Smoke curled in the air, curling like tendrils of gray mist that danced above the cratered floor. Charred fragments of stone hovered in the fading embers of the attack that had nearly brought death upon him. And yet, there he stood.
Kurayami Hikari blinked.
His eyes slowly adjusted to the clearing haze. The torn remnants of his shirt flapped gently in the heated wind, cut clean in a diagonal slash that should've carved into his flesh. But it hadn't. Not even a scratch. No burn. No bruise. Not even the faintest sign that the inferno had touched him at all.
Silence.
He raised a shaky hand, staring at it in disbelief. The aftershock of what had just happened throbbed in his chest. He should've been on the floor. Or in a pool of blood. Or worse. Instead, his feet were still planted, albeit trembling, on solid ground.
Kaelis Ardent, who had moments ago cast a spell that could rival a battlefield bombardment, stood frozen across the arena. Her cloak fluttered behind her, flames still smoldering from her palm. Her expression wavered between shock and confusion, lips parted, eyebrows pulled tight.
"Impossible," she whispered, barely audible.
The Headmaster stood from his upper seat. A murmured exchange took place between him and Master Ryu, whose eyes never left Hikari. There was no triumphant cheer from the gathered observers. No clapping. Only the quiet reverence of something inexplicable.
Hikari finally exhaled. His legs gave way beneath him, but he caught himself with a knee. He felt sweat on his forehead, his heartbeat thudding like a war drum. Whatever that was, it wasn't him. Or maybe… maybe it was. A strange sensation still lingered in his chest, like a warmth untouched by flame. Protective. Ancient.
Kaelis took a breath and crossed the floor with measured steps. Her boots clicked against the tiled obsidian, each echo a reminder that this had been a real battle, not a simulation.
"You passed," she said, kneeling before him and offering a hand. Her crimson eyes searched his face, less critical now, more curious. "Not just barely. You endured what should have been your end. Welcome to the Golden Sanctuary, Kurayami Hikari."
With her help, he stood again. Applause broke out at last, though brief and respectful, as the trial came to its close.
After a moment to collect himself, Hikari was escorted out of the Hall of Trials. The hall's massive doors creaked open once more, and cool air replaced the lingering heat of battle. Golden light from the sanctuary's overhead domes bathed the corridor, but he barely noticed it. His legs moved on instinct. His thoughts were a whirlwind.
He should have died.
And yet he didn't.
What saved him?
Not long after, he found himself in one of the academy's dormitory wings, escorted by a silent aide. Unlike the grandiose aesthetic of the academy itself, the dorms were far simpler—spacious, yes, but modestly built. Arched doorways opened into identical rooms, each one prepared for its temporary residents. The walls were painted with muted golds and deep charcoals, shadows flickering across their surface as if reflecting each Irregular's nature.
Hikari's new room had only the basics: a bed, a desk, a closet, and a window overlooking a small courtyard. Still, the silence was welcome. He flopped down onto the bed without bothering to take off his shoes. Muscles ached that he didn't know could ache. His body screamed for rest, but his mind was still running.
There were no welcome ceremonies. No orientation. Just silence, and the knowledge that more trials awaited.
He sat up after a while, rubbing his temples. "Everyone's an Irregular here," he muttered, remembering what Rin Feles told him. "And I'm the most irregular of all."
Elsewhere in the academy, behind a thick curtain of mana-cloaked stone, Master Ryu and the Headmaster sat in quiet contemplation.
The Headmaster was an older man, but no less imposing for his age. His silver hair was tied back neatly, and the lines on his face etched deep stories of war, wisdom, and countless trials endured.
"You saw it too," the Headmaster said.
"I did," Ryu replied, arms crossed. "That wasn't a fluke. He didn't dodge. He didn't counter. He should've taken that spell full force, and yet his body was untouched."
"A barrier?"
"If it was, it wasn't from me," Ryu said. "It might be his own power reacting instinctively."
The Headmaster stood and walked toward the wide window overlooking the Hall of Trials. "Or something older. Buried in that bloodline of his. The Shadow Manipulator of old could do things even our records couldn't explain."
"I'll keep an eye on him. Train him harder."
"And watch the other students too. Some of them won't appreciate someone surviving Kaelis's attack. Especially not the ones eyeing her position."
Ryu nodded slowly. "Understood."
Evening painted the sky in soft strokes of orange and lavender by the time Hikari stood outside the dormitory gates. The lanterns of the academy began to flicker to life, casting gentle shadows across the marbled streets. It was a breathtaking sight, but Hikari barely noticed.
He was staring up at the sky, lost in thought.
Soft footsteps approached.
"Ready to go home?" Master Ryu asked, his voice lighter than usual.
Hikari turned, surprised to see the older man without his cloak for once. He looked more casual now, though the air around him never stopped pulsing with pressure. Like a storm politely waiting outside your doorstep.
"Yeah," Hikari answered. "I think I am."
They said nothing more as they walked toward the hidden teleportation site. Their path took them past sections of the academy bathed in fading light, golden arches giving way to darker alleys and closed doors. It was strange to Hikari—he had passed through here earlier today, wide-eyed and nervous, and now it felt like days had gone by.
They reached the abandoned building that held the portal. It sat quietly under the veil of illusion magic, cloaked in obscurity. Ryu pressed a hand against the seal, and the portal shimmered to life.
Before stepping in, Hikari paused.
"Master Ryu," he began, hesitating. "Why didn't I get hurt?"
The older man looked at him, eyes narrow.
"That," he said after a pause, "is something we both need to figure out. But whatever it is, it's a part of you now. Embrace it. Learn from it. And when the time comes, trust it."
Hikari nodded slowly, feeling a strange sense of resolve settle in his chest. He wasn't sure what was protecting him. But if he wanted to survive in this academy—and whatever came after it—he needed to understand it.
Together, they stepped into the portal, and the shadows of the academy gave way to the familiar, quiet calm of their world.
Home.
But only for a short while longer.