"Xanthe Aurelisse. You have been officially invited to receive a full scholarship at Celestera Elemental Academy. The scholarship includes a private dormitory and a monthly allowance of 50,000."
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
My mouth fell open as I stared at the man standing in our living room—tall, expressionless, dressed in black like a shadow given form. I had never heard of this academy in my life. Not once. And yet he stood there as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
A scam.
That was my first thought.
My parents looked just as stunned.
"W–Wait a moment!" my mother blurted out, stepping forward. "You can't just barge into our home and announce something like that. A scholarship? An academy we've never even heard of?!"
The man didn't look at her.
Instead, his gaze remained fixed on me.
"I'll think about it," I said carefully.
He inclined his head, as if he had expected nothing less.
"Very well," he replied. "When you are ready, I will know."
And just like that, he turned around and left—without asking for my number, without giving a contact address, without even waiting for a response.
The door closed.
Silence followed.
"That was creepy," my mother muttered immediately. "Xanthe, don't believe nonsense like that. It's obviously a scam. This early in the morning, too!"
She stormed off, clearly unsettled.
I was still standing there when I felt a small tug on my sleeve.
I looked down.
Cyril was smiling up at me—the same gentle, reassuring smile he always wore when he wanted to be brave for my sake.
"You should take it, Sis," he said softly. "Mom and Dad won't be able to support you once you're in college anyway."
I hesitated.
"I know you think it's a scam," he continued, his voice unusually serious, "but you'll never know unless you try."
Then, more gently, he added, "Of course… no one's forcing you. It's still your choice."
I looked back at the letter in my hands.
The paper was thick. The seal embossed. And at the bottom—
The principal's signature.
As I read the letter again, something strange happened.
A tight sensation formed in my chest—not fear, but recognition. As if a part of me had been asleep for years… and had just woken up.
Suddenly, the necklace around my neck grew warm.
I gasped and clutched it instinctively as images flooded my mind—
A massive gate carved with stars and ancient elemental symbols. Towers rising toward the sky, glowing beneath moonlight. And standing in the shadows—
A man.
Watching. Waiting.
At last.
I inhaled sharply, nearly dropping the letter.
"Xanthe?" Cyril whispered, worried, taking my hand.
I looked at him—at the one person who kept me grounded, who gave me a reason to keep going even when everything felt pointless. But I also knew the truth.
If I stayed here, nothing would change.
This world had never been safe for me.
"I'll take it," I said quietly. My voice trembled, but my resolve did not. "I'll accept the scholarship."
Cyril's face lit up. He hugged me tightly.
"I'll be the proudest younger brother when you graduate from there, Ate!"
I smiled—for the first time that day.
I had just finished packing when a knock echoed through my door.
When I opened it, the same man stood there.
"A–Are you here to take me?" I asked.
"Yes."
I didn't ask how he knew.
Something told me he always would.
I glanced back toward the hallway. The house was quiet. Everyone was asleep.
"Can I at least say goodbye to my family?" I asked hesitantly.
"No," he replied. "We don't have much time left."
My chest tightened, but I nodded.
I took my bags, loaded them into his car, and climbed in.
The engine roared.
And then—
We lifted off the ground.
"What the hell?!" I shouted, gripping the seat.
"Don't panic," he said calmly. "There are things you'll need to get used to at the academy."
I stared out the window as clouds swallowed us whole.
"What kind of school is this?" I asked, breathless.
Despite the shock… it was beautiful.
We rose higher and higher, the city lights shrinking beneath us until they vanished entirely.
"Celestera Elemental Academy," he finally said.
"A place for those who possess abilities they do not yet understand."
"Abilities?" I echoed.
"All students there are bound to an element," he explained. "Fire. Water. Air. Earth. And rarer elements that appear only once in generations."
My fingers tightened around my necklace.
It pulsed—warm, alive.
"Then… what's my element?" I asked softly.
He didn't answer right away.
Instead, he steered the vehicle upward, faster than before.
"You'll find out when we arrive," he said. "Some things are not meant to be explained. They must be felt."
Through the thinning clouds, an island appeared.
Floating.
Radiant.
At its center stood an enormous academy—towering spires etched with glowing runes, surrounded by an aura that made my heart race.
"Welcome," the man said as the vehicle descended, "to the place where forgotten memories begin to awaken."
As we landed, the door opened on its own.
Cold, electric air brushed against my skin.
My necklace flared with light.
And in the distance—
A lone student stood beneath the shadow of a tower.
I couldn't see his face.
But I could feel his gaze.
As if he had been waiting for me all along.
I could only stare in stunned silence.
The academy was enormous—no, majestic. It looked less like a school and more like a palace carved straight out of legend. Towering spires pierced the sky, glowing faintly with runes that shimmered like constellations. Floating bridges connected buildings suspended midair, and the gates alone were taller than anything I had ever seen in my life.
I ignored the strange looks people were giving me—the kind that screamed outsider, ignorant, unaware. I didn't care.
What I did care about was the student who just flew past me.
Actual wings.
Another student leaped across the courtyard in a single bound, landing effortlessly on a balcony three floors up.
My breath hitched. I turned sharply toward the guard escorting me, my eyes wide.
"Is this… real?" I whispered, unable to hide my shock.
He didn't answer. He only gestured forward, his expression unreadable.
So it was true.
Just as he had warned me—Celestera Elemental Academy was nothing like the world I knew. And I had only seen the surface.
The massive doors creaked open on their own, revealing an office bathed in warm candlelight. The moment we stepped inside, a woman stood waiting behind an ornate desk.
The principal.
The instant our eyes met, she smiled—a soft, knowing smile that made my skin prickle.
"You're finally here, Xanthe Aurelisse," she said warmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you in person. You look exactly as I expected."
I ignored the comment about my appearance. Everything about this place felt strange enough already—so I wasn't surprised that the principal was strange too.
She gestured for me to sit. I obeyed, lowering myself into the chair as I swallowed hard, my nerves tightening with every second of silence.
"G-good evening, Principal," I said carefully. "May I ask something? I'm… still confused about everything."
"Of course," she replied calmly. "Ask."
"Why did you choose me to study here at Celestera Elemental Academy?"
Something shifted in her gaze.
The room fell silent.
The candles lining the walls flickered on their own, flames dancing as if reacting to the weight of my question. Slowly, deliberately, she placed her hands on the desk, never breaking eye contact.
"Because you," she said softly, "were born carrying traces of elements that do not appear without reason."
My brows knitted together. "You mean… I have powers?"
Her smile deepened—but there was sadness behind it.
"Not just power, Xanthe," she said. "Memories."
Suddenly, the necklace around my neck burned—hotter than it ever had before. I gasped, clutching it as my breath caught in my throat.
"At Celestera," the principal continued, "we do not choose students based on talent or intellect. We choose them because the academy calls to them."
"…Calls?" I repeated faintly.
She nodded. "And you are the one who has been called the longest."
A heavy pressure settled in my chest.
"Then… what will happen to me here?" I asked.
The principal turned her gaze toward the tall window behind her, where glowing towers and drifting lights filled the night sky.
"Here," she said, "you will learn who you truly are—and why some are willing to wait for you, even across lifetimes."
I didn't understand a single word she meant.
The guard stopped abruptly, pulling me from my thoughts.
"This is your dorm," I asked.
He turned to me, serious, almost… cautious.
"Here's your key."
I accepted it, watching him walk away until he vanished down the corridor. Only then did I notice—
The door wasn't locked.
I hesitated, then pressed the doorbell.
A minute passed before the door swung open, revealing a beautiful girl with bright eyes and an infectious smile.
"Oh! Hi!" she exclaimed. "Are you my roommate?!"
I nodded slowly, still unsure.
Before I could speak, she grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. "I've been waiting forever! It's so boring being alone here. I already prepared a bed for you—top or bottom?"
"Top," I replied instinctively.
"I knew it!" she beamed. "I designed it purple. I just had a feeling you'd like purple."
I frowned. "It's… actually my favorite color."
Her eyes widened. "No way! I got lucky!"
She extended her hand. "I'm Iria Moonfall. Water element!"
I smiled and shook it gently. "Xanthe Aurelisse. Nice to meet you."
"Wow, fancy name!" she laughed. "I feel like we're going to get along."
For the first time since arriving, something inside me eased.
Normal. It felt… normal.
Then a crystal orb on Iria's desk suddenly chimed.
"Ugh, homework," she groaned. "Professor Tidewind is brutal."
"That's okay," I said quickly. "I'll just walk around for a bit."
She hesitated. "Are you sure? This place can be… unpredictable."
"I just need some air," I replied.
I stepped outside, following a quiet path lit by floating lights. The air hummed softly, whispering in a language I couldn't understand.
Then—
The ground shifted.
"H-huh?"
The path collapsed beneath my feet, plunging me into a spiraling abyss of light.
I screamed, clawing at empty air—
Until something yanked my arm hard.
I gasped as I was pulled back, crashing against solid ground.
A man stood before me.
White hair. Eyes as dark as midnight.
He was holding me like he was afraid to let go.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low—shaking.
My chest ached with a familiar pain.
"Why…" I whispered, "do I feel like I know you?"
His eyes widened.
Time stopped.
Then—slowly—he smiled. A smile filled with pain… and relief.
"Finally," he murmured. "I've found you again, Xanthe."
My heart raced as he helped me stand.
"Don't wander alone," he said sharply. "The academy isn't safe for you yet."
"For me?" I frowned. "What do you mean?"
He glanced at my necklace, his expression tightening.
"You're still wearing it," he whispered.
"What?"
He turned away. "Nothing. Go back to your dorm."
"Wait," I called. "What's your name?"
He paused but didn't look back.
"Sailor," he said. "That's all you need to know—for now."
And then he was gone.
Leaving behind unanswered questions…
…and a destiny that had already begun to awaken.