The afternoon air was cool.
A slow wind moved through the treetops, shaking loose dry leaves that spiraled gently to the ground. Golden sunlight stretched across the academy fields, casting long shadows of mountains, trees, rooftops, and wooden poles.
Among those shadows walked two students.
Kiro rested his right arm across Leah's shoulders as they made their way toward the training grounds. Being taller than her, his arm fit comfortably there.
Leah chuckled.
"The assignment wasn't that hard," she said before pausing. "Right?"
Kiro looked straight ahead.
"Yes… it was."
Leah raised an eyebrow.
Kiro shrugged.
"But it won't matter. We're going to have a crowd answer."
Leah nodded in agreement.
"True. Everyone was in the library."
Kiro laughed lightly.
"Exactly. We'll all just synchronize our answers."
Students from different grades hurried past them, some jogging, others arguing about their homework.
Everyone in their class was heading toward the same place.
The old training ground.
After several minutes, the field was filled with Grade 4 students.
Noise buzzed through the air.
Papers rustled as students compared their assignments. Some burst into laughter when they realized their answers were identical. Others groaned when they discovered spelling mistakes or small errors.
Everyone was busy.
Then—
"...One… two… three…"
Mr. Lang walked slowly through the crowd, counting the students present.
Once he finished, he stepped onto a small wooden stand near the field.
"Students," he called.
"I need silence."
The chatter quickly faded.
Within seconds, the entire field grew quiet.
Mr. Lang nodded slightly
"The assignment I gave you was to research Realms," he began.
"And I'm glad to see that everyone completed it."
His eyes scanned the students.
For a moment, his gaze stopped on one girl.
Mira.
While the others were focused on him, she seemed lost in thought.
Mr. Lang ignored it.
"Master Regns will be here shortly," he continued. "So you will present your answers the way he requests."
The moment he finished speaking—
The sunlight dimmed.
A shadow spread across the wooden platform like dark ink.
The wind changed.
A calm but heavy gust swept across the field.
Students felt it immediately.
Their shoulders stiffened.
The air grew heavier.
Then—
A figure appeared.
Headmaster Regns stood where the shadow had formed.
His black cloak moved softly in the wind. His tall frame stood firm like a statue carved from stone.
Not a statue meant for decoration.
A statue forged for battle.
The ground beneath the platform creaked faintly as if responding to his weight.
No one spoke.
The pressure in the air alone commanded silence.
Regns noticed the tension.
So he smiled.
"Grade 4 students," he said warmly.
"You're making me proud."
Some students relaxed slightly.
Regns chuckled.
"I've heard that most of you are C-Rank. Some B-Rank."
His eyes moved across the crowd.
"And even three A-Rank students."
He nodded.
"That's a good mark for this school."
Mr. Lang stepped closer and leaned toward him.
"Sir… the assignment," he whispered.
Regns nodded.
"Ah yes."
He turned back to the students.
"You will all say the answer together."
Mr. Lang blinked.
"All together?"
Regns smiled.
"My plan, Lang."
Mr. Lang sighed but obeyed.
"Follow my command carefully," he instructed the class. "Try not to overlap your voices."
He raised his hand.
"Three…"
"Two…"
"One."
The students spoke in unison.
"A Realm is a space created in one's mind through different capabilities. It can be conjured into the real world to give the caster or user a favorable outcome."
The voices faded.
Regns' face brightened.
He nodded slowly.
"Mr. Lang… your students are excellent."
He gave a thumbs up.
Then he looked at the class.
"You all have this answer correct?"
The students nodded.
Some turned sideways, checking if others had written the same thing.
All except one.
Mira.
Her hand slowly rose into the air.
Regns noticed immediately.
He pointed at her.
"Speak."
Mira exhaled softly.
"Sir… I am not disagreeing with what they said."
She paused.
"I only want to make an adjustment."
Murmurs erupted across the students.
"What's wrong with you, Mira?"
"That's literally from the books!"
"Why do you always act weird?"
Regns lifted his hand.
The field went silent.
"Go on," he said.
Mira stepped forward.
"A Realm is a space created in one's mind," she began.
"Which means the caster understands every part of it. Every corner, every rule, every structure."
Her voice grew stronger.
"It is a fortitude."
Students exchanged confused glances.
"A Realm does not constantly consume Divine Energy."
More whispers.
"It can be shattered," she continued.
"Think of it like a house."
Now some students leaned forward.
"You design a house in your mind. Then workers use their energy to build it."
She gestured slightly.
"Once the house is built, it does not consume the workers' energy anymore."
She inhaled slowly.
"A Realm works the same way."
"It consumes energy when it is manifested."
Her eyes sharpened.
"And even though it is your fortitude… it can still be destroyed."
"From the inside."
"Or the outside."
"Just like a house."
The field had grown completely silent.
Mira looked toward Mr. Lang.
Then suddenly her eyes widened.
She remembered something.
"And one more thing."
"Only Gods or Vessels can create Realms."
The crowd stirred.
"Divine Kings like myself… or those directly empowered by gods cannot use Realms."
She shrugged lightly.
"We have our own powers."
Her voice hardened.
"And humans…"
"…can never create a Realm."
"Unless a god intervenes."
She finished speaking.
Then she turned and jumped from the platform.
But before she could land—
A dark circular board shot beneath her feet.
Regns had created it.
The moment Mira's feet touched the surface—
CRACK.
Lightning burst from beneath her feet.
The board shattered instantly.
Fragments scattered like black glass before dissolving.
A faint static crackled in the air.
Mira blinked in surprise.
Then she climbed back up.
Regns burst into laughter.
"Everyone," he said loudly.
"A round of applause for…"
He paused.
"What's your name?" he whispered.
"Mira Josen, sir."
Regns turned to the students.
"Applaud Mira Josen!"
Thunderous applause filled the field.
Even Mr. Lang stared at her in shock.
Regns looked at her carefully.
"Which rank are you, Mira?"
The field became quiet again.
Students leaned forward.
Some whispered guesses.
"B-Rank?"
"No way… A-Rank."
Mira answered calmly.
"S-Rank, sir."
Silence.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
Mr. Lang nearly shouted.
"Do you mean to tell me you have that much magic?!"
Mira chuckled.
"Not magic."
"Divine Magic."
Regns laughed loudly.
Then he folded his arms.
"How would you like to be trained by me?"
The field froze.
"You and whoever you choose."
"It will be similar to Master Ozaki and his crew."
Mira smiled calmly.
"I would be glad to."
Without hesitation she said:
"Leah. Kiro. Daigo. Renji. And Seouk."
Whispers exploded across the field.
"Why them?"
"That's such a strange team!"
Regns raised his hand again.
Silence returned.
"Then it is decided."
He pointed toward the exit.
"The rest of you are dismissed."
The remaining students slowly left the training ground, whispering and joking about Mira's choices.
—
Far away…
At the edge of the continent.
Deep within a dense forest.
Kaku sat on a crude wooden chair.
A crooked smile spread across his face.
"So…"
"One fragment of my power… lies within a girl."
He stood and began pacing beneath the trees.
Leaves crunched beneath his feet.
"How interesting."
His fingers brushed through his hair.
"But how will she fare?"
His eyes narrowed.
"She doesn't even know how to fight."
He stopped walking.
A slow grin formed.
"But that works in my favor."
"If she fights them… I will learn everything."
His voice darkened.
"I only need something… anything…"
He returned to the chair and sat down.
The smile faded.
His face turned cold.
"If that is one fragment…"
He closed his eyes.
Searching.
Feeling.
Reaching through the invisible threads of his power.
But—
Nothing.
The last fragment remained hidden.
His fingers tightened slowly.
"Impossible…"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"What could hide it from me…?"
His body suddenly jerked with rage.
His fist slammed into the wooden chair.
CRACK.
The armrest shattered.
"WHY CAN'T I FIND IT?!"
Flutter of wings, loud and moving from birds that flew from the sound of his thunderous voice.
His roar echoed through the forest.
"What is blocking me?!"
The wind howled through the trees.
And the last fragment…
Remained hidden.