“Happy birthday!” Salem greeted Kenneth with a wide grin.

Kenneth blinked, momentarily caught off guard. It feels like I’ve celebrated my birthday twice this year… today, and on the day of that incident, Kenneth thought, a faint shiver running through him at the memory.

Joash, curious, raised an eyebrow. “How old are you now?”

“Eighteen,” Kenneth replied, still distracted by the strange sense of déjà vu.

“One year older than me, then,” Joash remarked with a friendly smile.

Salem, ever eager, chimed in. “I’m fourteen!”

Kenneth shot him a surprised glance. “Fourteen? Aren’t you a bit young to be a first-year?” He had assumed Salem was at least 15 or 16.

Salem puffed out his chest proudly. “I advanced a year. Guess I’m pretty smart like that.”

Kenneth couldn’t help but smile at Salem’s confidence. “You’ve definitely been deep into Dr. Mir’s work lately. I’ve noticed.”

Salem nodded, eyes bright with enthusiasm. “Yeah! His way of blending herbal medicine with healing magic—it’s amazing. I want to learn more.”

Kenneth turned to Joash, thoughtful. “Do you think it’d be alright if Salem spent more time with Dr. Mir? He seems genuinely interested.”

Joash nodded easily. “I don’t see why not. Dr. Mir’s been our family doctor for years. He’d probably welcome someone who’s curious about herbal medicine—most people just care about flashy magic.”

Kenneth exhaled, relieved that Salem had something to focus on. “Thanks, Joash.”

Joash’s smile faltered just slightly as he shifted the conversation. “By the way, the new school year is starting soon at the academy. I won’t be around much once it begins. You gonna be okay here?”

Kenneth nodded, though he couldn’t quite hide the uncertainty creeping into his mind. Joash's mother didn’t mention he’d be leaving for the academy…

Seeing Kenneth’s reaction, Joash continued. “I’ll be in the Theory Division. It’s where the Elementless go—it’s the lowest division, sure, but it lets me focus on my research.”

Kenneth listened intently as Joash spoke. “The Practical Division is where most wizards refine their elemental magic, and then there’s the Special Division—reserved for the successors of the Elemental Guardians. That’s the division directly overseen by the Headmaster.”

Joash paused for a beat, looking thoughtful. “You should consider coming to the academy. Especially the Theory Division. You’re smart, and I think you’d be a huge help with my research.”

Kenneth fell quiet for a moment, mulling it over.

＊＊＊

“It feels so strange to be back,” Aine said with a bright grin. “Life as an idol is non-stop—cameras, fans, concerts. It’s exciting, but honestly, I’ve never been so exhausted! I barely had a moment to miss this place.”

She was standing with Rika and Ash, the other two successors, just before the new school year at Mageia Academy was set to begin.

Rika raised an eyebrow, glancing at her. “I can’t say the same. The mortal world’s exhausting, juggling all kinds of problems without magic.”

Ash chuckled, leaning back. “Then why’d you take on the Vice President role if it was so tough?”

“Oh, that’s right,” Aine chimed in, smiling. “You two stayed at the same school, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, we ran into each other every now and then,” Ash nodded. “Rika was busy with the student council, and I had my hands full leading the baseball team.”

“You two must’ve met up a lot, then,” Aine teased. “Must’ve been nice to have a familiar face around.”

Rika shot her a sly glance. “And what about you? Why’d you become an idol instead of sticking around? You could’ve joined us.”

Aine laughed, shaking her head. “No way! Just attending this school is enough of a headache—I couldn’t handle adding even more responsibilities like schoolwork.” She grinned before her expression softened slightly. “But honestly, being an idol was a great experience. It was strange having to rely on myself, no magic, no safety net of our families.”

She paused for a moment before adding, “That’s the whole point of sending us to the mortal world, right? To see what it’s like to live without magic and immerse ourselves. It really changes your perspective. But here… we’ve got responsibilities that go way beyond what the mortal world expects of us.”

Ash nodded thoughtfully, his gaze shifting. “Speaking of responsibilities… I heard some news when I got back. Luminel is announcing their successor soon.”

Stolen story; please report.

Both Aine and Rika turned to him in surprise. “Luminel?” Rika echoed. “After all this time, they’re finally revealing their successor?”

“Yeah,” Ash confirmed. “And from what I’ve heard, it’s going to be the Light Guardian’s nephew.”

Rika, Aine, and Ash, as direct descendants of their respective Elemental Guardians, understood the heavy responsibility that came with inheriting the Ultimate Element. It was always expected that they would one day assume the role of their families’ protectors.

"So with Luminel choosing their successor, this room is about to get more crowded," Rika noted.

"Right, we're almost complete," Aine added. But the mood shifted slightly as they all remembered.

"This is the only generation where no Fireon successor will be chosen," Rika said quietly.

A heavy silence fell over the group. Fireon, once one of the main families, was no longer counted among the Element Guardians.

"We’ll do our best to make up for the disappearance of the Fireon," Ash said firmly.

They all nodded in agreement, the weight of their shared responsibility hanging in the air.

＊＊＊

While Kenneth was engrossed in reading the book in the garden outside the Fireon estate, a voice interrupted him.

“Is the book fun?”

Startled, Kenneth looked up from the pages, his eyes widening as he recognized the blue-haired man standing before him—the very person he had been wanting to meet. The one who could finally answer his questions. The man had an air of calm authority, his piercing gaze betraying a depth of knowledge that went beyond his youthful appearance.

"I'm sorry it took me a while to meet you," the man said with a calm smile. "I had something to prepare before we could talk. Is the Fireon family taking care of you?"

"Yes," Kenneth replied cautiously, keeping his guard up. But then, a more pressing question slipped from his lips, "The event... was that real?" He was referring to the incident when the fire had suddenly appeared within him, a moment he still couldn’t fully comprehend.

The blue-haired man paused before responding. "Yes and no. It happened, but not yet. It was your future self who experienced it."

Kenneth’s brow furrowed in confusion. The more this man spoke, the more questions filled his mind. This man, shrouded in mystery, wasn’t even mentioned in the book he had been reading. How could this be?

Sensing his confusion, the man continued, "I suppose I should properly introduce myself. I'm Nero, the Headmaster of the academy you'll be attending. As you can see, I can control time."

Kenneth's eyes widened as Nero explained further. "Your future self, in that moment, accidentally awakened the fire without proper preparation. Your pnevma lost control, and all the energy escaped your body. In that timeline, you, Aine, and everyone at the school died."

The revelation hit Kenneth like a hammer. He sat frozen, processing the gravity of the situation. "I... we died?"

"Yes," Nero confirmed solemnly. "I had to pull your consciousness back to the past, which is why you probably remember fragments of those events."

Kenneth's mind raced as he recalled the incident. "Is Eumie all right?" he asked, referring to the girl who was with him during the event—the successor of Mistral.

"Don't worry about her," Nero reassured him. "I warned her about the event, so she left the mortal world earlier than expected. She's safe."

Kenneth let out a breath of relief.

"I have to admit, I intervened with time in a major way, which is why my magic is currently sealed," Nero said.

He then pulled out a small box and handing it to Kenneth. "Here, this is for you."

Kenneth opened the box to find a bracelet inside.

"You have an unusual pnevma within your body," Nero explained. "To properly control your magic, wear this bracelet. It will limit how much pnevma you release and keep you from losing control."

Kenneth hesitated for a moment before slipping the bracelet onto his wrist. As soon as he did, he felt a calming energy settle over him, as if the chaotic energy inside him had been tamed.

"Come with me," Nero said, standing up. "We’ll begin the process of awakening the fire properly."

Kenneth nodded, feeling a mix of anxiety and anticipation as he followed Nero. This was only the beginning of something far bigger than he had ever imagined.

＊＊＊

In the grand chamber, silence hung heavily in the air, broken only by the faint crackle of magic that pulsed through the walls. Kenneth stood in the center, his heart beating in rhythm with the quiet hum of power that surrounded him. His gaze flickered to Nero, the Headmaster, who stood a few paces away, watching him with calm intensity.

“Do you remember how you summoned the fire last time?” Nero’s voice echoed softly in the vast room, carrying a weight that pressed on Kenneth’s shoulders.

Kenneth closed his eyes, sifting through the fragmented memories of that chaotic moment. He remembered the fear, the panic. Instinct had taken over when he’d shielded Eumie, and then—the fire. He could still picture the flames, wild and untamed, dancing around him. The heat, the raw power—it had felt both exhilarating and terrifying.

His thoughts drifted back to a dream he had once. In it, the fire had been uncontrollable, consuming everything in its path. Would it be the same now?

Taking a deep breath, Kenneth extended his left palm, concentrating. He focused on the warmth he’d felt before—the sense of power waiting beneath the surface. Slowly, almost hesitantly, something stirred within him. His fingers tingled, and then—small sparks flickered to life, dancing at his fingertips. They grew, gathering into a small, steady flame that hovered just above his palm.

“I did it,” Kenneth whispered, awe and relief washing over him as he stared at the fire. A tentative smile crept across his face.

Nero watched closely, his calm expression betraying nothing, though a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “As expected,” he murmured, his eyes reflecting the flames in Kenneth’s hand.

Kenneth glanced up, catching Nero’s gaze. There was something both reassuring and unsettling in the way the Headmaster regarded him—a quiet intensity that hinted at the challenges ahead.

“Did Fintan mention that you’ll be attending the academy?” Nero asked, breaking the silence.

Kenneth nodded. “She did.”

Nero stepped closer, his eyes locking onto Kenneth’s. “The fire within you—what you’ve just summoned—is still immature. It’s powerful, but unstable. If you want to control it, to harness its full potential, you’ll need proper training. Magic isn’t something you can master on instinct alone.”

“I understand,” Kenneth replied, his voice firmer now. The weight of responsibility was beginning to settle on him, but there was also a growing resolve. He wasn’t just an outsider anymore—he had a role to play.

Satisfied, Nero nodded. “Good. I’ll arrange for someone to escort you home, but when the time comes, you’ll begin your formal training at the academy. Until then, rest. You’ll need your strength.”

Kenneth nodded again, clenching his fist to extinguish the flame. The fire disappeared, but the warmth lingered in his palm, a reminder of the power he had just begun to touch.

As he turned to leave, a sense of anticipation bubbled within him. The journey ahead felt daunting, but for the first time, he was ready to face it.

“I’ll see you at the academy, Kenneth,” Nero called after him, his voice carrying a finality that echoed through the chamber.

Kenneth glanced back one last time, meeting the Headmaster’s gaze before stepping out of the room.