The atrium's ambient hum softened into a low, anticipatory vibration, as if the very structure knew something was about to ignite. Ether-code rippled along the transparent walkways, refracting light like liquid crystal under Mi-cha's gaze.
Soo-ah bounced on her heels, unable to contain herself. "I swear, Mi-cha, you have no idea what tomorrow's going to be like. They—" She caught herself, realizing the group around them was listening, and then leaned closer. "Well, maybe you do. But still."
Ji-hoon's eyes never left Muhan. Every subtle movement—the tilt of a shoulder, the relaxed sway of a hand in a pocket—spoke in the unspoken language of rivals who had mapped each other's limits too many times to count.
Muhan tilted his head, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. "You've grown since the last time," he murmured, voice just above the hum of the atrium. "Or maybe you just think you have."
Ji-hoon didn't flinch. He liked that about Muhan—the arrogance without arrogance, the quiet force that made everything else feel secondary. "We'll see tomorrow, Lockhart," he said. "Wysteria doesn't do things halfway."
Mi-cha leaned on the railing, watching the silent war of presence unfold. There was no hostility, yet the energy was palpable. Sparks could ignite from this—should ignite—from the friction of two forces that understood each other too well.
Soo-ah tilted her head, noticing Mi-cha's lingering gaze. "Hey… are you watching them like I just caught you?"
Mi-cha laughed softly, the sound carrying like a calm wave over the restless crowd. "They've always been like that," she said, voice warm but distant. "Even before Wysteria, even before…" Her hand brushed absently against her collarbone, where the faint glow of residual Grace shimmered. "…Even before the world started keeping score."
Nagant, ever the shadow at the edge of moments, stepped a few paces closer. "Keep your friends close," he said flatly, voice low, "and your rivals closer." His eyes flicked briefly toward the HUD, as if reading the future from the projected Ether lines.
Vibe Fasue's gaze lingered longer on Muhan and Ji-hoon. "Friendly rivalry," she repeated, softer this time. But now, there was an almost imperceptible weight behind her words. "The strongest forces often bend reality just by their existence."
Jinnah, unable to resist the tension any longer, clapped both hands together. "Ooooh, I live for this drama! Tomorrow's trial will be… delicious."
Kamaro groaned beside her. "Someone's going to get flattened if they're not careful."
Muhan glanced once more at the HUD panel, the Ether Synchronization Trial timer ticking down in subtle crimson light. A low hum resonated in his chest—not fear, not excitement, but something closer to… hungry anticipation.
Tomorrow would not just test skill. It would test history. Pride. Bonds. Rivalries that spanned more than just years—more like lifetimes in echo.
But tonight? Tonight was about reunion. About energy flowing back into old connections. About alliances quietly forming beneath the surface, and rivalries sharpening, silent but ready.
And in the center of it all, Muhan Lockhart's gaze met Mi-cha's, and for just a fraction of a second, the noise of the atrium faded.
Tomorrow, the stage was Wysteria.
Tonight, they just remembered who they were—and what they had to fight for.
Mi-cha stretched her arms over her head, the tension from the reunion finally leaving her shoulders.
"Okay," she said with a soft sigh. "I forgot how loud academies are."
Soo-ah snorted. "This is the quiet period. Wait until combat week."
"Combat week?" Jinnah perked up immediately.
Kamaro rubbed his temples. "Please don't encourage her."
The conversation dissolved into overlapping chatter as students continued flooding through the atrium. Ether-lines pulsed through the floor like faint veins of light, guiding newcomers toward dorm sectors, training halls, and resource centers.
Mi-cha glanced up at the massive holographic map suspended above them.
Her eyes moved across the labels.
Dormitory Wing.
Training Sector Alpha.
Aether Engineering Lab.
Combat Arena.
Then one panel caught her attention.
Wysteria Central Market — Student Provision Sector
Mi-cha blinked.
"…There's a supermarket?"
Soo-ah nodded instantly. "Oh yeah. Huge one. They stock everything—gear modules, energy drinks, food, training supplements—"
Mi-cha had already turned toward Muhan.
He was leaning against the railing, half watching the crowd, half watching the HUD timer overhead.
Her eyes sparkled.
"Muhan."
He didn't even look yet. "Hmm?"
She pointed up.
"Let's go."
He finally followed her finger to the floating panel.
Wysteria Central Market.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"You just got here," he said. "And you're already thinking about food?"
Mi-cha placed a hand on her hip, mock offense flashing across her face.
"I am thinking about survival. Which includes snacks."
Soo-ah raised a finger. "She has a point."
Ji-hoon chuckled quietly.
Muhan exhaled through his nose.
"…Fine."
Mi-cha's face lit up instantly.
"Really?"
"Before you start a protest in the atrium."
"Too late, I was preparing one."
Jinnah gasped dramatically. "I would have joined that protest."
Kamaro groaned again.
Nagant didn't react at all.
Dillar simply observed silently.
Mi-cha grabbed Muhan's sleeve and tugged.
"Come on. Before everything good sells out."
"Mi-cha… it's an academy market."
"And?"
"Students haven't even finished registering yet."
"That just means we get first pick."
Ji-hoon smirked slightly as they walked past him.
"Still whipped, Lockhart."
Muhan didn't even slow down.
"Still second place, Ji-hoon."
Soo-ah burst out laughing.
"OHHHH that's starting already."
The group split as Muhan and Mi-cha stepped onto a moving Ether walkway that slid smoothly toward the lower sector.
The atrium slowly faded behind them as the corridor opened into a massive glass hall.
Rows of floating shelves stretched across the chamber.
Digital price tags hovered beside items.
Autonomous drones restocked products mid-air.
Energy drinks glowed faintly with Ether infusion.
Training snacks, combat stimulants, nutrient bars, cybernetic toolkits, and basic food supplies filled the aisles.
Mi-cha stopped at the entrance.
"…Whoa."
Even Muhan's eyes shifted slightly.
The place was enormous.
Students moved through the aisles, scanning items with their wrist HUDs while automated checkout gates shimmered at the far end.
Mi-cha slowly stepped inside like a kid entering a candy store.
"This place is ridiculous."
She walked past a shelf of glowing energy drinks.
"EtherBurst… Quantum Hydrate… HyperCharge…"
She picked up a bottle.
The liquid inside shimmered like liquid starlight.
Muhan leaned beside her.
"Don't drink that before the trial."
She tilted her head.
"Why?"
"Because it'll spike your Ether flow."
"And?"
"And you'll blow up half the synchronization grid."
Mi-cha blinked.
"…Oh."
She gently put the bottle back.
"Good call."
Muhan walked past another aisle and grabbed a simple package.
Protein bars.
Mi-cha peeked at it.
"…That's boring."
"It works."
She grabbed three glowing snack packs and dropped them into the basket anyway.
"Balance."
He didn't argue.
They moved deeper into the market, walking side by side between the floating aisles.
For the first time since arriving at Wysteria…
Things felt quiet.
Normal.
Mi-cha glanced sideways at him.
"You know…"
Muhan raised an eyebrow.
"What."
She smiled softly.
"I like that we ended up here together."
Muhan's gaze shifted forward again.
"…It would've been boring otherwise."
Mi-cha laughed.
"Ji-hoon said the same thing."
"That's because he knows."
They reached another shelf.
Mi-cha grabbed two more snack packs.
Then paused.
Her eyes softened slightly.
"Tomorrow's trial…"
Muhan didn't look worried.
He just picked up a bottle of water.
"…Yeah."
Mi-cha studied his face.
"You're excited."
He glanced at her.
"…A little."
She smiled again.
"I figured."
They walked toward the checkout gate together.
Unaware that tomorrow's Ether Synchronization Trial would be the moment the entire academy realized something.
Something about Muhan Lockhart.
Something that even Wysteria Academy had not prepared for.
And once it began…
The quiet rhythm of the academy would never quite return to normal again.