Flash back years ago.The wind was calm that day. The sky above Hero Society's training ground bled soft orange as the sun began to set.Elan sat on a bench, legs dangling, chewing a candy stick. Across from him stood Kanji, the man they called a legend.He was hard to miss. Long golden blonde hair flowed just past his neck, gently swaying with the wind. His silver eyes, calm and reflective, seemed to carry the weight of entire worlds. Dressed simply in a dark combat robe, few strange weapons floated silently behind him fading in and out of thin air."Elan," he said, voice smooth and low, "tell me what you think about this world."Elan blinked. "Huh? What I think? Easy. It should make me its ruler," she grinned.Kanji gave a soft chuckle, walked over and patted his younger sister's head. "That would be a bad idea."Then his tone deepened. "This world of ours, it's giant. They're things out there we can't even begin to describe. And each one is different, but just because they're different doesn't mean they're all bad… though it doesn't mean they're all good either."Elan looked up, chewing slowly now. "I don't get it, what are you trying to say?"Kanji crouched in front of her. "You and I, we're different. You know it. That means it's our job to protect the things in this world, even if others don't understand them. I may not be here forever… so I'm counting on you."Then he smiled. A soft, fleeting smile that somehow made the wind stop."Protect the world Elan even when it turns on you."Elan didn't say anything right away. But the words stayed with her.In the present near the Hero Society arena."You said you were taking me to my brother," Esther muttered, suspicious."I did," Elan replied, smiling like she'd just stolen candy. "Just… not directly. Detours are part of the journey right?"Esther's eyes narrowed. "You're stalling.""I'm protecting," Elan whispered, voice lower now. "Your brother's fine, but you can't just go matching in after all people aren't always nice to what they don't understand."Esther froze. "What's that supposed to mean?"Elan didn't answer, she stared at Esther for a while and looked up to the passing clouds. "Let's just say… not all monsters are outside the walls." She winked at Esther "don't worry I'll get you to your brother eventually."But below her carefree grin, Elan's mind replayed Kanji's words. "Protect the world Elan."Meanwhile the ground trembled violently. Screams echoed across the shattered arena as the last of the monstrous Shinigami lunged toward the few standing defenders. Their claws shimmering under the fading light whilst they were air born.Spectators had retreated behind broken barriers. Proctors lay injured, shields barely holding together.Then, silence, just for a second.And in that instant, Kairo appeared behind the creature.His clothes fluttered slightly from sheer pressure of his own aura. Eyes locked forward, calm and unreadable.Then, a shockwave burst the air as Kairo's hand chopped through the Shinigami's neck cleanly. No flair, no excess motion. The Shinigami's head dropped before its body caught up, crumbling into a lifeless heap. Everyone froze. The crowd whispered his name like a spell. Kairo turned away from the fallen creature, eyes still sharp. The fight had ended, but the unease remained. Not because the threat wasn't handled but because he had done it so easily.Still at the edge of the trial grounds. Hidden behind a broken pillar with Yuki, Blessing peeked through the cracked stone at the scene unfolding before them. His eyes widened as he watched the final Shinigami fall without resistance, Kairo standing amidst the chaos, unmoved and unbothered."What the hell…" Blessing whispered, stunned. "He didn't even break a sweat."Yuki sat beside him, "That's Kairo Nakamura… he's currently the strongest person in the society."Blessing blinked. "Strongest… huh. That makes sense after seeing that."But then something clicked in his mind, and he turned to Yuki sharply. "Wait, Yuki. You said your roots let you feel people's powers, right? Then… what power did he use just now?"Yuki's eyes didn't leave Kairo. Her voice trembled slightly. "Power."She slowly shook her head."He didn't use any."Blessing's expression froze."You mean… that display… was pure physical ability?"The thought sent a shiver down his spine. That strike, speed, the raw pressure, all without powers?He leaned behind the pillar, heart thudding faster. "No way."Yuki nodded quietly. "It's not that he doesn't have any veira but he just didn't release any, not even a flicker." Blessing looked at Kairo again, now calmly walking across the battlefield."Just… who is this guy…?In a dimly lit chamber not far away, Headless leaned casually against the cold stone wall, a small smirk curling at his lips. "Seems your pets were annihilated before they could even make a dent," he said coolly.Rika's gaze was fierce, unyielding. "You told me to bring out the weaker ones first."Headless chuckled softly, eyes glinting with something far colder than amusement. "True. Maybe you were right. But at least she's finally on the board."Rika frowned in confusion. "Why are you so focused on her?"Headless's expression darkened voice dropping to a whisper. "Don't you know, a pawn can become a queen if she crosses to the other side"Meanwhile Elan's pace was casual, almost too casual, as she led Esther through the dim hallway of the Hero society compound. Her hands were behind her head, her usual carefree smile plastered on her face."Don't worry, I'm super great at sneaking I mean finding people," she whispered with an exaggerated wink. "Like professional level. They even gave badge one time. A real badge! ...okay, maybe it was a sticker. But it felt official."Esther blinked at her, unsure whether to laugh or be more confused.They turned a corner, only to freeze.Standing there, arms folded, a quiet but commanding presence cloaking the space around him, was none other than Chairman Kaida."Elan," he said smoothly, voice deep and calm, "What a surprise, so… I take it she's Esther Chiaki?"Elan's smile cracked. Her eyes darted left and right as if searching for a portal to another dimension. "Uhhh… Esther? Nooo, this is, um… Eeee-tha lemon. Estherlemon. She's a foreign exchange student from… the moon."Esther turned to her, confused. "Wait what?"Kaida raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.Elan burst into a nervous laughter. "Okay I panicked!!"A heavy silence fell. Esther looked between them, realizing suddenly that she may have just stepped into something far deeper than she understood.Elan lowered her voice, now serious beneath her flustered energy. "Please, sir. She's not ready to be seen yet. You know what this could mean."Kaida's gaze lingered on Esther, unreadable. "I thought you were exaggerating but seems not." Then slowly he turned and walked away. "I'm gonna let you take of this issue for now just because you're Kanji's flesh and blood, but." He stopped for a moment. "I'll be watching and if there's even a subtle sign. I'll take matters in my own hands."Elan let out a long breath as he left. "Well, I guess that could've been worse."Esther narrowed her eyes. "What was that man talking about miss."Elan gave a thumbs up. "Ah it was nothing just an old guy talking old guy nonsense that's all, now come on lets go see your brother." She said that usual smile slowly leaving her face. "There's no point in trying to hide her now." She thought."Are you sure you're a professional." Esther cut through Elan's thoughts like a knife."Of course I'm, now come on lets go see your brother already." She grabbed her hand and started to dash of to the trial grounds Esther dragged along trying to keep up with her. And after a short run they finally arrived at one of the recovery chambers near the observation wing, Blessing sat on the bed, arms crossed, looking out the reinforced window. His body was bruised, a thin bandage wrapped around his temple."Yo, broody!" Elan called. "Got a surprise visitor!"Blessing turned, clearly surprised until his eyes landed on Esther as Elan left the room to give the siblings space.For a moment, his expression broke. "…Esther?"Esther took a hesitant step forward. "Hey… brother."He stood up slowly, stunned. "What are you doing here?""I got a letter… I thought you needed help," she said softly.Blessing's eyes narrowed. "I never sent any letter."The room went silent until the door to the chamber slid open again."Blessing the healer said you're free to leave and" Yuki stepped in mid- sentence, her calm tone shattering the moment her eyes landed on Esther.She froze, the roots of her ability twitched beneath her skin, an unconscious reaction. Her veira sensors flared.A moment passed. Then she screamed."AAAHHH!" Blessing shot up. "Yuki?! What's wrong?!"Yuki stumbled back, gripping the wall, trembling as if her lungs had forgotten how to breathe. Her eyes locked onto Esther like she was staring at a living paradox."That- thing-her veira flow… it's not human," Yuki whispered, voice shaking. "What is she…?"Blessing's face darkened. "She's my sister."Yuki's breath caught. "S-sister…?"In her mind, images raced countless veira flow patterns, monstrous anomalies, and pure chaos. But nothing matched this.How can something like this… be his sister?Before the silence could settle in too long-"Wheeeew!" Elan strolled in casually, now with a lollipop in her mouth, hands behind her head. "That was a scream straight out of a horror movie, Yuki. Relax."Yuki turned toward her, still pale. "Do you know what she is?"Elan just winked. "She's a girl just like you. But that's not the important issue right now."Blessing narrowed his eyes. "Ok so what's the important issue then?"Elan clapped her hands. "Well! Congrats starting tomorrow…" she spun dramatically and pointed at all three of them. "You're going to come to school here! Yay!""What?" Blessing and Yuki said in unison.Elan grinned with all the chaos of someone who definitely wasn't joking. "Yup. Classes, uniforms, training, maybe a few explosions, it's gonna be great… welcome to Hero Society Academy."And with that, the room collectively realized that peace was very much not on the syllabus.
