"Hi, Mom," Claire spoke softly, a cheerful lilt in her voice. "It's been a rough day. I'm exhausted — but honestly? I don't really mind."
Outside the window, the white bus rumbled along the road, its worn tires humming against the asphalt. The sun had finally climbed high, bathing Lumu's streets in warm light. Students inside the bus reacted in their own ways — some yawning, others bickering over schedules, a few lost in quiet conversation. The streets were slowly filling with life: vendors opening market stalls, glowing signs lighting up, and Akumo passing overhead in lazy arcs.
"So yeah, I was almost late," Claire admitted with a sheepish laugh. "Typical me, I know. Rose would've killed me if I actually was. But hey — I beat up some bad guys today and brought back the thing they stole!"
She smiled faintly, her fingers brushing the edge of her bag.
"And I'm finally here." Her voice softened, warmth threading through the words. "We're finally here… I got to join Celestial Sword Academy. Just like you."
A memory surfaced — not from long ago.
Claire and Rose standing by the car, bags in hand, grinning like idiots. Rose had waved both arms wildly as the car door shut behind her, while Claire, ever shy, had only managed a small wave at first. But she'd kept waving. Even after the car pulled away. Even as it disappeared down the road.
Claire sighed softly at the memory, a fond ache in her chest.
"I wonder what you'd say if you saw me now, capisce?"
And then — like sunlight through old leaves — another, older memory drifted in.
A garden at dusk. A little girl in a white dress and straw hat, clutching a bow too large for her hands. Her arms trembled as she struggled to draw the string, frustration prickling behind her eyes.
A voice — calm, patient — called to her.
"Slow down, Claire. Take a breath. Focus."
She remembered looking up toward the figure, blurred by sunlight, and back at the worn target.
"You want to feel the stars in your hands, sweetheart. That's what Stellar Art is. Don't overthink it… just trust it."
She hadn't understood it then. But she'd nodded.
The arrow in her grasp began to glow faintly blue. And she let it fly, a streak of light vanishing into the evening air.
The memory faded.
Claire's gaze drifted out the window again as the bus passed a cobbled street lined with floating lanterns.
"Oh — and about the bow you gave me. Tearful Embrace. Yeah… I finally named it. Took me a while, didn't it? Well, that's just me."
She glanced at the rapier leaning quietly against her seat.
"And I've still got your sword too. I'm gonna follow in your footsteps."
She paused.
"Anyway… back to the topic."
Her voice brightened again, as if shaking off the heaviness.
"I've heard great things about this academy since middle school. Heroes trained here. Rose and I… we've been waiting for this forever. She's… very excited. Maybe too excited."
A soft, affectionate laugh.
"Before coming here though… I ran into a bit of trouble."
A pause.
"Not the thing that almost made me late — something else. A while back. Maybe more than a bit. Okay… maybe a lot."
Her voice faltered for half a second.
"But it wasn't intentional. I swear."
Then came a quick, shaky laugh to cover it up.
"But, um… let's not dwell on that. It's finally happening. And I don't wanna ruin the excitement. Maybe… maybe it's for the best not to think about it too much."
A long, quiet beat.
Then the faint scratch of a pen.
Claire lowered her journal, her pen still hovering just above the page. The world outside the window moved on — students chattered, the streets bustled, and the bus rolled toward the academy.
She exhaled, shut the worn leather cover, and slipped the pen into its loop.
A quiet reminder tugged at the edge of her thoughts. Claire reached into her pocket, ducking her head a little lower as she pulled out her phone. She quickly typed out a message, fingers moving faster than she realized.
A soft beep sounded from her phone — and somewhere beside her, another quiet beep echoed it a fraction of a second later.
Claire's head twitched at the sound, her gaze flicking sideways. She didn't see anything out of place. The students around them were too busy pressed against windows or chattering about the ship outside.
Weird.
Maybe she imagined it.
She sighed, glanced back at her phone. No reply. Not yet.
Tucking the device away, she slumped back in her seat, a small puff of air escaping her lips.
Claire Aihara, a student of Celestial Sword Academy, had always dreamt of becoming a hero like the ones in stories — heroes like her mother. She wore a dark blue cloak over her crisp academy uniform, sitting quietly, shyly composed, her world often a little out of step with everyone else's.
Then the mood in the bus shifted.
A rising wave of excited murmuring swelled around her. Faces pressed eagerly against the windows, fingers pointing. A massive airship drifted into view, its metallic hull catching the morning light. Blue lines of magic traced along its frame like veins, and vented mist rolled from its sides as it docked above a distant lakeside pad.
It was 6:00 AM.
The bus carried them steadily through Luminucia's streets, weaving through carts and carriages drawn by horned beasts, past floating market stalls and gliding Akumo overhead. Other buses joined them on the road, students in matching uniforms filing past in tight rows of faces — excitement, nerves, and anticipation shared between them.
Claire sat still.
She wanted to lean closer, to see it for herself — but held back. Instead, she stole a quiet glance toward her seatmate, a flicker of curiosity. Just a quick dart of her eyes, a barely noticeable turn of her head with a glance of familiarity.
The boy beside her sat unmoving, eyes fixed ahead, unreadable, as though none of it — not the chatter, not the airship, not the rising morning — existed to him.
He hadn't spoken once since she got on the bus.
And for the briefest second… something about his presence felt oddly familiar.
Before Claire could chase the thought, a voice barked from the front of the bus.
"Pipe down, you dang kids! You all act like you've never seen an airship before!" the driver bellowed, briefly turning to shake his fist while keeping one hand firmly on the wheel.
The entire bus jolted slightly over a bump in the road.
Claire blinked, the odd feeling slipping from her grasp like mist. She brushed the wind-blown strands of hair from her face, tucking them behind her ear, her fingers lingering there for a moment.
The tires rattled over loose stones, the road uneven. Despite the exhaustion still clinging to her from earlier, her heart fluttered.
Claire smiled to herself, the corners of her mouth tugging upward as she imagined what Rose's face would look like right now — probably glued to the window, smudging up the glass in excitement.
Despite the driver's yell, the students around her didn't seem fazed in the slightest. Their excitement only grew, voices rising in anticipation as the massive airship above them loomed larger.
With nothing left to do but wait, Claire closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat, the soft hum of the bus and scattered voices around her fading to a blur.
Her thoughts drifted.
September 2nd, 958 S.E.
She remembered it clearly.
Walking through Luminucia, early autumn air brushing against her face, her long blonde hair catching in the wind beneath her hood. A day that should've felt ordinary… but hadn't.
She hummed to herself as she strolled, a small black kitten cradled in her arms.
"H-Hmm… Hmm… C-Can you believe it, Maomao?" Claire mumbled, glancing down at the kitten's round, sleepy eyes. "I… I actually passed. Me."
Maomao responded with a soft, contented meow, pressing closer as if in quiet reassurance. Claire's cheeks warmed faintly.
"It's… It's truly unbelievable, c-capisce?" she added with a small, breathless laugh, as though trying to convince herself.
The streets of Luminucia stretched around her — alive with color and motion. Elves, humans, and dwarves moved through the crowded avenues, voices blending into a chaotic hum. Overhead, dragons and gryphons coasted between floating carriages and towering spires, their wings casting fleeting shadows across the cobblestones.
Claire's heart skipped, the rush of unfamiliar sights and sounds tugging at her nerves. She clutched Maomao a little tighter, brushing a stubborn lock of yellow hair from her face with her free hand.
She kept walking, steps light but a little hesitant, unsure exactly where she was going.
"S-So many people," she muttered under her breath, shrinking slightly beneath her hood, though her eyes kept flicking upward to catch glimpses of soaring shapes overhead.
A quiet hum slipped from her lips as she adjusted the kitten in her arms, grounding herself in its warmth.
And the city moved on around her.
Claire scanned her surroundings, lips pressing together in quiet uncertainty. Spotting a street bench nearby, she let out a small, relieved sigh and shuffled toward it, her steps careful and slightly awkward, as if worried about drawing attention.
She sat down, clutching Maomao close, shoulders slightly hunched. The city unfolded in its vibrant, noisy rhythm, but Claire kept her gaze low, head tilted just enough to avoid catching anyone's eye. The kitten purred softly, nuzzling her lap, its sleek black fur catching glints of sunlight against the light blue of her oversized shirt.
Claire brushed a stubborn lock of hair from her face, the wind giving her a convenient excuse to avoid the crowd. She drew in a slow, shallow breath, her eyes flickering toward the street.
People of every kind crossed her view — elves, humans, dwarves, and others — their conversations and footsteps blending into a restless hum. Dragons and gryphons drifted lazily overhead, too large and graceful to feel real.
Claire hugged Maomao a little tighter, grateful for the familiar warmth.
Across the road, a group of young men — a mix of elves and humans — put on a loud, impromptu magic show. Flames crackled from their palms as they tried to one-up each other, laughing and shouting. Claire shrank a little lower in her seat, her grip on Maomao tightening with each burst of showy bravado.
"Y-you know…" she mumbled, glancing down at the kitten, "I c-can't help but feel like they're copying that show… um… the one with the, uh… giant abs… and dumb catchphrases…"
Her words tumbled awkwardly, trailing off into a nervous laugh she quickly stifled.
Maomao remained serene, unimpressed by both the fire-slinging showoffs and Claire's flustered commentary.
Claire sighed, brushing her hair back again as the city moved on around her.
Just then, the group's noisy magic display was cut short as an officer stormed over, scolding them for their reckless stunts. Claire's lips twitched, fighting a grin. She quickly raised a hand to her mouth, pretending to cough, though her eyes gleamed with quiet amusement.
"Th-that's what they get," she mumbled, voice soft but laced with shy satisfaction.
But the moment barely lasted.
In her distraction, Claire's grip on Maomao loosened — and with a flick of her tail, the kitten leapt from her lap.
"Ah! Maomao!" Claire gasped, eyes widening in panic as she scrambled to her feet, nearly tripping over her own cloak. She stumbled forward, awkwardly dodging passersby.
"U-um—hey! P-please, come back!" she called, her voice cracking as heads turned, a few people casting annoyed glances her way. Claire's face burned, but she barely noticed — too focused on the darting black shape weaving effortlessly through the crowd.
Maomao, light on her paws, slipped between legs and market stalls, finally stopping near a crosswalk, sitting neatly as if waiting for the light to change.
"Th-thank goodness…" Claire panted, relief washing over her as she hurried closer. The kitten looked back up at her, letting out a tiny, innocent meow.
Then the light turned green.
And Maomao bolted forward.
"Wait—Maomao!" Claire's heart lurched as she stepped after her, only for the roar of an engine to slice through the air. Her head whipped to the side — a car swerved recklessly through the intersection, tires screeching.
"N-no—wait! Get out of there!" Claire's voice broke, fear crashing over her like a wave. The kitten, halfway across, paused to paw at a fluttering bug.
Claire didn't think.
Didn't hesitate.
Her legs moved before her mind could catch up, panic propelling her forward. The noisy street, the stares, the gasps — it all vanished.
There was only Maomao.
"Maomao!" Claire cried, her voice raw, timid nature replaced by pure desperation. Her feet hit the road, uncoordinated but fast, cloak trailing behind her as the car barreled closer.
The world tightened into a single, terrible moment.
She saw it — the sleek black car hurtling toward them, sunlight gleaming off its polished hood and the silver ornament perched cruelly above the grille. None of it mattered.
All Claire could see was Maomao.
With a final, desperate leap, she lunged, sweeping the kitten into her arms. Maomao let out a sharp, startled meow as Claire clutched her tight, shielding her against her chest, eyes squeezing shut.
Darn it… I can't lose her. Not again.
The world blurred to darkness, and in that suffocating void, memories rose unbidden. Fragmented, but vivid.
A woman's arms.
A faint, familiar melody.
A soft voice humming in the dark.
Claire reached for it — for her — but the figure's face stayed blurred, only her smile remaining clear in the oppressive blackness.
No… the word slipped from Claire's lips, a trembling whisper lost in the silence.
The melody faded.
The dark pressed in.
And then — a jolt.
Reality slammed back around her as she tumbled across the crosswalk, the scrape of rough pavement burning her palms, Maomao's tiny body still tight against her chest.
When she finally came to a stop, she gasped, eyes blinking open. The black car lay wrecked against a streetlamp, smoke pouring from the crumpled hood.
Maomao meowed urgently, drawing Claire's gaze to a figure nearby.
A figure stood there — tall, sword in hand, black hair tousled but neat, staring at the ruined vehicle, unshaken, with a heavy presence, distant.
Claire sat frozen.
The car door groaned open.
Four men in gray suits stepped out, faces hidden behind dark shades. Their leader, older with disheveled gray hair and a long coat, gripped a revolver in one hand and a cane in the other, a sneer curling his lips.
"Well, well. If it isn't the man in black," the older man drawled, arrogance thick in his voice. "You ever get tired of butting in?"
The swordsman didn't speak.
The man chuckled, raising the revolver. "Must be exhausting, swinging that thing around. Good news for you though — today's your last dance."
Claire's stomach dropped.
Without thinking, she shouted, "Hey — watch out!"
The revolver barked.
And in a blink, the swordsman moved.
A flash of silver.
The bullet split cleanly in midair, its halves clattering harmlessly to the pavement.
Claire's breath caught as she saw his face clearly for the first time.
Dark gray eyes.
Cold.
Emotionless.
Like looking into storm clouds.
Her legs buckled as she dropped to her knees, heart pounding, her mind reeling at the impossibility of what she'd just witnessed.
And the swordsman advanced — each step steady, the blade gleaming like it knew what it was meant to do.
Claire could only watch.
Then — a sudden jolt.
The bus lurched to a stop, shaking Claire from her thoughts. Her fingers twitched, and for a moment, she just stared ahead, blinking as the world caught up with her. A faint emptiness clung to her chest, like she'd left something behind in her own head.
The bus doors hissed open.
Voices rose. Footsteps shuffled.
Claire turned beside her — but the seat was empty.
She hadn't even noticed him pass.
Not a word. Not a sound.
Her lips parted slightly, but nothing came out.
Taking a long breath, she gathered her bow and quiver and made her way off the bus, stepping out last.
And then she saw it.
The colossal airship hovered ahead, stealing her breath. Its sheer size, the hum of magic in the air around it, the elegant silver frame marked with soft-glowing runes — it was impossible, yet right there.
"Whoa…" the word slipped from her lips before she could stop it.
Her nerves spiked, and she clutched her things tighter. She felt small, like a kid at the edge of something enormous, excitement and dread tangled together.
Students hurried around her, some already laughing, others racing toward the boarding ramp. Claire lingered alone at the edge of the walkway, taking one cautious step forward—
"Eee!"
A pair of arms tackled her from the side.
"Claire, what the heck! You said you wouldn't take that long!"
"Eh—?!" Claire squeaked, stiffening as Rose squeezed her in a bone-crushing hug.
Her cheeks flared red, her fingers twitching awkwardly midair.
"Don't 'eh' me!" Rose grinned, half-scolding, half-laughing. "We're gonna have a long talk later, you hear me?"
Claire fumbled for words. "I-It wasn't my fault, capisce? T-There was a bad guy and—"
"Yeah, yeah, save the story for later. Oh—almost forgot!"
Rose shifted, slipping a long, flat case off her shoulder. It was sleek, dark wood with brass latches, shaped narrowly and rounded at the ends — like something delicate might be inside. She plopped it against Claire's chest with a grin.
"Your precious whatever-this-is. You left it."
"Ah—!" Claire caught it, flustered. "T-Thanks… I didn't even realize…"
"Obviously," Rose smirked. "Now come on! The airship's leaving!"
Without waiting, Rose grabbed Claire's arm and tugged her along.
Claire let herself be pulled, a shy smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she managed a small, awkward wave toward their driver.
He answered with a faint, knowing grin before sliding back into his car.
As they stepped inside the looming airship, the noise and motion around her seemed to blur — slowing just a little, like the world was giving her a moment to catch up.
Her heart pounded, nerves buzzing beneath her skin. Excitement, anxiety, a hundred half-formed thoughts pulling in different directions. She tightened her grip on her things and kept moving, one step at a time.
"Maybe I'm making a big deal out of this.
It's just the start, right? The start of… something."
She glanced ahead at Rose's bright, fearless grin.
"But maybe this one's mine.
Whatever this turns into — it's mine."
A soft, uneven breath left her lips, and she smiled to herself.
"Wait for me, Mom… capisce?"