DAMON HOUSE
The first rays of morning sunlight crept through the curtains, painting the wooden walls in gold. Outside, the faint chirping of birds mixed with the distant crowing of a rooster and the soft buzz of mosquitoes.
One of those mosquitoes landed on Cassandra's bare arm,only to be caught mid-flight between Lisanna's fingers.
"You mischievous little bloodsucker," she muttered, squishing it effortlessly.
She turned toward Cassandra, who was still sound asleep. The girl's black long hair spilled across her pillow, her expression soft and peaceful. Lisanna smiled gently, brushing Cassandra's cheek with cool fingers.
"Wake up, honey," she whispered. "Time to take your bath."
Cassandra stirred, stretching with a sleepy groan. Her hand flopped forward,landing right on Lisanna's chest.
Lisanna blinked, then chuckled. "If you wanted to check them out, you could've just asked."
Cassandra's eyes opened halfway, confusion clouding her gaze. When she realized what her hand was touching, she squeezed a little then pulled back her hand . "Why are mine still so small…?" she mumbled, rubbing her own chest with a pout.
Lisanna laughed softly. "They'll grow when the time is right, dear. You're only sixteen."
She headed for the door, pausing. "The hot water's ready. Be quick,breakfast won't wait forever."
Once she left Cassandra's room, Lisanna crossed the hallway and knocked on the boys' door.
Inside, Phobos was sprawled across his bed, snoring like a dragon in hibernation. Lisanna sighed, stepping in. She leaned down, brushing his hair back with motherly care.
Just as she was about to shake him awake,his hand shot up instinctively, landing right on her chest.
Her breath hitched. Phobos' fingers twitched… then squeezed.
The world froze.
Phobos' eyes fluttered open,and widened in sheer horror as he realized where his hand was.
"P-Phobos."
Her voice was calm. Too calm.
He swallowed. "Uh… good morning?"
"Mm." Lisanna smiled sweetly, though the dangerous aura radiating from her said otherwise. "Tell me, what exactly were you dreaming about?"
"I—I wasn't—"
"Uh-huh." She straightened, patting his head just a little too hard. "Take your bath. Now."
Phobos nodded frantically.
From the other bed, Aristo yawned, sitting up with a smirk. "Did you… touch her again?"
Phobos groaned. "Not on purpose! My hands moved on their own!"
"Sure they did." Aristo chuckled, stretching. "You could always blame me."
"You'd do that? For me "
"Of course not," Aristo said, grinning. "I value my life—and my warm baths."
---
By the time breakfast ended, the usual chairs at the head of the table remained empty. Damon and Maria hadn't been around much lately. Lisanna had become the children's caretaker in all but name.
Maria spent her days buried in books, often forgetting to eat. Damon, once a respected man, had grown distant,ever since he was replaced seven years ago by Xandros Bladestorm. With nothing left to command, Damon now spent his days fishing or chatting idly with old women in the marketplace.
Aristo is ten now . Phobos had just turned eleven . And Cassandra, at sixteen , was already carrying the quiet grace of someone who'd had to grow up too soon.
---
MYSTIC LYTHORIA SCHOOL
The classroom was silent except for the click of Maya's heels.
Maya stood at the front of the classroom, her sharp gaze scanning the students.
"Dio energy," she began, her sharp gaze sweeping across the room, "is the foundation of all creation. We've discussed this before, but let's review."
She turned, drawing a quick diagram on the board. "Dio is limitless,its only boundary is the strength of its wielder. Eno, however, is derived from Dio. It's weaker, simpler, and far more restricted. Eno allows for basic spells and techniques but Dio... Dio shapes worlds."
She paused. "Any questions?"
None.
Then, the door creaked open.
A man entered, followed by a girl.
She had long, soaking-white hair that shimmered like silk, dripping faintly onto her uniform. Two delicate horns curved from her head, catching the light.
The room fell silent. Boys froze mid-breath. A few even sat up straighter, as if posture alone could impress her.
Maya spoke with the man briefly, then turned back to the class. "Introduce yourself."
The girl stepped forward, tucking a wet strand behind her ear. Her voice was soft, melodic,each word measured and calm.
"I'm Hesper, from Fulton. Nice to meet you."
Her tone was polite… but carried a confidence that filled the room.
As she walked to an empty seat, she passed by Cassandra. For a brief moment, their eyes met. Cassandra felt something,an aura, calm yet heavy, like water pressing against her skin.
"Now then," Maya continued, "who can explain how clones are created?"
Noah's hand shot up instantly.
Beautiful girl + opportunity = perfect time to show off.
"Creating a clone," Noah began, "requires three steps. Visualize, construct, then energize. You form the image in your mind, shape it clearly, and finally fill it with Eno until it manifests. This step is known as a technique"
Maya nodded. "Good. Demonstrate."
For those who couldn't properly visualize the person or object they wanted to clone, he turned to Maya and asked for a piece of chalk. The moment it touched his hand, he faced the board and began to draw,each stroke deliberate, precise, and almost hypnotic. By the time he finished, a strange symbol glowed faintly on the board.
Noah continued
" Simply thinking of a single image of what you want to clone pour in eno or Dio ,makes the clone come to life"
Noah grinned and formed two perfect clones of himself.
"Not bad," Maya said. "But how many can you sustain?"
He pushed himself harder,five, ten, fifteen—until sweat beaded on his forehead. At twenty, his energy collapsed.
"Impressive," Maya said, then looked toward Hesper. "Check their stability."
Hesper stood up, She simply flicked her fingers.
Every clone vanished.
The room gasped.
Only a few,Cassandra, Koji, Logan, Sakura, Kokoro, Mason, and Maya,had seen what happened.
Cassandra's eyes narrowed. Water… no. Something thinner.
She whispered to herself: "Compress water molecules into a condensed form… infuse them with air… expand the liquid into a nearly invisible thread… make it transparent to the naked eye… add Dio energy, and it becomes a cutting force beyond imagination…so cool ! She said to herself"
She smirked. "So cool…"
Hesper quietly returned to her seat. Noah looked like his ego had been sliced in half.
---
ARISTO & PHOBOS CLASS
"A new student," the teacher announced.
The door opened again,this time revealing a petite girl with tiny horns and long white hair. She adjusted her glasses and bowed shyly.
"Hi, I'm Zira. Nice to meet you."
"Take the seat at the back," the teacher said.
Zira obeyed,only to find Phobos asleep at his desk. The moment she sat, his head fell onto her shoulder.
Zira froze, her face turning red.
Before she could even react.
"PHOBOS!"
The teacher hurled her shoe with the accuracy of a trained assassin. It smacked him right in the face.
Phobos blinked awake. "Ow—uh—I wasn't sleeping, Dad! I was meditating!"
The class burst out laughing.
"Stand up," the teacher ordered. "And stay that way."
Groaning, Phobos obeyed.
"Now then," she continued, "as I was saying,Eno is derived from Dio. Every living being has the potential to wield it. It aligns with one's birth element."
"Aristo, demonstration."
Aristo stood, hands in his pockets, eyes covered by a dark band. He exhaled,and a soft breeze swirled through the room, gentle yet controlled.
Zira watched, awestruck. Is he… blind? she wondered.
Phobos, meanwhile, was snoring on his feet.
"PHOBOS!!"
Before any punishment could follow, the bell rang.
Saved by fate.
---
CAFETERIA – LUNCH BREAK
The cafeteria buzzed with chatter and laughter.
Cassandra spotted Hesper sitting alone by the window, her hair glinting under the sunlight. She walked over, tray in hand.
"Mind if I sit here?"
Hesper didn't look up. "Still stalking me?"
Cassandra grinned. "You noticed, huh? I was just curious about that technique of yours. The thread,you used water and air to make it invisible, right?"
Hesper's eyes flickered with amusement. "So you figured it out. Didn't think humans were that perceptive."
Cassandra leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "I'm not the only one. Look behind you."
Hesper turned slightly,five students were watching her from another table: Koji, Logan, Sakura, Kokoro, and Mason.
"I'd say they caught on too."
Hesper faced forward again, her lips curling slightly. "So, why the sudden interest?"
"Because you're strong," Cassandra said simply. "And I like strong people."
Hesper arched a brow. "Are you saying you want to fight me?"
Cassandra smiled. "Not fight. Compete. I intend to make you my rival."
For the first time, Hesper's expression softened into a smirk. "Interesting."