Not far from the capital of the Azura Kingdom, a merchant carriage traveled along a quiet road.
Inside were a family of three, transporting goods—and a considerable amount of money—under the protection of two knights.
The road was calm.
Too calm.
"Stop right there!"
A group of bandits emerged from the trees, weapons drawn. Their leader stepped forward with a cruel grin.
The knights moved instantly to engage—
—but before they could react—
THWIP! THWIP!
Two magic arrows pierced their heads.
They fell lifeless to the ground. "Kill them. Take everything," the bandit leader ordered coldly. Inside the carriage, panic erupted.
"Please—wait—!"
Just as the bandits moved in—
SHHHK!
Five of them were instantly sliced into pieces.
"…What the hell?!" the leader shouted.
"Look! Up there!" another bandit yelled.
Floating in the sky was a figure cloaked in black, her hood shadowing her face. From her fingertips stretched thin, shimmering silver threads.
Yep… that's me,Akira… or at least, I used to be and right now I just conveniently stumbled upon some bandits harassing an innocent family
"It's just a kid! Attack her!" the bandit leader roared. The remaining bandits charged but they never reached her.
"Damn those are humans, am I really gonna just kill them?" The bandits casted multiple spells at her aimed to kill her but she managed to dodge them, barely.
Then in a single movement her threads moved threads moved. "Who am I kidding if I hesitate I'll die and I just can't leave the family to die" she said to herself as every last one of them was reduced to pieces.
Silence fell.
Below, the survivors in the carriage stared up at her—fear replacing their earlier panic.
"…Th-thank you…!" one of them finally said.
"Thank you so much!"
Akira said nothing.She simply waved and flew away.
As she soared through the sky toward her family's estate, exhaustion began to set in.
"…I'm so tired…" She exhaled slowly. "I think I'll take a break from dungeon raids… almost dying again isn't exactly fun."
She glanced at her fingers.
"At least I got something out of it… spider threads… venom… not bad though I'm still not happy that I had to kill actual people, Hayato would probably hate me if he found out, I need to learn how to handle such situations without killing and at the same time not letting them escape." she said as her estate became visible.
She slipped through her bedroom window and quietly changed out of her black combat outfit.Moments later, she collapsed onto her bed, staring at the ceiling.
"…I wonder…"
Her expression softened.
"…if Hayato was reincarnated too."
She turned her head slightly.
"If he was… he's probably somewhere out there… training like me or maybe he's just too far away, I wonder what kind of expression he'll make when he finds out I've become a girl hope he doesn't fall for me" she giggled slightly as she closed her eyes. "…Maybe we'll meet at the magic academy when I turn fourteen…"
Within seconds she fell was asleep. Then following Morning
"Lady Maki… Lady Maki, please wake up. It's morning." Maki groaned softly as she opened her eyes. "…I'm up… okay…" She rubbed her eyes lazily.
Right…
My new name is Maki Eldridge…
And this beautiful woman here… is my maid, Clara.
"You really should start waking up on your own, Lady Maki," Clara said gently.
"Why should I," Maki replied with a teasing smile, "when I have my dear Clara to do it for me?"
Clara's face flushed red. "P-please hurry. Breakfast is ready."
"Yeah, yeah—I hear ya," Maki said as she stretched.
"…And try to speak like a proper young lady," Clara added.
Maki stood in front of the mirror as Clara helped her change "Blue eyes, silver hair delicate face but not delicate girl damn I'm beautiful" she while facing the mirror making a confident smirk, one a noble girl shouldn't be making.
"Please can you smile like a normal girl, sometimes your father wonders where this behavior comes from" Clara added.
"I'll try" Maki said
After getting dressed, Maki made her way downstairs, greeting every maid she passed. Her cheerful energy brightened each of their faces.In the dining hall, her family was already seated.
"Morning, everybody!"
"Good morning, Maki. Overslept again?" her father said with a chuckle.
"…Haha… yeah…" she replied, scratching the back of her head.
"Good morning, dear," her mother said warmly.
"Morning," Maki smiled.
"You seem quite lively for someone who just woke up," said Klein, the third-born.
"Come on, Klein, you know that's just how she is," Maria, the second-born, added.
"Now, now—you'll make her uncomfortable," said Theo, the eldest. "Sorry about them, Maki."
"No, it's fine," she said softly. "They don't mean any harm."
This is my new family…
And honestly… we're closer than most noble families.
Dad is insanely strong—I sometimes watch his sword training. I practice water magic openly… but that's not all I can do. At night… I hunt monsters but not every night. I get lazy sometimes.
Her eyes darkened slightly.
My unique skill—"Devourer's Blessing" lets me gain abilities from anything I eat. Especially monsters. Yesterday was the first time went dungeon raiding, I fought a stealth chameleon, Tempest Raven and colossal spider and I almost died.
But I survived.
And I gained their power, I can even fly. But to everyone else… I only show water magic and basic sword skills.
Far away, within the capital of the Azura Kingdom Hayato opened his eyes.
"…Morning already…"
He got out of bed and began preparing for the day, sweeping, cleaning, organizing shelves filled with potions, artifacts, and weapons.
"I still can't believe it's been 9 years since I got reincarnated" he muttered.
"I'm really in a fantasy world…"
My name now is… Keith Nova and my family runs a weapon and alchemy shop.
"It sounded simple at first…" he said quietly.
"But where do I even begin looking for Akira…?" He paused. "It's been on my mind all these years, the regret I have for neglecting Akira till his last breath and not fixing my mistake and the fear that he might hate me when we meet again. All i can do is hope that he's within this kingdom"
"Keith, my boy—you're up early again," his father said, entering the shop.
"And you've already organized everything," his mother added. "Good job."
"Might as well open up early today," his father said.
My dad uses earth and a bit of fire magic while my mom uses wind and lightning. As for me…?
All of them.
It's extremely rare to have more than two or three attributes…
Even top mages struggle to wield at least three attributes but I discovered something, when I was training out in the woods one time I met a pixie that was about to to be killed by an inferno orc. When I saved it it blessed my mana core.
Flashback
"Thank you so much for rescuing me, my parents would have been devastated since I left without telling them" said the pixie bowing expressing her gratitude.
"It's no problem you're welcome" Keith replied honestly with a gentle smile.
The pixie had fair skin with short green hair and yellow eyes wearing a dress that falls slightly below the knees
"To show my thanks I'll break the human limiters holding your remaining Three attributes earth, fire and lightning". Said the pixie stretching her out hand.
"Really?" Keith said fascinated.
"Yes but be careful a human your age isn't normally supposed to have more than one attribute so don't disclose it to avoid unwanted attention" said the pixie.
"Understood thanks" Keith said as he felt something in him awaken.
"I must leave now thanks for again" Said the pixie preparing to disappear.
"Wait! May I know your name?" Keith asked quickly.
"My name is hoshina" she said as she disappeared fading into the light.
End of flashback
I've already mastered wind and fire…
But earth and especially lightning still need work. Every night, I meditate to increase my mana. I'll need a lot of mana to be able to handle four attributes. Every day, I train.
Because somewhere out there…
Akira is doing the same.
The next morning, after finishing preparations, Keith turned to his parents.
"Mom… Dad… can I attend the Azura Academy when I turn fourteen?"
They both froze.
"…Are you serious?" his mother asked.
"Where is this coming from?" his father added.
Keith clenched his fists.
"I want to become a great mage… someone you can be proud of." he took a breath. "And… I want us to grow this shop. Become successful."
His mother knelt beside him, gently placing a hand on his head.
"My son… that academy is mostly for nobles and royalty." she said calmly. "Very few commoners are accepted… and even fewer graduate."
She's right…I don't belong there…
But still…
"I promise I'll graduate," he said, his voice trembling. "Please."
His father sighed.
"You may have four attributes… but mastering them won't be easy."
"I'll train harder than anyone!" Keith said desperately. "I swear!"
There's a chance…Akira might be there…
His parents exchanged a glance.
"…Alright," his father said. "We'll support you."
"But you must keep your promise." His mother smiled softly. "That gives us seven years to prepare… make us proud."
"I will!" Keith said firmly.
From that day on he trained relentlessly, Swordsmanship fire and earth with his father and Lightning control with his mother. Magic, meditation, and even monster hunting.
And far away
Maki did the same, Training, Fighting,
growing stronger with every battle. Two lives, two paths, one shared past. At the age of ten, Both looked toward the same sky.
"...Hayato…" Maki whispered, her fingers curling slightly as the wind brushed past her silver hair, carrying the scent of distant flowers and wild grass.
Far away—
"...Akira…" Keith murmured, his voice barely audible against the bustling noise of the capital streets.
"I'll find you…"
"...no matter what."
The wind shifted.
For a brief moment—
Maki paused.
"…?"
She turned her head slightly, her silver hair swaying like moonlight on water.
"…That feeling again…"
It was faint.
Almost nonexistent.
Like a thread brushing against her senses, there and gone in an instant.
"…What was that?"
At that exact moment—
Keith stopped mid-step while carrying a crate of potions, his foot hovering in the air.
"…Huh?"
He frowned, his brow furrowing deeply.
"…Why do I feel like… someone just called me?"
He looked around, his eyes scanning the busy street.
Nothing.
Just the quiet capital road, with merchants hawking their wares and children playing in the distance.
"…Must be my imagination…"
But his chest tightened slightly.
"…No… that felt real…"
Back in the forest—
Maki stared into the distance, her blue eyes fixed on the horizon where the sky met the endless treeline.
"…That direction…"
Her eyes narrowed, a flicker of recognition passing through them.
"…Why do I feel like something important is there?"
She shook her head, trying to dismiss the feeling.
"…I'm overthinking it."
But her fingers subconsciously moved—
Silver threads flickered faintly between them, glistening like morning dew in the fading light.
Then vanished.
That night—
Maki sat by her window, her legs pulled up to her chest as she stared at the moon. It hung full and bright in the sky, casting silver light across her room.
"…The code…"
Her expression darkened slightly.
"…I never got to finish it."
She clenched her fist, her knuckles whitening.
"…Idiot… why did I even bring that up…"
A pause.
Then a small, sad smile crossed her lips.
"…If we meet again… how are we even supposed to recognize each other?"
Silence filled the room, heavy and suffocating.
"…No…"
Her eyes sharpened, a fire igniting within them.
"…I'll figure it out."
Far away—
Keith lay in bed, staring at the ceiling of his small room. Moonlight streamed through the window, painting pale shadows across the walls.
"…The code…"
His breath hitched slightly.
"…He never finished it…"
He turned his head, his eyes fixed on the window.
"…So even if we meet…"
"…we might walk right past each other…"
A quiet laugh escaped him, hollow and bitter.
"…That would be just like us…"
But his eyes slowly hardened, the humor fading.
"…No."
"I'll recognize him."
"No matter what."
That night—
They both dreamed.
Maki stood in darkness.
An endless void stretched before her, filled with an oppressive silence that pressed against her ears.
"…Where am I?"
A faint figure stood ahead.
Blurry.
Unclear.
Like a painting left out in the rain.
"…Hey…"
She stepped forward, her feet making no sound against the invisible ground.
"…Wait…"
The figure turned—
Just slightly.
"…Ha—"
Her eyes widened—
She woke up.
"…!"
Her breath was uneven, her heart pounding against her ribs.
"…That dream again…"
She placed a hand over her chest, feeling the rapid thrum beneath her palm.
"…Why does it feel so real…?"
At the same time—
Keith shot up from his bed, gasping.
"…Akira…?"
Silence.
Only the sound of his breathing, loud in the quiet room.
"…I saw him…"
He clenched his blanket, his knuckles white.
"…No… I felt him…"
Days passed.
Training continued.
But something changed.
Maki stood in the courtyard of her family estate, practicing water magic. A perfect sphere of water floated above her palm, shimmering like liquid crystal in the morning light.
Then—
It wavered.
"…?"
Her focus broke.
The water collapsed, splashing onto the ground.
"…That direction again…"
She looked toward the horizon, her eyes tracing the distant mountains.
"…Why does it feel like…"
"…something is calling me there?"
A pause.
Then she smiled faintly, a spark of hope in her eyes.
"…Maybe the academy…"
Meanwhile—
Keith sat cross-legged in a secluded clearing in the forest, meditating. Mana flowed around him steadily, a gentle current of energy that swirled through the air.
Then suddenly—
It surged.
"…!"
His eyes snapped open, a shock of electricity running through his veins.
"…That's new…"
His heartbeat quickened, pounding in his ears.
"…It's like…"
"…something reacted to me…"
He slowly stood, his muscles tense and alert.
"…Azura Academy…"
"…I'm definitely going."
Seven years later.
The world had changed.
And so had they.
Maki Eldridge
The wind howled across the battlefield.
A massive beast roared—a high-ranking monster, easily capable of wiping out entire squads of experienced adventurers. Its scales gleamed like obsidian, and its eyes burned with ancient fury.
It lunged.
Fast.
Deadly.
"…Too slow."
Maki vanished.
She reappeared mid-air, her silver hair flowing behind her like a banner of war. Her blue eyes were cold, calculating—a stark contrast to the warmth they usually held.
Her fingers moved.
Threads spread across the sky like a spider's web, glistening with deadly intent.
"Try this."
The monster roared—
Then stopped.
Its body froze mid-motion, muscles locked in place.
"…?"
A single drop of blood fell from its neck.
Then—
SHHHHHK!
It split apart instantly, falling to the ground in a rain of gore and scales.
Maki landed gracefully, her boots touching the earth without a sound.
"…Still messy…"
She sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"…I really need to work on cleaner finishes…"
She glanced at her hands, flexing her fingers.
"…And less killing…"
A pause.
"…Still can't fully control that part…"
She turned toward the horizon, her eyes fixed on the distant shape of the capital.
"…It's time."
Keith Nova
Lightning cracked through the air.
A tree split clean in half, its trunk charred and smoking.
"…Too much output…"
Keith exhaled slowly, his breath misting in the cool air.
"…I need better control…"
His hands trembled slightly from mana strain, small sparks dancing between his fingers.
"…But I'm getting closer…"
Behind him, his father crossed his arms, a proud smile on his weathered face.
"You've improved."
"…Still not enough," Keith replied, his jaw set with determination.
His mother smiled softly, her eyes glistening.
"You're ready."
He froze.
"…For the academy?"
His father nodded, stepping forward.
"You've surpassed what we can teach you."
"…Now it's time to grow on your own."
Keith looked toward the capital, his heart racing.
"…Akira…"
"…If you're out there…"
"…this is where our paths will cross."
Departure Day
Carriages lined the roads.
Students from all over the kingdom gathered at the gates of Azura Academy, their families bidding them tearful farewells.
Nobles in fine silks.
Commoners in simple wool.
Prodigies.
Dreamers.
All brought together by the promise of magic and knowledge.
Maki stepped out of her family carriage, her silver hair catching the morning light. Her dress was elegant, composed—a perfect noble lady's attire.
On the outside.
"…So this is Azura Academy…"
Her eyes scanned the crowd, taking in the sea of faces.
"…A lot of strong people…"
A small grin formed, a spark of excitement in her eyes.
"…This might actually be fun."
Elsewhere—
Keith stood at the entrance gate, carrying a simple bag. His clothes were practical, unadorned—a stark contrast to the nobles around him.
"…This place is huge…"
Students brushed past him, some glancing at him with curiosity, others ignoring him entirely.
"…Most of them are nobles…"
He clenched his fist slightly, a familiar bitterness rising.
"…Doesn't matter."
"I didn't come here to fit in."
A gust of wind passed through the academy grounds.
Maki turned slightly.
"…?"
At that exact moment—
Keith stepped forward through the gate.
"…?"
They paused.
For a split second—
Their eyes almost met.
Then—
A group of students walked between them, laughing and chattering.
The moment passed.
Maki frowned slightly.
"…That feeling again…"
She looked back, her eyes scanning the crowd—
But saw nothing.
"…Weird…"
Keith rubbed the back of his neck, a strange unease settling in his chest.
"…Why do I feel like I just missed something important…?"
He turned—
But she was already gone.
"…Guess I'm just nervous…"
Two souls.
Standing in the same place.
Bound by a past neither can forget.
Separated by fate—
For now.
"…I'll find you…"
"…no matter what."