The afternoon sun dipped low over Lumeria Academy, casting long golden shadows across the courtyard. The air smelled faintly of earth and blooming flowers, a quiet contrast to the tumultuous energy that pulsed through Izumi. After hours of intense training, his muscles ached, yet the shard hummed insistently, as if demanding more.
Jack flopped onto the grass, panting and wiping sweat from his brow. "Okay… I admit it. You're insane. I'm exhausted just watching you. How do you keep going?"
Izumi, standing with hands on his hips, let out a slow exhale. "Discipline and focus. And… necessity." His eyes glimmered faintly with gold as he scanned the horizon, the shard pulsing softly beneath his chest.
Aria sat nearby, her robes brushing the grass. "You're pushing yourself too hard," she said gently, though her voice carried the authority of someone who knew. "The shard is powerful, yes, but even it has limits. You can't afford to ignore them."
Izumi knelt beside them, the golden glow of the shard reflecting off the blades of grass. "Limits are relative. Every loop… every past life I've lived has taught me that what seems impossible can become routine with effort. I will not fail. Not this time."
Jack groaned, rolling onto his back. "Oh, great, more mysterious dark past life talk. Just once, I want you to say, 'I had a normal childhood like everyone else.' Is that too much to ask?"
Aria chuckled softly, her eyes crinkling at the edges. "Not with him, Jack. You'll just have to accept that normal doesn't exist for Izumi."
Despite the light teasing, there was a warmth in the moment. Izumi allowed himself a fleeting smile. For the first time in countless loops, he felt the fragile anchor of friendship—something human, grounding him amidst the chaos of his awakening powers.
The shard pulsed brighter, almost in acknowledgment. Its energy mingled with the bonds forming between them, threading around Jack and Aria as though recognizing them as part of Izumi's reality.
> Even gods need anchors, he thought silently.
A sudden ripple of energy passed through the courtyard, barely noticeable to others but sharp to Izumi's senses. He stiffened, eyes narrowing. "Something is coming," he murmured, the shard pulsing urgently. "And it's drawing near."
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