That morning, the atmosphere at Zephyrus Academy felt a little different. Although students had filled the area, the atmosphere seemed quieter. Almost everyone seemed to be watching one figure with curious gazes and, for some, seemed to be holding back anger.
Damian had just sat down in his chair when he noticed the gaze. He glanced around with a puzzled face.
"Liam, why does everyone look like they want to kill me?" he asked softly, a little worried.
Beside him, Liam sat quietly while cleaning his small revolver. Without looking away from his work, he answered flatly. "Most likely because you defeated Kyle Ardent, the second-ranked student in our year."
Damian frowned. "It was just survival training, right?"
"For noble children who are obsessed with rankings, you just ruined their world order," Liam replied casually.
Not knowing what to say in response, Damian just opened his lunch slowly. Milk tea and cheese sandwiches were his choices that morning. "At least the food didn't look at rankings."
That day, all students in class 1-B and 1-C were scheduled to take part in a combined physical education class. They were all gathered in the backyard of the academy, the area usually used for combat training. There, the stern figure of Instructor Drein was already standing, ready to lead the training.
The training began with a warm-up. Damian was placed in a mixed group with Liam and two students from class 1-C for the warm-up.
One of them immediately caught his attention. A tall and large young man with short, neat, dark hair. His eyes were calm, but sharp. Damian felt like he had seen this figure before, although he couldn't quite remember where.
The young man stepped forward and extended his hand casually. "Lucien Ironhart," he said, introducing himself.
Damian returned the handshake. "Damian," he replied shortly.
Lucien smiled faintly. His gaze seemed familiar, as if he had known Damian for longer than he thought. "Yes, I know," he said lightly.
Damian furrowed his eyebrows, feeling surprised. But before he could ask further, the instructor's voice was heard calling them to start training. Inevitably, he put his curiosity aside for the time being.
The training began. All participants had to go through a series of physical obstacles. Starting from jumping over low magic explosion traps, until finally entering a simulation duel session.
Damian was paired with Lucien for a light duel. Both of them seemed to be holding back, but still showed quite intense strength and movement.
When Damian launched a quick attack from the lower right side, Lucien quickly read the movement. In an instant, he issued a magic shield and blocked Damian's slash.
CLANG!
"You're faster than the last time we met," Lucien commented while maintaining his position.
Damian smiled casually. "Shield Affinity, huh?"
Lucien chuckled, but his gaze changed for a moment. Behind his calm smile, his eyes seemed to be hiding something. There was an impression that this duel was not just an ordinary duel for him. "Remember when you managed to beat me in this school's entrance test?"
Damian replied, "Ohhh, that guy, I apologize if I've beaten you before, but you're strong and it's very difficult for me to penetrate your defense."
"I know you're strong, but I didn't use all my strength that time, so get ready," Lucien said.
Lucien smiled faintly, but this time his expression looked more serious.
As soon as the instructor gave the signal to continue the duel, he immediately changed his position. His gaze became sharp and focused.
"Alright… I won't hold back anymore," Lucien said in a firm voice.
Damian was a little surprised to see the change in his opponent's attitude.
Lucien immediately attacked with much higher speed. Damian barely had time to react. In a short time, Lucien was in front of him and pushed his magic shield hard towards Damian.
Damian was pushed back, but managed to keep himself from falling. He also immediately formed an ice wall to block the next attack.
"You've become much more serious," Damian said, trying to stay calm.
Lucien didn't retaliate. He continued to launch fast and powerful attacks. Damian was forced to dodge and defend. The other students began to pay attention to the duel.
"This fight looks serious," one of the students whispered.
Damian waited for an opportunity. He saw the gap. When Lucien moved too wide, he immediately attacked towards the gap.
But before his slash hit, Lucien suddenly stopped his attack and lowered his shield.
"That's enough," Lucien said while taking a breath.
Damian stopped and looked at him, confused. "Why stop?"
Lucien answered briefly. "I just wanted to see how far your abilities are. It seems like I already know the answer."
Damian sighed. "Thank goodness. I thought this duel would end badly."
Lucien smiled slightly. "From now on, I will consider you as my rival."
Damian just smiled casually. "Don't be too serious about it."
The fight ended, and they returned to the line. Even so, the duel left an impression on the students who watched.
After the training was over, the students sat down to rest on the edge of the training arena. The cool afternoon air helped them chase away their fatigue. Damian chose a spot under a tree and enjoyed his cheese sandwiches leisurely.
Not long after, Lucien came and sat next to him. His voice sounded light as he started a conversation.
"Still like sandwiches, huh?"
Damian turned his head slightly, confused. "Huh?"
Lucien looked a little nervous and quickly corrected himself. "Ehmm, I mean... It's a favorite of many people. It's natural."
Damian chewed slowly, then raised an eyebrow suspiciously. "You sound like you've known me for a long time. Even though we just met, right?"
Lucien was silent for a moment. His face looked serious. Then he opened a different topic, his voice softer and more careful. "Have you ever... dreamed about people you don't know? But it feels... like you've been with them. Like old friends, even though their faces are unfamiliar."
Damian immediately stopped chewing. His gaze turned serious. He nodded slowly. "I have it too. There are five people... they often appear in my dreams. But I don't know who they are."
Lucien stared at Damian deeply. His tone grew heavier. "One of them... his physical features are similar to yours, blue hair, although his face looks blurry."
The two of them were silent. It was silent long enough that only the sound of the wind could be heard. From a distance, Liam seemed to be watching them both with a wary expression, but did not join in.
Lucien finally broke the silence. "I don't know why, but if you feel the same way... maybe we do have a related past."
Damian nodded slowly. "But don't tell anyone about this. Including Liam."
Lucien smiled thinly, seeming to agree. "Sure. I think so too."
They looked at each other for a moment, then almost simultaneously, both of them pretended to cough and quickly changed the topic to the training earlier, as if not wanting to make the atmosphere too heavy.
Even so, in his heart, Damian knew... one of the five people in his dream, he had finally found one.
Still on the same afternoon, after class was over, students began to fill the corridor leading to the dormitory. Damian, Liam, and Lucien walked side by side, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. However, the atmosphere immediately changed when they heard a commotion from the front.
They immediately saw three students crowding a small child in the corner of the corridor. The child looked scared, while one of the three students had already cast a small fire magic on his palm.
Lucien stepped forward without hesitation. His face remained calm, but his eyes were sharp. "Stop right now."
One of the bullying students turned his head, showing a brave attitude. "Huhhh? This is none of your business."
Not long after, Damian and Liam stepped forward. Damian stood beside Lucien, while Liam was ready, his hand slowly reaching for the small revolver he always carried.
Lucien looked at the three of them calmly. "Three against one? That kid can't even use his magic properly yet. If you still have any brains, you better leave now."
The student who used fire magic looked like he wanted to fight. His hand was slightly raised, ready to launch the magic.
But before they could act, a small gunshot was heard.
Bang!
The bullet that Liam fired hit the ground in front of their feet, creating a thin smoke that was enough to make them panic.
"That was a warning," Liam said in a flat but threatening tone.
The next second, the three students immediately panicked. Their faces turned pale, and they hurriedly apologized. Without daring to fight back, they immediately ran away from the place.
The bullied child also left. Although he still looked scared and his eyes were glassy, he looked much more relieved.
After the atmosphere calmed down again, Damian glanced at Lucien. "Do you often help strangers like that?"
Lucien shook his head lightly. "Not really. But when I see weak people being treated like that, it feels annoying."
Damian smiled thinly. "Turns out, we are similar."
Lucien replied with a light smile. "I know..."
They looked at each other for a moment before finally continuing their journey to the dormitory. Although brief, the incident seemed to make it clearer... that the connection between them was starting to form.
That night…..
The cold air crept slowly through the gap in the window. The room was already quiet. Damian was sitting on his bed while reading the strategy notes he had made earlier that afternoon. Meanwhile, in the chair in front of the study table, Liam was cleaning his small revolver with his usual focus.
Several minutes passed without a sound… until finally Liam opened his mouth.
"Master Damian," he said suddenly.
Damian glanced, somewhat reluctant to respond. "Hmm?"
Liam lowered his revolver, looking serious. "I want to ask… about Lucien Ironhart."
Damian raised an eyebrow, pretending not to understand. "Lucien? Why?"
Liam stared at Damian straight in the eye. "You just met him today, but you seem… too familiar with him. Even during the duel earlier this afternoon. As if you've known each other for quite some time."
Damian was silent for a moment. He could feel Liam's sharp gaze.
Of course, he couldn't tell the truth about their past in the old world, or that Lucien was one of his old friends who had been exiled to Altareon.
So, Damian shrugged, trying to act casual.
"Ah, that's... nothing," he answered lightly. "I had a duel with him during the entrance exam, right? From there, it was like... yeah, we just remembered each other. Besides, Lucien's type of person is easy to remember. He's big and calm."
Liam seemed unsatisfied. "But earlier, during break, you guys chatted for quite a while. Even after the incident with the bullied student. It was like you guys were having a private conversation."
Damian held his breath for a moment, but smiled anyway. "He's just a strong guy, sometimes he just connects when we're talking about duels or magic. He seems to enjoy having someone he can spar with seriously."
Liam narrowed his eyes. "So that's all?"
Damian nodded immediately. "Yes, Liam. I don't have a secret connection or anything like that with him. Lucien is just the type of person who gets along easily with everyone because he's good at it. That's all."
Liam was silent. But from the look on his face, it was clear that he didn't fully believe it. But he didn't press further either.
"Hmm... Okay," Liam finally said softly. "If there's something suspicious, I'll be the first to check it out."
Damian chuckled. "Yeah, yeah... I know."
Liam just nodded. After that, the room fell silent again. But for Damian, the conversation just now felt quite heavy. He took a deep breath as he stared at the night sky from behind the window. While saying to himself.
"Sorry, Liam. If possible, I also want to tell you the truth... But for now... It's not the time yet."