Liora sat behind her desk, shoulders slightly slumped, eyes moving lazily across the towering pile of documents stacked before her. Reports. Requests. Warnings. Every sheet felt heavier than the last.
She sighed.
The sound echoed faintly through the quiet office as she rose from her chair and walked toward the wide window behind her desk. Pulling the curtain aside, she looked down at the academy grounds below. Students moved freely across the compound—laughing, training, resting. Today wasn't a class day, and yet…
Something felt off.
A ripple passed through the shadows behind her.
Without a sound, a figure emerged—dark fabric, pale skin, eyes sharp and calculating. Freda, the infirmary's overseer… and far more than that.
"Do you have anything new, Freda?" Liora asked calmly, not turning around.
"Yes," Freda replied. "Leo's presence was detected in the forest. Briefly."
Liora's fingers tightened against the window frame.
"But the source couldn't be located," Freda continued. "High-grade concealment magic was used. Extremely refined."
Liora closed her eyes for a moment, thoughts racing.
"Who in this school," she said slowly, "can use concealment at a level so high that even you can't bypass it?"
Freda hesitated. "Only two possibilities. Rich… or Leo himself."
Liora turned, leaning her back against the window as she faced Freda. "I know," she said quietly. "But you never know what Leo is thinking."
"I agree," Freda nodded. Then her expression darkened. "There's more. The rulers of the races are aware as well. A spy they planted within the school confirmed the disturbance."
Liora's eyes sharpened. "A spy…"
She paused. "Could it be a student?"
"The possibility exists," Freda admitted. "But it's unlikely."
"I thought the same," Liora said softly. "Even so… it seems the rulers are frightened of his return."
Freda let out a humorless breath. "Who wouldn't be? He defeated their predecessors—and died only because of betrayal. If this generation truly is weaker… what chance do they have?"
Liora's expression shifted. Something unreadable passed through her eyes.
"Betrayal, huh…" she murmured. "Are you certain that was the cause?"
Freda frowned. "What are you implying?"
"That day…" Liora said, voice lowering, guilt creeping in. "It didn't look that way to me."
Freda stiffened. "You were there?"
Liora looked away, silence stretching between them.
After a long moment, she exhaled and changed the subject.
"Which class do you think will win the test?"
Freda narrowed her eyes slightly, recognizing the deflection but letting it slide.
"The main fight will be the Crimsons against the Sovereignties," she said. "That's the only match that truly matters."
"Yes," Liora agreed. "That one exactly."
Freda hesitated. "Before I answer properly… may I ask you a question of my own?"
"As long as it stays within this conversation," Liora replied.
"What do you think of Kira?"
Liora blinked—then smiled.
"With that question," she said lightly, "I suppose you'll have to answer mine first."
Freda understood immediately. So he isn't ordinary.
Before she could respond, Liora spoke again.
"What made you ask?"
"I spoke to him on my way here," Freda answered.
"You're joking," Liora said, eyebrow raised. "Just because of that?"
"Not just that," Freda replied. "He discovered I was trailing him."
More like stalking, Liora thought.
"Wait," she said aloud. "He noticed you? Does that mean his sensory perception exceeds your concealment?"
"I couldn't tell," Freda admitted.
"I see," Liora said. "So now—your answer?"
"If we go by rankings and past achievements, the Sovereignties will win without question," Freda said. "But Rich approving this challenge is what complicates things."
"If he didn't care," Liora replied, "he wouldn't approve carelessly. And that still doesn't answer my question."
Freda sighed.
"Fine. My answer is…"
She whispered it.
Liora smiled faintly.
⸻
Later That Night
Raya slowly opened her eyes.
For a moment, she simply stared at the ceiling, unfamiliar patterns swimming into focus. Her body felt heavy—drained—but warm.
She heard a door open.
Frowning, she tried to sit up, but her strength failed her. Instead, she turned her head.
Kira stepped out of the bathroom, a towel draped over his head, water droplets trailing down his hair and shoulders. He wore only the lower half of a tracksuit, his toned frame relaxed, unguarded—clearly forgetting he wasn't alone.
They froze when their eyes met.
"What are you doing in my room?" Raya asked, cheeks heating instantly.
"My room?" Kira echoed.
She looked around—and realization hit.
"…What am I doing in your room?" she asked.
Kira turned toward the closet, pulling out a black round-neck shirt.
"A guy can enter the girls' dormitory if he has a reason," he said casually, slipping the shirt on. "But I couldn't exactly do that with you unconscious in my arms."
Raya's blush deepened.
"Why were you carrying me?" she asked.
"You collapsed in the forest," he replied. "So I brought you here. I mean—teleported."
She eyed him skeptically, fragments of memory flickering in her mind—but she chose not to press.
"Okay…" she said quietly. Then, without thinking, "You look more fit than I imagined."
Silence.
Her eyes widened. She yanked the bedsheet up to cover her face.
"…Thanks," Kira said after a pause. "I guess."
"That's not how you reply to a compliment," she muttered, peeking out.
"Sorry. Thank you," he corrected. "You don't look bad yourself."
Raya turned crimson.
"Thank you," she said softly, smiling.
"I'll be back," Kira said, turning to leave.
"Kira," Raya called. "Thank you."
He paused. "For what?"
"For not abandoning me."
He smiled. "We're friends, aren't we?"
"…Yeah."
"I should go," she said. "If word spreads that I was in your room…"
"Yeah," he nodded. "See you later."
She waved—and vanished through a portal.
Aqua's voice echoed beside him.
"It seems your vibe with girls is better than Chris's."
"What do you mean?" Kira asked.
"Nothing."
⸻
Raya appeared back in her room, sighing as she sat on her bed, trying to piece everything together.
That's when she noticed her clothes.
They'd been changed.
"…Did he—" she murmured.
"Yes, he did," Aqua said calmly, appearing beside her.
"You're joking!" Raya exclaimed.
"Of course," Aqua smiled. "It seems you managed to take control this time."
"Even so… I couldn't use it properly in combat," Raya said, voice trembling.
Aqua placed a gentle hand on her head, stroking her hair.
"You controlled yourself," she said softly. "That's a good start. Don't blame yourself—you weren't a combatant to begin with."
Tears welled in Raya's eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered. "You're the only one I can talk to about this."
Aqua smiled knowingly.
"I don't think so," she said. "He's still there, isn't he?"