---
Back at the academy, the air was heavy with tension. Whispers of Kaelith's warning about the "heart of power" circulated, fueling speculation. Kaito and the misfits kept their findings to themselves, unwilling to trust the council. The northern circle had revealed just enough to know that Astraea was in grave danger—but not enough to see the whole picture.
---
An unexpected message arrived for Kaito’s group one evening, delivered by a discreet courier who vanished as quickly as they had appeared.
The letter bore an ancient seal, its design unfamiliar. The words within were concise:
"Come to the Sanctum of Origins. Midnight. No questions, no witnesses."
“This doesn’t feel right,” Toru muttered, holding the letter up to the light as if searching for hidden meaning.
Kaito’s gaze remained on the letter. “It doesn’t matter if it’s right. It’s a lead. And we don’t have time to waste.”
---
The Sanctum of Origins was a place of whispered legends among the students. Located deep within the academy’s oldest wing, it was said to house secrets that predated Astraea itself. Few dared approach it, deterred by stories of lingering curses and unyielding wards.
Navigating the shadowy halls, the group moved in silence. The doors of the Sanctum towered before them, etched with symbols none of them could decipher.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
A cloaked figure waited by the entrance. Without a word, the figure turned and opened the doors, beckoning them inside.
---
Inside, the group was greeted by Seraphine, a woman who exuded an air of enigmatic authority.
“I am the Keeper of the Sealed Histories,” she said, her voice low but commanding. “I’ve called you here because Astraea’s future is at stake—and you stand at its crossroads.”
“What does that mean?” Yumi asked warily.
Seraphine gestured to a glowing pedestal at the center of the room. Atop it rested a fractured crystal, pulsating with faint light. The energy emanating from it was unlike anything the group had felt before.
“This,” Seraphine said, her tone reverent, “is the Fragment of Origins.”
---
The Fragment of Origins
Seraphine explained that the fragment was a relic of unfathomable power, tied to the very fabric of existence. “Its origins are lost to time,” she admitted. “Even the oldest records speak of it only in fragments, describing it as a remnant of something beyond comprehension.”
“What’s it doing here?” Toru asked, his brow furrowed.
Seraphine’s expression darkened. “It is both Astraea’s greatest shield and its most dangerous secret. The fragment’s power has protected this academy for generations—but now, it draws enemies to us like moths to flame.”
---
As Seraphine spoke, Kaito felt an inexplicable pull toward the fragment. His heart raced as whispers filled his mind—indistinct and fleeting, like echoes of a distant storm.
“What... is this feeling?” he murmured, clutching his head.
Seraphine’s gaze sharpened. “The fragment reacts to you.”
“What does that mean?” Yumi demanded, stepping protectively closer to Kaito.
“I don’t know,” Seraphine admitted. “But its reaction to you is unlike anything I’ve seen. Perhaps it sees something in you—or perhaps you are tied to it in ways even I cannot understand.”
Kaito’s expression hardened. “If this fragment is what the demons are after, then we need to act now.”
---
The group left the Sanctum with more questions than answers. The fragment’s origins remained a mystery, but one thing was clear—it was the key to the demons’ plans.
As they regrouped in the dormitory, Kaito addressed the misfit class. “The council won’t act until it’s too late. If the fragment is exposed, this academy—and everything it stands for—will fall.”
“What do we do?” Elara asked, her voice trembling.
“We prepare,” Kaito said firmly. “And we find a way to sever the summoning network before they reach the fragment.”
---
As the misfits strategized late into the night, Kaito’s thoughts kept drifting back to the Sanctum. The fragment had awakened something within him—something he couldn’t yet name.
Standing by the dormitory window, he gazed out at the starry sky, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on his shoulders.
“Whatever it takes,” he whispered to himself. “We’ll protect Astraea. No matter the
cost.”
---
[A/N]: Sorry I've been kinda busy lately so I have less time to upload and creation is kinda hard you know for a first year 😂😂😂. Anyway I'll upload the other part today . See ya