The rays of the sun shone brightly that morning.
Most of the students were still lost in their sleep.
Artha and Vikar lay on the same bed, completely unaware of the world outside.
Suddenly—
knock… knock… knock…
A sharp sound echoed through the room.
Artha slowly opened his eyes, irritation clear on his face.
"Who is it… ruining my sleep this early?" he muttered.
He reached for his device and checked the time.
8:00 AM.
His eyes widened in shock.
Without wasting another second, Artha got up and walked toward the door.
Behind him, Vikar remained buried under the blanket, sleeping like nothing mattered.
Artha slowly opened the door—
—and froze.
Torisa.
Standing right in front of him.
Torisa's sharp gaze shifted past Artha and landed on the bed.
There, Vikar was still asleep.
For a moment, silence filled the air.
Then—
Torisa's expression hardened.
"Do you not understand, Artha?" he said coldly.
"Why is he sleeping here?"
His voice turned sharper, filled with anger.
"Did you forget… that I clearly told you not to let him stay here?"
Artha was about to say something—
—but before he could, Vikar's eyes suddenly opened.
He blinked, still half-asleep, and turned his head to the side.
The moment he saw Torisa, his entire body stiffened.
In an instant, he jumped off the bed and stood completely still—silent… tense.
Torisa didn't wait.
He strode forward with sharp steps, grabbed Vikar by the collar, and yanked him forward.
"Ahh—!" Vikar cried out in pain as he was pulled.
Torisa's grip tightened.
"Don't you understand?" he snapped.
"You're supposed to be up already!"
His voice carried authority—and anger.
Then his gaze shifted back to Artha.
"For him, it's understandable," Torisa said coldly.
"He's new."
A brief pause.
Then his eyes returned to Vikar—this time sharper, harsher.
"But you…" he continued, his tone filled with disappointment,
"You've been here long enough."
"You're weak in studies… and all you do is waste time playing around."
The words hit hard.
Torisa released his grip.
"Both of you," he said firmly,
"today you will run nine rounds of the ground."
Silence followed.
Artha straightened himself and spoke without hesitation,
"…Yes. If this is our punishment—
then I accept it."
Torisa released Vikar's ear.
Vikar instantly took a deep breath, relief washing over his face.
Torisa, however, turned toward Artha—this time with a faint smile.
He stepped closer and placed a hand on Artha's shoulder.
"Well… you seem like a good student," he said calmly.
Artha nodded slightly.
"Sir… when will our classes begin?"
Behind them, Vikar quietly started mimicking Torisa's voice and posture, trying to hold back his laughter.
Artha noticed it.
His eyes shifted toward Vikar for a second.
Torisa turned his head slightly—
Vikar froze.
The act stopped immediately.
Torisa looked back at Artha.
"For now, three students are injured," he said.
"Until they recover… you all are on a break."
He paused for a moment, then added,
"And yes… we have already informed your families that you are alive."
Artha exhaled softly, then asked,
"So… do we still have to run the rounds?"
Behind him—
Vikar started mimicking Torisa again, even more exaggerated this time.
But this time… he wasn't lucky.
Torisa suddenly turned around.
Their eyes met.
Silence.
Vikar froze mid-action.
Torisa's expression darkened.
"Oh… now I see," he said slowly.
His voice dropped—cold and dangerous.
"Now I'm going to make you run a hundred rounds."
Before Vikar could react, Torisa grabbed him again and dragged him outside.
Moments later—
They reached the ground.
Torisa picked up a long, heavy stick.
And without another word…
he started chasing Vikar across the field.
Vikar ran for his life.
From the balcony above, Artha watched everything unfold—
and couldn't help but laugh.
Down on the ground, Vikar was running at full speed, completely out of breath.
He turned his head and shouted at the top of his lungs,
"I won't spare you, Artha!"
His voice echoed across the field.
Artha just smirked, leaning against the railing.
But the chase wasn't over.
Torisa, still running behind Vikar, suddenly swung his arm—
and hurled the stick straight at him.
The air cut sharply as it flew.
A second later—
thud!
The stick struck Vikar.
"Ahhh!" he cried out, stumbling forward in pain.
Yet he didn't stop.
He kept running.
Because stopping… wasn't an option.
Unaware of everything…
Artha continued watching from the balcony, still amused by the chaos below.
But high above—
on the rooftop of the building—
someone else was watching too.
Ajina.
Standing silently.
Observing everything.
His eyes burned with anger.
"That fool… Torisa," he muttered under his breath.
"He has no idea… what kind of organization I belong to."
A brief silence followed.
His expression darkened.
"I need to contact Mophugo… immediately."
His voice turned colder.
"And Torisa… will have to be removed from the path—"
He paused.
Memories flickered.
"…just like that boy… Atura."
The air felt heavier.
More dangerous.
Without another word—
Ajina stepped back.
And in the next instant—
he leaped off the rooftop, disappearing into the shadows as he ran.
Inside a quiet hospital room—
a man lay on the bed, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
His breaths were heavy… uneven… almost breaking.
Machines clicked softly around him.
He was barely holding on.
The door suddenly opened.
A doctor stepped inside and looked at the condition of the patient—his expression immediately turned serious.
He walked toward Jeron.
"This man has suffered severe injuries," the doctor said.
"It's surprising he's even alive."
A brief pause.
"Who is he?"
Silence filled the room.
Jeron's eyes didn't move from the man on the bed.
"He… is a criminal," Jeron said quietly.
The doctor froze in shock.
"A… criminal?" he repeated.
Jeron finally turned his gaze toward him—calm, but intense.
"Listen carefully," he said.
"No matter what happens… you must save him."
His voice lowered.
"Because if he dies—
our kingdom… and this entire land… could fall into danger."
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air.
The doctor slowly nodded.
Without another word, he turned and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Silence returned.
Jeron stood there for a moment…
then exhaled.
"We need to inform the King," he murmured.
He walked to the table, picked up a piece of paper—
and began to write.
That night…
Everything was quiet.
For the first time all day, silence had taken over.
Vikar stood on the balcony, exhausted, staring into the distance.
"If I stay here any longer," he muttered,
"Torisa is going to beat me to death."
Artha, leaning against the railing, looked thoughtful.
"But what is really going on here?" he said slowly.
"Is Torisa some kind of… hidden teacher?"
Vikar scoffed.
"This place is a waste of time," he replied.
"We should just leave."
Artha turned toward him.
"And then what?" he asked.
"Do you want to become a worker?"
He paused, then added with determination,
"I want to become a doctor… or maybe a teacher."
Vikar let out a small laugh.
"Me? I'm going to be a businessman."
Artha raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of business?"
Vikar's eyes lit up slightly.
"I want to build a brand," he said confidently.
"A big one. Something powerful."
He smirked.
"I'll make anything… and earn a lot of money."
Artha couldn't help but tease him.
"You don't even know how to count money properly."
Vikar shrugged, unfazed.
"Time teaches everything," he said calmly.
Artha let out a quiet breath.
"Let's just go to sleep," he said.
Vikar immediately shook his head.
"No way," he snapped.
"I'm going back to my own room… or that Torisa will beat me again for no reason."
Before Artha could reply—
Vikar suddenly dashed off, rushing out of the room and toward the stairs.
"Hey! Don't run like that!" Artha shouted from behind.
But Vikar didn't stop.
Within seconds, he disappeared down the staircase.
Artha sighed and walked back into his room, closing the door.
Down on the ground floor—
Vikar slowed his steps.
The corridor was quiet… too quiet.
As he looked toward his room from a distance—
he froze.
Someone…
was standing near his door.
A figure.
Hidden in the darkness.
Vikar's heartbeat quickened.
He swallowed hard and whispered to himself,
"Is that… a ghost?"
For a moment, fear crept into his voice.
But then—
he clenched his fists.
"No way…" he said, trying to sound brave.
"I defeated a spirit on the Red Moon… why would I be scared of this?"
Taking a deep breath—
Vikar slowly began to move forward.
Step by step.
Toward the shadow.
The figure stepped forward.
As the dim light touched his face—
Vikar's eyes widened in shock.
"…Ajina?"
For a second, he couldn't believe it.
Then suddenly, relief washed over him.
"You—!" Vikar said, almost smiling.
But Ajina didn't waste a single moment.
He stepped closer, his gaze calm… yet unsettling.
"Do you want to build a business?" he asked quietly.
"Do you want to earn money?"
Vikar blinked.
"…Yes," he replied instantly.
"But how do you know that?"
Ajina gave a faint smile.
"If you want to succeed in life," he said,
"then wherever you go… whatever you do…"
He raised his hand slowly.
"You must do one thing."
Vikar leaned in slightly.
"What?"
Ajina joined his fingers, forming a small cross-like gesture.
"Every time," he continued softly,
"just make this sign with your fingers."
Vikar frowned.
"…Why?"
Ajina's eyes darkened just a little.
"It will increase your luck," he said.
"And you will never lose."
There was something strange in his tone.
Something… not entirely trustworthy.
But Vikar didn't notice.
Before he could ask anything else—
Ajina turned and began to walk away.
His footsteps were quiet… almost disappearing into the darkness.
Then, under his breath—
barely audible—
he whispered,
"One more boy… caught."
A faint smirk crossed his face.
"Now… he just needs to be brought into our group."
And with that—
Ajina vanished into the night.