[Eos Magic Academy – Assembly Grounds]
The wind howled unnaturally through the training fields. Students paused mid-spell as a chill slithered down their spines. The sky had dimmed—though it was still morning.
Something had awakened.
Headmaster Drelzan stood atop the academy tower, his hand pressed against an ancient rune circle only he could access.
> "It's coming from the Vault," he muttered. "Someone has tampered with the sealed artifact…"
His eyes flared gold.
> "It's him, isn't it? The boy with the dead eyes."
---
[Hidden Training Hall – Beneath the Library]
Lohan gasped awake, clutching his chest. His veins shimmered faintly with golden-black light, and his heartbeat echoed unnaturally in the silence.
Elric was there, sword drawn.
> "What did you do?"
> "I made a deal," Lohan said coldly.
> "With what?"
> "Something older than gods. And stronger."
> "You idiot—!"
> "Do you want to survive the war or not?" Lohan snapped. "This power is the only thing that'll let me stand against them."
Elric hesitated.
Then nodded.
> "Fine. But you're not doing this alone anymore."
---
[Frostweaver Sect – Ice Mirror Chamber]
Winter stood before the mirror, sweat trailing down her brow. Her hair was now streaked with silver. Her aura—no longer cold, but cutting.
A voice from the reflection whispered.
> "The Ardyn boy… has accepted the deal."
> "I know."
> "He walks the line of divinity and madness. If he falls—"
> "He won't," she said sharply. "I'll stop him. Or join him."
The mirror pulsed once… then faded.
---
[Heavenscape – Celestial Descent Chambers]
Justine knelt before a pool of light. Her armor was gone, replaced by flowing mortal garments.
> "You're really going down?" asked a celestial attendant.
> "The Tribunal marked him for death. But if he's made contact with that entity…"
She stood.
> "Then the gods have already lost."
---
[Academy – Nightfall, Forbidden Courtyard]
Lohan stood on the rooftop, watching the students whisper and fear the unnatural weather.
Winter appeared behind him.
> "You changed."
> "You too," he said. "You feel like a storm now."
She stepped beside him. For a moment, neither spoke.
> "Justine's coming," Winter said quietly. "And she's not the same girl you knew."
Lohan's eyes darkened.
> "Then I'll show her I'm not the same man either."
---