We used a healing potion on you."
"Ah, yes, sir. Thank you very much," Free said, the ache in his neck a small, manageable reminder of what he had been through. He was about to follow Gin out the door when he felt a gentle tug on his hand. He looked down and saw Star, her fingers still intertwined with his. She offered a small, reassuring smile, and it was all Free needed to feel the last of his worries fade away. He squeezed her hand back before letting go and joining the others.
They followed Gin out of the small building and into a breathtaking open space. It was a forest, but unlike any they had ever seen. The trees were massive, their bark twisted into intricate, swirling patterns that seemed to glow with a faint, inner light. The leaves were not just green, but a vibrant kaleidoscope of colors—crimson reds, deep blues, and shimmering golds that shifted with every passing breeze. The air itself felt different, crisp and clean, with a scent like rain on dry earth and something else, something sweet and wild.
Gin stopped in the center of a clearing, turning to face the seven of them. The vibrant foliage cast dancing patterns of light and shadow across his stoic face, making the scar over his eye stand out in sharp relief.
"Does anyone here know what mana is?" he asked, his voice cutting through the quiet awe that had fallen over the group.
The six of them looked at each other, a collective shrug passing through the group. Lucas, however, stepped forward with a smirk, a playful gleam in his eyes. "I think I've heard of it," he said, tapping a finger on his chin as if in deep thought. "Isn't it that stuff you need to do... you know, *wizard stuff*? Like in those video games, with the blue bar that goes down when you cast a fireball? So... what's my mana bar look like? Is it, like, super buff?" He flexed his bicep with a ridiculous grin.
The others gave a mix of amused and exasperated looks. Yuna just rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on Victor's lips.
Gin, to his credit, didn't even flinch. His expression remained utterly serious. "It's not a video game," he said, his voice firm. "And you don't have a 'mana bar.' Mana is the essence of this world. It is the life force that flows through all living things. It is in the trees, the rivers, the air itself. It is what allows this world to exist as it does."
He gestured to the surrounding forest, and a collective gasp went through the group as the colorful trees seemed to pulse with an even brighter light.
"Your bodies already have mana," Gin continued. "But it is dormant, like a stream that hasn't found its path. The first step to awakening is to find that path."
Gin watched the seven of them, his gaze sharp and unwavering. "Sit," he commanded. The word was a low, resonant hum that cut through the silence, and they all obeyed without question.
One by one, he moved behind them, a silent predator. His hand hovered over each person's back, and a warm, golden light seeped from his fingertips, flowing into their bodies like a gentle tide.
Free was the first to feel it—a sudden jolt of energy. It was like a dormant current coming to life, spreading from his spine out through every limb. He focused on the sensation, and as he did, he felt the current respond to his will. It was like learning to flex a new muscle.
Free's eyes widened. "Is this really this easy?" he asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
Gin moved to the next person, not looking back. "It's easy because you're learning the fundamentals first," he said. "Most people try to awaken their mana and their ability at the same time. The two get tangled up, making the process difficult and painful. But you're only learning to control the pure mana for now. It's like learning to walk before you run."
As the others began to control their mana bit by bit, Tyr raised his hand. "How do you use a superpower, Mr. Gin?" he asked.
Gin stopped his infusion and turned to face them. "That's an advanced topic, but an important one," he responded. "There are two main ways to use mana. The first is **Universal**. This is what you're doing now—infusing your body with mana to enhance your physical abilities. It makes you stronger, faster, and more durable. The second is **Specialized**. This is when you channel mana as energy to power a specific ability."
Victor spoke up, his brow furrowed in thought. "So how do we get those abilities?"
"You create them yourselves," Gin said with a small, knowing smile. "But before that, you need to discover your **Discipline Type**."
Adelaide tilted her head. "Discipline?"
"Yes," Gin confirmed. "It's the classification that determines how you naturally use mana. It's your innate talent. It will shape what kind of abilities you can create. Now, all of you, stand up. It's time to find out what you are."