The academy sky turned bright blue as the sun began to rise higher. The morning mist slowly disappeared from the training field, leaving behind ground full of footprints and marks from training swords.
The voices of students began to fill the academy yard.
Some practiced sword techniques.
Some tested their elemental abilities.
And others simply sat on stone benches while talking about the results of the morning training.
At one corner of the stone steps facing the field, Kael Vireth still sat alone.
His academy robe was covered in dust. His black hair with dark red tips was slightly messy from the earlier training. His body felt sore.
But his mind could not calm down.
He kept feeling something behind his back.
Slowly, Kael turned his head slightly.
It was still there. Chrono Halo.
The giant clock floated gently in the air. Its light was soft, pale blue like moonlight sinking into water.
Its hands moved slowly.
Tick…
Tick…
Tick…
Strangely, there was no sound.
Kael stared at it for a long time.
"Why am I the only one who can see you…?" he murmured softly.
He tried to reach the clock with his hand.
But his hand passed through the light as if passing through mist.
"Not real… but it feels like it's there…"
Kael slowly lowered his hand.
Suddenly, a voice was heard from behind.
"So it's true… there is something behind you."
Kael immediately turned around.
Behind him stood Maren.
The girl carried two training water bottles. Her brown hair was tied short, and her academy uniform looked much neater than Kael's.
She looked at Kael with narrowed eyes.
Kael felt slightly nervous.
"What do you mean?" Kael asked.
Maren walked closer and then sat on the step beside him.
She handed him one bottle of water.
"Here. You look like you almost died after training."
Kael accepted the bottle slowly.
"…thank you."
Maren looked at Kael's back again.
"This morning… when you fell."
Kael tensed slightly.
"I saw something," Maren continued.
"What?"
Maren shrugged.
"Like… a circular light. But only for a moment."
Kael lowered his head.
So someone had almost seen it.
"Ah, maybe it was just a training effect," Kael said quickly.
Maren frowned.
"You're bad at lying."
Kael only laughed softly, although it clearly sounded forced.
On the field, some students began to gather again.
An instructor stood in the middle of them while holding a long staff.
His loud voice echoed.
"ALL BEGINNER STUDENTS, GATHER!"
Maren stood up.
"Looks like the second training is starting."
Kael let out a long breath.
"I haven't even recovered from the first one…"
Maren smiled slightly.
"If you die in the second training, I'll take your meal portion in the cafeteria."
Kael snorted softly.
"So cruel."
The two of them walked toward the field.
The training field was now divided into several large circles.
Each group of students stood facing their sparring partners.
The instructor leading the training was a tall man with a scar on his cheek.
His name was Instructor Rethan.
He was known as one of the harshest mentors in the academy.
Rethan crossed his arms.
"Today we will test energy synchronization."
Some students looked confident.
Others looked nervous.
"Anyone who cannot control their energy," Rethan continued coldly,
"will be transferred out of the combat class."
The atmosphere immediately became tense.
Kael swallowed.
Rethan pointed randomly.
"You will pair up."
Several names were called.
Then...
"Kael Vireth."
Kael froze for a moment.
"Your opponent… Darius."
A small murmur spread among the students.
A tall young man stepped into the center of the circle.
His hair was bright blond, his body athletic.
In his hand, a white energy sword had already appeared.
Darius smiled faintly.
"Oh… so I have to fight the 'academy burden'?"
Some students laughed.
Kael gripped his wooden training sword.
His hand trembled slightly.
Darius spun his sword casually.
"Come on, Kael."
He lowered his head slightly, mocking.
"Show me… whether you really deserve to be in this academy."
Instructor Rethan raised his hand.
"Begin."
That moment
Kael moved forward.
Darius's first attack was very fast.
SWOOSH!
Kael barely had time to dodge.
He stepped back in panic.
His wooden sword almost slipped from his hand.
The students' laughter was heard again.
"As usual…"
"No hope."
Darius let out a bored breath.
"Seriously? That's it?"
He attacked again.
This time faster.
Kael slipped.
His body fell to the ground.
Dust scattered.
Right before Darius's sword touched him
The Chrono Halo on Kael's back vibrated strongly.
Its hands moved.
Spinning.
Then—
backward.
Suddenly—
The world felt slowed down.
The falling dust stopped in the air.
Darius's movement became slow.
Very slow.
Kael's eyes widened.
"What…?"
His body moved by reflex.
He rolled to the side.
Darius's sword struck empty ground.
THUD!
Time returned to normal.
Darius blinked.
"Huh?"
He looked toward Kael who was now standing two steps from his previous position.
"You… just now."
Kael himself did not understand what had happened.
His heart was beating very fast.
On his back, the Chrono Halo returned to spinning slowly.
As if nothing had happened.
At the edge of the field
The old mentor who had been observing Kael earlier stood with a sharp gaze.
His eyes narrowed.
"Looks like… he just rewound time."
he whispered softly.
And for the first time
There was a slight worry on his face.