As the student council wrapped up their introductions, Lorraine called for the first-year representatives to step forward.
The gathering watched eagerly as a group of students assembled on stage, with all year groups rising in anticipation once more.
Franz was the first to approach the podium, his expression almost lifeless, yet he was here to deliver an introduction for their year.
"Morning Principal, students, teachers and professors," he began, his voice lacking any warmth.
"My na is Franz Evera, and everyone here on stage is part of your first-year Student Representative Council. I'm confident that all these individuals are capable of effectively addressing any first-year matters. With that, Francine will introduce each student on stage who is in the S.R.C."
Though his delivery was flawless, his deanor left many wondering if he regarded anyone with emotion.
Francine took the microphone next, her expression softening the mood.
"I'm Francine Aureus, your Vice Leader," she said, her voice rich and welcoming. "Allow to introduce Audrey Glacia, Ezekiel Ventus, Umi Azura, Uzan Modan Jr., Marcus Renfield, and Cullen Von Dexter."
The nas sent ripples through the crowd.
-They've assembled a powerhouse this year!
-So many prodigies in one group.
-And Umi is even more stunning than the rumors!
Rean and Tylo were wide-eyed, their attention fixated on Umi Azura.
Her presence and beauty seed to eclipse everyone else.
"How can we get her to notice us?" Tylo whispered in awe.
"Just being near her feels like a blessing," Rean added dreamily.
anwhile, Julian's focus was elsewhere.
Vykekard's voice echoed from his hip, perceptive and almost bemused.
"This room is filled with magical energy—but very few soul arts users."
Julian raised an eyebrow.
"How can you even sense sothing like that?"
"A strong soul stands out quite clearly," Vykekard replied.
"That boy down there has one stronger than yours."
His gaze fell directly toward Kaelen Nazara.
Julian's chest tightened as understanding hit him; Kaelen had already surpassed him in training—even before reincarnating as a swordsman.
Then, after the S.R.C of all years finished their introductions within the assembly.
The principal concluded the ceremony and dismissed all students, announcing that classes would begin the next day due to renovations in the educational blocks within the northern and eastern sectors.
Most students headed back to their dorms, while others went to the cafe to hang out or to the library to study.
Rean and Tylo walked alongside Julian as they exited the grand hall, where clusters of students eagerly introduced themselves to one another.
It was a quiet walk for the trio, but Tylo felt compelled to speak up due to a persistent itch in his mind.
"Do you even know what's going on around you?"
Tylo teased Julian with a playful grin as they navigated through the energetic crowd.
Julian blinked at him innocently.
"What do you an?"
"He's not even aware," Rean laughed. "For soone who's supposed to blend in—"
"Yeah. Even the girls passing by can't stop staring!"
Julian shrugged off their teasing with a faint smirk, saying nothing more as they continued toward their dorms.
…
Before reaching their dorms, a commotion erupted near the academy's courtyard.
Students gathered in a loose circle, eyes fixed on a tense confrontation.
"Watch where you're going, mutt!"
A group of three older students confronted over a scrawny first-year, his wolfish features and hunched posture betraying his helplessness.
"You've stained my shirt with your filthy alchemy potions!"
The half-breed shrank back, clearly too timid to defend himself. "I-I didn't touch—"
"Shut it! We know your kind," another bully sneered, shoving him hard.
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
-Second-years picking on a first-year!
-He's with Marcel Dorn. No wonder they're so ruthless.
Many students watched in uneasy silence, too intimidated to intervene. Even Rean and Tylo hesitated on the outskirts of the scene, looks of apprehension on their faces.
Julian's eyes narrowed as his stride was purposeful yet casual as he walked toward the bullies.
Without breaking his quiet pace, he brushed past them with an air of indifference.
WHOOSH!
A sudden blast of wind surged from nowhere, powerful and precise.
THUD!
Two of the bullies were knocked to the ground, flopping in surprise. The third staggered wildly, but managed to keep his feet.
"What the hell was that?" he shouted angrily, scanning for the source.
Their eyes landed on Julian—he was closest, moving away with unruffled composure.
"You think you're funny?" the standing bully yelled after him, fury in every syllable.
Julian turned slightly, eting their glares with a steady gaze before continuing to walk away.
He didn't need to say anything; his actions had spoken volus.
"You think you can just walk away?" A hand clamped down on Julian's shoulder, yanking him back.
"ss with us, and you're ssing with Marcel Dorn!"
Julian turned to face the furious bully, who was practically foaming at the mouth.
"If you want to fight—"
"I didn't do that," Julian interrupted calmly.
The bully froze, montarily thrown off.
"Don't lie to , you—"
"I did," ca a firm voice from behind, cutting through the tension like a blade.
All eyes turned to see Ezekiel, standing with an air of commanding authority.
The white cape of the student council draped elegantly over his shoulder.
"You...?" The bullies' voice wavered, recognition dawning slowly as the figure in front of them beca clear.
"Leave this area now," Ezekiel said coldly.
"Unless you want to be reported on the first day, suggest you guys go."
For a mont, it seed the bullies might challenge him.
But the presence of a student council mber was too much of a risk.
They shot venomous looks at Ezekiel and Julian before shoving their way through the crowd.
"Let's go," one muttered angrily. "This isn't over."
The scrawny first-year looked at Ezekiel with wide eyes, struggling to find words.
"Th-thank you," he stamred, relief flooding his features.
"Don't worry about it, you can go back to whatever you're doing now,"
As the boy nodded, he quickly ran off back into the dorms and the crowd dispersed rapidly, lting away like morning mist under the sun.
No one wanted to risk being associated with trouble on the first day, especially not with a student council mber present.
Their whispers faded into the distance, leaving only Julian, Ezekiel, and the dorm roommates.
Ten years had passed since they'd last stood face to face—Julian Uzziel and Ezekiel Ventus, once inseparable, now reunited under the sa academy ant to nurture all talents.
"…"
"…"
The silence between them felt both heavy and delicate, filled with all the histories and shared mories.
From Julian's perspective, Ezekiel appeared unchanged since the day he left the mansion, just a bit older, that was all.
Even though silence prevailed between the two, Rean and Tylo sensed that sothing was wrong, and it wasn't until one of them broke the silence that their suspicions were confird.
"You're still the troublemaker I know, huh?"
Ezekiel finally spoke, his voice deeper than Julian rembered, but still carrying the sa warmth that had characterized their childhood friendship.
Julian's lips quirked into a careful smirk, his posture deliberately casual as he shrugged.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, maintaining the pretense of unfamiliarity.
"You might have the wrong person. I don't even know who you are."
Ezekiel's laugh was short and knowing, you'd have to be blind not to know the student council mbers.
He stepped closer, his student council cape billowing slightly in the breeze, white fabric catching the golden light.
"If you aren't the person I know. Then why is the sa nto I gave you on the chain at the heart of your cape?"
Ezekiel nodded curtly, then glanced toward Julian with an unreadable expression.
Julian's hand instinctively rose to his chest, fingertips brushing against the golden-lined chain of his black cape.
There, nestled against the fabric, was a small, unassuming link that didn't match the rest—the chain Ezekiel had given him from a pendant long ago, repurposed and integrated into his current attire.
It was such a small detail, so easy to overlook, yet Ezekiel had spotted it imdiately alongside the ice hair pin Audrey had given Julian long ago.
Julian raised his hands in surrender with a wry smile on his lips.
"Fine, you caught ," he admitted with a theatrical sigh.
"I didn't think you'd notice sothing so small."
Ezekiel's face twisted into an expression of utter disgust, the formal deanor he'd displayed during the assembly completely vanishing.
"What kind of cornball do you have to be to hang things on your chain like that?"
He scoffed, flicking Julian's cape with disdain.
"These are supposed to be for your achievents and badges of honor, you idiot. Not sentintal keepsakes from your past."
"Says the one who gave it to in the first place," Julian retorted, his tone shifting instantly to match Ezekiel's.
"Besides, I've earned plenty of achievents! You just don't know it yet."
"Oh really? Na one thing you've achieved that doesn't involve running away from responsibilities."
"Huh? I saved your sorry ass more tis than I can count."
"That was ten years ago! And if I recall correctly, I was the one pulling you out of trouble every other day."
Their bickering continued without pause, each comnt more pointed than the last, yet underpinned by an obvious familiarity that couldn't be faked.
Gone was the composed student council mber, replaced by soone who looked ready to put Julian in a headlock at any mont.
Tylo and Rean watched the exchange with growing bewildernt, their eyes darting between Julian and Ezekiel as if witnessing so bizarre alternate reality.
This wasn't the sa almost intimidating figure they'd seen on stage just minutes ago. This was soone else entirely—soone who spoke to Julian as if they shared a lifeti of inside jokes and petty grudges.
"Wait," Rean finally dared to interject, his voice cracking slightly.
"Do you two... know each other?"
The question hung in the air, interrupting the flow of their argunt.
Ezekiel blinked, suddenly rembering where they were and who was watching.
His posture straightened almost imperceptibly, and that mask of formality slid back into place with practiced ease.
"Pardon my unseemly display," he said, his voice dropping back into the asured tones of a student council mber.
"Julian and I are... acquainted from childhood. We grew up together for a ti."
Pfft…
Julian snorted at the understated description, earning him a sharp look from Ezekiel.
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