By the time they left the gym, Rei felt like his muscles had been wrung dry.
Every step sent a dull ache up his legs, his chest still faintly tight from the unstable manifestation earlier.
He barely noticed when Ayame suddenly stepped in front of him.
"Hold still."
Before he could react, she crouched slightly and tugged his arm over her shoulder. Then lifted him.
Rei blinked.
"...Wait,"
"Too late."
Ayame hoisted him onto her back with surprising ease.
"Wow,"
She laughed.
"You're light. Are you even a full grown boy?"
Rei groaned, a light blush on his face.
"Put me down… this is embarrassing."
"Embarrassing?"
Ayame grinned over her shoulder.
"You almost blew up a training platform earlier. This is the least of your problems."
Behind them, Tōma chuckled quietly.
"You look like a kid being carried home after gym class."
Setsuna smirked.
"Maybe he's underdeveloped. Physically and emotionally."
Rei shut his eyes with a tired sigh.
"...I hate you all."
Ayame only laughed louder and adjusted her grip.
"Relax. Consider this repayment for almost giving me a heart attack earlier."
But even as they joked, Rei felt it again.
That faint pressure behind his thoughts.
And beneath the teasing, and exhaustion. A quiet fear lingered.
If he kept pushing himself like this.
Would the next training session hurt only him?
---
They entered the cafeteria, greeted by the lively noise of Somniarch recruits from different classes. Conversations, trays clinking, laughter and nervous chatter filled the massive hall.
Ayame still carrying Rei on her back, walked over to an empty table near the center.
"Alright fragile Prince."
She said letting him slide off.
"You're on your own now."
Rei dropped into the seat and immediately leaned forward, lightly resting his forehead against the table.
"...My whole body hurts."
His muscles burned and his limbs heavy. Hunger finally caught up with the exhaustion.
A moment later, Tōma and Setsuna returned, each holding trays stacked with food.
Bowls of rice, chicken, stir fried vegetables, soup, yogurt and water.
They set the trays down.
Rei lifted his head slightly, eyes drifting over the meal.
"...This looks like the breakfast we had this morning."
Ayame raised a brow.
"You gonna eat that, or have a staring contest with it."
Rei gave her a tired look, then grabbed his chopsticks and started eating without another word.
Tōma chuckled lightly.
"Guess he's still alive."
Setsuna smirked.
"Barely."
Around them, the atmosphere subtly shifted.
Conversations quieter.
Whispers traveled.
Eyes lingered.
Students across the cafeteria glanced at Rei. Some curious, uneasy and wary.
They remembered the shadows.
The silhouette.
That strange, crushing presence that had followed him yesterday.
Rei felt the stares but didn't look up. He just kept eating. Because right now, pretending everything was normal felt easier than thinking about why it wasn't.
The cafeteria noise thinned the moment the doors swung open.
Three officers in full black armor entered, their presence heavy and suffocating. Matte plating absorbed the light and the black helmets hid their faces.
Conversations died as eyes followed them with quiet fear.
They walked straight toward Rei's table.
Ayame narrowed her eyes.
Tōma was suspicious.
Setsuna exchanged a glance with Tōma.
One of them stepped forward, voice filtered through the helmet's modulator.
"Mizunagi Rei."
Rei mid bite, lifted his head slowly, fatigue still weighing on him.
"You have been summoned by Major General Satsuki Kurogane. You are to accompany us immediately."
That name rippled through the cafeteria. Whispers sparked, and fear lingered.
Ayame clicked her tongue.
"He just got back from training. He's exhausted."
"That's not your concern."
The officer replied flatly.
Rei exhaled, forcing his sore body to move. Every muscle protested as he pushed himself upright.
Tōma gave a small, uneasy smile.
"You'll be fine."
Rei too tried to smirk, sighed weakly.
"Yeah. I'll live."
But as he stepped forward, he felt it again. That familiar presence, watching silent.
For a split second, the lights above flickered.
A ripple of shadow brushed his heel.
Gone as soon as it appeared.
The officers turned, escorting him toward the exit.
Students parted without a word.
And Ayame watched him leave, irritation and worry mixing in her eyes.
"...Tch. I don't like this."
Walking through the hallway, Rei couldn't shake the confusion twisting in his chest.
Why am I being called now? What did I do this time?
The armored officers escorted him in silence until they reached a reinforced door. It slid open, revealing an interrogation room bathed in sterile white light.
Inside sat Captain Tsukishiro Aoyuki and Major General Satsuki Kurogane.
Satsuki smiled warmly, yet something about it felt sharp. She gestured to the chair in front of her.
"Sit."
Rei obeyed.
A few seconds later, the door opened again. Mirai stepped in with his usual relaxed grin, followed closely by Mugen, who leaned against the wall, silently observing.
Rei's stomach tightened.
Oh no… what happened this time?
Mirai clapped Rei lightly on the shoulder.
"Why so serious? We're not gonna hurt you… maybe."
Mugen didn't speak. His gaze stayed locked on Rei.
Captain Aoyuki broke the silence.
"Mizunagi Rei. We've been monitoring closely since your awakening."
Her gaze sharpened.
"And your condition as a Somniarch is… abnormal. Even by our standards."
Satsuki reached into her coat and pulled out a compact device and tapped it.
A holographic screen bloomed to life, projecting footage from Rei's first manifestation, back at his old school.
The air rippled, students screaming, reality bending around him.
A moment where he almost killed people.
Rei's breath hitched.
Satsuki studied him like observing a specimen.
"This manifestation of yours,"
She said calmly.
"Is far beyond what a newly awakened Somniarch should be capable of."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"It's almost as if you received a massive external boost."
Rei's heart dropped.
His thoughts screamed one name.
Vaelion.
Did they find out?
Mirai leaned forward with a grinning.
"Got em."
He looked directly at Rei.
"So tell us, Rei. Who's Vaelion?"
The words hit Rei like a bullet.
Panic surged through him. His mouth opened but nothing came out.
Mirai tapped his own temple, amused.
"Come on, kid. I can read thoughts. There's no point hiding things."
Satsuki tilted her head slightly.
"Vaelion… Is he another Somniarch."
She smiled faintly.
"Because aside from your sister and late parents… you had no one growing up."
She paused.
"So who is this person?"
Captain Aoyuki ran a hand through her purple hair, irritation creeping into her voice.
"It would be in your best interest to cooperate, Rei."
She leaned forward, eyes cold.
"You're lucky we haven't decided you're a liability yet."
Rei swallowed hard, his hands trembled.
"I… I don't… know."
He whispered.
Aoyuki stepped closer.
"Then start explaining."
Her voice sharpened.
"Or we start asking questions involving your little sister."
Rei's eyes widened.
Hanami.
Terror rippled through him.
"Please!"
Rei choked.
"I don't know! He's just… he's in my head… I don't know!"
Suddenly, the world stopped.
Sounds vanished.
Movement froze.
Even breath felt suspended.
Everyone except Rei stood completely still.
The lights dimmed.
A dark silhouette formed behind him. Cold dread crawled up Rei's spine.
A familiar voice whispered.
"These fools dare challenge me?"
Rei slowly lifted his head.
The Prince loomed behind him, formless and vast.
"Relinquish your body."
Vaelion murmured.
"Let me remind them of their place."
Rei clenched his teeth.
"No…"
His head suddenly slumped forward.
Time resumed.
Rei went limp in the chair.
Mirai blinked.
"Did he… pass out?"
Captain Aoyuki stepped back.
"Tch…"
Satsuki chuckled lightly.
"Pressure tends to break children."
Then.
Rei's head lifted slowly.
His eyes glowed purple. A different presence radiated from him now.
"Pressure?"
He said, voice layered with something inhuman.
"I'll show you pressure."
The lights flickered.
Shadows stretched. Darkness poured outwards like a flood.
The room dissolved into black.
Walls blurred.
Distance collapsed.
Sounds felt swallowed.
They were no longer in normal space.
Mirai snapped his head around.
"What the hell just happened?"
Mugen narrowed his eyes.
"This is one of his manifestations."
Aoyuki gritted her teeth.
"There's an anti-manifestation field in this room. This shouldn't be possible."
Satsuki's smile widened slightly.
"Then my instincts were correct. This boy… is hiding something far beyond our projections."
The darkness pulsed.
A voice echoed from everywhere at once.
"You dare threaten what belongs to me?"
Cold pressure crushed the air.
"You're fortunate I haven't turned you to stains on the floor."