Ren walked beside Luxy as they exited the classroom, her translucent figure shimring faintly like morning mist. She floated along effortlessly, tilting her head with that mischievous smile of hers that she always had as if she was soone superior to all these inferior humans.
"So," Luxy began, "you still thinking about what iling told you? What are you going to do with her warning?"
Ren shoved his hands into his pockets. "Yeah. If she’s that scared about , then it only ans one thing—where there’s power, there’s danger. Always, but with how much she cares about my safety she defiently loves ." He let out a small sigh. "Compared to all the other walking disasters in skirts, iling’s actually... safe,so she is the best choice for now."
"Safe?" Luxy raised an eyebrow.
"Look at her." Ren shrugged. "She puts up this tough exterior, but underneath? She’s a softie. Way better than so of the others." He gave a sharp laugh. "Take Mada Gonzalous for example. The mont I laid eyes on her, I knew she was a trickster. That woman? She’ll eat a guy alive. iling at least looks like she’d help pick up the pieces afterward."
Luxy tapped her lips, pretending to think. "Mhm. Maybe. But maybe what you really need is a little sacrifice from to help you with this" Her tone dipped into sothing sly. "Who knows what kind of special power it would give you? Beside...I can’t go back to heaven anyway without you defeating my mothere goddess."
Ren groaned, looking away. "I know it’d be sothing useful. But no." He shook his head firmly. "The last thing I need is explaining to Misa who you are. She wouldn’t believe a word I said. Hell, she wouldn’t even listen. We wouldn’t be able to talk like this if you beco visible to to others."
Luxy laughed, twirling around him once before fading slightly. "Then you better figure it out the hard way."
Ren kept walking until the large double doors to the academy gym ca into view. This was where his first official session after awakening was supposed to take place. He pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The gym was buzzing with energy. Students were already training—sparks of fla shooting across the room, chunks of stone rising from the ground, gusts of wind whipping through the air. The sound of fists colliding with reinforced dummies echoed alongside sharp shouts.
Ren lingered in a corner, leaning against the wall as his eyes scanned the chaos. He was waiting for iling, but sothing else caught his attention.
A group of people began walking toward him. Their features were distinct—dark hair, sharp eyes, deliberate movents. Sothing about them scread "Oriental."
Ren straightened. Trouble. He could already feel it just from the way they carried themselves.
The group of girls in the front, however, greeted him with bright smiles.
"Hi there!" one of them waved. "You must be Ren, right?"
Ren blinked. "Uh... yeah?"
Another girl stepped closer. "Nice to et you! We’re part of the Black Moondrop Guild."
One by one, they introduced themselves—Ayane, Satsuki, Haruka, and more nas that rolled off their tongues with practiced friendliness. Ren kept his guard up, though.
Finally, he raised an eyebrow. "Wait. Can you even call yourselves that without the guild’s permission?"
The tallest girl giggled. "Of course we can. We have full permission."
Before Ren could press further, the crowd parted slightly. A man stepped forward, taller than Ren and far more fit. His presence was calm, yet it sent a chill down Ren’s spine.
He had a pleasant smile, almost too pleasant, and when his eyes t Ren’s, Ren instantly knew—this one’s different.
The man extended a hand. "Daichi Asashi. Son of the Black Moondrop Guild leader. Nice to et you."
Ren hesitated for a mont before shaking his hand. "Ren Arakawa."
Daichi’s eyes flickered with interest. "Arakawa? That’s a na I haven’t heard here before." He tilted his head slightly. "Tell , Ren, about your family. I’m interested in soone like you and how you ca to be here."
Ren scratched the back of his head. "Not that interesting of a story, really. My family moved here back in the 80s. Said sothing about resources. At least, that’s what I’ve heard." His tone turned flat. "But I don’t live with them anymore. I lost them in an accident."
Daichi’s smile softened. "I’m sorry to hear that."
Sothing about the way he said it made Ren grit his teeth. It sounded too rehearsed. Too perfect.
"Don’t mind asking brother," Daichi clasped his hands behind his back. "Tell instead about your ability. What kind of power have you awakened with?"
Ren gave a small shrug. "Still figuring that out."
"That’s fine." Daichi’s voice was warm, almost brotherly. "The value of a man doesn’t lie in his ability. What matters is whether he carries the blood of an awakener. And if you do..." He leaned slightly forward. "...you’ll soon understand what it ans."
The girls around him smiled in unison, as if echoing his sentint.
Daichi straightened again. "The Black Moondrop would welco you with open arms. Consider joining us."
Ren’s eyes narrowed, but he forced a polite nod. "I’ll... think about it."
Daichi smiled again, seemingly satisfied.
Then, his gaze shifted to the sound of gym door opening.
iling had just walked into the gym.
Ren nearly choked on his breath. Usually, she ignored everyone around her, especially people like Daichi and Ren. But this ti, she walked straight toward them.
Her sharp eyes locked onto Ren. "Ren. Co practice with . Maybe I can help you figure out what your power really is, just like you wanted to."
Ren froze. What the hell? He hadn’t expected her to just... invite him like that.
Daichi, on the other hand, showed no visible reaction. He gave a courteous smile. "Of course. There’s no one better than one of the Lan family prodigies to guide him. I want nothing but the best for another brother."
The atmosphere thickened. Ren felt it pressing down on him like a storm front. iling’s expression didn’t change, but Daichi’s smile was hiding sothing.
Ren exhaled slowly. iling cos first. No question.
"Alright," he muttered, standing up. "Let’s go."
He followed iling across the gym floor. Behind him, Daichi stood perfectly still, his smile never wavering.
But the mont Ren was gone, his expression cracked. The pleasant mask slipped away, replaced by sothing darker.
His lips curled into a faint snarl. "He needs to go," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and sinister. Then, without another word, he turned and walked back into the crowd of his guildmates, vanishing among them.
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