Dominic Eñeforte

The three of us weave through the bustling halls, dodging students eagerly rushing to the cafeteria. Arthur leads, his pace quick as he navigates the sea of classmates, while I follow close behind, and Lumi, as always, maintains a few paces back, her presence quiet but noticeable.

As soon as we stepped into the cafeteria, the lively chatter of students and the rich aroma of food hit us. The atmosphere is electric, and the line of hungry students winds through the various stalls. Each one offers a different temptation, from warm pastries to savory snacks.

Arthur scans the room before looking back at me with a grin. “Alright, where do we start? I see the Macaron stall.” He gestures toward a corner where a small line is forming.

I nod in agreement. “Let’s head over before the line gets too long.”

We navigate through the crowded cafeteria, and I notice that true to her reserved nature, Lumi keeps her distance, observing more than participating.

"Lumi," I call out, hoping to include her in the conversation. "What are you planning on getting?"

She glances at the stalls with a thoughtful expression before responding softly. "Probably a sandwich and a drink. And maybe a couple of Macarons."

Arthur raises an eyebrow, casting a sideways glance at her. “Just don’t hog all the Macarons,” he mutters teasingly.

I nudge him lightly, trying to hold back a laugh. “Arthur, be nice.”

Finally, we reached the Macaron stall, and the display was as colorful as I expected. Neatly arranged rows of lavender, pistachio, raspberry, and chocolate Macarons beckon us with their bright colors and delicate appearance.

"I’ll take two of each," I say, eyeing the lavender and pistachio flavors with particular anticipation.

Arthur steps up next, his excitement clear. “One lavender, two pistachios for me.”

Lumi quietly observes the selection and finally makes her choice. “I’ll take two raspberries and one chocolate,” she says, her tone as calm as ever.

We find a spot by the window with boxes of Macarons in hand. The sun casts a warm glow over our table, and the light filters through the glass, making the vibrant colors of the macarons even more inviting.

Arthur is the first to dig in, biting into a pistachio Macaron. His eyes widen with delight as he chews. “Wow, these are good!”

Lumi silently picks up a raspberry Macaron and takes a delicate bite. A small, almost invisible smile tugs at her lips.

“Not bad,” she concedes, her voice soft but pleased.

I bite the lavender Macaron, and its subtle floral flavor and delicate sweetness make me grin.

“We need to come here more often,” I say, savoring the treat.

Arthur and Lumi exchange glances, and though they don’t say much, I can sense the brief truce between them as we enjoy the moment in silence.

“Limited triple patty cheeseburgers!”

The sudden shout from one of the stalls grabs our attention. Triple-patty cheeseburgers? It does sound mouthwatering, but surprisingly, I don’t feel the usual pull of hunger. Odd, considering how my stomach always reacts to the mere mention of food.

“Limited time?!” Arthur shoots up from his seat like a rocket, his eyes wide with excitement. “I’ve been waiting for that for ages! I’m getting one—be right back!”

Before I can respond, he’s already halfway across the cafeteria, sprinting toward the stall as if his life depended on it.

I blink, a bit taken aback. Arthur’s rich—he could probably buy cheeseburgers like that whenever he wanted, so what’s with the sudden enthusiasm? Then it hits me. Maybe it's not just the cheeseburger; perhaps it's the thrill of the limited offer or the nostalgia of finally getting what he's been craving.

And come to think of it, is a cheeseburger his favorite food? If it is, I could keep that in mind for future reference. If Arthur’s ever feeling down, buying him a cheeseburger might be a good way to cheer him up.

Now, though, I’m left alone with Lumi. The atmosphere feels a little different without Arthur's energy filling the space. I glance over at her, unsure of what to say. She’s quiet, as usual, calmly nibbling on her raspberry Macaron, her expression unreadable.

I think about starting a conversation for a moment, but the silence between us isn’t exactly uncomfortable. It’s a calm pause, a brief break from the day's chaos. Still, with Arthur gone, it feels like I should say something.

“Dominic, I heard you’re a food lover,” Lumi suddenly says, breaking the silence.

I turn to her, surprised by her comment. “Food lover? Yeah, I love eating, but how did you know that?

She raises an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. “It’s obvious. You chew your food so loudly, and you always order huge stacks whenever we’re in the cafeteria.”

Ah. I feel my cheeks flush slightly. That's… embarrassing. I’ve always had a hearty appetite, and my table manners probably aren’t the most refined. Growing up with limited access to good food, I’ve always made the most of it whenever I had the chance. Foods like these, readily available at school, are a luxury I never had before.

Before I can respond, Lumi casually holds out the small box of Macarons she ordered. “Since you love food so much, why don’t you describe how these Macarons are made?”

I blink, staring at the colorful little treats she’s holding out to me. I wasn’t expecting her to ask something like that, but a flood of memories from my previous life rushed in. Back then, I worked in a French café—though I never tasted the food. It was strictly against the policy for employees to eat anything from the kitchen. Sure, I could’ve tried sneaking some into my bag to take home, but the place was under constant surveillance, and slipping anything out was almost impossible.

Still, I’d watched the bakers at work enough to know the process inside out.

“Macarons, huh?” I murmur, looking down at the neatly arranged pastries. “They’re quite delicate to make.”

I pick up one of the raspberry Macarons she bought, turning it slightly in my fingers as I inspect the smoothness of the shell. “First, the meringue needs finely ground almond flour, powdered sugar, and egg whites. The tricky part is getting the texture just right. You fold the almond flour mixture into the meringue gently—if you mix it too much, the batter will deflate, and the Macarons will come out flat.”

I glance over at Lumi, who is listening intently, her eyes on the Macaron in my hand. Her usual cold demeanor softens slightly as she leans in to hear more.

“After that,” I continue, “you pipe small rounds of the batter onto a baking sheet. They have to rest for about half an hour before baking—this helps form that nice ‘foot’ at the base.” I turn the Macaron over, showing her the ruffled edge. “Like this. It’s a sign they’ve baked well.”

Lumi nods, her face closer than I realized. Her shoulder lightly brushes against mine, and I pause momentarily, startled by how close she’s leaning. But she doesn’t seem to notice—or maybe she does, and she just doesn’t care.

Clearing my throat, I continue, “Once baked, you sandwich them with buttercream, jam, or ganache, like the raspberry you ordered. The texture should be light and slightly chewy.”

I look back at the Macaron in her hand, assessing its quality. “These are pretty well-made. The shell’s smooth, the foot is even, and the filling looks balanced. Whoever made these knows what they’re doing.”

Lumi is quiet for a moment, still leaning close to me, her eyes fixed on the Macarons. I can feel her shoulder resting against mine now, and it’s a little distracting.

“I didn’t know you knew so much about baking,” she finally says, her voice softer than usual, almost as if she’s impressed.

I chuckle softly, trying to shake off the odd tension. “Well, I used to work in a café before… so I picked up a few things.”

Lumi turns her head slightly, her gaze meeting mine briefly. There’s a flicker of something in her eyes, curiosity perhaps, or maybe just surprise at the fact that I had a life before Sylvestria.

“Alright, I’m back!”

Arthur announces loudly as he strides back to our table, holding a massive burger in both hands. His grin stretches ear to ear, and he is thrilled with his purchase.

I barely had time to react before I felt Lumi suddenly pull away. The warmth of her shoulder against mine disappears, and I glance to the side just in time to see her sit up straight, her usual composed demeanor quickly returning. Her face, softened moments ago while we discussed Macarons, is now back to its cool, unreadable expression.

Arthur, oblivious to the shift in the air, plops down in his seat with the giant burger towering in front of him. I blink in amazement at its sheer size—the burger is easily the biggest I’ve ever seen. The triple patties are stacked so high that the top bun barely fits, and melted cheese oozes down the sides.

“Whoa…” I mutter, unable to hide my awe. “Is that what you’ve been craving?”

Arthur grins, his excitement practically radiating off him. “Oh yeah, this thing is a legend! They only make it occasionally, and I’ve been waiting forever for it!”

He takes a dramatic bite, his eyes lighting up as he chews. “Mmm! Worth the wait,” he says, his mouth half-full.

I can’t help but laugh, though I’m still impressed—and a little envious—of his enormous burger. "No wonder you were so eager to get it. That thing’s huge!"

Lumi, quiet since Arthur’s return, glances at the burger but says nothing. Her usual cold demeanor has fully returned, and there’s no sign of the closeness we shared earlier.

The brief moment of connection feels like it’s already slipping away.

-Rumble!

Suddenly, the entire cafeteria starts to tremble violently—chairs screech as they slide across the floor, the clattering of utensils and lunch trays echoes through the air. Tables shake as if caught in an invisible storm, and the stalls rattle with an alarming intensity.

Above us, the chandelier sways dangerously, its crystals chiming together like eerie bells warning of the chaos outside.

My heart races as I glance toward the windows—outside, the sky darkens to an ominous shade of gray, casting a grim shadow over the school grounds.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Wait… No way… this can’t be… I hope it’s not what I think it is. Please let this not be connected to the dream from the Skill.

I whip around to Arthur and Lumi, my heart thudding painfully. Their faces mirror my fear—frozen in shock, forks suspended mid-air, their eyes wide with horror and recognition. Something’s wrong, and they can feel it, too.

"What’s with your expressions? Did you sense something?" I ask, desperately hoping for a different answer.

Arthur snaps out of his daze, his gaze locking with mine. "Doms, I felt a strong wave of Mana."

Lumi nods, her voice low, urgent. "The Mana signature is immense… This could be an [A] rank."

My eyes widen in disbelief. No… no, this better not be… connected to my dream. The nightmare has followed me into reality, and the ominous feeling from earlier tightens its grip on my gut.

-Vroom!

The sudden blare of an alarm cuts through the panic in the room. It’s loud and noisy, but even louder is the voice from the PA system, shaking me to my core.

"Attention, students! A Stargate has appeared near the school. Please evacuate immediately!"

The reaction is instant. Screams break out, and panic floods the room like a wave of fear, crashing over every student.

"Oh, my glob! Oh, my glob! Oh, my glob!"

"Girl, we got to go!"

"AHHHHH!"

"I want my mommy!"

Chaos descends in a heartbeat—students scramble from their seats, tripping over themselves in the rush for the exits. The normalcy of the day shatters, replaced by sheer terror. The cafeteria becomes a frantic mess as people shove past each other, their voices rising in fear.

No way. This can’t be happening.

And then it hits me like a sledgehammer to the chest—what if this is why Arthur and Dominic were never mentioned again in the web novel? What if they didn’t survive this incident? Was this the moment the Skill showed me? Is a future set in stone?

But wait—calm down. The dream took place in Aurelior, not here. And I remember… during their first date, Lumi told Célestin that monsters attacked her middle school. Could this be the same incident from the web novel? If that’s the case, maybe it isn’t directly connected to my dream…

But an [A] rank Stargate? That’s beyond what we can handle. The danger level would be catastrophic, far more than we can handle right now.

Arthur grabs my arm, yanking me back to reality. "We need to get out of here, now!"

Lumi nods sharply, her usual icy composure faltering for just a moment. "We should head to the evacuation points. They're equipped to handle situations like this."

The three of us push forward into the surging crowd, elbows and shoulders bumping against us as the panicked students flood toward the exits. The air is thick with cries and frantic footsteps.

In the rush, I get jolted, and the chaos threatens to swallow me whole. Arthur and Lumi are just ahead, but the sea of panicked students makes it hard to stay together.

"Arthur! Lumi!" I shout over the noise, but my voice is drowned in panic.

I scan the crowd frantically but lose sight of them—faces blur together in the chaos.

-Crash!

Suddenly, the window shatters as something smashes through it, sending shards of glass flying across the cafeteria. My heart skips a beat as I turn to face the intruder.

The creature that lands is horrifying—tall and skeletal, its body covered in ornate armor that gleams in the flickering light. Its limbs are elongated and unnaturally thin, and its head is crowned with a glowing, halo-like emblem. Ethereal wings spread behind it, shimmering with a strange, otherworldly light. In its bony hand, it wields a large staff with a circular blade at the end, the gold and white of its armor gleaming menacingly.

image [https://i.imgur.com/sh7xr1V.jpeg]

"What is that?!" a nearby student cries out in terror.

"I don’t know, but it’s disgusting!" another screams.

-Crash!

A second window shatters as another creature bursts through, landing on the opposite side of the cafeteria. Now, we’re trapped—two monsters block the exits, their eyes glowing with malice.

Luckily, I’ve come prepared. I reach for ‘Galahad’s Judgement,’ my dual pistols concealed beneath my pockets. In one swift motion, I draw them, aiming straight at the first creature’s head.

-Bang! Bang!

But to my shock, the bullets don’t even land—the creature spins its staff inhumanly, deflecting the shots with a metallic clang.

"Raaahhh!" The creatures roar, their skeletal frames vibrating with fury. These things are fast, too fast.

"!noisnemid thgie eht ot latrop A!" Maurice’s voice rings above the chaos as he weaves a spell.

In an instant, two swirling portals appear behind the creatures, pulling at them with a gravitational force too strong to resist.

"Raaahh!"

The creatures scream in defiance, flapping their wings desperately, attempting to escape the pull, but it’s futile. The force of the portals drags them inside, and they vanish in a whirl of energy.

The room falls silent, save for the soft hum of the portals fading away. Maurice steps forward, his commanding presence restoring a semblance of order.

"Everyone, head to the evacuation points immediately! Stay calm and move quickly!" he orders, gazing at me. "Dominic, good thinking, but don’t engage unless necessary. Get to safety. Understood?"

I holster my pistols and nod. "Understood, Professor."

The panic lessens as Maurice’s authority takes hold, and the students begin to move in a more organized manner. But my senses remain on high alert as I search the crowd, hoping to spot Arthur and Lumi again. The weight of the situation hangs heavy, but I can’t afford to let fear win.

I have to survive.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

Clark and Celine are enjoying a light game of badminton outside their house, the sun casting warm rays across the yard. With his small stature and determination, Clark does his best to return each shuttlecock that Celine gently sends.

"Here it comes, Clark!" Celine calls out, sending the shuttlecock over the net with a gentle flick of her wrist.

Clark positions himself; eyes focused on the incoming shuttlecock. He swings his racket with all his might, but his timing is slightly off. The shuttlecock sails past him, landing softly on the grass behind him.

"Aww, I missed it!" Clark exclaims a mix of frustration and amusement in his voice.

Celine smiles warmly, walking over to ruffle his hair. "You're doing great, Clark! We can keep practicing, and you'll get it next time."

Nearby, André is tending to the garden, pulling out weeds and ensuring the plants are well-watered. He looks up from his work and chuckles at Clark's determined expression.

"You'll get the hang of it, sport," André encourages, wiping his hands on his gardening apron. "Badminton takes practice, just like gardening. Keep at it, and you'll be winning in no time."

Clark grins, his spirits lifting at their words of encouragement. He picks up the shuttlecock, ready for another round.

But then—

-Rumble!

The ground beneath them begins to shake violently, disrupting their peaceful morning. The tremors grow stronger, causing the trees to sway and the garden tools to clatter to the ground.

Clark's eyes widen in fear as he drops his racket and runs toward Celine, his tiny hands clutching tightly onto her legs.

"C-Celine!" he cries, his voice trembling like the earth beneath them.

Celine kneels, wrapping her arms around Clark in a protective embrace. She strokes his hair, her voice soothing despite the chaos around them.

"It's okay, Clark. I'm right here. We're safe," she murmurs, holding him close as the tremors ripple through the ground.

André stands up, his expression serious as he observes the dark gray clouds suddenly rolling in, shrouding the sky in an ominous gloom.

"This huge amount of Mana…is it…" André mutters, his gaze following the direction from which the Mana surges. His eyes widen as he spots a giant Stargate forming in the distance, with monstrous creatures beginning to emerge from its swirling vortex.

The sight of the Stargate and the creatures spilling out makes André's heart pound with dread. He can sense its sheer power and knows immediately that it is an [A] ranked Stargate.

"Dominic…" he whispers, his voice laced with worry as he thinks of his son. The danger is too great, and he doesn’t know if Dominic is safe.

Quickly, André pulls out his Commlink, attempting to contact Dominic. But as he feared, there was no signal. The massive amount of Mana pouring from the Stargate disrupts the Mana flow, cutting off all communication.

"Tch! The huge Mana coming from the Stargate is disrupting the Mana flow of the Commlink," André mutters in frustration. He turns to Celine, urgency in his voice. "Celine, cast protection runes around our house and evacuate. We need to keep everyone safe."

Celine nods, her expression focused. She gently releases Clark, who is still clinging to her and begins gathering her Mana, preparing to cast the protective runes around their home.

"Shadow's Embrace!" André commands, gathering Mana around his body.

In an instant, shadows envelop him, and dark, ethereal wings sprout from his back, giving him a formidable, almost otherworldly appearance.

Clark’s fear begins to subside as he watches André transform, his eyes wide with awe. "André looks so cool!" he exclaims, momentarily forgetting his fear as he stares at André in amazement.

André gives Clark a reassuring smile, but his thoughts are consumed with worry for Dominic's safety. He can't afford to waste time with the Stargate so close and the danger so great.

With a powerful beat of his shadowy wings, André takes to the sky, heading straight toward the source of the threat. His heart pounds with fear and determination—he has to find Dominic and ensure his safety, no matter what.

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

Dominic Eñeforte

The moment I step outside, chaos greets me. With their skeletal forms and ethereal wings, the eerie creatures chase after panicked students, casting long shadows over the ground.

Flames rage in the distance, painting the sky a hellish orange, and the smoke stings my eyes. My heart sinks as I think of Clark and Celine, caught up in this madness. I take a deep breath to steady my nerves, reminding myself that André is likely with them and will protect them. But I can't linger on that thought—my top priority is reaching the evacuation center.

I’ve lost track of Arthur and Lumi, but they can handle themselves; they both have mobility spells. I, on the other hand, only have the 'Chrono Pendant.' I'm unsure if it's fully recharged its Mana after the last time I used it, but if things get worse, I might not have a choice.

"Rahhh!" A bone-chilling roar cuts through the chaos, pulling me back to the present.

I spin around just in time to see one of the creatures charging toward me, its glowing staff raised to strike. Instinct kicks in—I duck and roll, narrowly avoiding the vicious swing.

In one fluid motion, I draw one of my 'Galahad's Judgement' pistols and fire at the back of the creature's head.

-Bang! Bang!

The bullets connect, and the creature screeches, its eerie cry echoing as blood spurts from the wound. It crumples to the ground in a twisted heap.

There is no time to celebrate—another roar splits the air, and I look up to see more creatures circling above, their glowing eyes locked onto me like vultures descending upon their prey.

They swoop down, their staffs crackling with malevolent energy.

I raise both pistols, bracing myself.

[Centurion’s Guard]

-Clank!

The first creature’s staff collides with my guns, its raw strength pushing me down until I’m kneeling beneath its crushing weight.

“Ugh!” I grit my teeth, straining to hold my ground. The [Centurion’s Guard] technique is supposed to create an opening for a counterattack, but this thing is too strong.

"Rahhh!" Two more creatures swoop in, their staffs poised to strike me down.

I need to act now.

With a grunt of effort, I twist my pistols, using the creature's momentum to duck beneath its attack. The two others crash into the first, their staffs colliding in a violent clash of energy.

-Clank! Clank!

Seizing the moment, I raise my pistols and fire.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

The creature directly in front of me collapses under the rapid fire. Without wasting a second, I turn my aim to the others.

-Bang! Bang!

Another one falls, its wings twitching before it stops completely. The remaining creatures hover hesitantly in the air, their glowing eyes flickering as they reassess their strategy. But the respite is short-lived—more skeletal figures are descending from the sky, their wings shimmering with otherworldly energy.

I glance around desperately, looking for a way out. The streets are thick with smoke and ash, and the creatures above seem endless, circling like vultures waiting to strike—my heart races. I can’t keep this up for long.

There—a narrow alleyway between two crumbling buildings. It’s my only shot.

Without hesitation, I activate the [Chrono Pendant].

“Activate!”

-Tick-tock!

Time slows to a crawl. The world around me shifts sluggishly—the creatures’ wings flap slowly, and their crackling staffs move like syrup through the air. I bolt for the alleyway, dodging their sluggish attacks with ease.

“Deactivate!”

-Chime!

Time snaps back to normal as I skid to a halt in the alley, gasping for breath. I glance around, listening for any signs of pursuit. Silence, but the tension in the air tells me it won’t last long.

My goal is still to reach the evacuation center, but the creatures have driven me off course. But I have another problem: I don’t know where it is.

I pull out my Commlink to check the map, but the screen flashes red—there is no signal. Of course. The chaos is disrupting everything.

Great. Now I’m flying blind.

I step cautiously out of the alley and run down a side street, hoping to find some direction, when—

"Rahhh!"

A roar reverberates through the town, louder than any before. I stop dead in my tracks.

A massive, two-headed dragon descends from the clouds, its skeletal frame clad in gleaming armor. Ornate golden and white accents glimmer in the firelight, and a glowing halo-like emblem crowns each head, casting an eerie glow over the town.

image [https://i.imgur.com/rEC4gZM.jpeg]

One of its heads swivels toward me, its eyes locking onto mine. The other soon follows, and both heads snarl in unison. The dragon begins its descent, wings flaring as it zeroes in on me.

"You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter, my throat dry.

Why me? Why does it always have to be me?

I don’t waste another moment. I pull out my pistols and fire at the beast.

-Bang! Bang!

-Clank! Clank!

The bullets ricochet harmlessly off its thick armor.

The dragon lands with a thunderous crash, its size shaking the ground beneath my feet. Each of its talons digs into the earth, massive enough to crush me in one step.

Its heads lower, snarling as they prepare to strike. I’m out of time.

Adrenaline surges through my veins and my mind races. My pistols are useless against its armor—I need another plan. I scan my surroundings desperately.

There! An abandoned building just ahead, its windows shattered, the structure crumbling but still intact. I can’t fight this thing head-on, but I can use the ruins to buy myself time.

Without a second thought, I sprint toward the building, diving through one of the broken windows just as the dragon lunges. I roll across the dusty floor, feeling the ground shake as the dragon’s heads twist, trying to track my movements.

I’m safe for now, but I know I only have seconds before the beast decides to tear this building apart. I need a plan, and I need it fast.