ARC I — The Night the Sky Chose Me
(Part 1 — The Contract Awakens)
Chapter 1: The Birthday That Split the Heavens
Ren Takahashi turned eighteen alone.
Again.
The cake on his desk leaned slightly to one side, as if even it had given up on being celebrated. The candles were unlit. His phone screen glowed with a single notification.
Bank promotional email.
"Yeah," Ren muttered. "At least someone remembers me."
Outside his window, the night sky was unusually clear. No clouds. Just stars.
Too many stars.
He frowned.
"…Were there always that many?"
The air pressure changed.
A low hum vibrated through his bones.
The sky cracked.
Not metaphorically.
It split open like glass under pressure.
Seven beams of light shot downward.
His ceiling dissolved into shimmering particles.
Ren stared upward.
"…I didn't drink anything tonight."
A parchment formed midair, rotating slowly. It was ancient, its edges burning with silver flame. Symbols carved themselves across its surface.
Blood-red ink.
The paper sliced his finger before he could move.
A drop fell.
The parchment absorbed it.
A voice echoed.
"Celestial Contract recognized."
"Host identity confirmed."
"Reactivation complete."
Ren blinked.
"…Reactivation?"
The first beam of light condensed.
And she stepped forward.