The academy had changed.
Students no longer laughed as loudly in the corridors. Teachers carried weapons instead of books, and every entrance was protected by glowing magic barriers. The attack had left scars that even powerful healing magic couldn't erase.
Eiryn stood alone on the academy's highest balcony, watching the sunrise.
The strange silver thread he had seen yesterday refused to leave his mind.
Behind him, Jay arrived carrying two cups of hot chocolate.
"I figured you'd skip breakfast again."
Eiryn accepted one cup.
"Thanks."
Jay smiled. "See? You're becoming more human."
Before Eiryn could reply, the academy alarm suddenly echoed through the sky.
BOOM!
The protective barrier surrounding the academy trembled violently.
Another impact followed.
BOOM!
Students rushed outside in panic.
"The barrier is breaking!"
"What's happening?!"
Dean Arvyn appeared above the academy, surrounded by golden magic circles.
"Everyone remain calm!"
A third impact struck.
This time, the barrier cracked.
From the dark clouds above, a giant rift slowly opened.
Cold black mist poured into the sky.
Rei's face turned pale.
"...It's opening."
Jay looked between the sky and Rei.
"What's opening?"
She whispered,
"...The First Veil."
The crack widened until an enormous eye appeared inside the darkness.
It wasn't human.
It wasn't a monster.
It simply... watched.
Every student felt an unbearable pressure.
Some collapsed instantly.
Teachers struggled to remain standing.
Even the dean clenched his fists.
The eye ignored everyone.
It stared only at Eiryn.
A voice echoed across the academy.
"Veilbreaker..."
The single word shook the mountains.
Eiryn stepped forward.
"I don't know who you are."
The eye remained silent.
Then another voice answered—not from the sky, but from inside Eiryn's mind.
"Open it."
His shadow began moving on its own.
Dark energy surrounded his body.
Jay grabbed his arm.
"Bro! Fight it!"
Rei quickly formed silver seals around Eiryn.
"Don't listen to that voice!"
Eiryn closed his eyes.
For a moment...
He saw the burning world again.
The shattered moon.
The endless battlefield.
And a younger Rei reaching toward him.
"Don't leave me..."
His heart pounded.
Then he opened his eyes.
"I won't become your puppet."
The darkness around him exploded outward.
A brilliant silver light mixed with endless black shadows.
The pressure covering the academy disappeared.
The giant eye blinked once.
Then...
It slowly closed.
The rift above the academy sealed itself.
Silence returned.
The wind stopped.
The sky became blue again.
Students stared at Eiryn with fear, respect, and confusion.
No one understood what had just happened.
Commander Kael stepped forward and bowed his head.
"The ancient prophecy has begun."
Eiryn frowned.
"What prophecy?"
Kael looked directly into his eyes.
"The day the Veils open completely..."
"...the fate of every realm will depend on one person."
He pointed at Eiryn.
"You."
Before anyone could speak again, the academy shook one final time.
Deep beneath the mountain...
The ancient stone gate cracked further.
A single hand reached through the opening.
A calm voice echoed from the darkness.
"...At last."
The hand slowly clenched into a fist.
"We meet again..."
"...Veilbreaker."
Far above, Eiryn felt an unfamiliar chill run through his body.
He didn't know why.
But he knew one thing.
His peaceful academy life...
...had just ended.