THE MARK
The morning arrived, but it didn't feel like morning.
Liu hadn't slept.
She sat by the narrow window of her dorm, her knees drawn close, watching the pale grey sky slowly brighten.
The academy grounds below were still quiet—too quiet.
Like nothing had happened.
Like everything was normal.
Her hand rested in her lap.
She stared at it.
Still.
No glow.
No warmth.
"…was it just my imagination…?"
But the thought didn't sit right.
The door.
The symbols.
The voices.
And that name—
El Tiana.
Her fingers curled slightly.
"'…control it… or destroy it…'"
Her grip tightened.
The words echoed again, sharper now, like they had been carved into her mind.
A soft knock broke the silence.
Liu flinched.
Before she could answer, the door opened.
"Good morning~!"
The room instantly felt brighter.
Khushi stepped in, balancing a tray with two cups. Her energy didn't match the heaviness in Liu's chest at all.
"You look like you fought a demon in your sleep," she said, handing Liu a cup.
Liu blinked, staring at the warm liquid.
"…something like that."
Khushi paused.
Then grinned.
"Oh? So you are hiding something. Interesting."
Liu let out a faint breath that almost turned into a laugh.
Almost.
Khushi sat beside her casually, stretching her arms.
"You know," she added, "if you keep making that face, people are gonna think you finally lost it."
"…I already lost it a long time ago."
"Wow," Khushi said, impressed. "That was deep. Should I be worried?"
Liu didn't answer.
She just stared at the cup again.
The warmth was already fading.
"…normal," she whispered.
Khushi didn't hear.
Or maybe she did—and chose not to respond.
"Anyway," she stood up suddenly, "don't be late. I'm not saving you if the professor gets angry again."
She walked out just as quickly as she came.
And just like that—
The room felt empty again.
Liu's fingers tightened slightly around the cup.
Everyone else could wake up, laugh, complain, move on…
But her world had shifted.
And no one even noticed.
"If I tell them…"
She stopped.
The memory came back instantly.
"…or destroy it."
Her chest tightened.
"…no."
Classes passed, but Liu wasn't there.
Not really.
Words blurred together.
Magic demonstrations meant nothing.
Her thoughts kept pulling her back.
The door.
The glow.
The voices.
"…Miss Liu."
She looked up.
The professor was watching her.
"You've answered nothing today."
Whispers spread across the room.
"That's unusual."
Liu lowered her gaze.
"…I'm sorry."
A pause.
Then—
"Stay after class."
The corridors were quieter now.
Empty.
Cold.
Liu walked slowly, her thoughts heavy.
"You're distracted."
She stopped.
"…I know that voice."
Leaning against the wall was Harley.
Calm.
Unreadable.
Watching.
"You almost walked past your classroom," Harley added.
"…I didn't."
"You did."
"…almost doesn't count."
A small pause.
Then—
"…you didn't sleep."
Liu crossed her arms slightly.
"You observe too much."
"And you hide too badly."
That made her freeze.
Harley straightened slightly.
"Something happened last night."
Not a question.
A statement.
Liu looked away.
"…nothing happened."
Silence.
Harley didn't argue.
Didn't push.
She just stood there.
Watching.
Waiting.
And somehow—
That made it harder to breathe.
"…I just couldn't sleep," Liu said finally.
Harley's gaze didn't change.
"…right."
She didn't believe her.
But she didn't expose her either.
Instead, she turned.
"Come on."
"…where?"
"You'll lose control if you keep thinking like this."
Liu frowned.
"I won't."
"You will."
"…you're annoying."
"Yet you're following me."
Liu blinked.
She was.
The training room was quiet.
Sunlight filtered through windows, cutting through the dust-filled air.
"Focus," Harley said.
"On what?"
"Anything."
Liu raised her hand.
She tried to gather external mana on her hand.
Unstable.
It flickered—
And collapsed.
She winced.
"…again."
She tried.
Again.
And again.
Each time—
It slipped.
Like it didn't belong to her anymore.
Harley watched silently. Her eyes narrowed a little for a split second. She murmured under her breath "…this again."
Liu paused.
"…what?"
Harley shook her head slightly.
"…nothing."
But for a moment—
Her eyes had changed.
Like she recognized something.
"Stop forcing it," she said.
"I'm not forcing it."
"You are."
Harley stepped closer.
"Your mind isn't here."
Liu clenched her jaw.
"…and whose fault is that?"
Silence.
Even she didn't expect that.
Harley paused—
Just for a second.
Then—
"…fair."
That made it worse.
"…I didn't mean—"
"I know."
A quieter pause followed.
Then—
"Tell me."
Liu looked at her.
Really looked.
For once—
Harley didn't feel distant.
She felt…
present.
Waiting.
Not forcing.
Just… there.
Liu's fingers trembled slightly.
She almost spoke.
Almost told her everything.
But then—
"…we will control it… or destroy it."
Her chest tightened.
No.
"…it's nothing."
The lie felt heavier this time.
Harley held her gaze.
Long.
Silent.
Then—
"…fine."
But her voice was softer now.
Not cold.
Just… distant.
She stepped back.
"Then don't lose control."
"…what? Me?? Losing control over my lighting magic?? I know my magic better than anyone."
"You don't understand it, do you? You maybe genius but right now you can't even control your magic."
A pause.
She turned toward the door.
"…and Liu?"
Liu looked up.
"For someone who says it's nothing…"
Harley glanced back.
"…you look scared."
And then she left.
Silence returned.
Heavier this time.
Liu stood there, quiescent
Her hand slowly clenched.
A faint glow flickered again.
Weak.
Unstable.
And then—
A sharp pain shot across her back.
"—!"
She gasped, her breathing got heavy,
grabbing her shoulder.
"…what was that…?"
The glow faded.
But the feeling didn't.
"I am not scared." Her voice was tenuous, failing to convince even herself.
Far away—
Hidden from sight—
A figure watched through a distorted magical screen.
"The fluctuation is increasing."
Another voice responded.
"…so it's her."
"Not confirmed."
Silence.
Then—
"…keep observing."
"And the girl?"
A pause.
"…not yet."
Back in the empty room—
Liu closed her eyes.
Her hand trembling slightly.
"…I won't lose control."
But deep inside—
Something had already begun to
change.