"Papa, what is that?"Turning his attention to the boy inside the tube before them, the man gently patted his son's head, trying to comfort him in this unique and emotional moment."From now on, you'll be having a new brother," he said, his voice filled with hope for the future.The young boy's eyes sparkled with excitement as he clapped his hands joyfully, eagerly looking forward to meeting his new sibling."Now now, there's no need to be too excited. Your brother is still resting inside the machine," the mother chimed in playfully, sneaking up behind her son and pinching his cheeks affectionately."Yeah..." the boy replied, his anticipation mingled with a hint of uncertainty.The three of them stood there, gazing at the boy inside the tube, a mixture of emotions running through their hearts.Unbeknownst to them, the boy inside the tube opened his right eye slightly to take a glance at their direction before closing it back again.......Three years later, the bond between the brot

"Who are...?"The man's words hung in the air, suspended in a moment that was destined to remain unfinished. Before he could complete his sentence, his life slipped away, his final breath dissipating into the ether."Just an ORDINARY student," I stated, my voice as frigid as the unforgiving wind that swept through the scene.With a dispassionate gaze fixed upon the lifeless form before me, sprawled in a pool of crimson, I returned my hand to its resting place in my pocket. The other hand, devoid of empathy, lifted my mask, concealing any hint of emotion that might betray my chilling composure.Allow me to REINTRODUCE myself — Vallen Sephtis, a name that often echoes through the halls of Magic High as a lightheaded simp. In the realm of academia, I'm not one to shine in studies or command magic with finesse, all thanks to a certain reason. Despite my academic shortcomings, one particular aspect sets me apart in this hallowed institution — it's my OVERWHELMING want to live in peace.At t

Several hours whisked past in a blur. As I gathered my belongings, preparing to embark on my journey to school, I exited my room and embarked upon a solitary walk through the vacant corridor."It's been quiet today..." I mused aloud, the words softly punctuating the stillness. The once-familiar cadence of life within these walls seemed to have shifted inexplicably.I remembered the time when my cousin was still a child. We would often play outside until we're tired. Over time, much like the others, her disposition underwent a subtle metamorphosis, a transformation coinciding with my own affliction of blindness. To clarify, my sentiments towards her remain untouched by animosity. Rather, I suspect her malleable nature might be the root cause—susceptible to the prevailing influence of those around her.Children are easily influenced, which is why my cousin, who was once innocent, now exhibits a brattish demeanor."Speak of the devil..."Abruptly, my steps came to a halt as I fixed my ga

"Why...?""Why.... Why...?""Athan.....!"As the voice calling a familiar yet weirdly unknown name became faint, I could feel someone grabbing me from behind.It was pulling me further into the darkness.I felt like I was drowning in a deep ocean; however, for some reason, I could still breath properly.Help... I wanted to scream, yet no words came out from my mouth except for bubbles. The experience felt suffocating.As the hand kept pulling me further away from the light, I felt my eyes becoming heavy. Soon, I let the darkness consume my consciousness as the feeling of emptiness overtake me......."....Ah!"My eyes shut open as I immediately sat up from my bed, my hand extended forward. What happened...? I thought, looking at my palm as I pant heavily. To calm down, I clutched on my chest and closed my eyes to take in some breath.After snapping out of trance and recovering my stupor, I immediately turned my attention to scrutinize my surroundings."I..."Noticing the action fi

(Vallen POV)Earlier...As soon as I arrived at the school, I immediately noticed Alicia standing in front of the gate. From the looks of it, she appeared to be nervous. It was probably because, after this year, she would officially become a Guardian.Upon graduation, each student had the option to choose a profession. For civilians, the options ranged from entrepreneurship and accounting to science, police work, politics, and various other common occupations.However, for students like us who attended a Magic School, there were six special job categories to choose from. These options included Guardians, Magic Police, Mages, Mercenaries, Hunters, and Wanderers.Guardians were often likened to modern-day heroes. They were ranked by number, with the number one spot occupied by a Guardian known as Felix. This number was both a codename and an indication of their mastery of Sky and Lightning magic.Magic Police were essentially law enforcement officers who wielded magic.Mages acted as re