Two figures stood facing each other, bathed in the morning light streaming through the windows. One remained calm, his gaze cold and unnaturally composed. The other was cautious, sword unsheathed, ready to strike at any moment.

Ren’s mind raced, but his skill Perfect Acting kept his exterior composed. "I’m just a messenger," he said, his voice steady. "And I’m here to give you something you’ve been hoping for."

Valis, still on edge, skepticism etched across her face, responded, "Why should I trust you? You appear out of nowhere, spout cryptic nonsense, and expect me to believe you?"

Ren knew he had to tread carefully. "I understand your doubts," he replied, choosing his words with precision. "But like I said, I’m only here to offer you what you want."

"Then tell me, what is it that I want?" Valis asked, suspicion thick in her voice.

With a slight smirk, Ren locked eyes with her. "A miracle."

Valis’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected the very word she had just been thinking about to escape his lips. Her mind raced—she wanted to believe him, but all her instincts told her it was too good to be true. The timing felt off.

She studied Ren’s gaze once more, but what she saw was a cold, unreadable expression, as though he could see right through her. Just as she was about to speak, Ren interrupted.

"I know what you're thinking. The fact that I’m here, offering you a miracle, seems suspicious," he said calmly. "But understand this: all I want is the safety of everyone in this academy."

Valis remained silent, weighing his words. The tension hung in the air like a blade. Ren could feel the seconds slipping away—the timer ticking down toward his imminent disappearance.

"I’m sure you realize how hard this is to believe," Valis finally said, her voice steady but suspicious. "You show up uninvited, telling me to trust you because you claim to have good intentions. Why should I believe anything you say?"

Ren met her gaze without flinching. "Because you have no other choice. The enemy is closing in, and the capital may not send reinforcements."

Valis clenched her jaw, the conflict clear in her eyes. She was a woman of logic, not easily swayed by mysterious strangers. But the reality of their situation left her with no real alternatives. Her forces were woefully insufficient to fend off the impending invasion, and if this man was offering a solution, she had to consider it.

"Fine," she relented, lowering her sword slightly though remaining cautious. "Tell me what needs to be done."

Ren, aware his time was nearly up, replied quickly. "There’s something hidden beneath this academy—in the basement. There you will find something that will help you tremendously. Shiro and his classmates are the only ones who can retrieve it."

"What!? You expect me to send my students on a dangerous mission based on the word of an unknown man?" Valis snapped, anger flaring. "They’re just first yea—"

"They’re more capable than you give them credit for," Ren interrupted. "You and I both know that. Now, I must go. The choice is yours, but time is running out."

With that, the timer hit zero, and Ren vanished, leaving Valis alone once more. Silence filled the room, heavier than before.

Valis stood there, her mind racing. She had faced countless battles, made life-and-death decisions, but this... this was different. She didn’t believe in ghosts or mysterious messengers, but the urgency in the stranger’s voice was hard to dismiss.

She glanced toward the door, where her fellow council members had exited moments earlier. Shiro Mikazuki… Could this boy truly hold the key to their survival? The thought seemed absurd, yet...

Valis sighed, shaking her head. She couldn’t afford to dismiss any possibility, no matter how far-fetched. With a decisive nod, she made up her mind. She would send Shiro to the basement and see if the mysterious figure's words held any truth.

"If this turns out to be a waste of time, I’ll kill that man myself," she muttered darkly as she left the room.

Ren, hearing this from the shadows, felt a chill run down his spine. He hoped she was joking.

He had given Valis the clue—perhaps a key that could change everything, or nothing at all. Now, all he could do was wait and see how things unfolded.

"At least it worked," Ren sighed in relief. "Now she just needs to tell Shiro and his classmates to follow through."

Ren trailed behind her as she moved with purpose, her boots clicking against the polished floors of the academy. The normally bustling halls were eerily silent, the looming threat of invasion casting a shadow over everything.

They soon reached a familiar door—Class F. Valis paused for a moment, her hand resting on the doorknob as if gathering her thoughts. Ren watched her, sensing the weight of the decision she was about to make. Finally, she opened the door and stepped inside, Ren slipping in behind her unseen.

The classroom was spacious, filled with neatly arranged desks, but Ren's focus was on its occupants.

There they were—Shiro Mikazuki and the main characters from the second arc of the game. Ren’s heart skipped a beat seeing them all together. They looked just as they had in the game, yet somehow more real, more vibrant.

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Shiro stood at the front, his normally composed demeanor strained by the situation. His deep blue eyes were sharp as he looked at Valis, his focus unwavering. The others—Liana, Rolan, Lucius, and Celes—watched her with anticipation and concern.

"Principal Valis," Shiro greeted her, bowing slightly. The others followed suit, their expressions a mix of respect and curiosity.

Valis nodded in return. "I have an important task for all of you," she began, her tone firm. "One that could determine the fate of this academy and everyone in it."

A murmur spread through the group, but they quickly quieted as Valis continued. "The invasion is imminent, and the enemy is unlike any we’ve ever faced. The capital may not send reinforcements, so it’s up to us to protect Ecrin and the academy."

Shiro’s expression hardened, his grip tightening on the hilt of his tachi. "What do you need us to do?"

Valis hesitated before continuing. "I need you to go to the basement of the academy. There’s something there—something crucial to our survival. Shiro, you and your classmates are the only ones who can retrieve it."

Ren could see the doubt in Shiro’s eyes, but also the determination. Shiro was a natural leader, someone who would do whatever it took to protect those around him. "What exactly are we looking for?" he asked, his voice steady.

Valis shook her head. "I’m not sure. But I’ve been informed that it’s vital. Proceed with caution."

Liana, the voice of reason, spoke up. "Isn’t this a bit risky? We don’t know what we’re even looking for or what’s down there."

Lucius chimed in, echoing her concern. "Yeah, where did this information come from, Principal?"

"I’m afraid I can’t tell you yet," Valis admitted. "But we have no other options. If this is our only chance, we must take it."

Rolan, ever eager for a challenge, grinned. "Sounds like an adventure. I’m in."

Celes nodded in agreement. "We’ll do what needs to be done."

Shiro, after weighing his classmates' responses, finally nodded. "We’ll do it."

Valis exhaled, relief washing over her. "Good. Prepare yourselves and head to the basement immediately. Report back as soon as you find anything."

With that, the meeting ended. Valis gave Shiro a final nod before leaving, her authority firmly back in place. Ren watched her go, his mind racing.

"That went well," Ren muttered. "Now it's their turn to become the heroes the academy needs."

As Ren glanced back at Shiro’s group, they were already discussing the mission ahead.

"Isn’t it strange?" Lucius said, frowning. "She gave us a mission out of nowhere, told us to find something she doesn't even know."

Rolan, smirking, nudged him. "Admit it—you’re just scared of going, aren’t you?"

“What!?” Lucius exclaimed, glaring at Rolan. “No, I’m not scared! I’m just saying how absurd all of this sounds, you dumbass.”

“Hah! Who are you calling a dumbass!?” Rolan shot back, stepping head-to-head with Lucius.

Ren, holding his head in frustration, sighed. “Ugh, those two are always clashing.”

“Come on, both of you.” Liana stepped between them, pushing them apart. “Now’s not the time for this.”

The two reluctantly separated, still simmering with annoyance.

“We should follow her orders,” Celes said calmly to Shiro. “The principal was right about one thing—we don’t have any other options.”

“That’s true.” Shiro looked at his group with resolve. “If this can give us a chance to turn the tide of the invasion, we need to do it. No matter the risk.”

Lucius, though still filled with doubts, couldn’t deny Shiro’s logic.

“Well then, what are we waiting for?” Rolan said, excitement bubbling in his voice. “Let’s go! We don’t have much time.”

“Yeah, the principal’s counting on us!” Liana chimed in.

Shiro nodded. “We’ll stock up on potions first. We need to be ready for anything.”

The group set off to gather supplies, uncertain of what lay ahead but fully aware that the fate of the academy rested in their hands.

“I just hope nothing out of the ordinary happens,” Ren muttered as he followed the group invisibly. “Too many things have already gone off-script.”

After gathering what they needed, Shiro and his classmates stood at the entrance to the academy’s basement. Their torches flickered, casting long shadows on the stone walls. The air was thick with a musty scent, and the oppressive silence heightened their unease.

They exchanged wary glances before Shiro took the first step down the narrow stone staircase, his footsteps echoing. Ren followed closely behind, unseen.

As they descended deeper, the light grew dimmer, the atmosphere heavier. Ren could feel the weight of history pressing down on them—this basement was old, a place seldom visited.

When they reached the bottom, they spread out cautiously. The basement was large, its stone walls lined with forgotten relics and dusty shelves. Cobwebs draped everything like a shroud of neglect.

“It’s just an old basement,” Liana whispered, disappointment coloring her voice. “There’s nothing here.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Rolan said, scanning the room with a hand resting on his waist. “If the principal sent us here, there has to be something we’re missing.”

Ren, hidden in the shadows, focused on one particular wall. He knew this place. Behind that wall was a hidden door, and beyond it, a dungeon—a relic from long before the academy was built.

Shiro’s keen eyes swept over the walls, searching for any clues. Celes, ever observant, joined him, using her training as an agent to find something out of the ordinary.

Time passed as they combed through every corner of the basement.

“Ugh, it’s so dusty down here,” Rolan complained. “I don’t think anyone’s cleaned this place in years.”

“Perfect for your new home, Rolan,” Lucius snickered, earning a glare from Rolan.

“Shut up and keep looking so we can get out of here,” Rolan grumbled.

The minutes dragged on, and still, they found nothing.

Ren, checking his cooldown timer, muttered to himself, “Damn it, I want to tell them so badly… but I can’t yet.”

The group grew more frustrated as the search dragged on, yielding nothing but dust and cobwebs. Lucius sighed, leaning against one of the walls. “This feels like a wild goose chase.”

“Keep looking,” Shiro urged, though his tone betrayed his growing uncertainty. “There has to be something here.”

Ren clenched his fists in frustration, unable to point them in the right direction. They needed to find it on their own.

Just as Rolan was about to suggest they return to Valis empty-handed, Shiro’s eyes narrowed on a particular section of the wall. He stepped closer, his hand running over the rough stone surface.

“Shiro?” Liana asked, noticing his focused expression.

“This wall…” Shiro murmured, almost to himself. He stepped back, studying it with a critical eye. “Something’s off.”

“What do you mean?” Celes asked, joining him.

Instead of answering, Shiro pressed his palm against the stone, feeling for irregularities. “It’s subtle, but the stones here are slightly misaligned.”

Ren’s heart raced. Shiro’s heightened awareness was kicking in. If anyone could find the hidden door, it was him.

The group watched as Shiro carefully traced the edges of the wall. His fingers found a small, almost invisible groove, and he pressed down. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a soft click, the wall began to shift, stone scraping against stone.

They stepped back as the hidden door slowly revealed itself, the ancient mechanism still functional after all these years. Beyond the door, a dark passageway stretched into the unknown.

“Found it,” Shiro said, a mix of triumph and apprehension in his voice.

“Unbelievable,” Rolan muttered in amazement.

Liana peered into the shadows. “What do you think is in there?”

“We’re about to find out,” Shiro replied, determination hardening his features.

As they prepared to enter the hidden dungeon, Ren lingered in the shadows, his anticipation mounting. This was it—the turning point where their actions would shape the future.