The academy library was quiet, the sunlight streaming through tall windows illuminating the rows of ancient books. Most students were lost in study, but in a back corner, a small commotion drew attention.
Elian, sitting at a table with his books, had caught the curiosity—and envy—of some upperclassmen.
"You really think you belong here?" sneered one boy, shoving a book toward him.
"Look at him… acting so calm when everyone knows his magic is weak," another added, laughing.
Elian's golden eyes flickered briefly, but he didn't move. He knew fighting back with power would only reveal more than he wanted. Instead, he remained calm, calculating, and precise—just waiting.
From the other side of the library, a girl with shimmering silver hair noticed the bullying. Her silver eyes narrowed, and she walked with authority toward the scene.
"Enough," she said sharply, voice ringing through the quiet library. The bullies froze, turning to see her.
"You think it's okay to treat someone like that?" she demanded. "Try picking on someone your own strength."
The bullies hesitated. Even though she didn't display much magical power, her confidence was enough to make them uneasy.
Elian finally spoke, calmly, without anger: "You can leave. It's simpler that way."
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "He's… strangely calm. And why does he sound so certain?"
The bullies grumbled but slowly retreated, muttering under their breath. Elian had done nothing flashy, no magic display, yet the atmosphere had shifted—the respect and caution he inspired were natural, unconscious, and undeniable.
Lyra turned her attention to Elian, studying him. "Hmph… I didn't think anyone here could be so calm," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Not bad… for someone being bullied."
Elian looked up at her, a faint smile on his lips. "I wasn't worried. Things like this happen often. I just… observe."
For a moment, a warmth pulsed in his chest—the black-and-white wings of his seal stirring subtly beneath his shirt. He didn't notice it himself, but the feeling was familiar, comforting… like a whisper of a past he didn't yet remember.
Lyra's cheeks tinted slightly pink, though she tried to hide it. "Why does he feel… different? Calm, precise… and somehow intriguing?"
Students nearby whispered excitedly, assuming the quiet, clever boy was trying to impress the noble girl, though neither fully realized the truth.
That night, as Elian returned to his dorm, he found a folded note slipped under his door:
"You are watched."
He frowned, shivers running down his spine. His dreams were restless: flashes of a golden-winged woman, a shadowy figure with immense power, and a battle older than he could understand. Though blurred, the feelings of warmth, protection, and loss lingered—a memory not his own, yet part of him.
The library returned to quiet. Lyra lingered, glancing back at him, curiosity and irritation mixed in her expression. Students whispered, thinking Elian had been saved by a noble girl, but none suspected the truth:
Elian, the child of hope, had taken another small step into the academy world—still unaware of the sealed powers within him, and the legacy of his parents waiting to awaken.