The gentle rays of the morning sun filtered through the classroom's large windows, stretching warm bands of light across the polished wooden floor. Even so, the room remained restless. Murmured conversations overlapped endlessly, creating a constant hum throughout the class. It was the first official day of lessons, and not a single student seemed capable of staying completely calm.
At the back corner of the room, three heads leaned together, isolated from the rest of the crowd.
Mike rested his chin in his hand, his voice low but filled with excitement behind the conversation.
"So, what do you guys think our first lesson's gonna be? I'll bet two gold coins it's magic. You know… throwing fireballs, shooting lightning, stuff like that."
Kai leaned back in his chair, staring out the window as sunlight reflected lazily in his eyes behind the conversation.
"I think it'll be physical training. Or combat. Probably testing how well we can actually fight."
Duke sat upright with his arms crossed, speaking with the calm confidence of someone who had already reached a conclusion behind the conversation.
"History."
Both Mike and Kai slowly turned toward him with matching looks of disappointment behind the conversation.
Mike grimaced.
"Come on… be a little more creative."
Kai sighed, shaking his head.
"Seriously. History? That already sounds boring."
Duke simply shrugged, not bothering to argue. The faint smile on his lips suggested he was completely certain he'd be right.
Just then—
Riiiiing—
The school bell echoed sharply through the room, cutting every conversation short.
The entire class immediately returned to their seats, and the noisy atmosphere vanished into almost complete silence.
The classroom door slowly opened.
Someone stepped inside.
Siva.
Her towering figure advanced with slow, heavy footsteps. Her icy gaze swept across the classroom like an invisible blade.
"Good morning, you worthless pieces of trash."
No one dared answer.
The room froze.
Siva stopped in front of the teacher's desk and raised one hand.
Tap.
Her palm landed lightly on the desk.
It wasn't loud.
But it was enough to make every student's heart skip a beat.
Her eyes lowered toward the class as her voice became even heavier behind the conversation.
"Weren't any of you brats taught basic manners? When someone greets you… you greet them back. Understood?"
In an instant, everyone straightened their backs.
"Yes, ma'am!"
Siva narrowed her eyes, clearly dissatisfied.
"From now on, while you're in my classroom, you will address me as Lady Siva. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Lady Siva!"
This time, the reply came louder and far more unified.
A satisfied smile crept onto her face.
"Good."
She turned and slowly paced across the front of the room before stopping once more.
"Before today's lesson begins…"
"We'll be choosing a class representative."
"Someone capable of keeping all you worthless idiots under control… and delivering orders from the faculty."
Whispers immediately spread across the classroom.
"A class rep?"
"Who should we pick?"
"I don't even know anybody here…"
Siva folded her arms.
"If none of you can decide…"
"I'll choose one myself."
The atmosphere instantly became even more tense.
At that moment—
A hand rose from the front row.
Siva glanced over.
"You."
"Your name?"
The young man stood calmly, posture perfectly straight.
"Hajime."
He bowed his head slightly.
"I'd like to introduce myself to everyone…"
"…and nominate myself as class representative."
A small wave of murmurs spread through the room.
"He's nominating himself?"
"Well… at least someone volunteered."
"I guess that's better than nobody."
At the back of the class, Mike frowned behind the conversation.
"What do you think? I seriously don't like that guy."
Duke shrugged.
"Me neither."
"But you've gotta admit…"
"He was the top student back in our old world."
"He might actually fit the role."
He turned toward Kai.
"What about you?"
Kai didn't answer.
His gaze had drifted toward another corner of the classroom.
A familiar face.
The girl with the long black hair.
The same girl he'd bumped into yesterday.
Kai's thoughts.
It's her…
"Hey, Kai!"
Duke's voice snapped him back to reality.
Kai blinked.
"Huh?"
"Where'd your brain go?"
"I'm asking you."
Kai scratched the back of his head and gave a faint smile.
"I don't really care."
"As long as that lion lady doesn't notice me."
After a short vote, Siva stepped back to the front of the classroom.
"Alright."
"It's settled."
"Hajime will serve as class representative from this point forward."
A few scattered claps echoed through the room.
Not enthusiastic.
But not opposed either.
Daniel leaned toward Hajime with a crooked grin behind the conversation.
"You always have to be the center of attention, don't you?"
Without looking at him, Hajime replied calmly,
"Sorry."
"But if you're slow…"
"You lose."
Siva clapped her hands once, drawing everyone's attention again.
"Now then…"
"Let's begin today's first lesson."
Daniel raised his hand.
"You."
"Lady Siva…"
"What are we learning today?"
Siva looked directly at him before answering in a calm voice.
"History."
At the back of the classroom—
THUD.
Mike slammed his face onto his desk.
"You've gotta be kidding me…"
Kai slowly collapsed onto his desk as well.
"We're doomed…"
Meanwhile, Duke folded his arms, leaned back proudly, and smiled.
"Told you."
He glanced sideways at them.
"You each owe me two gold coins."
The classroom became so quiet that the sounds of turning pages and chalk scraping across the board could be heard clearly. Sunlight streamed through the windows, painting the desks with soft golden light.
At the front of the room, Siva stood before the chalkboard with her arms crossed, a thick history book resting comfortably in one hand.
Her deep voice echoed throughout the classroom.
"Following the Third Great War of the Solarpunk Continent…"
"…the Gaia Academy System was officially established."
"Its purpose was to educate and regulate individuals who possessed Blessings."
No one dared make any unnecessary noise.
Some students diligently took notes.
Others struggled to stay awake after nearly an hour of history.
Even Mike, who had complained the entire morning, was now desperately propping up his head to avoid falling asleep again.
Only Kai was different.
Sitting beside the window at the back of the classroom, he barely heard anything Siva was saying.
His gaze remained fixed on the vast sky outside.
White clouds drifted lazily across the pale blue heavens.
Farther away, enormous wind turbines rotated steadily in the breeze, towering above a city where magic and technology blended seamlessly together.
Kai's thoughts.
No matter where I go…
It's still school.
He rested his chin in his hand.
I thought another world would be different…
Yet here I am… sitting through another lecture.
Kai glanced around the classroom.
Students listening attentively.
Books spread across desks.
Pens scratching steadily against paper.
A strange feeling slowly crept into his chest.
Kai's thoughts.
This feeling…
It's strangely familiar.
"Kai."
A voice suddenly whispered.
Very close.
So clear that Kai immediately turned around.
No one.
Mike was lazily spinning his pen.
Duke continued taking notes like the model student he somehow managed to become.
At the front, Siva continued lecturing without pause.
Kai's thoughts.
That's weird…
I definitely heard someone…
He frowned and looked around once more.
Nothing.
Everything looked exactly the same as before.
Kai slowly turned back toward the window, though this time there was unmistakable caution in his eyes.
At the front of the room…
Siva suddenly glanced toward the back.
Her eyes rested on Kai for only a brief moment.
Then she resumed the lecture as though nothing had happened.
Riiiiing—
The bell rang, breaking the heavy silence.
Relieved sighs erupted throughout the room.
"Finally…"
"I thought history was gonna kill me…"
"Listening to her is scarier than yesterday…"
Siva snapped the history book shut.
"Fifteen-minute break."
"If anyone returns late…"
"…prepare your own funeral."
Without another word, she left the classroom.
The moment the door closed—
The room exploded with noise.
At the back, Duke and Mike walked over to Kai.
Mike stretched dramatically.
"Hey."
"We're heading to the cafeteria."
"I'm starving."
Duke nodded.
"You coming?"
Kai blinked, as though finally returning from deep thought.
"Yeah…"
"Sure."
The three left the classroom together and walked down one of the academy's enormous hallways.
Hundreds of students filled the corridors with laughter, conversations, and footsteps. The massive glass windows reflected the midday sunlight, making the entire hallway glow brilliantly.
Duke looked around and whistled softly.
"This school is ridiculously huge."
He looked down toward the courtyard below.
"It feels more like an entire city than an academy."
Mike groaned while walking.
"Did either of you actually understand anything Lady Lion was talking about?"
"I accidentally slept through the middle."
Duke sighed.
"More or less."
"It's basically history from our old world…"
"Just replace normal wars with magical wars and Blessings."
He turned toward Kai.
"What about you?"
Kai hesitated.
"Uh…"
"I wasn't really paying attention."
"I was…"
"Kai."
The voice returned.
This time…
Even closer.
Kai clearly felt something brush against his shoulder from behind.
He spun around immediately.
Nothing.
Only streams of students passing through the hallway.
Mike frowned.
"What're you looking at?"
Kai stayed silent for several seconds.
"…I thought somebody touched my shoulder."
Duke looked around before shrugging.
"Probably just someone bumped into you."
"It's crowded."
Kai stared at the passing students a little longer.
"…Yeah."
But this time…
He wasn't so sure.
Because just before he turned around…
He had clearly heard someone laughing softly…
Right beside his ear.
The late afternoon sun bathed the academy grounds in warm shades of orange and gold. As the final bell rang, students of every imaginable race poured through the gates in endless streams.
Amidst the crowd, Kai, Mike, and Duke walked home together as they always did.
Mike folded both hands behind his head and smiled.
"This feels familiar…"
Kai and Duke both looked toward him.
Duke raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"How so?"
Mike stared ahead at the students chatting as they walked.
"It's still the three of us."
"School's over."
"We're walking home together."
"Just like back in our old world."
Kai slowly looked toward the setting sun disappearing behind the rooftops.
"You're right…"
"Those carefree days…"
Silence settled over the three of them.
Duke sighed before suddenly stopping.
"You guys go on ahead."
Kai looked back.
"What's up?"
"You got something to do?"
"Yeah."
"I need to buy a few things."
"I'll probably be home late."
Mike scratched his head.
"I've actually got something to take care of at work too."
"So… same here."
Kai nodded.
"Alright."
"I'll head back first."
Duke and Mike waved before heading down separate roads.
Kai continued walking alone through the crowded streets.
The sounds of merchants, horse carts, laughter, and conversations echoed throughout the marketplace.
Yet somehow…
Everything felt incredibly distant.
Kai's thoughts.
It's peaceful…
…
Not long afterward, Kai arrived home.
He opened the front door.
Silence greeted him.
No Duke tinkering with machines.
No Mike muttering over his spellbook.
Kai closed the door and slowly climbed the stairs.
Each step made the old wooden floor creak beneath his feet.
He entered his room…
…and immediately collapsed onto the bed.
"I'm exhausted…"
"Looks like those two aren't coming home for dinner tonight either…"
"Might as well sleep."
Kai lay on his back, staring at the ceiling as his eyelids gradually grew heavy.
Just before drifting off—
His eyes unconsciously shifted toward the bedroom door.
Something…
Seemed…
To be standing there.
Kai shot upright.
His brows furrowed as he stared into the darkness near the doorway.
"…What…"
"An illusion?"
Just then—
A faint noise echoed from the kitchen downstairs.
Kai immediately stood.
"H-Hey!"
"Who's there?"
"Duke?"
"You back already?"
"Mike?"
…
…
…
No answer.
The silence sent chills crawling down his spine.
Carefully, he descended the stairs while scanning every corner before heading toward the kitchen.
After looking around…
He noticed the kitchen window standing wide open.
"That's strange…"
"I'm pretty sure I closed this last night."
"Probably some animal got in."
Kai walked over and shut the window.
The evening breeze disappeared instantly.
The kitchen became silent once again.
He returned upstairs, lay back on his bed, and sighed.
"Seriously…"
"I'm just imagining things."
"Time to sleep."
His consciousness slowly faded.
Before long…
He was fast asleep.
…
…
Several hours later.
Kai suddenly awoke in the middle of the night.
He rubbed his eyes.
"So thirsty…"
Still half asleep, he wandered downstairs.
Passing by the entrance…
He noticed Duke's and Mike's sandals neatly placed by the door.
"So they're home…"
Kai entered the kitchen, poured himself a full glass of water, and drank it in one go.
Just as he set the glass down…
A freezing sensation suddenly raced down his spine.
It wasn't the wind.
Nor the night's cold air.
It was the unmistakable feeling…
That someone…
Was standing directly behind him.
Kai froze.
"Kai."
The voice returned.
Exactly the same voice he had heard at school.
Kai spun around instantly.
No one.
He clenched his teeth.
"Alright…"
"Whoever's there…"
"Come out already."
"This isn't funny."
…
…
…
Silence.
"Kai."
The voice echoed again.
Closer.
Much clearer.
Kai turned in circles, desperately trying to locate where it came from.
The voice seemed to be leading him…
Toward the front door.
He rushed over, threw it open, and looked across the front yard.
"Who's there!?"
"Show yourself, damn it!"
Moonlight stretched across the ground.
Beneath the large tree in front of the house…
Someone stood perfectly still.
Kai immediately sprinted toward the figure.
But when he was only a few steps away…
It vanished.
Without leaving a single trace.
Kai clenched his fists.
Rage surged through him.
"AGHHHH!"
He slammed his fist into the tree trunk.
The dull impact echoed through the night.
"Kai."
The voice came again.
This time…
Right behind him.
Kai took a slow, deep breath.
Then turned around.
The instant he saw who was standing there—
His pupils contracted.
His lips parted.
His entire body froze.
"No…"
"It can't be…"
The woman standing before him smiled softly.
A gentle smile.
Yet her face was deathly pale.
Empty.
Completely devoid of life.
It was a face Kai could never forget.
"M… Mom…?"
At that exact moment—
Rain suddenly began to fall.
The first drops tapped softly against the roof before quickly becoming a torrential downpour.
Kai stood motionless beneath the rain.
Slowly…
He walked toward the woman.
"M… Mom…?"
The distance between them grew shorter.
"I… I'm… sorry…"
The woman never moved.
She simply continued staring at him with lifeless eyes.
Suddenly—
Kai laughed.
"Haha…"
"No…"
"You don't deserve an apology from me."
His laugh was hoarse.
Filled with bitterness.
"Why are you here?"
No answer.
She remained perfectly still.
"Hey!"
"Answer me!"
"Why are you here!?"
Kai stepped closer.
His fists tightened until his knuckles turned white.
"You're the one who's been calling my name, aren't you!?"
"So answer me!"
"Why are you here!?"
…
…
…
Kai gritted his teeth.
"Are you here to mock me!?"
"To tell me my fate is some pathetic joke!?"
A strange light slowly began glowing inside his eyes.
At first…
Only a faint shimmer.
Then it grew brighter with every passing second.
"ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME, YOU DAMN OLD WOMAN!?"
"ANSWER ME!!"
The air around Kai began to tremble.
Small stones beneath his feet slowly lifted into the air, pulled upward by an invisible force.
Kai clutched his head.
His entire body shook violently.
"ANSWER ME!!!"
At that instant—
Two blinding beams of light erupted from his eyes and shot directly toward the woman.
The moment Kai realized what was happening, he desperately covered his eyes with both hands.
"No…"
"Stop…"
"Stop!"
Several seconds later…
The beams faded away.
Kai gasped for breath.
Slowly…
He lowered his hands.
Then opened his eyes.
The woman…
Was still standing there.
Unmoving.
Untouched.
She hadn't disappeared.
"S… Say…"
"…something…"
His voice weakened with every word.
His knees collapsed onto the rain-soaked grass.
Blood slowly trickled from the corners of his eyes and down the bridge of his nose, dripping onto the green grass before mixing silently with the endless rain.