Rin and Taro stood still, eyes lowered to the ground, as the Headmaster's intense gaze bore into them from behind his desk. The room was so quiet they could hear the tick of the clock on the wall.
"You called for me, Headmaster?" Kobe asked, his tone more formal than usual.
The Headmaster didn't look away from the two boys. "They're your students now. But before they walk out of here, I want them to understand something."
He rose from his chair.
"You both know what you did," the Headmaster said, his voice sharp and cold.
Neither of them responded.
He let out a heavy sigh, then leaned back. "Well… you are kids, after all."
For a brief moment, the air in the room lightened—until his tone turned stern again.
"But if anything like this happens again… I will expel you. No warnings. No exceptions."
"Yes, Headmaster. Thank you," the boys said in unison, bowing before quickly turning and leaving the room.
Once the door shut behind them, Kobe remained.
"I didn't think you'd let them off so easily," he said.
"I didn't want to expel them in their first month," the Headmaster replied. Then his voice lowered. "But keep an eye on them, Kobe. You never know what this world will throw their way."
Kobe nodded. "Yeah… I'll take your word on that. See you next time."
As Kobe left the office, the Headmaster turned to a small drawer beside his desk. From it, he pulled a worn envelope, its edges frayed, the seal long broken.
Inside was an old photograph.
It showed a younger version of himself, standing alongside a group of students—each face brimming with potential. His eyes lingered on two boys at the center of the photo. They were smiling, laughing… unaware of what lay ahead.
He placed the photo back and shut the drawer slowly.
"Let's see if history repeats," he muttered.
---
The next morning arrived.
Rin and Taro walked side by side, heading to class through the academy's stone halls.
"So," Taro said casually, "who's gonna ask Kaela about joining our group?"
Rin sighed. "Again with this? It's just a group. We'll both talk to her—it's not a big deal."
They entered the classroom and took their usual seats. Moments later, Kobe walked in, his voice steady and relaxed.
"Class is starting. Everyone take a seat."
As the murmurs settled, he stood at the front.
"Today's lesson is about Fusion Arts," Kobe began. "Can anyone tell me what they are?"
Taro raised his hand. "Isn't it when you combine two elements to create a stronger one?"
"Correct," Kobe nodded. "For example, fire and earth make magma. Add more fire and you get lava. But…"
He paused.
"…if you add water to that lava, you get obsidian—dense, durable, and nearly unbreakable."
Some students gasped.
"But here's the thing. Mixing three elements is incredibly hard. Even the Headmaster can barely manage four. To pull that off, you'd need hellish training."
He paced slowly as he continued.
"Now, how do you fuse elements? First, understand this: your mana will shift based on the elemental will you're channeling. It's not just about casting two spells at once."
The class remained silent, listening.
"When you choose, say, fire—feel it. Understand it. Let it flow through you. Then try to add another. Earth, maybe. But mixing them isn't just stacking powers."
Kobe's gaze darkened.
"If your control slips, your mana can destabilize. You could injure yourself—or lose your ability to use magic altogether."
Taro's eyes widened.
"Fusion Arts take years of disciplined training. So don't rush it. Step by step. Don't overdo it."
He turned and gestured to the side of the room where a small podium stood. Upon it were three glowing crystals—red, green, and blue.
"These are elemental resonance crystals," Kobe explained. "One of the safest ways to begin experimenting with controlled fusion. If you're interested, ask me after class. But don't try this on your own."
Whispers broke out among the students. Curiosity was clearly piqued.
"With the right discipline," Kobe added, "Fusion Arts can surpass anything you've seen so far. But if you think it's a shortcut to power…"
He stared hard at them.
"…you're not ready."
With that, Kobe clapped his hands once. "Dismissed."
---
As students began filing out, Taro approached Kaela's desk.
"Hey, uh—wanna—"
"Not interested," Kaela cut in sharply, not even looking at him.
Taro blinked. "W-Wait, just hear me out. I'm not trying to be annoying or anything—"
"Ugh. Just go away. I don't want to hear your bullshit."
Rin stepped up beside him, folding his arms. "Forget it, Taro. A girl like her? She'll never accomplish anything alone. Just look at her. She's a failure."
Kaela froze.
The entire classroom went silent. Students stared.
Taro looked at Rin, horrified. "Hey, that's too far—"
Kaela's voice rose, trembling with fury. "What… the hell did you just say to me?"
"You heard me," Rin said coolly. "If you think you can succeed by isolating yourself from everyone, you're delusional."
Kaela clenched her fists, eyes glowing slightly with anger, ready to lash out.
"STOP. Both of you!" Taro stepped between them. "Rin, shut up. What the hell are you doing?"
Rin looked away with a scoff.
Taro turned to Kaela. "We just wanted to ask if you'd join our group. That's it. We don't have a third member yet… but after this, I get why you'd refuse."
He turned away, grabbing Rin by the sleeve. "Come on. Let's just go to the cafeteria."
Kaela's voice stopped them. "Ugh… fine. I'll join."
Taro blinked. "R-Really?"
"I needed to join a group anyway," she muttered, brushing past them.
Taro's face lit up. He turned to Rin. "Alright! Let's go find Kobe and tell him."
Kaela snapped, "Don't address teachers by their names so casually."
Taro flinched. "S-Sorry! I mean… Instructor Kobe."
Rin clicked his tongue, then followed silently.
---
Far above the academy towers, an observer cloaked in feathers sat upon the edge of a spire, their eyes following the trio as they left the classroom.
They didn't speak. They only smiled.
"Another piece falls into place," they whispered.
And just like that, the wind swept through the air—and they vanished.
---
To be continued…