The rear garden of the academy had fallen into an uneasy silence.
The morning air carried the scent of damp grass and blooming silver lilies from the eastern courtyard, yet none of us seemed capable of appreciating it after everything that had happened beneath the Forbidden Forest. We remained gathered near the trees behind the main building, pretending to wait for classes to begin while secretly discussing how to hide the existence of the controlled student from the rest of the school.
Not that we even had a plan.
Minho leaned against one of the stone walls with his arms crossed, looking unusually serious for once. Won Ho sat on the grass nearby, still recovering emotionally after the sanctuary incident. Airi quietly observed the surroundings while Xia stood beside Miriam like a silent bodyguard ready to cut someone in half at the slightest provocation.
As for me…
I was tired.
Not normal tired.
The kind of exhaustion that settled deep inside your bones after surviving something your mind still refused to fully process.
My head still throbbed faintly from using the black mist earlier, though the pain had lessened after sleeping for a while during class. Even so, every now and then I could still feel something moving beneath my skin. Something cold. Something alive.
The Dark Path.
Just thinking about it made my stomach twist.
Kimberly crouched beside the unconscious student near the bushes and poked his cheek with a finger.
"Still creepy," she muttered.
"He's breathing normally," Miriam replied while adjusting her glasses. "Whatever affected him doesn't seem physically harmful."
"That's somehow worse," Minho said.
Honestly… yeah. I agreed with him.
The guy looked completely normal now. Just an ordinary student standing motionless near the trees with empty eyes fixed on the school wall like his soul had gone on vacation without permission.
The worst part?
Nobody around us noticed anything strange.
Students walked through the hallways nearby. Some laughed. Others talked about homework, exams, relationships… ordinary things. The normal world continued moving forward completely unaware that monsters, cults, gods, and supernatural organizations existed behind the curtain.
A few weeks ago, I would've been one of those people too.
Now I had shadow powers.
Great.
I rubbed my eyes with a tired sigh.
"So…" I muttered. "Any ideas?"
"Other than setting him on fire?" Kim suggested.
"Kim."
"What? I said other than."
Before anyone could continue the conversation, the atmosphere suddenly changed.
Every single person around me stiffened.
Xia's hand immediately moved toward the hilt of her sword.
Kimberly's blue flames ignited around her fingers.
Won Ho instinctively stepped backward.
Even Miriam's expression sharpened.
Meanwhile…
I felt strangely calm.
Actually, more than calm.
Comfortable.
Like the sudden pressure in the air wasn't dangerous at all.
Minho noticed my lack of reaction and narrowed his eyes.
"You seriously don't feel that?"
"Feel what?"
Nobody answered.
Then Kim's flames suddenly vanished.
Not because she wanted them to.
Because Minho grabbed her wrist before she could react further.
"Do you want her to humiliate us again?" he muttered under his breath.
And just like that, I understood who had arrived.
I slowly turned around.
A familiar figure stood several meters behind us near the academy entrance, illuminated by the pale morning sunlight.
Professor Eclipse.
Long black coat.
Dark hair flowing gently with the wind.
A cigarette resting between her fingers.
Cold crimson eyes capable of making most people feel like prey.
Honestly, she looked less like a teacher and more like the final boss of a nightmare.
A faint smile formed on my face before I could stop it.
"Good morning, Professor," I said casually. "It's nice seeing you again."
Which was true.
As terrifying as she was, I probably would've lost my mind inside Matusalen's sanctuary without her warning about the loops.
The professor observed me silently for a moment.
Then, surprisingly, a faint smile appeared on her lips as well.
"I'm glad my presence pleases you now," she replied in her usual cold, calculated tone. "Let's fix this mess."
She walked past us without another word.
The sound of her heels against the stone path echoed softly through the garden.
The controlled student remained frozen in place.
Professor Eclipse stopped directly in front of him and exhaled smoke into the air.
Then she snapped her fingers.
The effect was immediate.
The boy's entire body trembled violently.
His pupils contracted.
Color returned to his face.
And suddenly he gasped for air as if waking from a drowning nightmare.
He stumbled backward in confusion, nearly falling before catching himself against the wall.
"What the—?"
His eyes darted wildly around the garden.
Professor Eclipse looked down at him with complete indifference.
"What happened to you?" she asked flatly.
The student blinked several times, still disoriented.
"I… I don't know…"
He rubbed his forehead while trying to regain his bearings.
"I was walking near the back courtyard and then…" He hesitated before pointing toward a distant building beyond the academy walls. "There were two men standing on the rooftop over there."
The moment he said that, my stomach tightened.
The rooftop.
The same place I had sensed someone watching us earlier.
Professor Eclipse took another drag from her cigarette.
"Continue."
The student swallowed nervously.
"They looked strange… like they came from another era or something. Their clothes were old-fashioned. Almost Seventh Age style."
Vintage-steampunk.
Just like the figures I had seen disappearing earlier.
A cold sensation crawled down my spine.
The boy continued speaking.
"Then I felt…" He frowned. "Something connected to my head. Like invisible threads inside my mind."
His breathing became uneven.
"And after that… everything went blank."
Silence fell over the garden.
Even the wind seemed quieter now.
Professor Eclipse stared at him for several long seconds before finally speaking again.
"You may leave."
The student blinked.
"…That's it?"
"Yes."
He clearly wanted answers.
Unfortunately for him, Professor Eclipse looked about as interested in explaining things as a cat forced to attend a tax seminar.
The boy hesitated before awkwardly walking away toward the main courtyard, probably questioning his entire existence.
The moment he disappeared from sight, the silence around us became heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Oppressive.
Professor Eclipse slowly turned toward us.
Smoke drifted from her cigarette into the morning air.
"I expected them to remain hidden longer," she said at last.
Nobody interrupted her.
Even Kim stayed quiet.
"For now, I can't tell you much," the professor continued. "I have matters to deal with first. By tonight… or perhaps tomorrow… I may explain who those men truly are."
That only made me more curious.
Which probably meant the answer was terrible.
Professor Eclipse glanced toward me briefly.
For a split second, her crimson eyes seemed to linger longer than usual.
Like she was trying to measure something inside me.
The black mist?
The Dark Path?
Whatever she sensed, she said nothing.
Then she turned around and walked back toward the academy building.
Just before disappearing through the doors, her voice reached us one last time.
"Be careful, children."
And somehow…
Those three words felt far more threatening than reassuring.
For several seconds after Professor Eclipse disappeared into the academy, none of us spoke.
The atmosphere she left behind clung to the garden like cold fog.
Even Kim seemed quieter than usual.
Which honestly felt unnatural.
I shoved my hands into the pockets of my uniform and exhaled slowly while staring at the grass beneath my feet. My head was still filled with questions.
Who were those men?
Why had Eclipse looked worried?
And more importantly…
Why did it feel like every answer in this world only led to something worse?
Kimberly suddenly clapped her hands together loudly, startling everyone.
"ANYWAY!" she declared. "Before mysterious steampunk psychopaths try to murder us, can we focus on MY ritual?"
Trust Kim to restore chaos to the universe.
Minho pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You really know how to ruin dramatic tension."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I chose to interpret it as one."
Meanwhile, Professor Adermat looked like an excited researcher who had just discovered forbidden knowledge inside an ancient tomb.
Honestly, the man worried me sometimes.
He adjusted his glasses before opening the old ritual book once more. The pages looked so ancient that breathing too hard near them could probably erase history itself.
"Well then," he said enthusiastically. "Kimberly, have you decided how you wish to ascend?"
Kim crossed her arms confidently.
"Full level ascension."
Not even a second of hesitation.
No fear.
No uncertainty.
Just pure determination.
The professor nodded approvingly.
"A bold choice."
"Wait," I interrupted. "There are different ways to level up?"
Professor Adermat glanced toward me.
"Of course. Illuminated can ascend either gradually through decimal sequences using specialized alchemical potions… or all at once through ritualistic evolution."
"That sounds suspiciously dangerous."
"It is."
"…You said that way too casually."
Miriam stepped beside the professor and crossed her arms.
"Decimal ascension is safer," she explained. "But significantly slower. Ritual ascension is faster and grants greater synchronization with the LC Path."
"And the downside?" I asked.
Nobody answered immediately.
That alone told me enough.
Professor Adermat finally sighed.
"The risks depend on the Path itself. Some rituals are relatively harmless." He paused. "Others are catastrophic."
Kim raised a finger proudly.
"Mine is probably somewhere in the middle!"
"The Fire Path literally has records of users exploding," Xia said flatly.
Kim slowly lowered her finger.
"…Okay maybe slightly above middle."
The professor began flipping through the ancient book again.
"Now then," he muttered. "For the Level One Ascension Ritual of the Zero Flame Lineage, we will require the following components."
Kim immediately opened the notes app on her phone.
I still wasn't used to seeing supernatural rituals mixed with smartphones.
The contrast was ridiculous.
Professor Adermat cleared his throat dramatically.
"Thirty Phoenix Flowers."
Kim typed quickly.
"Fifteen Tears of Fire."
More typing.
"Two hundred and fifty grams of Falling Star Powder."
I blinked.
"Sounds expensive."
"It is," Miriam replied immediately.
Professor Adermat continued.
"One Dragon Heart."
"THAT sounds illegal," I said.
"It technically isn't," Miriam clarified.
"That answer somehow made it worse."
"And finally…" the professor said, lifting a finger. "One chalice of Shadow Wine."
Silence.
I stared at him.
"…You people level up like you're summoning ancient demons."
Minho shrugged.
"Pretty sure that's historically how power works."
Honestly?
Fair point.
Kim finished typing everything and lowered her phone.
"Okay. Small problem."
She looked at all of us.
"How exactly am I supposed to get any of this?"
Miriam immediately stepped forward.
"We can go to the market district after obtaining permission from the academy. There are hidden stores that supply ritual materials."
"Hidden stores?" I repeated.
"You'd be surprised how much exists beneath ordinary society," Miriam replied calmly.
That statement should not have sounded as ominous as it did.
I leaned against the tree behind me while the others discussed logistics.
Yet my thoughts drifted elsewhere.
The Daylight Moths.
That ridiculous name still echoed inside my head.
I finally looked toward Professor Adermat again.
"…Okay, I need to ask." I pointed at him. "What exactly are the Daylight Moths and why do they sound like the weakest superhero team in existence?"
Kim burst into laughter.
Even Airi covered her mouth to hide a smile.
Professor Adermat, however, looked deeply offended.
"The Daylight Moths are one of the most powerful organizations among the Illuminated."
"That somehow makes the name even funnier."
The professor sighed in visible disappointment toward my generation.
"They are an elite neutral organization responsible for maintaining order among Illuminated society. Funded by the government. Supported by the Church of Deris. Yet independent from both."
"So basically supernatural police?"
"A gross oversimplification, but essentially yes."
My amusement faded slightly.
That actually sounded dangerous.
Professor Adermat's expression suddenly became more serious.
"And Dark…"
The way he said my name immediately made my stomach tighten.
"It would be best if the Daylight Moths never discover your connection to the Dark Path."
Silence fell again.
The joking atmosphere vanished instantly.
I looked away.
Right.
That.
The cursed part.
The part where my powers apparently belonged to servants chosen by some forgotten god of darkness.
Honestly, every time I remembered that detail, life became slightly more depressing.
"What happens if they find out?" I asked quietly.
Nobody answered immediately.
Which was never a good sign.
Finally, Miriam spoke.
"That depends on the faction involved."
"…Meaning?"
"Some would fear you."
Xia continued calmly.
"Some would try to control you."
Minho crossed his arms.
"And some would probably try to kill you."
Wonderful.
Absolutely fantastic.
My life just kept improving.
I forced out a dry laugh and rubbed the back of my neck.
"With my luck, they'd probably dissect me in a laboratory."
Nobody laughed.
…That was concerning.
Professor Adermat closed the ritual book carefully.
"The Dark LC has existed in legends since before the Sixth Age," he explained. "Very little is truly known about it. Only fragments remain."
Fragments.
Stories.
Whispers.
Fear.
That was all my power seemed to bring.
I lowered my gaze toward my own hands.
The same hands that had released the black mist inside Matusalen's sanctuary.
The same mist that made experienced Illuminated look at me with terror.
A cold sensation crawled beneath my skin again.
Sometimes I still couldn't believe any of this was real.
Gods.
LC Paths.
Rituals.
Monsters.
Ancient organizations.
A few weeks ago, my biggest concern was surviving school exams.
Now I apparently carried the power of an eldritch nightmare inside my veins.
Life was weird.
Very weird.
Miriam suddenly clapped her hands together, pulling everyone's attention back to her.
"Enough standing around."
Her voice carried surprising authority.
Honestly… she really did sound like a leader when she wanted to.
She turned toward Xia first.
"You're coming with me."
Xia nodded immediately.
Then Miriam looked toward Professor Adermat.
"Professor, please prepare Kimberly for the ritual."
The professor adjusted his glasses confidently.
"Leave it to me."
Miriam's eyes shifted toward me next.
"And Dark…"
I straightened slightly.
"Try learning how to properly control your abilities."
Ah.
Right.
The shadow nightmare powers.
Wonderful.
Then she looked toward Minho and Won Ho.
"You two should continue training as well. I have a feeling something big is coming."
The way she said that sent an unpleasant chill down my spine.
Not fear exactly.
More like instinct.
Like standing on railroad tracks moments before hearing the distant sound of an approaching train.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
And just like that…
We began preparing for whatever nightmare was waiting for us next.
While Minho and Won Ho nearly tore each other apart behind the school, Miriam and Xia had already left campus with a temporary exit permit approved by the principal himself.
Apparently being the perfect honor student had its benefits.
The market they were looking for was only a few blocks away from the academy, so the two of them walked quickly through the crowded streets of Amberlath while the afternoon sun slowly descended across the horizon.
The city felt alive.
Massive holographic screens floated above buildings. Vendors shouted offers from every direction. The smell of grilled meat, spices, flowers, and machine oil mixed together in the air. Steam rose from underground pipes beneath the streets while old-fashioned street lamps slowly began to ignite one by one.
Amberlath was a city trapped between ages.
Half futuristic.
Half ancient.
Completely insane.
"So… where exactly are we supposed to look first?" Xia asked while scanning the endless rows of stores and stands around her.
Miriam didn't answer immediately. She simply motioned for Xia to follow.
That alone already worried her.
The two girls continued weaving through the market until they finally stopped in front of a small flower shop hidden between two larger buildings.
It looked ancient.
The wooden sign hanging above the entrance was cracked and faded with age. White letters barely remained visible across the surface.
FLOWER SHOP.
Simple.
Ordinary.
Too ordinary.
Miriam stepped inside first.
Xia followed carefully behind her.
The interior was surprisingly beautiful. White walls mixed with soft purple and pink lines curved elegantly across the room. Painted flowers covered the ceiling—roses, lilies, orchids, geraniums, and countless others Xia didn't recognize.
The scent inside was calming.
Almost unnaturally calming.
A middle-aged woman with brown hair and warm eyes stood behind the counter organizing bouquets.
"Are you girls looking for something specific?" she asked kindly.
Miriam subtly glanced around the store to make sure nobody else was listening.
Then she spoke softly.
"Mr. Alan."
The woman immediately understood.
Her expression changed almost imperceptibly.
"Follow me."
She opened an old wooden door hidden behind the counter.
The moment the girls crossed through it…
…the world changed.
Xia froze.
The hidden room beyond the flower shop was enormous.
Its white walls were decorated with golden spiral patterns stretching across both the walls and ceiling. Tall wooden shelves filled the chamber from end to end, carrying strange flowers, minerals, artifacts, crystals, and objects from continents all across Aethra.
Bright blue crystals from Cryon.
Molten red stones from Ignis.
Dark minerals from Abyssalon.
Golden fragments from Nebulon.
Some objects pulsed softly.
Others radiated dangerous energy.
Xia instinctively tensed.
At the center of the room stood a massive wooden desk illuminated by a black desk lamp. A dark-gray computer sat beside several small red flower pots.
And behind the desk…
…sat a man around his mid-forties.
Mixed pale and dark skin.
Black hair.
Brown eyes.
A black suit with a crimson tie.
The man slowly stood up from his chair.
Xia immediately prepared herself to draw her sword.
Miriam quickly stopped her by placing a hand on her arm.
"Welcome back, little Miriam," the man said in a deep but calm voice. "And today you've brought a new friend with you."
"It's good to see you again, Mr. Alan," Miriam replied respectfully.
Mr. Alan studied both girls carefully for several silent seconds.
Then he finally asked:
"Which one of you is ascending?"
"Neither of us," Miriam answered. "We need the ingredients for a Level Ascension Ritual. Our friend belongs to the Aiory family. She inherited the Flame Pathway."
For the first time, genuine surprise crossed Mr. Alan's face.
He hid it quickly.
But not quickly enough.
"The Aiory bloodline…" he murmured quietly. "It's been a very long time since I've heard that name."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"Decimal advancement… or full level ascension?"
"Full level."
Mr. Alan's expression became serious.
"And we'll also need the three authorities present during the ritual," Miriam added. "The ceremony will take place at sunset on one of the hills in the abandoned park."
The man nodded slowly.
Without another word, he walked toward an ancient bookshelf behind his desk and pulled out a thick book bound in dark leather.
The cover carried a symbol formed by three intertwined flames.
He opened it carefully and flipped through several pages until he reached the section marked:
FLAME PATHWAY — LEVEL I.
Then he began gathering the ritual materials.
Phoenix Flowers.
Fire Tears.
Falling Star Powder.
Dragon Heart.
Shadow Wine.
Each item was sealed inside specialized glass containers designed to withstand the unstable energies radiating from materials originating in Ignis.
Xia watched everything silently.
The deeper they moved into this hidden world…
…the more she realized how little she actually knew about Illuminated society.
Once Mr. Alan finished organizing everything, he placed the materials inside a black case and handed it to Miriam.
Then he began calculating the cost.
Xia's eyes widened in horror.
"We forgot to bring money…" she whispered nervously while tugging on Miriam's sleeve.
Miriam simply smiled.
"Don't worry."
Mr. Alan pulled out his phone and showed Miriam the completed transaction.
"Done," he said calmly. "The transfer has already been approved."
Xia blinked several times.
"…What?"
Miriam looked oddly embarrassed now.
"The academy provides financial support for official rituals," she explained. "Besides… Professor Adermat helped pay for my previous ascensions."
Her expression softened slightly.
"He's like a second father to me."
Mr. Alan closed the ritual book carefully.
"I'll contact the same authorities who supervised your own ascensions," he said. "They'll be waiting at the park before sunset."
He gave a polite bow.
"It's always a pleasure doing business with you."
Miriam smiled warmly.
"Thank you, Mr. Alan."
Xia awkwardly waved goodbye before following Miriam back outside.
The moment they stepped through the hidden door again…
…the strange world vanished behind them.
Once more, they stood inside nothing more than a tiny flower shop.
As if the hidden chamber had never existed at all.
While Miriam and Xia searched for the ritual materials, the rest of us stayed behind the academy grounds.
And somehow…
…things escalated into violence almost immediately.
Minho and Won Ho stood facing each other in the rear garden while Airi observed them carefully from nearby like some kind of referee preparing for a prison fight.
Neither of them spoke.
The tension between them was heavy.
Cold.
Competitive.
Then Won Ho attacked first.
He launched a low right hook straight toward Minho's ribs.
Minho instantly raised a wall of earth from the ground to intercept the blow—
—but Won Ho detonated the impact point with an explosion.
The barrier shattered apart.
The moment Won Ho got close enough to strike again, Minho grabbed his arm, twisted sharply, and used his momentum against him. Won Ho's body lifted completely off the ground before crashing violently onto his back.
The impact echoed across the garden.
But Won Ho reacted immediately.
He wrapped his legs around Minho's neck and twisted with brutal force, dragging him down alongside him before locking his legs tighter.
Minho choked.
Won Ho squeezed harder.
Airi quietly took notes on her phone.
Of course she did.
Minho slammed his fists repeatedly against Won Ho's legs, but the grip barely loosened.
Then Minho clenched his hand.
A massive chunk of earth rose above Won Ho before crashing directly onto his abdomen.
Won Ho coughed violently as the air escaped his lungs.
Minho broke free instantly and staggered backward while gasping for air.
Both of them lay on the ground breathing heavily for several seconds.
Then—
—they stood up again at the exact same time.
Psychopaths.
Minho moved first this time.
A straight punch toward Won Ho's stomach.
Won Ho blocked with his right hand and retaliated instantly with a reverse backhand strike.
CRACK.
The sound echoed loudly across the courtyard.
Minho's head snapped sideways from the impact.
Then he smiled.
Which honestly made the whole thing worse.
He spun sharply and launched a kick directly into Won Ho's face, sending him flying several meters backward.
Won Ho planted his feet against the ground to stop himself from collapsing—
—but Minho was already there.
Another kick.
This one slammed directly into Won Ho's chest and launched him against a nearby tree hard enough to shake its branches violently.
The impact resonated through the entire garden.
Minho rushed forward immediately and began attacking relentlessly.
Face.
Stomach.
Chest.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Every strike followed the exact same pattern.
At first Won Ho couldn't understand why.
Then he realized.
Minho wasn't attacking randomly.
He was conditioning him.
Building rhythm.
Forcing him to react predictably.
Won Ho narrowed his eyes.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth while Minho's punches continued raining down against him.
Then Won Ho stopped resisting.
Completely.
Minho hesitated for half a second.
That was enough.
Won Ho poured all his remaining energy into his right fist.
And punched upward directly into Minho's stomach.
BOOM.
An explosion erupted from the impact point and launched Minho several meters backward through the garden.
Dust exploded everywhere.
The shockwave alone nearly knocked Airi over.
Won Ho dropped to one knee immediately afterward, coughing blood onto the grass.
Minho remained motionless on the ground for several seconds while the ringing from the explosion echoed through his skull.
Neither of them got back up.
The fight ended there.
A draw.
Mostly because both idiots were too exhausted to continue killing each other.
Airi slowly lowered her phone.
"…I think you two need therapy," she muttered quietly.
Neither of them responded.
At that point, classes should've already started.
But because our first lessons were with Professor Adermat and Professor Eclipse, they allowed us time to train our abilities instead.
Especially me.
Apparently having darkness powers automatically made me everyone's problem now.
Fantastic.
I walked away from the others and stopped beneath one of the large trees near the rear garden.
Even now…
…I still struggled to fully accept all of this.
Magic.
LC pathways.
Rituals.
Monsters.
Loops.
Gods.
A few weeks ago I barely believed the supernatural existed.
Now I had darkness living inside my veins.
Life was weird.
I slowly raised both hands and closed my eyes.
According to Professor Adermat, using LC abilities required three things:
Imagination.
Belief.
Feeling.
You had to imagine the power.
Believe in it.
Feel it flowing through your veins.
Once those three aligned…
…the core would do the rest.
So I concentrated.
I imagined the black mist.
I imagined it spreading through my body.
I imagined darkness pouring from my hands.
And suddenly—
—it happened.
Black mist erupted from my palms.
Dense.
Cold.
Far darker than ordinary shadows.
It flooded across the rear courtyard almost instantly, swallowing the grass, trees, and walls beneath its darkness.
Even the air felt heavier.
For a moment…
…I could feel it responding to my thoughts.
Like the darkness itself was alive.
I kept it active for only a few seconds before forcing it back into my body.
The instant it returned—
—pain exploded through my skull.
I nearly collapsed.
A violent migraine stabbed through my head while dizziness slammed into me hard enough to blur my vision.
I grabbed the nearby tree to steady myself.
Right.
There it was.
The price.
Using LC abilities wasn't free.
There were consequences.
Physical.
Mental.
Spiritual.
The stronger the power became…
…the worse the side effects grew.
At higher levels, people lost pieces of themselves.
Memories.
Emotions.
Dreams.
Humanity.
Every ascension demanded sacrifice.
To seek power beyond human limits…
…meant slowly becoming something that wasn't human anymore.
I let out a slow breath before sitting down beneath the tree.
Then I searched through my bag, grabbed painkillers, and swallowed one dry.
After that…
…I accidentally fell asleep almost immediately.
I woke up to someone gently shaking my shoulder.
"Dark…"
A soft voice.
"…Dark."
I slowly opened my eyes.
Airi stood beside me beneath the tree, lightly gripping the sleeve of my uniform as if she was afraid I'd get angry at her for waking me up.
Honestly, I was too dizzy to even process emotions properly.
"It's time for class," she said quietly. "The girls came back a while ago. They were resting in the cafeteria."
I blinked several times while trying to force my brain back into existence.
The headache had dulled slightly, but my body still felt horrible.
Heavy.
Weak.
Like all my energy had been drained out through my bones.
I pushed myself upright.
Bad idea.
The moment I stood up, the entire world tilted sideways.
My knees buckled instantly.
Airi caught me before I hit the ground.
"…Easy," she whispered softly.
I leaned against her shoulder while trying not to die dramatically in front of the entire school.
Though honestly, dying would've probably been less embarrassing.
She slowly guided me across the courtyard toward the classroom while I stumbled beside her like a corpse learning how to walk again.
By the time we entered the room, everyone was already seated.
Minho still looked half-dead from his fight with Won Ho.
Won Ho looked worse.
Kimberly was excitedly talking to Miriam about the ritual ingredients.
Xia sat silently near the window with her arms crossed.
Professor Adermat stood at the front of the classroom holding several books beneath one arm.
The moment he saw me, his expression shifted slightly.
Concern.
"Dark," he said calmly, "if necessary, you may rest during class."
I raised a hand weakly in acknowledgment before collapsing into my seat beside Airi.
Then I immediately rested my head against my folded arms.
The dizziness still hadn't fully disappeared.
Great.
Apparently darkness powers came bundled with migraines and possible brain damage.
Amazing deal.
Professor Adermat continued teaching while occasionally glancing toward me.
I barely processed any of the lecture.
Something about LC core structures.
Spiritual synchronization.
Ancient pathways.
Honestly, my brain stopped functioning after the third sentence.
The hours passed slowly.
Eventually the classes ended and the dismissal bell echoed through the academy halls.
By then I felt slightly better.
Not good.
Just… less terrible.
Good enough to survive.
Probably.
I left the academy alone and headed home while the late afternoon sunlight bathed Amberlath in gold and crimson.
The city looked beautiful during sunset.
Peaceful.
Normal.
Which felt almost insulting considering how insane my life had become lately.
By the time I reached home, exhaustion had completely taken over my body again.
I was starving.
But I was too tired to even cook.
Honestly, lifting a spoon sounded like physical labor.
I dragged myself toward the living room and collapsed onto the couch.
The sudden movement triggered another wave of dizziness immediately.
I groaned quietly and laid still until the spinning sensation calmed down slightly.
Then I forced myself back up.
Barely.
Using the wall for support, I slowly made my way toward the kitchen like an old man on the verge of death.
I grabbed a glass.
Filled it with water.
And drank it so fast it felt like I'd just crossed a desert.
Then another.
And another.
And another.
Four glasses later, I finally returned to the couch.
I laid down carefully this time.
Much more carefully.
The headache still lingered faintly behind my eyes, but the exhaustion was stronger now.
My body felt numb.
Heavy.
Distant.
I closed my eyes.
And almost instantly fell asleep again.
•••
When I woke up, my phone was vibrating nonstop beside me.
I groaned and grabbed it blindly.
Messages.
A lot of them.
Kim.
Xia.
Minho.
Airi.
Won Ho.
Apparently everyone had already gathered at the abandoned park.
Which meant…
…it was time.
Kimberly's ascension ritual was about to begin.
I sat up slowly.
The dizziness was finally gone.
The headache too.
Thankfully.
I stretched for a moment before searching through my room for money.
Instead, I found two large Lunar Tears resting inside one of my drawers.
Perfect.
Because suddenly I realized something important.
I was unbelievably hungry.
Like…
"consume an entire cow" hungry.
Using powers apparently burned through energy like crazy.
I grabbed my jacket, stuffed the Lunar Tears into my pocket, and headed outside.
Halfway through the front yard, I suddenly froze.
"Moka."
I turned around immediately and ran back inside.
After searching for several seconds, I finally found her sleeping peacefully on the front steps beneath the window.
I let out a relieved sigh.
Good.
For a second I thought she escaped again.
I crouched down and gently patted her head before leaving once more.
On the way toward the abandoned park, I stopped at a food stand and bought six sandwiches and a two-liter soda.
Yes.
Six.
No, I'm not ashamed.
Maybe a little.
I put on my headphones and continued walking through the city while eating.
Honestly…
walking during sunset while listening to music was one of the few things in life that genuinely made me feel calm.
The orange glow of the evening light painted the buildings beautifully while the cool breeze drifted through the streets of Amberlath.
For a little while…
…I almost forgot about rituals.
About darkness.
About gods.
About everything.
I was just a teenager walking home at sunset.
And honestly…
…I missed that feeling.
By the time I reached the abandoned park, the sun was already sinking behind the distant skyline of Amberlath.
The entire city glowed beneath the crimson light of dusk.
For a brief moment…
…it felt peaceful.
No cults.
No monsters.
No time loops.
Just the wind brushing against my face while I climbed the old stone staircase leading toward the hill at the center of the park.
The same hill Kim and I used to race across as children.
Back then, our biggest concern was who could jump farther.
Now?
Now we were performing supernatural ascension rituals under government supervision.
Life really gets weird fast.
I finished the last bite of my sandwich and immediately regretted eating six of them.
Especially after deciding it would be a fantastic idea to sprint up the stairs.
I accelerated near the top and jumped forward out of habit.
And then gravity apparently forgot how to function.
"…What?"
The world slowed around me.
The evening wind moved through my hair while the golden-red sunlight illuminated the entire park below. My body remained suspended in the air far longer than it should have.
My legs instinctively stretched forward before I finally landed several meters ahead with bent knees.
I stayed crouched there for a second.
"…Okay. So powers definitely improve mobility."
Good to know.
Terrible timing to discover it though.
My stomach nearly declared war on me after six sandwiches and two liters of soda.
I slowly stood back up and walked toward the center hill.
Eleven people were already gathered there.
My friends.
Alya.
Professor Adermat.
Miriam.
And beside them—
Three strangers.
The first man looked like a typical government official.
Short brown hair.
Sharp black glasses.
A perfectly tailored black suit.
He carried a mustard-yellow folder beneath one arm and observed everything with cold professionalism.
Government agent.
The second man was elderly.
Long white hair rested over ceremonial robes decorated with gold and platinum patterns spiraling across the fabric like sacred runes.
A high-ranking priest of the Church of Goddess Deris.
But the third man…
…felt wrong.
Not evil.
Not hostile.
Just dangerous.
Like standing near a blade sharp enough to split reality itself.
He wore black clothing beneath a dark overcoat, and unlike the others, his presence barely registered at all.
If I hadn't seen him directly, I might not have noticed him standing there.
A Day Moth.
One of the elite Illuminated tasked with protecting supernatural secrecy and maintaining order.
Honestly…
…the guy radiated enough pressure to make my survival instincts start screaming.
"If possible, let us begin immediately," the government agent said in a serious tone.
The elderly priest calmly shook his head.
"These matters must not be rushed," he replied. "Ascension rituals concern both the mortal realm and the divine."
The Day Moth remained completely silent.
Watching.
Analyzing.
Waiting.
Kimberly stood near the center of the hill taking slow breaths.
Even from a distance, I could tell she was nervous.
Though she tried hard not to show it.
And honestly?
Who wouldn't be nervous?
One mistake during this ritual could literally kill her.
Or worse.
The government agent's role was to officially document her ascension, pathway, and future rank within national records.
The priest was responsible for stabilizing the spiritual side of the ceremony and ensuring the ritual respected the laws of Goddess Deris.
And the Day Moth…
…was there in case Kim lost control.
If the ritual failed—
—they would execute her immediately before the flames spread beyond containment.
Simple.
Cold.
Necessary.
A chill ran down my spine just thinking about it.
Kim inhaled deeply before looking toward all of us.
For the first time since meeting her…
…I could see genuine fear in her eyes.
Not weakness.
Not hesitation.
Fear.
The kind people feel when they stand at the edge of something capable of changing their entire existence forever.
"You okay?" I asked quietly.
Kim looked toward me.
Then she smiled.
A small smile.
But a real one.
"I'm terrified," she admitted honestly.
Minho laughed softly.
"Good. That means your brain still works."
"Barely," Airi muttered.
Won Ho crossed his arms.
"If something goes wrong, we'll pull you out."
The Day Moth immediately spoke for the first time.
"No," he said coldly.
The entire hill fell silent.
"If the ritual destabilizes beyond recovery," he continued calmly, "none of you will interfere."
His voice wasn't threatening.
Which somehow made it worse.
"It will already be too late."
Kim swallowed nervously.
Alya quietly stepped closer beside me.
Even Professor Adermat looked tense now.
Miriam, however, remained calm.
Composed.
Like she'd already seen rituals like this before.
The crimson sunlight slowly faded further behind the city skyline.
Dusk had arrived.
The perfect moment for ascension.
Professor Adermat opened the ancient ritual tome carefully.
Its yellow pages trembled slightly beneath the evening wind.
"Kimberly," he said gently, "once the ritual begins, there is no stopping midway."
Kim nodded slowly.
"I know."
The professor looked toward the sky.
Then toward the ritual materials prepared beside the hill.
Phoenix Flowers.
Fire Tears.
Falling Star Powder.
Dragon Heart.
Shadow Wine.
Everything necessary for ascension.
Everything necessary for evolution.
Or destruction.
Kimberly slowly stepped forward toward the center of the hill.
And the atmosphere around us changed completely.
The wind stopped.
Not gradually.
Not naturally.
It simply ceased to exist the moment Kimberly stepped into the center of the hill.
The atmosphere itself became heavy.
Dense.
Like the world was holding its breath alongside us.
Even the distant sounds of Amberlath faded into silence.
Professor Adermat slowly opened the ritual tome while the old pages fluttered beneath invisible currents of energy.
"Begin the preparation," he said softly.
Kim nodded.
For the first time since arriving, all traces of humor vanished from her expression.
No smiling.
No sarcasm.
No playful attitude.
Only focus.
Only determination.
The sunset illuminated her figure as she crouched near the ritual materials.
And somehow…
…she already looked different.
Like someone standing at the boundary between humanity and something beyond it.
The government agent adjusted his glasses and began writing inside Kimberly's official file.
The elderly priest closed his eyes in silent prayer.
The Day Moth watched without blinking.
Meanwhile, the rest of us stood several meters away from the hill.
Far enough to survive if something exploded.
Hopefully.
Kimberly extended her fingers toward the ground.
Then slowly began drawing a massive circle across the hilltop.
A faint blue glow followed the movement of her hand.
The ritual formation.
Perfectly symmetrical.
Perfectly precise.
The moment the circle closed—
—the surrounding air trembled.
A low hum spread across the park.
I instinctively took a step back.
"…You feel that too?" Won Ho whispered.
I nodded slowly.
It felt like standing beside a sleeping volcano.
Kimberly approached the first ingredient.
The Phoenix Flowers.
Thirty crimson flowers whose petals resembled burning feathers.
Even untouched, they emitted faint embers into the air.
Flowers born only within the active volcanoes of Ignis.
Flowers that burned eternally without turning to ash.
One by one, Kim carefully placed them around the ritual circle.
As each flower touched the ground, faint orange flames flickered across the symbols beneath them.
Professor Adermat began explaining quietly for our sake.
"Phoenix Flowers represent rebirth through destruction," he said. "They ignite the LC Core and illuminate the pathway toward evolution."
Kim continued silently.
Focused.
Careful.
The next ingredient rested inside crystal containers.
Fire Tears.
Solidified droplets of molten sulfur harvested from Ignis geysers.
They looked like crystallized lava frozen mid-cry.
Kimberly placed each one between the Phoenix Flowers exactly according to the ritual diagram.
The moment the final Fire Tear touched the ground—
—the circle emitted heat.
Real heat.
A pulse of orange energy spread outward from the formation before stabilizing.
"They act as catalysts," Miriam explained quietly beside us. "Without them, her flames can't evolve properly."
I stared at the ritual in fascination.
Honestly…
…I expected leveling up to work like a video game.
Kill monsters.
Gain experience.
Unlock abilities.
Not whatever terrifying ancient cult ceremony this was.
Kimberly grabbed the third ingredient next.
Falling Star Powder.
Ground meteor fragments from Stormhold containing residual cosmic energy.
The powder shimmered silver beneath the fading sunlight like fragments of galaxies crushed into dust.
Kim slowly spread the powder across her arms…
…her neck…
…her hands…
…and finally across her face.
The silver dust began glowing instantly.
Then the light shifted.
Ancient runes emerged across her skin.
Beautiful.
Symmetrical.
Dangerous.
The runes pulsed beneath her flesh like living constellations.
"The powder infuses celestial evolution into the core," Professor Adermat explained. "The higher one ascends, the closer they move toward divine existence."
That sentence alone was horrifying.
Kim inhaled slowly before approaching the fourth ingredient.
The Dragon Heart.
Despite its name, it wasn't an actual heart.
It was a volcanic stone discovered deep within Ignaroth.
Yet somehow…
…it pulsed.
Like something alive.
Like it possessed a heartbeat hidden inside solid rock.
Kimberly pressed the stone against her chest.
The reaction was immediate.
THUMP.
The entire hill vibrated.
The Dragon Heart glowed deep crimson.
Kim's body jolted violently as heat exploded outward from the stone.
Steam rose around her instantly.
I could actually see her gritting her teeth from the pain.
"That thing burns at nearly volcanic temperatures," Alya muttered nervously.
Kimberly didn't let go.
Didn't scream.
Didn't move.
Even while the stone began scorching her skin.
The final ingredient rested upon a silver chalice beside the circle.
Shadow Wine.
A black liquid originating from Umbra'Khal.
It absorbed light itself.
The closer you looked at it—
—the darker the surrounding world became.
The priest stepped forward carefully.
"Shadow must exist before rebirth," he declared solemnly. "Only through contrast can true transformation occur."
Kimberly accepted the silver cup.
For the first time…
…I saw her hands trembling.
The Day Moth finally spoke again.
"If the Shadow remains within your core after ignition," he said coldly, "your flames will corrupt permanently."
Kim looked at him silently.
"Black flames," he continued. "Living destruction."
A chill crawled down my spine.
Professor Adermat's expression darkened.
"The ritual also carries other dangers," he added carefully.
My stomach tightened immediately.
Great.
More nightmare fuel.
"If her LC Core fails to stabilize the Three Flames…" he continued, "the energies could fuse together and disintegrate her body from the inside."
Alya crossed her arms uneasily.
"And if the transformation advances too far," Miriam added quietly, "her physical form could permanently become living fire."
"…What?"
"Loss of humanity," Miriam said softly.
The priest lowered his head.
"There are also mental consequences."
Kimberly slowly looked toward him.
"The overwhelming sensory overload," the priest explained, "can burn the neural pathways themselves."
Pyrokinetic madness.
Complete mental collapse.
Silence consumed the hill.
And somehow…
Kimberly still smiled.
A small smile.
But determined.
"I'm still doing it," she said.
No hesitation.
No fear left in her voice anymore.
Only resolve.
The wind finally returned.
The crimson sunset faded further behind the city.
Darkness slowly began swallowing the sky above Amberlath.
Kimberly stepped toward the center of the ritual circle.
Then she raised the silver chalice containing the Shadow Wine.
And began the chant in Luminari.
The moment Kimberly raised the silver chalice—
—the ritual began.
"Afta kald þata wisan wēda meineizē,
Kald blēw þatei ni warmja hwan,
Giba skaduweis, minna, jah saurga,
Jah arma fōn þana mik inmaidida."
The ancient words echoed across the abandoned park like whispers from another era.
The instant the chant left her lips—
—she drank the Shadow Wine.
Every drop.
Immediately, the world darkened.
Not metaphorically.
Literally.
The light surrounding the ritual circle bent unnaturally inward as though the wine itself devoured brightness.
Kimberly's blue flames vanished.
Completely.
For the first time since I had met her…
…I saw Kimberly without fire.
Her eyes widened slightly.
A faint tremor ran through her body.
Cold.
She was feeling true emptiness for the first time in years.
The Phoenix Flowers ignited simultaneously.
Orange flames erupted around the circle.
Yet strangely…
…they produced no heat.
The fire danced silently beneath the growing darkness.
Kimberly continued the chant.
"Latjada mauþr, latjada minna,
Sa wains hrains gabairands in seina,
Hwazuh laþa slaht slaht,
Hwazuh azga niuja gabaur."
Her voice trembled midway through the second verse.
The Shadow Wine was already affecting her.
I could see it.
Thin black veins slowly spread beneath the skin of her neck before fading again.
The Day Moth narrowed his eyes immediately.
"She's resisting the corruption," he muttered.
Kim pressed the Dragon Heart harder against her chest.
THUMP.
The volcanic stone pulsed violently.
Then heat exploded outward.
Real flames erupted around her body.
The Falling Star runes covering her skin illuminated one after another until her entire body resembled a living constellation.
The Fire Tears melted.
Streams of molten lava began flowing across the ritual circle toward Kimberly's feet.
Then—
—the screaming started.
Not external screaming.
Internal.
Kimberly suddenly dropped to one knee.
Her entire body shook violently.
The Dragon Heart had begun burning through her skin.
I instinctively stepped forward.
Alya immediately grabbed my arm.
"Don't interfere," she whispered urgently.
"But—"
"If the ritual gets interrupted now," Professor Adermat said grimly, "her LC Core could collapse."
Kimberly forced herself back to her feet.
Breathing heavily.
Sweat poured down her face.
Yet somehow…
…she kept chanting.
"Þreis laþōs þaursand þarei was laus,
Blēw fairnja, hweit sunjōs,
Ahak nauþundjis, fōn libands,
Wēsi seina smiþa in aiwa."
The air pressure changed instantly.
The orange flames surrounding the ritual circle surged upward into a massive vortex.
The fire no longer moved like normal flames.
It spiraled like a living storm.
The heat finally arrived.
And it was unbearable.
The grass around the hill blackened instantly.
The nearby trees began smoking.
Even from several meters away, my skin burned.
Kimberly screamed.
Not from fear.
From pain.
Pure overwhelming agony.
The flames were entering her body.
Her hair lifted violently as fire spiraled around her like a crown.
Then the transformation truly began.
Her left hand ignited first.
Blue flames condensed around her fingers.
But these flames were different now.
Denser.
Brighter.
Almost liquid.
The original flames.
Her foundation.
Then her right arm erupted.
Orange fire exploded outward violently.
Wild.
Solar.
Destructive.
The flames distorted the surrounding air with terrifying intensity.
And finally—
—the third flame emerged.
White fire burst from Kimberly's chest.
Blinding.
Sacred.
Beautiful beyond description.
The entire hill illuminated beneath its radiance.
Even the magical darkness generated by the Shadow Wine began retreating before the brilliance of the white flames.
"The Trinity…" Miriam whispered in shock.
Three flames.
Three evolutions.
Three existences occupying one body.
Kimberly floated several meters above the ritual circle as the vortex expanded around her.
Then suddenly—
—the flames destabilized.
All three colors collided violently.
Blue.
Orange.
White.
The vortex twisted chaotically as cracks of light spread through the air itself.
Professor Adermat's expression changed immediately.
"No…"
The government agent stopped writing.
The priest opened his eyes in alarm.
Even the Day Moth took a step forward.
"Her core is failing to stabilize them," he said coldly.
The flames compressed inward.
Kimberly's body arched violently as blood escaped from her mouth.
Her scream tore across the abandoned park.
Then black fire appeared.
Tiny at first.
Thin streaks hidden within the orange flames.
The Shadow Wine.
It hadn't disappeared completely.
"Corruption…" Alya whispered.
Kimberly's eyes lost focus.
The firestorm expanded again.
Unstable.
Chaotic.
Dangerously close to collapse.
The pressure became overwhelming.
I could barely breathe anymore.
And then I heard them.
Whispers.
Dozens of them.
No—
hundreds.
Ancient voices speaking through the flames themselves.
Kim heard them too.
I could tell from her expression.
Her eyes widened in terror.
Her lips trembled.
The whispers grew louder.
The overload was beginning.
Her nervous system.
Her mind.
Her humanity.
Everything was reaching its limit.
"Kimberly!" Xia shouted desperately.
But Kim couldn't hear us anymore.
The flames swallowed her completely.
Then—
she screamed the final verse.
"Ni manna anakū, ni mahts ainaka,
Ita firafill wakands, sauil in naht,
Kairna seina usstiura du aftra gabaur,
Namō seinata fōn ist in hwazah akran!"
The vortex detonated upward into the sky.
A pillar of fire pierced the heavens above Amberlath.
And for one horrifying second…
…I truly thought Kimberly Aiory was going to die before our eyes.
The pillar of fire split the heavens.
Orange light swallowed the entire abandoned park as the explosion continued rising higher and higher above Amberlath.
The pressure alone forced all of us backward.
I covered my face instinctively while scorching wind tore across the hill.
The trees bent violently.
The grass ignited.
Even the clouds above the city twisted around the inferno forming a massive spiral.
And at the center of it all—
—Kimberly floated motionless.
Completely engulfed in flames.
"Kim!" Alya shouted.
No response.
The vortex continued destabilizing.
Blue flames collided against orange fire while the white flames pulsed erratically from her chest like a dying star.
Then the black flames returned.
Thin cracks of darkness spread through the inferno itself.
The Day Moth's hand immediately moved beneath his coat.
For the first time since meeting him—
—I sensed killing intent from him.
"If corruption fully manifests," he said coldly, "I will eliminate her immediately."
Xia stepped in front of him instantly.
Her sword was already half drawn.
"You'll have to kill me first," she said with terrifying calmness.
The Day Moth stared at her silently.
Then—
Kimberly screamed again.
But this scream was different.
Not pain.
Defiance.
The firestorm compressed violently toward her body.
The pressure intensified so suddenly that my ears rang.
The flames began shrinking.
Condensing.
Fusing.
Blue fire gathered into her left arm.
Orange flames concentrated within her right.
White flames collapsed inward toward her chest.
The black flames tried to spread again—
—but the white fire consumed them instantly.
The priest's eyes widened.
"She purified the corruption…"
Professor Adermat slowly lowered his trembling hands.
"Incredible…"
Kimberly's body shook violently midair.
Blood dripped from the corner of her lips.
Her breathing became uneven.
Yet the flames finally stabilized.
Then she opened her eyes.
And the entire hill froze.
Her eyes were no longer completely human.
The left glowed blue.
The right burned orange.
And faint white light pulsed beneath both irises.
For a moment…
…it genuinely felt like something ancient was staring back at us.
Something sleeping deep within the concept of fire itself.
The vortex began collapsing around her.
The flames spiraled inward before exploding outward one final time.
"LAÞA BLĒWA, INSAND!
LAÞA HWEITA, GABAIR!
FŌN AHAKA, LIBAI!
IK IM SA WIG LAÞŌS NAULS JAH INSANDIDA DU FŌN BRANNJANDEIN NAULA I!"
Her final scream shook the park.
The ritual circle shattered.
The Phoenix Flowers disintegrated into glowing ashes.
The remaining Fire Tears evaporated instantly.
The Dragon Heart cracked apart in her hands.
And then—
everything stopped.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The flames disappeared.
Kimberly remained floating for several seconds beneath the darkening sky.
Then her body finally gave out.
She fell.
Xia reacted instantly.
A shockwave burst beneath her feet as she launched herself upward and caught Kimberly moments before she hit the ground.
The remaining embers scattered around them like burning snow.
Kim's body was burning hot even from several meters away.
But she was alive.
Barely conscious.
Breathing.
The government agent adjusted his glasses before calmly writing the final notes into Kimberly's file.
"The ritual has been deemed successful," he declared professionally.
The priest exhaled deeply in relief.
"May Lady Deris bless this child."
Meanwhile, the Day Moth continued staring at Kimberly for several long seconds.
Like he was searching for something hidden beneath her flames.
Finally, he spoke.
"Subject officially recognized as an Illuminated Human." His voice remained cold and unreadable. "LC Pathway: Flames Zero. Level One. Burning Flames."
Kimberly had ascended.
Level One.
A real Illuminated.
Not just someone born with power anymore.
Someone evolving beyond humanity itself.
And honestly…
…that realization terrified me more than the ritual itself.
Because if this was only Level One—
what kind of monsters existed at higher levels?
The government agent closed the file and walked away without another word.
The priest followed shortly after, muttering prayers beneath his breath.
The Day Moth lingered the longest.
Before leaving, he glanced toward me briefly.
Just one second.
But something about that gaze made my chest tighten.
Like he had noticed something strange about me.
Something he couldn't fully understand yet.
Then he disappeared into the darkness beyond the park.
Alya carefully carried Kimberly toward her car while Professor Adermat and Miriam discussed the ritual's outcome in low voices nearby.
The rest of us remained silent.
There simply weren't words for what we had witnessed.
Not after seeing someone stand inches away from death…
…and force evolution itself to submit.
The sun had fully disappeared by then.
Only the fading twilight remained above Amberlath.
I looked toward the empty hilltop where the ritual circle had once existed.
Burn marks covered the ground.
Smoke still rose from the earth.
And yet…
…the hill somehow felt sacred now.
Like the world itself remembered what had happened there.
Won Ho finally broke the silence.
"…We're seriously insane."
Minho laughed weakly.
"Yeah."
Airi simply stared at the sky silently.
Xia stayed beside Kimberly protectively even while she slept unconscious in Alya's backseat.
As for me…
…I just felt tired.
Completely exhausted.
Physically.
Mentally.
Spiritually.
Everything happening around us felt bigger and bigger every single day.
Ancient powers.
Secret organizations.
Rituals.
Gods.
Darkness.
And somehow, all of us teenagers were standing in the middle of it.
I yawned quietly before turning away from the hill.
Honestly…
…I wanted nothing more than to go home and sleep for an entire week.
Tomorrow was school again.
And somehow that sounded even scarier than supernatural rituals.