The familiar surroundings flooded Ajal’s senses, triggering a wave of nostalgia that both comforted and unsettled him. Everything was exactly as he remembered.
In the far corner of the room was the same shoddily made bed, the sheets wrinkled and half-hanging off the side as if it hadn’t been touched in weeks. A battered bookshelf leaned precariously against the wall, its shelves packed with worn-out books whose spines were cracked and faded from years of use. A small, boxy TV sat on a rickety wooden stand near the edge of the room, its screen coated in a thin layer of dust. The only light came from the glowing crystals embedded in the walls, their soft illumination giving the room an almost dreamlike quality.
“Still the same old dump,” Ajal muttered under his breath, though there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“Hey, it’s called ‘rustic charm,’” a familiar voice chimed in.
"Why are you acting like it's been forever?" Ophelia chimed in. "It's been a week at best."
Kaito laughed and waved off Ophelia’s comment. “Still haven’t gotten rid of that sass, huh?” he said with a good-natured grin as he strode over to Ajal. Without warning, he slapped Ajal on the back—repeatedly and with far too much force, causing Ajal to stumble forward with a wince.
“I watched you get your ass handed to you during the entrance exam,” Kaito said between bursts of laughter. “Man, it was a riot!”
Rubbing his back, Ajal chuckled softly. “Yeah, well… it was harder than I thought,” he admitted.
Kaito’s sharp eyes shifted to Cassian and Molly, sizing them up instantly.
Cassian hesitated, nervously raising a hand for a polite wave, but before he could say anything, Kaito had already appeared behind him, peering over his shoulder.
“You’re the gravity kid with the two-tone eyes,” Kaito said, his voice loud and uncomfortably close to Cassian’s ear.
Cassian stiffened, his shoulders rising defensively. “Uh… yeah, that’s me…”
Before he could stammer out more, Molly forcefully stepped between the two of them, putting herself in Kaito’s path.
Kaito tilted his head slightly, amused by Molly’s boldness. He didn’t move back, instead leaning just enough to study her face. After a long moment, his grin widened as recognition flashed in his eyes.
“And you,” he said, pointing a finger at her. “You’re the one who beat the crap out of Ajal during the exam!” He laughed heartily, holding his stomach. “That was awesome. What’s your name?”
“Molly,” she replied bluntly, her tone as sharp as a blade.
Kaito smirked. “Not a people person, huh?”
Molly crossed her arms, glaring up at him. “Forgive me for not being friendly to the mentor of the person I hate.”
Kaito raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. “Hate? What’d he do, steal your lunch money or something?”
He casually glanced down, his grin returning when his eyes landed on the stuffed rabbit attached to Molly’s belt. “Ohhh, I get it now. It’s about that. C’mon, that’s not worth hating anyone over.”
Molly’s golden eyes flared with pure rage, her hand clenching into a fist at her side.
“Molly, wait—!” Cassian exclaimed, his hands shooting up in alarm.
But it was too late. Molly swung her fist with full force, aiming directly for Kaito’s smirking face.
Except her punch never landed.
Molly froze mid-motion, her fist hovering in the air just inches from Kaito’s cheek. Her eyes widened in confusion as she realized her arm wouldn’t budge. She struggled against the invisible force holding her back, but it was futile. Her entire body was locked in place, completely immobile.
“What the—?!” she hissed, her voice laced with frustration.
Kaito, meanwhile, was on the floor, laughing uncontrollably with one hand on his stomach. “You should’ve seen your face!” he howled. “Priceless! Absolutely priceless!”
Ophelia approached the scene with a sigh, holding a thick book in her hand. Without hesitation, she whacked Kaito over the head, earning a surprised yelp from him.
“Can you please learn some tact?” she scolded, her voice exasperated. “I don’t care how funny you think it is—this is why no one takes you seriously!”
Kaito rubbed the back of his head, still chuckling as he sat up. “Aw, come on, Ophelia! You’ve gotta admit, it was a little funny.”
Ophelia glared at him, raising the book threateningly. “Want me to hit you again?”
“Point taken,” Kaito said quickly, raising his hands in mock surrender.
Kaito got up from the ground, brushing himself off casually, and sauntered back to the beanbag chair. With a dramatic sigh, he flopped into it, lounging as though the prior chaos hadn’t happened. As soon as he settled in, Molly was released from the unseen force holding her in place. She stumbled forward, catching herself just before hitting the ground.
Ophelia turned to her, her arms crossed. “While he could have used a much better string of words,” she said, glaring briefly at Kaito, “he’s not wrong. There’s no need to get so defensive.”
Molly’s anger boiled over, her fists trembling at her sides. “What the hell?! Why shouldn’t I be angry? I’m supposed to not care that my friend died?!” Her voice cracked with raw emotion, and for a moment, the air felt heavier.
Kaito, who was now slumped back lazily in the beanbag, tilted his head in confusion. “Dead?” he repeated, as though the word itself puzzled him. “Huh. I guess you would see it that way. Well, since the school hasn’t told you yet, I’ll take the liberty.” He stretched his arms above his head, his tone casual but deliberate. “Your friend isn’t dead.”
Molly froze, her breath catching in her throat. “What do you mean?” she demanded, her voice quieter but no less sharp.
Kaito scratched his head as though trying to find the right place to start. “Where do I even begin?” he muttered.
Ophelia sighed loudly, cutting him off. “The Divine Blacksmith,” she said impatiently, her tone clipped and direct.
“The what now?” Ajal interjected, raising an eyebrow.
Ophelia turned to him, her voice carrying the weight of someone explaining a well-known fact. “The Divine Blacksmith is a clan of master artisans located on a moving island that circles Sanctareth—the Grand Church’s main country of operation.”
Kaito raised a finger lazily, then curled it toward the group with a slight smirk. The old, leaning bookshelf in the corner trembled violently before a rolled-up map shot out from its place, unfurling mid-air and landing perfectly on the ground in front of them.
The map looked like any standard cartographic design, with carefully inked borders and names marking the various countries. However, as soon as it hit the ground, golden projections sprang up from the surface, casting a glowing, three-dimensional model of the world that shimmered faintly in the dim room.
The central island, Sanctareth, floated farther from the other continents than its flat counterpart would suggest, an expanse of open water and scattered smaller islands separating it from the rest of the known world. These smaller islands were marked with glowing emblems of the Grand Church, indicating their control over the territories.
The most striking feature, however, was the glowing, slow-moving projection of an island circling Sanctareth like a silent guardian. This was Oriboros, a wandering island that stopped periodically at the coasts of each major country.
Ophelia leaned down and pointed to the slowly moving projection. “That,” she said, her tone sharp, “is where the Divine Blacksmith lives. Oriboros.”
Molly’s fists tightened. “You still haven’t answered my question,” she growled, her voice taut with impatience.
Ophelia gave her a sidelong glance, her tone clipped. “If you’d stay quiet and listen for once, you’d get your answer.”
Molly bit back her retort, glaring at Ophelia but staying silent for the moment.
Satisfied, Ophelia straightened and crossed her arms. “The Divine Blacksmith are the only people on this planet capable of repairing a broken or destroyed Gift. In your case, Molly—yes, Jolly can be restored.”
Molly’s eyes widened, her anger giving way to a flicker of hope. “What?” she breathed, barely able to process the words.
Cassian, standing nearby, pushed his glasses up nervously. “H-how is that even possible?” he asked, his voice trembling with curiosity.
Kaito chuckled and leaned back in the beanbag chair, hands behind his head. “The biggest theory is that the Gods handed down a very… special Gift to a member of their clan centuries ago. That Gift’s been inherited by generation after generation. It’s the only explanation for their abilities.”
Ajal furrowed his brow. “Wait—you’re saying a Gift can be passed down after someone dies? Is that even possible?”
“Not common,” Kaito replied with a shrug, his voice casual as if discussing the weather. “But yeah, it’s possible. When someone dies, their Gift doesn’t just vanish—it gets returned to the Gods. And the Gods? They’re not exactly sentimental. They recycle that Gift, reassign it to someone else, eventually.”
Ophelia nodded. “In the case of the Divine Blacksmith, they’ve… gamed the system.”
Ajal tilted his head. “Gamed the system?”
Kaito grinned and leaned forward, his tone almost conspiratorial. “They time it so the Gift never leaves the clan. When they have a successor nearing their 18th birthday, the current Gift holder is killed."
Ajal was surprised at Kaito's bluntness. "They're just killed off?"
Kaito nodded. “At the exact moment their successor turns 18. The timing’s so precise, the Gift doesn’t even have time to leave the island before it attaches to the next Blacksmith. Boom—permanent inheritance.”
Molly, who had been silent for the last few moments, suddenly dropped to her knees. “I don’t care about any of that,” she said, her voice trembling with desperation. “Please, tell me how I can get to them. How do I get to Oriboros?”
Ophelia’s expression softened, just slightly. “It’s not that simple.”
Molly looked up at her, her eyes pleading. “Why not?! If they can fix Jolly, I have to go. I need to go!”
Ophelia sighed and crouched down to meet Molly’s gaze, her voice steady but firm. “You’ll have to wait. Access to Oriboros has to be green lit by the school. Until that happens, there’s no getting on that island.”
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Molly’s shoulders sagged, her fingers digging into the ground as she whispered, “How do I get the school to send me? It’s not like I can do anything without my Gift.”
Ophelia’s expression turned thoughtful for a moment before she answered, “I can get you access to Oriboros—if you, Ajal, and Cassian help me with something.”
All three of them straightened at her words, curiosity and caution evident in their expressions.
“What is it?” Ajal asked, tilting his head slightly.
Ophelia glanced between the three of them, her tone growing more serious. “What I’m about to tell you is classified information. You can’t talk about it outside this room. Understood?”
The three exchanged glances before nodding in unison.
Ophelia folded her arms. “The school recently captured and interrogated someone they believed to be from The Cult.” She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. “Turns out, they’re not from The Cult at all. They’re part of a different organization entirely.”
Ajal frowned. “Different how?”
Ophelia waved off his question, continuing. “Myself, the rest of the Top Three, Professor Lucius, and Nagi were tasked with finding and neutralizing the remaining members of this group who are still hiding in Campus City.”
Cassian’s eyes widened behind his glasses. “Wait—why are you telling us this if it’s classified?”
A sly smile crept across Ophelia’s face, her golden eyes gleaming mischievously. “Because I’m the number one ranked student. I can do whatever I please to ensure the mission’s success. Besides, the school can’t spy on us here, and they’re definitely not sending Nagi down here either.”
“Why not?” Cassian asked.
Ophelia pointed at the now-snoring Kaito slumped in his beanbag chair with a sigh. “That guy. They wouldn’t risk sending Nagi here if it means he has to deal with him.”
Ajal raised an eyebrow. “Wait, hold on. So we’re the only ones who know about this?”
Ophelia nodded. “Outside of Riku, Bellona, and Marlow, yeah.”
“Why Marlow?” Ajal asked, his tone skeptical. “He’s not in the Top Three.”
Ophelia’s smirk turned haughty, her voice taking on a mockingly superior tone. “Because he’s my boyfriend, obviously.”
Ajal blinked at her, his mouth opening slightly in exaggerated shock. “You? You actually have a boyfriend? Someone willingly signed up for that?”
Ophelia’s smug grin instantly vanished, replaced by a deep scowl. “What’s that supposed to mean?!”
“I mean, no offense,” Ajal said, raising his hands in mock innocence, “but it’s you. How does someone even deal with that ego long enough to—”
“Oh, shut up!” Ophelia snapped, her voice rising an octave. “You think you’re so funny, don’t you?”
Ajal shrugged, a playful grin spreading across his face. “I’m just saying. Does he have to sign waivers before hanging out with you, or...?”
“I should do the world a favor and end you right here!” Ophelia yelled, gripping her halo.
“Didn't you just get done telling Molly not to be so defensive?” Ajal shot back, his grin only widening.
Molly let out an irritated groan, cutting through their bickering. “Enough already! Can we focus on the part where we’re apparently supposed to be helping you?”
Ophelia, still glaring daggers at Ajal, took a calming breath before turning her attention back to Molly. “Fine,” she muttered, brushing her hair back with a dramatic huff. “For now, all I need from you three is to stick to your job at the diner.”
Molly frowned. “That’s it? Just keep working?”
Ophelia nodded, her expression sharpening. “Yes. I’m confident that their targets are myself…” She hesitated for a split second, then looked pointedly at Ajal. “…and you.”
Ajal’s expression shifted, his brow furrowed as if something heavy was on his mind. He seemed distracted, his gaze fixed on the ground rather than on Ophelia or anyone else.
“What’s wrong with you?” Ophelia asked coldly, her tone sharp enough to cut through the room’s lingering tension.
Before Ajal could answer, Cassian spoke up, his voice hesitant but certain. “It’s because… neither of us know any of the Nine-Steps yet. And it’s a requirement to even work at the diner.”
Kaito, who had somehow stirred awake without anyone noticing, let out a loud laugh that startled the group. “Makes sense that you haven't picked it up, Ajal.”
Ophelia sighed, rubbing her temples. “You’re going to have to learn it. And fast, if you ever want to be a Top Three.”
That caught Ajal’s attention. “How do you even get to be a Top Three?” he asked, leaning forward slightly.
Ophelia smirked, sensing the shift in his interest. “Every student at Arkphis is ranked. To even be eligible for a Top Three position, you need to climb to fourth place. From there, you have to defeat one of the Top Three in a ranked challenge to take their spot.”
Ajal’s curiosity deepened. “What rank am I now?”
“You’re currently ranked 25th,” Ophelia replied flatly. “Molly’s ranked 20th. And Cassian...” She glanced at him with a smirk. “…is 40th. Dead last.”
Cassian chuckled weakly, scratching the back of his neck. “Yeah, that’s about what I expected.”
Ajal leaned back with a dramatic sigh. “Well, that’s disappointing. I was hoping I could challenge you soon.”
Ophelia raised an eyebrow, her smirk turning mocking. “Oh, please. You wouldn’t stand a chance against me anyway.”
Before Ajal could snap back, Molly cut in with a sharp tone. “Focus, idiots! We’re supposed to be figuring out how to get you two to learn the Nine-Step system. You can worry about ranks later.”
Ajal turned to Kaito, a spark of hope in his expression. “You can teach us, right?”
Kaito, who was now lounging back in his beanbag chair and watching TV with a bag of snacks in hand, waved dismissively at the suggestion without even looking at him. “Nah, I’m not your guy for that.”
Ajal froze in confusion and processed what Kaito said for a moment. “Then, uh, what is your job?”
Still focused on the TV, Kaito lazily popped a snack into his mouth before replying. “The school’s job is to teach you. My job is to make sure you don’t suck after you’ve learned.”
The room fell silent for a moment, the sheer absurdity of the statement leaving everyone stunned. Then, Ophelia pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, and Cassian sighed deeply.
“This is going to be a nightmare,” Cassian muttered. “Looks like we’ll have to rely on Professor Fil after...”
"We are enrolled at a school. Honestly, the teachers should be our first choice." Molly crossed her arms, glaring at Ajal. "Also, you’re going to need to spend extra time with Professor Miki. Your Divinity still sucks.”
Ophelia gestured toward the cave’s entrance, her expression indifferent. “Alright, let’s go. I’ve wasted enough time here.”
The group followed her through the dimly lit cave, their footsteps echoing faintly off the damp walls. As they approached the exit, Ophelia stopped and glanced over her shoulder at Ajal. “Just so you know,” she said, her tone casual but pointed, “I brought you here because Kaito mentioned that he wanted this place to be a safe haven for you and I.”
Ajal blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”
Ophelia shrugged. “Not entirely sure myself.”
Ajal frowned, glancing back at Kaito, who was once again sprawled out in the beanbag chair, idly flipping through channels on the ancient TV. “Hey, you should come visit my dorm sometime,” Ajal called out.
Kaito glanced up, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “No can do, kid. I’m stuck here.”
“Stuck?” Ajal repeated, his confusion deepening.
“Yep.” Kaito didn’t elaborate, turning his attention back to the TV as if the conversation was already over.
Ajal hesitated for a moment before giving a small wave. “Well… goodbye then, I guess.”
Kaito didn’t look up, but waved back lazily and yawned. “See ya later, Ajal. Work hard and all that.”
Ajal couldn't help but laugh at his response.
Ophelia rolled her eyes. “Let’s move.”
The group followed Ophelia back to the pond, the faint glow of the forest dimming behind them. Without hesitation, Ophelia stepped into the water and disappeared beneath its surface. Ajal was next, followed closely by Cassian and Molly.
Moments later, they emerged from the identical pond on campus, the cool night air brushing against them as they climbed out onto the grassy bank. Molly shook her arms dry, glancing back at the still water with a skeptical expression.
“What even is that place?” she asked, frowning.
Ophelia and Ajal exchanged glances before shrugging in unison.
“No clue,” Ophelia said flatly. “Kaito’s never told me.”
“Same here,” Ajal added. “He’s not exactly the most forthcoming guy.”
Cassian, still visibly uneasy from their time in the cave, hesitated before speaking. “Back in there,” he began cautiously, “you mentioned the school wouldn’t send Nagi because of Kaito. Who’s Nagi, and why wouldn’t he mess with Kaito?”
Ophelia’s expression shifted slightly, her usual smugness giving way to something more serious. “Nagi is the leader of the Spectral Choir,” she explained. “It’s basically a miniature militia that works for the school. They’re one of Arkphis’ lines of defense, outside of the teachers, obviously”
Cassian adjusted his glasses, his curiosity piqued. “So… he’s strong?”
Ophelia gave a small, dry laugh. “Strong? He’s probably the most powerful person on campus. But even with all that power, he’s still nowhere near Kaito’s level. That’s why the school doesn’t bother sending anyone here. They know it’d be a waste of time.”
Cassian’s eyes widened, his nervousness returning. “So, Kaito’s that strong?”
Ophelia didn’t answer directly, instead turning to face the group. “Go back to your dorms,” she said briskly. Without waiting for a response, she spun her halo around her fingers and stepped through it, disappearing in a shimmer of light.
The three remaining students stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation lingering in the air. Finally, Ajal turned to Cassian and Molly. “Guess I’ll see you two tomorrow,” he said, his tone light despite the tension.
Cassian gave a small, polite nod. “Goodnight, Ajal.”
Molly, true to form, barely lifted her hand in a half-hearted wave. “Yeah, whatever,” she muttered, already turning to leave.
Ajal watched her go, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Her coldness hadn’t thawed completely, but even that lazy wave felt like progress. At least she’d acknowledged him.
“See you both tomorrow,” he said again, before heading toward his dorm.
⁂
In the dimly lit alleyway of Campus City, shadows stretched long against the cracked brick walls. A faint breeze rustled the discarded papers and broken bottles scattered across the ground. In the middle of the clutter, a single mysterious card lay face-down, its edges faintly glowing with an eerie light.
The sound of heeled boots echoed through the alley as a figure approached, their tall silhouette cutting through the darkness. The figure bent down, their spiked sleeves jingling faintly, and picked up the card.
Their outfit was strikingly macabre, every detail exuding an unsettling yet captivating presence. A long black dress, torn and tattered at the edges, swayed as they moved, the fabric emblazoned with spiraling white symbols resembling endless voids. Metallic spikes lined their sleeves and shoulders, catching the faint light as they moved. Chains wrapped loosely around their waist, jingling softly with each step, and an oversized belt bore a golden gear emblem etched with intricate designs. The figure’s boots were sleek, rising just below the knees, and their long legs were adorned with fishnet stockings that added a chaotic yet refined touch to the ensemble.
Their sharp orange hair glinted under the faint light of a flickering streetlamp as they turned the card over, examining it with slow, deliberate precision. Crimson lips curled into a faint smirk as their piercing gaze scanned the alley.
On top of a nearby trash can, a black cat casually licked its paw, seemingly uninterested in the figure’s presence.
Pulling out a sleek, black phone, the figure pressed a button. A faint ringtone played before the other end was picked up.
“This is Merrick,” the figure said, their voice smooth but tinged with impatience.
A voice from the phone responded, muffled but calm.
“I found the key,” Merrick said, holding up the card to the light. “It was just lying here. In the middle of some filthy alleyway, of all places.”
Another response came from the phone.
“Followed?” Merrick repeated, glancing over their shoulder. Their crimson eyes scanned the shadows of the alley carefully. After a moment, they shook their head. “No. I don’t sense any Divinity here—nothing but a cat.”
The black cat on the trash can paused its licking, its sharp green eyes flicking toward Merrick.
The voice on the phone spoke again, but this time Merrick didn’t answer immediately. Instead, they sighed, pocketing the card. “Understood. I’ll report back soon.”
They ended the call, slipping the phone into their coat pocket. With a final look around the alley, Merrick walked away, their boots clicking softly against the pavement.
The cat watched Merrick go, its eyes narrowing slightly. Once Merrick disappeared into the distance, the cat leapt gracefully down from the trash can, landing silently on the ground. With a paw, it sifted through a nearby pile of garbage and pulled out a large, floppy witch hat.
The cat carefully placed the hat on the ground, and a faint magical hum emanated from it. As the brim of the hat began to glow faintly, a voice came through—a familiar, measured tone.
“Lucius,” the voice of Nagi said, low and firm. “What’s your report?”
Lucius yawned, stretching lazily before leaning toward the hat. “I saw one of them. They picked up the card. Turns out it’s not just a card—it’s a key.”
A pause. Nagi’s voice came through again, calm yet pointed. “Good to know. Also, Riku already told Ezekiel and Zee about the situation. I wanted to let you know so there aren’t any surprises.”
Lucius let out a low chuckle, his emerald eyes gleaming. “Riku told them? Not surprising, but it explains why Ezekiel’s been acting extra quiet today.”
“Correct,” Nagi confirmed, his voice tinged with irritation. “I’ve left him the task of finding the intruder. To make things more interesting, I just heard that Ophelia took Ajal, Molly, and Cassian through the Echopond earlier. She probably clued them in as well.”
Lucius flicked his tail, his tone light but amused. “She couldn’t resist, huh? Typical Ophelia. She always loves stirring the pot.”
“Exactly,” Nagi said, his voice hardening slightly. “Make sure they’re all brought in tomorrow after their classes. We need to consolidate everything we’ve learned so far. This is getting out of hand.”
Lucius stretched again, his claws scraping lightly against the ground as he put his chains and hat back on. “Consider it done. I’ll round them up after classes.”
“Good,” Nagi said firmly. “Don’t let anything slip through the cracks.”
The magical glow in the hat faded, leaving the alley quiet once more. Lucius stood up, flicking his tail as he slinked off, his feline form blending into the shadows. His sharp green eyes gleamed faintly as he disappeared into the night.