A massive uproar erupted throughout Silverridge Academy as rumors spread that a new Combat Mage had been born.
The Professors immediately gathered all students in the grand auditorium to deliver an important announcement and to congratulate the individual who had just achieved the second-core synchronization stage — the milestone that marked the birth of a Combat Mage.
The hall buzzed with noise and restless chatter. But the moment Professor Yauna stepped inside, the atmosphere gradually quieted. She approached the podium and raised her hand, calming the students before speaking.
"Hufh… Alright, everyone. It is rare for us Professors to summon all of you here. But today is different. What has happened will be recorded in history — the rise of the youngest Combat Mage ever."
Excitement and tension filled the room as every student waited to hear the chosen name.
Professor Yauna then called forward the one who had achieved the impossible.
"Kaito. Please step onto the podium."
The moment the name left her lips, the entire auditorium fell silent.
Dozens of students stared in shock.
Not a breath could be heard until a voice suddenly burst from the crowd.
"W–what is this?! A commoner becomes a Combat Mage?! Impossible! You must've cheated—!"
Professor Yauna cut him off sharply.
"On what basis do you accuse him of cheating? And do you believe that merging two different Cores is something one can do with trickery? If he truly did something underhanded, he would not be standing alive before us now."
Her eyes locked onto the offending student.
"You have committed discrimination against your fellow student, Readhor. You will be punished."
Readhor Van Yertzha — heir to a renowned noble family — gritted his teeth as his face flushed with humiliation.
His punishment was swift: a deduction of fifty academic points.
Silence returned to the auditorium.
Professor Yauna scanned the hall once more.
"Does anyone here object to Kaito being recognized as a Combat Mage?"
No one dared to answer.
Even the nobles who clearly disliked the announcement kept their mouths shut under the Professors' authority.
With no objections, Kaito was allowed to speak.
He stepped onto the podium, inhaled deeply, and began his speech — explaining how he reached the Harmonia Core, the newly formed core created from fusing his Physical Core and Magic Core.
He emphasized the danger behind it — that a single mistake could have cost him his life.
Yet because he stood alive before them, he assured everyone he was fine.
Gasps and confused whispers spread through the auditorium when Kaito revealed the truth:
His first core wasn't Magic.
It was Physical.
The students reeled in disbelief. How could someone gifted in the four basic elements have awakened a Physical Core first?
Kaito told them about his childhood.
He had lived in a remote village beyond the Rosehart Kingdom. Life there was harsh. At eight, he already hunted alongside adults and helped his parents cut lumber. His Physical Core naturally awakened long before he understood magic.
When he turned nine, he met Zack — the person who taught him magic until he reached the second stage of his Magic Core at fourteen.
The crowd erupted again.
Just who was Zack?
Kaito continued, explaining how his Magic Core reached stage two first because, for five years, he hardly trained his body — weakening his Physical Core.
Only after realizing this imbalance did he retrain himself physically, a decision that eventually led him to becoming a Combat Mage.
Thunderous applause filled the auditorium.
The Professors smiled proudly, acknowledging the tremendous effort behind Kaito's achievement.
Kaito concluded his speech with a gentle tone.
"My life changed… because there were people who supported me."
His eyes fell on Zack and Lyria.
"They always worried about me. But because I'm stubborn, they had no choice but to keep supporting me."
He raised his voice slightly.
"As long as someone supports you, keep striving. Don't give up… and never be blinded by your own strength."
A faint smile curled on his lips.
"Because a blade can wound its own master when wielded with arrogance."
The applause returned louder than before.
Kaito then stepped down and approached Zack and Lyria.
"So? My speech was pretty good, right?" he said with a smug grin.
Zack snorted. "Pfft. Please. Mine would've been better."
Lyria giggled softly.
"Congratulations, Kai. You're a Combat Mage now… truly, congratulations."
Kaito felt warmth fill his chest.
After the applause died down, Professor Helix took the stage to briefly summarize Kaito's achievement and deliver urgent news.
"In three days, the midterm practical exams will begin. First-year students will undergo group-based trials inside a simulated dungeon—testing your formation strength."
Worried murmurs spread across the hall.
Shortly after, the lunch bell rang.
At the Academy Cafeteria
Kaito, Zack, and Lyria grabbed their meals and sat at the corner table by the window.
Though the afternoon breeze was calm, their conversation was not.
"Hey, Kai," Zack began. "About that dream you had… what do you think is going to happen during the practical exam?"
Kaito exhaled slowly. "I think… there will be an attack. From an organization I've never seen before."
Lyria stiffened as though remembering something. "I saw it too… in the dream. Their emblem was a dragon's head… with three tails beneath it."
Zack froze.
"…So that's how it is. They've begun to move."
"Hm? What did you say, Zack?" Kaito asked.
Zack snapped back and shook his head. "It's nothing. What matters is that you two stay alert during the exam. You don't know how strong they are."
He then looked sharply at Kaito.
"And you, Kai. Strengthen your abilities. Don't let your fiancée get hurt."
Kaito scoffed. "Heh. Whatever happens, I won't let Lyria get injured. Ever."
Lyria flushed slightly but smiled.
"You two must be careful too… especially you, Zack. In the dream… they used a lot of magic."
Zack only nodded.
After finishing their meal, Zack excused himself, leaving Kaito and Lyria alone.
The Awkward Silence
"K–Kai…" Lyria murmured nervously.
"Come with me," Kaito said. "To the back of the school. Under the old tree."
Lyria's cheeks reddened, but she followed him.
They walked to the quiet garden behind the academy.
Kaito finally spoke.
"Lyria… can I ask you something?"
"What is it…?" she whispered.
He took a deep breath.
"Will you… be my girlfriend?"
Lyria froze. Her face turned bright red.
"I–I… yes. I will! I'll be your girlfriend!"
Kaito could barely hold back his smile. He hugged her tightly.
"From now on… I'll protect you. Always."
"Then… please don't leave me, Kai…" she murmured softly.
They spent the evening laughing, sharing stories, and enjoying each other's company until the sky grew dim.
Kaito walked Lyria back to her dormitory.
"S-see you tomorrow, Kai!" Lyria waved. "Don't overwork yourself!"
Kaito smiled. "You too. Take care. See you tomorrow."
They parted ways.
But Kaito did not return to his dorm.
He went searching for Zack.
Meanwhile — Zack
In the shadows behind the academy, Zack called out:
"Celestine. Come out. What did you find?"
A girl stepped out from the darkness.
"This is bad… I investigated them. The organization is led by the Yertzha noble family."
Zack's expression hardened. "Yertzha…? I see. Then their target must be…"
He and Celestine said it at the same time.
"…Kaito."
Celestine continued nervously, "Kak… they'll attack the academy soon. And all of them are already at Stage Four of their Magic Cores."
Zack clenched his fist. "No matter how strong they are… I have Anti Magic. No tier of magic can stand before me."
Celestine still looked terrified. "But… one of them uses a special magic. Tenebra."
Zack fell silent.
"…What? Tenebra…? This is worse than I thought. Damn it—Lyria won't be safe at this rate—WAIT!"
Celestine flinched. "W–what is it?"
"Celestine! They're not after Kaito alone… They're after Lyria too! They must've uncovered the history of the Kisaragi bloodline!"
Celestine paled. "S-so that's their main goal… What do we do?!"
Zack steadied himself. "Celestine. Enter the academy. Become a student here."
"But my identity—"
"You can alter your own identity. Mask it. That's your ability. And the exam is only three days away. We have no other choice."
Kaito Watching from Afar
Unbeknownst to Zack, Kaito had seen everything.
"Zack… and Celestine? They know each other…? No way…"
Suddenly his head throbbed.
Darkness swallowed him.
When his vision returned, he found himself in spirit form — standing before the door to Zack's dorm.
"Huh…? Why am I… dreaming? But it feels real…"
He phased through the door.
Inside the room was a girl…
And Zack — looking completely different.
Kaito's eyes widened.
"Those eyes… that hair… Don't tell me they're… ######—"
Before he could finish the thought, everything went black.
Back to Reality
Kaito woke up in another corner of the academy. Zack was gone.
He eventually returned to the dorm and knocked on Zack's door.
Tock. Tock.
"Hold on, coming," Zack replied.
The door opened.
Zack smiled as usual.
"Oh, it's you, Kai. Come in."
Kaito stepped inside. The door shut behind them.
The tension in the room thickened instantly.
Kaito stared at Zack.
"Zack… who are you, really?"
Zack froze. His eyes widened, then narrowed.
His fist clenched so hard his knuckles turned white.
Kaito didn't look away.
"I'll ask again…
Who are you… really, Zack?"