Morning mist wrapped itself around Astralune Academy like a soft, enchanted veil. The tall dormitory towers glowed faintly as sunlight seeped through the runic glass panes. Arin stepped out of Room 312 with the same awkwardness he carried every morning—like someone who didn't quite know how to exist in this world.
His cloak was slightly crooked again, clasp sitting too low on his chest. He tried fixing it but gave up halfway; nothing ever sat right on him. Maybe because he didn't feel right inside his own skin either.
His roommate, Lynor Hale, still slept on the upper bunk, buried under books. It was unclear whether he slept there or hibernated. Arin tiptoed past him every day, afraid Lynor might dream about murder if woken early.
Arin had barely taken ten steps down the dorm hallway when a thunderous voice broke the morning calm.
"ARIN! STOP WALKING LIKE A SAD SPIRIT! Your handsome disaster of a best friend is coming!"
Arin didn't turn around.
There was only one person capable of that energy at this hour.
Kai Thornwyn came racing down the corridor, barefoot, uniform shirt unbuttoned halfway, hair sticking up like he had fought a tornado in his sleep and lost. He carried a half-eaten bun in one hand and a stolen cup of milk in the other.
"Why are you running?" Arin asked as Kai skidded beside him.
"Because the cafeteria auntie saw me stealing this bun," Kai replied, proudly holding it up. "She threw a ladle at me, but I dodged. Gracefully."
Arin stared at him. "You look like you rolled out of bed and sprinted here."
Kai puffed his chest. "I did. It's called 'raw natural charm.'"
"You look like a crime scene."
Kai winked. "Sexy crime scene."
Arin groaned. "Please stop."
"I can't. It's genetic."
Arin sighed.
This idiot…
But he couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips.
The truth was simple—
Kai had become his friend on Arin's first day here.
When Arin stood lost in the courtyard, unable to remember anything about himself, students laughed. Teachers gave him pitying looks. Some nobles even called him a nobody.
But then Kai had walked up, slung an arm around him, and said:
"Oi. You look like a haunted bun. Wanna be friends? I like haunted people."
Arin had blinked at him. "Why?"
Kai shrugged.
"Because you seem alone. And I hate lonely people."
That was it.
No fake motives.
No mockery.
Just simple, chaotic kindness.
From that moment, Kai stuck to him like a loud, troublesome guardian spirit.
While talking they reached the dorm stairwell when the door beside them—Room 311—opened with a soft click. Arin didn't realize he was holding his breath until the girl stepped out.
Selene Vaelcrest.
She moved like moonlight given human form—quiet, cold, dangerously precise. Her hair, silver-white, was tied in a short braid that brushed her shoulder. A few loose strands framed her face perfectly, as if the wind obeyed her.
Her uniform was worn flawlessly: black and white with silver accents, fitted perfectly to her tall, slim frame. A short ceremonial cloak hung from her shoulders, clasp shaped like a crescent blade. Her boots were polished, laces tightened in symmetrical knots. Even her dagger, strapped elegantly against her thigh, looked like part of a royal display.
She turned her head slightly, eyes cool and steady—ice-blue, sharp enough to pin Arin in place.
"You're Arin Vale," she said. Her voice was smooth, calm, emotionless. "The one from yesterday."
Arin swallowed. "…Yes."
She didn't smile. She didn't frown. She studied him for barely a heartbeat, yet he felt like she read more of him than he knew of himself.
Then she nodded once, turned, and walked down the stairs—silent as a falling snowflake.
Kai leaned close instantly, whispering with the excitement of someone who just witnessed forbidden royalty.
"Bro. BRO. She looked at you. Direct eye contact. That's basically a confession where she comes from."
"No it's not," Arin muttered.
"Her eyes were like 'mysterious-boy-with-no-memories-who-might-be-a-secret-weapon-excites-me.' I saw it."
"You imagined it."
Kai rubbed his chin dramatically. "Maybe. But if imagining helps your future love life, I will imagine harder."
"Please imagine less."
"Nope. I'm your support system."
They walked out into the courtyard, where students gathered in clusters. Noble children with expensive clothes strutted proudly; commoners whispered nervously. Rumors floated like annoying insects.
"That's the mist boy…"
"No proper awakening."
"Do you think he's powerless?"
Kai overheard and scoffed loudly. "Powerless? He could power this whole academy with mysterious tension alone."
Arin kept his eyes on the ground.
His thoughts drifted, unsteady.
Why does everyone look at me like I'm broken?
Why can't I remember anything?
Why is my awakening so… wrong?
Kai nudged him gently.
"You're overthinking. Again. Stop. That's my job."
"You don't think," Arin said.
"Exactly. Which is why I'm happier."
Arin couldn't help it—he laughed a little.
Kai grinned triumphantly.
The instructors arrived, sweeping into the training square with imposing presence. Boots clicked. Cloaks rustled. Even the air felt tighter.
When Arin's name echoed across the courtyard, his pulse stumbled.
Kai whispered, "You got this. If you faint, fall toward me. My arms are open, my heart is open, my legs are open—"
"Don't open your legs," Arin hissed.
"Why not? What if a girl faints too? I must be ready."
Arin shoved him lightly. "Idiot."
"Beautiful idiot," Kai corrected proudly.
Arin stepped up to the Awakening Pillar, the translucent crystal humming faintly. The entire courtyard fell silent.
He placed his palm against the cold surface.
For a moment—nothing.
Then the mist inside the pillar swirled violently, twisting in chaotic motions. Not graceful, not elemental, not stable.
It looked… wrong.
Fog fractured into strange shapes, like broken reflections fighting to form a picture. A cold ripple spread across the square, raising goosebumps on every arm.
Gasps erupted.
"What is that?!"
"It's reacting again!"
Even Instructor Lira leaned forward, eyes narrowed, troubled.
Kai scratched his head dramatically.
"Uhhh, yeah. Bro. Your pillar looks like it walked in on me bathing yesterday."
Arin almost ripped his hand away from sheer embarrassment.
The mist suddenly went pitch-black for a heartbeat.
Then—
it vanished.
The pillar dimmed.
Silence crashed over the courtyard.
Whispers exploded.
"He's cursed!"
"No, he's hiding power—"
"No symbol, nothing—he's just unstable!"
Selene, watching from the front row, narrowed her eyes. A strange glint appeared in them—curiosity mixed with something sharper.
Instructor Lira approached slowly.
"Arin Vale… your resonance is… unique. We will need to evaluate you privately."
Arin looked at his trembling hand.
His chest tightened painfully.
He didn't understand the mist.
He didn't understand his awakening.
He didn't understand himself.
And the question he feared most whispered through his mind—
What if there's nothing inside me at all?
Kai stepped to his side, whispering softly so only Arin could hear.
"Hey… look at me."
Arin hesitated, then glanced at him.
Kai grinned—not goofy, not chaotic—just sincerely.
"I don't care if your pillar spits mist, fire, butterflies, demons, or my old underwear. You're my friend. And you're not nothing."
Arin's chest tightened again—
but this time for a different reason.
Maybe relief.
Maybe gratitude.
Maybe fear.
He didn't know.
But he nodded.
And somewhere in the crowd, Selene watched him… longer than she should have.