The 10th Position

[Alicia's POV]

Lately, I hardly ever see Aray except at home.

Is it because I'm busy, or is he the one with too much on his plate?

No, that can't be it. Someone like him wouldn't be overwhelmed by work.

I know my brother Aray well enough. He despises anything that inconveniences him, and being busy? That's just the height of inconvenience.

"Alicia!"

What's up with him these days?

"Alicia!!"

Even at home, we barely talk.

"Alicia!!!"

I jumped in my seat, startled by Mrs. Andara's sharp voice near my ear.

The entire class burst into laughter.

No wonder I kept hearing muffled sounds in the background—I must've been daydreaming.

"Are you spacing out? That's unusual for you. What's on your mind?"

"Nothing, ma'am!" I answered, awkwardly moving my hands in some strange gesture.

"Really? You look suspicious." Mrs. Andara squinted her eyes in disbelief.

"Seriously, nothing!" I smiled, trying to ease her suspicion.

"Hm... alright. Open page 56 on the ability transformation section and read it aloud."

"Yes, ma'am."

After reading the assigned passage, the bell rang, signaling the end of school.

As soon as Mrs. Andara left the room, the students started fanning themselves with the brochures they had gotten earlier this morning near the station.

"It's so hot! If this keeps up, I might just melt," Vania, who sat next to me, exclaimed dramatically.

"You're right..." I joined in, folding my brochure and fanning myself, too.

Some students couldn't stand the heat and began to leave the classroom, desperate for fresh air. But it didn't take long before they returned, eyes wide with disbelief, carrying shocking news.

"Hey! Guess what? There's a new swimming pool in the schoolyard!" someone yelled excitedly, clearly enjoying their newfound importance.

"No way. That's got to be a joke," a gloomy boy muttered, crossing his legs atop his desk.

"I'm serious! Look out the window if you don't believe me!"

The students sitting by the windows immediately pressed their faces to the glass, eager to verify the claim.

"You've got to be kidding!" Their eyes sparkled with excitement.

In a heartbeat, the entire class rushed out the door, eager to witness the miraculous swimming pool for themselves.

"Alicia, let's go too!" Vania tugged at my arm.

Though curious, I hesitated. I wasn't as excited as the others, so I decided to walk leisurely. But as I made my way through the hallway near the exit, someone's voice called out to me,

"Yo!"

There was something mysterious about him, a presence that always seemed to lurk in the shadows. 

It was Devdan, the student council president. A figure to be cautious of.

"Aren't you Aray's sister?"

"Yeah, that's right. Do you need something from me?"

He seemed to be wandering the school alone, casually.

"Not really. I just wanted to see you up close. People always say you two look alike. But for some reason, I don't see it."

"What do you mean? We're obviously similar."

"Hmm..." Devdan smiled cryptically. "Your personalities are completely opposite. And in terms of ability, Aray is far stronger than you."

"What makes you say that? My brother can't even fight."

Devdan flinched ever so slightly, a surprised look flashing across his face.

"How strange..." he muttered, frowning.

"Strange?" I asked, confused.

After a brief pause, Devdan's lips curled into a small laugh. "So that's how it is, huh?"

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing. Forget I said anything. By the way, it looks like something exciting is going to happen today."

As if on cue with his words, a flurry of snowflakes began to fall, covering the school in a surreal, wintery haze.

I stood speechless at the window, bewildered by the sudden change in weather.

"Haha... I didn't know snow could fall in the middle of summer," he said with a glance toward the window. "I can't stay here long. I better get back to the student council room before it gets any colder."

"Alright... I'm going to check out the new pool," I said, bowing slightly as I walked past him.

But as we brushed past each other, time seemed to stop.

In that frozen moment, Devdan whispered in my ear, "You don't know your brother at all... nor do you know yourself." Then, like a ghost, he vanished, leaving his words to echo endlessly in my mind.

I don't know my brother?

Or even myself?

How strange...

---

[Aray's POV]

"It was an unbearably hot day when suddenly, a swimming pool appeared in the schoolyard. 

As students joyfully splashed in the cool water, a freezing snowfall began to blanket everything, causing the pool and the students in it to freeze solid."

I chuckled inwardly after reading aloud such a thrilling summer tale.

This power of mine—imagination—is truly remarkable.

Speaking of powers, there's another side to mine, one far more fascinating: the ability to turn expectations into reality.

In simple terms, I can alter the present to match someone's deepest hopes and dreams.

Imagine this: you fall in love with someone and desperately wish for that love to be returned. But in reality, it's unrequited, leaving your heart in pieces. With my power, though, your longing becomes reality—your beloved will fall for you in return.

Or say you buy a lottery ticket, hoping against all odds that you'll win. Reality, however, has other plans, and you don't even come close. But with my gift, your dream becomes fact—you win the lottery and claim your prize.

In essence, as long as I know what someone hopes for and what the current reality is, I can bend the world to my will.

This works the same as my other ability: turning imagination into something tangible, something that can be seen, touched, and experienced by all.

The process is simple—once I understand how something is formed, I can create it. Nothing is impossible when you know the steps.

I often use this power on someone I shouldn't, yet I can't seem to stop myself.

---

Today, Principal Daiva Hira of Macht Ist Alles received a royal summons to the kingdom's palace.

Though her domain was vast and often referred to as a country, in truth, it was a kingdom ruled by the powerful King Avanindra, whose authority was absolute.

Daiva had a sense of why the king had called for her. Prepared for whatever awaited, she set off for the palace in her car.

Upon arriving at the grand gates, she was greeted by the king's loyal servants. "Welcome, Lady Daiva. King Avanindra has been expecting you."

Without waiting for a response, the servant led her through the palace's gilded corridors to the grand hall where the meeting would take place.

The palace itself was a marvel of opulence. With its 978 rooms, it was the largest royal estate across the four regions. The interiors shimmered with gold from every corner, and every detail spoke of wealth and power.

As Daiva walked down the long, wide hall, she couldn't help but admire the collection of royal portraits lining the walls. This corridor, measuring 47 meters in length, had been specifically designed to showcase the kingdom's most treasured paintings, which were rotated according to the king's whims.

Once she reached the stairs that connected the entrance to the heart of the palace, she encountered dozens of portraits. These were not just paintings—they were majestic representations of King Avanindra's royal lineage, framed in gold, hanging regally at the top of the staircase.

Avanindra was a figure revered and feared by all. He had ascended to the throne after outwitting his elder brother in the ruthless struggle for succession. With a sharp mind and silver tongue, he had earned his place as crown prince, ultimately seizing the throne. He was also a mage of extraordinary power, having bested even the kingdom's mightiest magic knights in his youth with little more than raw magical prowess.

As Daiva reached the grand hall, she realized she was the last to arrive. Before the throne, the other school principals were already kneeling.

"Just my luck..." she muttered under her breath.

Daiva quickly fell to her knees, bowing before King Avanindra, joining the ranks of her peers.

King Avanindra, with his imposing presence, sat on his crimson throne, exuding an aura that shook anyone who stood before him. His rule over the kingdom was undisputed, his rise to power both legendary and terrifying.

"Now that the final guest has arrived, we can begin," Avanindra's voice boomed, reverberating through the vaulted ceiling.

The sheer weight of his words made the principals swallow nervously. They dared not speak until the king commanded it.

"Report what you've gathered!" the king ordered.

One by one, the principals began to relay their findings, each outlining the progress of assembling the teams of ten brilliant students from their respective schools, ranking them according to strength.

Daiva was called upon last, a consequence of her tardiness. But her recent encounter with Aray weighed heavily on her mind, leaving her momentarily speechless until the king's sharp voice broke through her thoughts.

"Daiva, it's your turn."

Jolted by the king's direct address, Daiva snapped out of her daze.

"Have you found your candidate for the tenth position?" King Avanindra asked.

Thoughts swirled in her mind. She had already identified her candidate. Yet the mere thought of Aray's unfathomable power made her shudder even now.

The other principals exchanged smug glances, their amusement barely contained as they watched Daiva struggle. But beneath the pressure and judgment of her peers, Daiva made her decision. She would recruit Aray, no matter the cost, even if she had to beg him herself.

Lifting her head to meet the king's gaze, Daiva's voice rang clear and steady. "No. I've found the perfect candidate for the tenth position, and I'm confident he will rise to be the first among his peers."

King Avanindra smiled.