The wind was chill.
hush...hush..., whispering across the university, cold and restless, as if carrying secrets from distant land.
Kira stood silently before the massive gates of the University of Torminas.
The towering structure loomed beyond—ancient walls carved with symbols of forgotten magic, banners fluttering violently in the wind above. His black hair swayed with each passing gust, brushing lightly against the black scarf wrapped around his neck. His eyes, sharp yet distant, remained fixed ahead.
Beside him stood Draves.
Unmoving. Calm. Watching.
"Still nervous?", Draves asked, his voice steady and almost indifferent.
"You think so", Kira said. His grip tightened slightly at his side as another gust of wind swept through the entrance, rattling the iron gates.
"Yeah", Draves said letting out a faint breathe.
The wind grew stronger for a moment—then stilled.
Footsteps approached.
Kira's gaze shifted slightly toward the path beyond the gate.
"She's late," he muttered.
"Or," Draves replied calmly, "she's making an entrance."
The air turned colder.
And then—
A faint crackling sound echoed, like ice forming under pressure.
Kira narrowed his eyes.
"Riya…", Draves said as she approached them.
As she came, she ignored Draves passing him and going forward. "We are late, I guess.", She spoke turning her head towards Draves and slightly seeing Kira who was making himself ready to walk.
"....", Draves was silent but soon he understands the situation and thoughts about the words which he thinks would boost the morales of his student on their first mission as it would be their first step in understanding how a warrior position works.
"All the best for your mission then", Draves said as he thought this would be the best words for him to say.
and as he completes his sentence, both Kira and Riya started walking forward and as they marched neither one of them looks back which hardened Draves heart but he soon becomes happy as Kira turned his back as a goodbye and thank you signs.
The joy which Draves felt was the best but as he look into it, his memories flickered of brother and sister marching forward like Kira and Riya.
"Do your best", He said in a low voice.
--------------
In Eldoria Forest.
Kira and Riya both managed to past the Rigour town giant walls and gate.
Rigour town is a large town where University of Torminas is situated and it one of the most important towns in the whole Kingdom of Ignarothwhich is situated at a south of Brathion Empire and at a eastern side of Kingdom of Mos.
It is one of the four great kingdoms that came in alliances against witches 200 years ago but failed. Indeed even though the kingdom failed, they gained massive influence over in this decade due to the power shifted from Eastern council to Royalty.
Kira and Riya both were passing through the Eldoria Forest which connects towards village of Lapa and Liverance at a very close distance to Rigour town.
hush...hush..., wind was still flowing through the massive oak trees of the forest which led the sound of leaves brushing highly and highly.
There was awkward silence between both of them due to yesterday incident. Though it doesn't matter Kira but he still decides to say sorry about it as he thought she would be angry. "Umm..."
Hearing the words Riya gave a side eye to Kira like a angry tsundre with her cold attitude. "...."
"Ugh..., it's nothing", Kira decides to say sorry later she was not in a mood of listening his worries.
Soon they reached village of Lapa and what they see make them stunned.
The village was laid in ruins, its wooden homes shattered as if crushed by an unseen force.Broken carts and scattered belongings painted a picture of sudden chaos and fear.A heavy silence lingered, disturbed only by the faint rustle of wind through the wreckage.Deep claw marks carved into the ground stood as the only proof of the wild beast's wrath.
There were some villagers of both young and old age~ Though more adult.
Riya decides to investigate "Umm, hey miste..."and as she was going to ask the villagers something came.
"....", she turned her head towards the eyes and following her rhythm Kira also turned her head and was astonished as he saw a thick column of black smoke curled into the sky from afar, twisting like a dark omen against the horizon.It rose steadily, staining the blue above, as if something in the distance had been reduced to ash.
Following their instincts both of them rushed towards it.
"It should be coming from Liverance Village", Kira said as he was running passing many trees and brushes of Eldoria forest.
The chase was stop as they reached their destination.
Both were breathing heavily "huu..huu...", inhaling and exhaling but both of their voices had seemed to be low compared to the scene which they saw at their front.
A chorus of snapping embers and roaring fire was filling in the air.
The village of Liverance was burning beneath a choking sky, flames rising from every home as thick smoke swallowed the horizon. The ground was stained dark, bodies lying motionless across the streets, the aftermath of a brutal and merciless attack. Broken doors and shattered walls revealed the chaos within, as if the village had been torn apart in moments. Amid the crackling fire and drifting ash, a heavy silence remained—one that spoke of violence, loss, and something far too late to stop.
Seeing this a trauma which was gone, emerged again in Kira and the only thought came into his mind was.
"Why...."