The sun had already begun lowering behind the tall towers of Mythic Union Highschool. Most students had already left the training arena, still loudly discussing the unbelievable fight they had just witnessed. But one student walked toward the instructor building with the expression of a man heading to his execution.
Dominic Feyron.
He sighed deeply.
"…Why do teachers always call students to the office after something bad happens?"
He placed both hands behind his head as he walked.
"I swear I didn't even cheat that much."
Inside his soul, the sealed Cosmic Stone pulsed faintly.
Dominic immediately whispered inside his mind.
'Hey hey hey… behave.'
'We don't want to get exposed on day one.'
The stone remained quiet.
---
The instructor building was much quieter than the academy grounds.
Tall stone walls.
Large windows.
A long hallway filled with the faint scent of old books and ink.
Dominic stopped in front of a wooden door.
A small nameplate hung on it.
[Instructor Varel Draken]
Dominic knocked lightly.
'Knock' 'knock.'
A deep voice came from inside.
"Enter."
Dominic opened the door slowly.
The room was simple.
A desk.
Shelves filled with scrolls and books.
And behind the desk sat Varel Draken, staring at Dominic with sharp eyes.
Dominic raised a hand.
"Good afternoon, teacher."
Varel leaned back in his chair.
"…Sit."
Dominic sat down carefully.
The room became silent.
Very silent.
Uncomfortably silent.
Dominic coughed.
"So…"
"Nice weather today."
Varel didn't react.
Dominic sighed.
'This guy has no sense of humor.'
---
Finally Varel spoke.
"You awakened your stone yesterday."
"Yes."
"And it is a Grey Stone."
"Yes."
"And yet today you defeated Rex Titan."
Dominic nodded.
"Yes."
Another silence filled the room.
Varel's eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
Dominic thought for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"Talent?"
Varel's eyebrow twitched.
---
Suddenly the instructor stood up.
"Stand."
Dominic stood up immediately.
Varel walked around the desk slowly.
His presence felt heavy.
A true Stone Vanguard.
Far stronger than students.
"Extend your hand."
Dominic hesitated slightly.
"…Which one?"
"Your right."
Dominic slowly raised his right hand.
Varel placed two fingers on Dominic's wrist.
A faint energy flowed into Dominic's body.
It was a Stone resonance scan.
A method instructors used to verify a student's stone type.
Dominic felt nervous. He constantly repeated his monologue insiden his head;
'Please don't detect the cosmic stone.'
'Please don't detect the cosmic stone.'
Inside his soul—
The Cosmic Stone suddenly reacted.
A powerful cosmic energy tried to surge forward.
Dominic almost panicked.
'NO NO NO NO.'
He quickly forced the energy down.
The sealed stone trembled slightly… then calmed.
---
After a few seconds, Varel released Dominic's wrist.
His expression became slightly confused.
"…Strange."
Dominic forced a smile.
"Good strange?"
"Your stone energy is indeed Grey Stone."
Dominic almost collapsed in relief.
"See?"
"I told you."
"I'm just talented."
Varel stared at him again.
But this time his gaze was thoughtful rather than suspicious.
"Even so."
"Your reflexes are abnormal."
Dominic scratched his cheek.
"I used to play dodgeball a lot."
"…Dodgeball?"
"Very intense sport."
---
Varel returned to his chair.
"You will participate in special training starting tomorrow."
Dominic blinked.
"…What?"
"Students with potential receive additional training."
Dominic pointed at himself.
"You think I have potential?"
"Yes."
Dominic covered his face dramatically.
"Finally."
Varel hummed,
"hmmm?"
"Someone recognizes my greatness."
Varel ignored him.
"Training begins at dawn."
Dominic's smile disappeared.
"…Dawn?"
"Yes."
Dominic groaned loudly.
"Teacher please reconsider."
"Denied."
Dominic slumped in his chair.
"This academy is cruel."
---
Just as Dominic was about to leave—
Varel suddenly spoke again.
"There is something else."
Dominic turned around.
"Yes?"
The instructor's voice became serious.
"Be careful."
Dominic frowned.
"…About what?"
"Not all students here are what they seem."
Dominic blinked.
"Meaning?"
Varel's eyes darkened slightly.
"Recently… there have been rumors."
"Rumors of Devil Stone followers entering the academy."
Dominic's smile disappeared.
Devil Stone users.
Followers of the Supreme Devil Kingdom.
The most dangerous enemies of the Supreme Union Kingdom.
Dominic scratched his head.
"…So the academy has spies."
"Yes."
"And they might try to eliminate talented students."
Dominic pointed at himself.
"Teacher."
"Yes."
"I'm a Grey Stone user."
"No one is assassinating me."
Varel stared at him.
"…You defeated Rex Titan with one finger."
Dominic coughed.
"Ah."
"Right."
---
As Dominic left the office building, the sky had already turned dark.
The academy grounds were quiet now.
Soft wind moved through the trees.
Dominic stretched his arms.
"First day."
"Survived."
"Almost exposed my secret."
"Got extra training."
He sighed.
"This world is exhausting."
Inside his soul, the Cosmic Stone pulsed again.
Stronger this time.
Dominic looked at his hand.
Space around his fingers slightly bent.
"…Gravity powers are cool though."
He smiled.
"Maybe being a transmigrator isn't that bad."
---
Far away…
In a shadowy corner of the academy.
A student stood quietly watching Dominic.
His eyes glowed faintly red.
A deep crimson stone floated inside his palm.
Devil Stone.
The boy smiled coldly.
"…So this is the interesting one."
His voice was low.
"Dominic Feyron."
"I'll test you soon."
The crimson stone pulsed like a beating heart.
Dark energy spread into the night.
And somewhere deep inside the academy…
Something dangerous had already begun moving.
---