The forest was quiet—too quiet.
Arthur stepped through the trees, every footfall crunching lightly on fallen leaves. His breathing was calm, but his heart thumped like a drum in his chest. He followed the winding dirt path that led to Kael's house, a route so familiar it should've comforted him.
But today, something felt… off.
When he reached the small wooden cottage tucked in the clearing, he paused. The front door creaked slightly in the breeze, half-open. No smoke from the chimney. No Kael leaning on the porch like usual.
Arthur knocked once.
Silence.
Then—
"KAEL?!"
No answer.
Arthur turned to leave—until something moved. Fast. A blur came crashing through the forest like a man fleeing a demon. Arthur stepped back, gripping the hilt of his practice blade.
It was Kael.
Soaked, scratched, wild-eyed—and clutching a damn telescope.
"Hold this," he said, breathless, shoving it into Arthur's arms before marching past. "I need a bath."
"Wait, what—?!"
Before Arthur could ask anything, Kael slammed the door shut behind him.
Arthur stood frozen with the telescope in hand. "What the hell just happened?"
Then came the footsteps.
A group of red-faced villagers stormed through the trees, the leader—a huge man with a walrus mustache—pointing directly at Arthur.
"There he is!" the man bellowed. "Caught in the act!"
Arthur blinked. "Huh?!"
One girl pointed. "He's holding it!"
"The pervert with the telescope!" another screamed.
Arthur looked down at the telescope… then back at the furious mob.
"Oh… no."
"W-WAIT!" Arthur stammered. "I can explain! I'm not—!"
Too late. They charged.
"I'VE BEEN FRAMED!" Arthur screamed, bolting into the woods.
Branches whipped across his face. He ducked, dodged, sprinted like a madman. "KAEL, I'LL KILL YOU FOR THIS!"
Back at the house, Kael peeked out the window, sipping tea. "He's got good cardio. That counts as warm-up."
—
Arthur returned hours later, filthy, panting, and furious.
"You set me up!" he shouted, pointing at Kael.
Kael didn't even blink. "And yet you survived. See? You're improving."
Arthur's eye twitched. "Improving?! I was nearly lynched!"
Kael stood, clapping his hands. "Enough whining. Time to train."
Just like that, the switch flipped.
Arthur straightened, blood still boiling, but heart now pounding for a different reason.
Kael's smirk vanished. His expression turned sharp. Cold.
"Blades are more than steel," he said. "They are spirits—living beings. 'Zeraphim.' Yours is still asleep. Pathetic."
Arthur clenched his fists. "Then I'll wake it up."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Then try. Sync your mana with your dragon. Now."
Arthur set the tiny ice dragon down. It yawned, curled up, and promptly fell asleep.
Arthur glared. "Lazy little—"
"Focus."
Arthur closed his eyes. He reached inside. Mana stirred. But nothing connected.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Again.
Still nothing.
Kael sighed. "Tsk. You disappoint me."
Arthur's eyes snapped open. "What?"
Kael turned. Slowly drew his blade.
"Impale… Yaiba."
BOOOOM.
A violent whirlwind exploded around him. Trees bent. Leaves shot into the sky. Kael's eyes narrowed into something Arthur had never seen before.
Killing intent.
"Wait—Kael, what are you doing—?!"
SLASH!
Arthur barely dodged. Wind exploded past him, tearing into the ground. A gash opened on his cheek. Blood dripped.
"Are you insane?!" Arthur shouted, heart hammering. "You're trying to kill me!"
Kael didn't answer.
He vanished.
"Tch—!"
Arthur ducked—too slow.
SWOOSH!
A deep gash tore across his shoulder. Pain flared white-hot. He fell to one knee.
Kael's voice echoed behind him. "If you can't awaken it now, you'll never survive the Sage Academy."
Arthur's body screamed at him to run.
But he couldn't move.
Kael's blade slammed into his gut.
BAM!
Arthur gasped. Pain surged through him like fire. His vision blurred. He collapsed.
Kael stood over him. "Pathetic."
And then—he grabbed Arthur by the collar and dragged him to the edge of the cliff.
"No… wait…"
Kael dropped him over.
Arthur plummeted.
—
Inside the Mindscape:
He awoke floating.
Beneath him—an endless mirror of water. Above—an infinite sky.
He stood. Alone.
"What… is this place?"
Then, a voice.
"Arthur."
His heart froze.
He turned—and a colossal ice dragon emerged from the mist. Its scales shimmered like diamonds, eyes glowing with ancient wisdom.
"You…" Arthur whispered. "You're the spirit of my blade."
The dragon's voice boomed. "You are weak."
Arthur trembled.
"I asked you once," the dragon said, "Why do you seek power?"
"To protect my friends," Arthur replied.
"Lies," the dragon hissed. "You have none."
"Felix is my friend!"
"Just one. And your family? They cast you aside."
Arthur flinched.
"But I found new ones," he said, lifting his head. "Liana. Luca. Mira. Even Kael… as twisted as he is. I'm not alone."
The dragon studied him.
"You do not fear Kael. You fear… being forgotten."
Arthur clenched his fists. "Then help me! I want to protect the ones I love!"
The water around him shimmered.
The dragon growled. "Then awaken me."
The sky split.
Mana surged.
The world cracked.
"You're running out of time," the dragon said. "Make the pact!"
Arthur reached forward.
The dragon's tail wrapped around his hand.
FLASH!
—
Back in the real world:
Kael stood at the edge of the cliff, sipping tea. "Guess he died."
Then—BOOOOOM!
The ground trembled.
A shockwave of cold ripped through the forest. Frost exploded outward, coating the trees. The river froze mid-flow. The air turned icy.
Kael's eyes widened.
From the depths of the cliff—a blue aura surged.
And then—
Arthur rose.
His body floated upward, surrounded by swirling snow and glowing mist. His eyes gleamed with power. His hair whipped in the storm around him.
A colossal, ghostly dragon coiled behind him.
The temperature dropped further. Ice crackled with every step Arthur took.
He landed with a BOOM, shattering the frost beneath his feet.
Kael smirked. "Now that's an entrance."
Arthur stepped forward, eyes locked on Kael.
"Where do you think you're going…" he muttered.
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"…Old perv."