EPISODE 12

Mikage stepped out of the bathroom, rubbing a towel over his damp hair. He paused, seeing Akira still pressing the ice pack to his chin.

"That's strange… Shouldn't the pain have subsided by now?" he thought. "Wait—does he even know how to reinforce his skin with mana? Or dull pain? Or even strengthen his punches?"

He sighed and walked over. "How's the chin?"

Akira slowly turned his head, locking eyes with him. Then, with heavy sarcasm, he said, "Oh, I'm great. I just love holding ice packs to my face for fun!"

Mikage rolled his eyes, dropping the towel onto his bed. Without another word, he grabbed a pair of joggers, threw them on, and sat cross-legged in the middle of the room as if preparing to meditate. He gestured for Akira to join him.

Akira hesitated. "What's this about?"

"I'm going to teach you something that'll actually help you as a sorcerer."

"...Okkk?"

Mikage took the ice pack from Akira and pressed it firmly against his face again. "Relax and release your mana," he instructed.

Akira exhaled and did as he was told, though he shot Mikage a skeptical glance.

"Good. Now, I want you to merge your mana with your cells."

Akira frowned. "What?"

"Right now, you're just burning through mana like an idiot. If you use it to enhance your body instead, you'll conserve energy and get stronger. It usually takes days to master, but I have a feeling you'll pass my expectations." Mikage smirked. "Close your eyes. Find where your mana emits from, then fuse it with your cells."

Akira huffed but obeyed. He shut his eyes and focused inward.

Then, something shifted.

He was floating.

Weightless. Silent. The world around him had melted away, leaving only endless darkness.

"Where... am I?"

He tried moving, but there was no ground, no walls—nothing but a vast abyss. A strange familiarity settled over him, like the remnants of a dream long forgotten.

"Wait... How do I even know where my mana comes from? I don't think Mikage can hear me."

The void stretched on, silent and eternal. For a moment, he thought he would be trapped here forever.

Then, a light shone in the distance.

A black and crimson glow, swirling together like a burning star.

Akira narrowed his eyes and drifted toward it. His heartbeat quickened. The light reflected his image, and he smirked.

"Damn, I look good."

Then the reflection changed.

The smirk faded from his face. The figure staring back at him was no longer his own—it was someone else.

A man with long hair. Sharp, pointed ears.

Akira's breath hitched. "That's not me," he muttered.

The figure's eyes locked onto his.

Then it vanished.

The black and crimson light surged outward, spreading through the void like wildfire.Mikage had dozed off, arms folded, head tilted back against the wall. He cracked an eye open when he felt something shift.

Akira's fingers twitched.

Then he murmured, "I can feel my blood flowing better... I can hear the bats screeching outside... I can hear Mikage's heartbeat..."

Mikage sat up, eyes widening. "He's already this far?"

Akira's body radiated mana, his entire being pulsing with newfound energy. He slowly opened his eyes, dark light flickering within them.

"How long was I out?"

Mikage smirked. "Five hours."

Akira's jaw dropped. "FIVE HOURS?!"

Mikage stretched lazily. "Time flies when you're unlocking your potential."

Akira clenched his fists, testing the feeling. His body felt different—stronger, sharper. Yet, deep inside, something unsettled him.

That figure he saw in the light…

Why did it feel like it was still watching him?

Mikage stretched and leaned against the wall, watching Akira with a smirk.

"Alright, now I want you to jump."

Akira raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Just a light hop."

"...Why?"

Mikage's smirk widened. "I know why."

Akira sighed, rolling his eyes. "Fine." He bent his knees slightly and pushed off the ground.

The next moment, he shot up—his head nearly grazing the ceiling.

He landed with a light thud and blinked in shock. "Whoa! That was me?"

Mikage nodded. "Yup."

Akira flexed his fingers, feeling the energy coursing through his body. "I knew I felt stronger, but not to this extent."

Mikage shrugged. "Your physical strength and mana are linked. The stronger your body, the stronger your magic—and vice versa."

Akira grinned. "Cool. That makes sense."

Then a thought crossed his mind. "Actually, I have a question."

Mikage tilted his head. "What is it?"

Akira folded his arms. "How the hell have sorcerers kept all this magic a secret for so long?"

Mikage chuckled. "Oh, that's easy. We use a spell—one that originated from Merlin himself. It's called Phantom World, or Subspace. It creates a perfect replica of the real world, and anything that happens inside doesn't affect reality."

Akira's eyes widened slightly. "So, like a pocket dimension?"

"Exactly. Let me show you."

Mikage extended a hand and chanted:

"O veil between realms, part before me. Forge a world unseen—Phantom World!"

A faint ripple spread through the air like a heatwave.

Akira blinked and looked around. Everything seemed... the same. But there was something different—he could feel mana in the air, dense and ever-present.

"It all looks the same," Akira muttered. "But I can feel the energy shift."

Mikage nodded. "Only sorcerers can sense the change. We can also control who enters the subspace. Regular humans won't even notice a thing."

Before Akira could ask another question, Mikage turned to the curtains. "Here, let me show you how it works."

He flicked his fingers. The curtains ignited instantly, flames spreading like wildfire.

Akira's eyes bulged. "ARE YOU INSANE?!" He frantically waved his hands, trying to smother the fire.

Mikage leaned back, unimpressed. "Relax."

He snapped his fingers.

The subspace shattered like glass.

The room returned to normal—the flames were gone, the curtains untouched. It was as if nothing had happened.

Akira stared in disbelief. "...Wait. Is this what you used at the hospital?"

Mikage smirked. "Yup."

Akira let out a low whistle. "Damn. That's actually cool."

Mikage crossed his arms. "Told you." Mikage let out a long yawn, stretching his arms as he climbed onto his bed. "Welp, that's my cue to get some sleep," he mumbled, settling in. His breathing slowed, already halfway to dreamland.

Just as his eyes were closing, he muttered, "Oh... before I forget... Edward wants to meet you..."

Akira, who was still wide awake, frowned. "Who's Edward?"

Mikage's voice was barely a mumble now. "Dunno... he's my classmate..." And with that, he was out cold.

Akira stared at him for a moment, then sighed. "Well, he's gone." He glanced around the dimly lit room and shook his head. "How can he just fall asleep with the lights still on?"

Rolling his eyes, he got up and switched them off. As he turned back toward Mikage, he smirked. "Creep," he whispered, watching his friend sleep so peacefully.

Climbing into his own bed, he lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. His thoughts drifted back to what he saw during his trance—the long-haired, pointed-eared figure reflected in the light.

"Was that an elf?"

A strange sensation bubbled inside him. Does that mean I'm related to an elf?

His mind whirled, but after a few seconds, he groaned and shook his head. "Ahh, no point overthinking it..."

With a final sigh, he closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.

Meanwhile, in Seoul, South Korea, the sun began to rise over the horizon, its golden rays creeping through the gaps in the blinds of a lavish mansion. Inside, a woman with long black hair, glasses, and a sharp corporate outfit walked elegantly into a bedroom. Without hesitation, she strode to the windows and pulled the blinds open, letting sunlight flood the room.

The light revealed a spacious bed, where a shirtless man lay sprawled across the mattress. He groaned, shifting to bury his face in a pillow, shielding his eyes from the invading brightness.

"Sir, it's time to wake up," she announced in a calm yet firm tone.

The man barely moved, muttering something incoherent before pulling the covers over his head.

She sighed. "Sir, wake up."

Silence.

Her voice grew sharper. "Sir. Sir. Sir!"

Still no response.

Her eyebrow twitched in irritation. Is he seriously ignoring me?

Without hesitation, she climbed onto the bed—and kicked him off.

With a thud, the man hit the floor, groaning as he clutched his ribs. "Damn it, Cha Hae-In!" he grumbled.

She folded her arms, smirking down at him. "Are you awake now?"

He shot her a glare. "You think?"

Stepping off the bed with a satisfied smile, she straightened her blazer. "Good morning, Eun-Jae."

Still rubbing his ribs, Eun-Jae exhaled. "Yeah, yeah. Morning." Then he frowned. "And how many times have I told you to stop being so formal with me? We've been living together for four years—it's getting annoying."

Hae-In gave him a small, knowing smile. "Old habits die hard," she teased before bowing slightly. "But if you insist—I'm sorry, Eun-Jae."

Eun-Jae eyed her for a second, then sighed. "Whatever. Just tell me my schedule for today."

Surprisingly, Hae-In's smile widened. "Actually, you have nothing planned."

His eyes lit up. "Wait, seriously? That means I can—" He turned toward the bed, ready to collapse back onto it—

Only for Hae-In to grab his arm and yank him back. "Not so fast. What about your daily training?"

Eun-Jae groaned. "Ugh, that."

Despite his reluctance, they soon made their way to the gym. There, Eun-Jae went through his intense regimen—running on the treadmill, lifting weights, doing push-ups, and finally finishing with 500 one-arm pull-ups. Once done, he wiped the sweat from his brow as Hae-In handed him a towel.

"Splendid workout," she commented.

Eun-Jae took the towel, wiping his face. "I know." He sank onto a nearby couch, stretching his arms behind his head.

Hae-In cleared her throat. "We've received some news."

Eun-Jae lazily tilted his head toward her. "Well? Read it."

She glanced at her tablet. "Hakuren has started sponsoring a boy named Akira Seguru. Place of origin: Japan. No known family members with ties to magic. He only recently discovered his abilities—and he supposedly cheated death."

Eun-Jae exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Tch. Master Hakuren always has his reasons for doing what he does."

Just then, his phone vibrated. Checking the screen, his lips curled into an amused smirk. It was a message from Hakuren himself:

"Stop spying on me. It's weird."

Eun-Jae let out a small chuckle. "Figures he'd notice."

Back at Pendragon College, all the Year 12 and Year 13 students were gathered on the field. Akira glanced around, scanning the crowd. He turned to Mikage and asked, "Any idea why we're all here?"

Mikage shrugged. "Beats me, but it's probably something important."

As Akira continued looking around, his eyes met Yukiko's. He smiled and waved. Yukiko hesitated for a moment before waving back.

Trixie, standing beside Yukiko, noticed. "Who are you waving at, Kiko?" she asked before following Yukiko's gaze. Spotting Akira and Mikage, she grinned and called out, "Hey, Mikage! Hey, Akira!"

Before they could respond, Mr. Oliver arrived, accompanied by the homeroom teachers:

Mr. Simon (Year 12A)

Mrs. Shion (Year 12B)

Mr. Chad (Year 13A)

Mr. Luke (Year 13B)

Mr. Oliver cleared his throat. "I'm sure you're all wondering why you've been called here." He continued, "For a while now, we've been working on something important. We were finalizing it when a new student joined, so we had to make some last-minute adjustments."

The students exchanged curious glances.

"Starting today, we'll be pairing Year 12 students with Year 13 students. The idea is for the older students to provide guidance, just like the previous years before you."

Trixie leaned toward Yukiko. "I hope we're on the same team," she whispered.

Mr. Oliver began calling out names. "Edward Cloud, Leon Green, and Trixie Shaw—you are now a group. Go introduce yourselves."

Trixie sighed dramatically. "Guess not," she muttered, giving Yukiko a playful nudge before walking off to find her team.

Mr. Oliver continued, "Mikage Magata, Yukiko Hakuren, and Akira Seguru—you are now a team."

Akira blinked. "Wait, what?"

Mikage smirked. "Looks like we're stuck together."

As the remaining names were called, Mr. Oliver wrapped up.

"Take the rest of the day to get to know each other. That's all for now."

With that, the teachers left, leaving the students to their new teams.

Yukiko walked over to Mikage and Akira, her tone calm but firm. "I hope we can all work well together."

Mikage and Akira nodded in agreement. "Same here," Mikage said. "Actually, what if we meet up later today? We should see what each of us can do, figure out our weaknesses, and learn how to cover for one another."

Yukiko thought for a moment, then nodded. "That sounds fine to me." She turned to Akira, waiting for his response.

Akira, caught off guard, quickly straightened up. "Oh—yeah, I agree with that too."

"Great," Mikage said with a grin.

As the three continued talking, Akira remained silent, lost in thought. Do I really have anything to offer? He clenched his fist. I may be a good fighter, but what use is that against magic? I can barely control mine... And if we ever have to fight that thing—the one that almost killed me at the hospital—won't I just freeze up again?

His mind flashed back to that terrifying moment.

"Akira. Akira. Akira!"

Mikage's voice snapped him back to reality. Both Mikage and Yukiko were staring at him.

"You okay?" Mikage asked.

Akira forced a small smile. "Yeah, it's nothing."

Before Mikage could push further, a loud voice rang across the field.

"Yo, Fire Prince!"

Everyone turned to see where the voice came from. A student with a confident smirk strolled toward them—Edward Cloud.

"Damn, Fire Prince, you're always lucky." Edward stopped in front of Akira and Mikage, hands in his pockets. "Not only did you get a strong teammate, but she's a total hottie too. Meanwhile, look at my team—one's a total idiot, and the other... well, at least she's a baddie. Maybe I'll have some fun with her before she gets killed on a mission. And hey, if she dies, maybe I'll finally get some competent teammates."

Yukiko's expression turned ice-cold. "Sorry, but I believe my friend is on your team. Her name is Trixie."

Edward raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, so?"

Yukiko's eyes glowed an icy blue. "If you so much as breathe wrongly around her or let her die, we're going to have a problem."

Edward grinned, clearly amused. "Oh? And what exactly will happen?"

Yukiko's gaze sharpened. "Let's find out."

Akira tensed. Should I step in and de-escalate? He hesitated. But it feels like I'll just get caught in the crossfire...

Mikage sighed and stepped forward. "Edward, isn't that enough joking around for today?"

Akira sighed in relief. Good job, Mikage. Way to be the mature one.

Edward tilted his head. "Joking? Who said I was joking?" His gaze flickered back to Yukiko before turning toward Akira. "Anyway, you're the new shadow sorcerer I've been hearing about, right?"

Akira blinked and looked around. "Uh… me?"

Edward smirked. "Yes, you."

"Oh, yeah—that's me," Akira answered, unsure where this was going.

Before he could react, Edward suddenly vanished—then reappeared right in front of him, gripping his wrist.

Akira's heart skipped a beat. What the—?! How is he this fast?

Edward's smirk widened. "Man, I really wanna play with you."

Akira swallowed hard. Why did he phrase that so weirdly...?

Edward turned to Mikage. "Hey, mind if I borrow him for a bit?"

Akira's inner voice screamed. Mikage, say no! Say no, please!

Edward continued, "Just for a little while. I promise I'll bring him back in one piece."

Mikage sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine."

"NOOOOOOO!" Akira yelled.

Edward cheered. "Yay!" He effortlessly lifted Akira over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Mikage called out, "Have him back by seven."

Edward waved. "Okayyyy!"

Yukiko frowned. "I don't think Akira wanted to go with him."

Mikage chuckled. "I know. But Edward is also a shadow sorcerer, and he's the type to explain his powers while showing them off. Akira might actually learn something. Besides, I believe he's a genius."

Mikage muttered to himself as they watched Edward disappear with a struggling Akira.

"God, I hate that word."