The hallway outside the council room was mostly empty. The buzz of student chatter dulled behind thick walls, leaving only the soft clack of footsteps and fading echoes of the meeting.
Eren held the door for her brother as they stepped out. "Well," she muttered, "we survived."
Ereno gave a small shrug and signed:
No dancing. Total win.
She laughed under her breath, but the smile didn't last.
A tall figure leaned against a column a few paces down, sharp uniform, sharper gaze. Kieran didn't move when they noticed him. Just watched.
"You're fast at getting involved," he said, voice low and unamused. "One day in, and you're already in council meetings."
Ereno didn't bother signing anything back.
Kieran's eyes narrowed slightly. "What are you trying to prove?"
Ereno tilted his head, then pulled his notebook from under his arm, scribbled something, and held it up without looking at him:
Nothing. Just got bored watching amateurs.
Eren blinked. "Ereno..."
But he wasn't looking at her. His gaze stayed locked with Kieran's.
For a second, Kieran said nothing. Then, a faint, disbelieving scoff escaped him.
"So that's how it is."
He took a step forward, not threatening just enough to show he wasn't backing down. "You think this place is your playground?"
Ereno slowly flipped the notebook, wrote again, and turned it around:
No. Just don't like losing space to people who coast on titles.
Kieran's jaw tensed, but his expression remained controlled. Too controlled.
"You talk a lot for someone who doesn't use his voice."
Ereno signed one word this time, no smile, no flair:
Exactly.
A silence fell, thick as concrete.
Then Kieran leaned in slightly. "You can play the quiet genius all you want. But if you're trying to compete with me..."
His words stopped. A thin smirk formed, not friendly. Not mocking. Just cold.
"You're not even close yet."
Ereno didn't flinch. His pen scratched again.
Wasn't planning to be close. Planning to pass.
Kieran stared at him, no reply. Just a pause.
Then he stepped back, adjusted his collar, and walked off without another word.
Eren watched him disappear down the hallway. "Okay. That was… something."
Ereno just clicked his pen shut and tucked the notebook away.
Eren blinked. "You're not seriously trying to start something with the top student on day one, right?"
Ereno glanced at her, signed casually:
I didn't start it. He just noticed I exist.
She groaned. "Yeah, and now I'm definitely going to hear about this for the rest of the semester."
But as they walked, Ereno's fingers brushed lightly against the side of his amulet.
That stare, that tension, it wasn't just schoolyard competition.
It was recognition.
A while after that, the twins made their way to their next class.
They knew they were late so as they reached the door they didn't hesitate to enter.
They stepped in.
The room wasn't like the other one as last time. No tidy rows, no desks. Just a wide-open space and concentric circles drawn into the marble floor with shimmering runes that flickered softly.
Some students were already standing at their spots. And they started practicing tiny sparks between their fingers.
Then a voice rang out, firm and commanding.
"You two! Get to your spots. You're late," said Vael, standing near the center of the rune.
The twins followed her eyes to two empty spots etched with their names.
This time she put them side by side.
They took their places quietly, and Eren let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Today," Vael said, "you'll see the difference between the different types of spell incantations."
With a flick of her hand, a stream of glowing energy pulsed through the runes beneath them, reaching each student's feet like living veins of light.
"Magic is not about words. It's not even about willpower. It's about your thoughts."
Another flick. A second layer of runes appeared, floating midair.
"You have to cast two spells today, One with a short incantation. And one with a short one. It might not seem like it but be sure that the both are different."
She looked around, eyes stopping briefly at the twins. "And remember… if it's easy, you're doing it wrong."
A few of the students stepped forward. Their eyes flicked between Vael and the runes beneath them, some showing signs of nervousness, others already brimming with energy.
Lilly was among the first.
With a soft breath, she raised her hand and spoke clearly, "Ignis."
A clean burst of fire flickered in her palm. Focused and steady.
"Good," Vael said. "Speech controls the flow. Keep your rhythm steady."
Next came Aurelian.
He stepped forward slowly, raised his hand, and spoke just above a whisper. "Lux."
Light flared out of his hand, too strong for a first-level cast. The rune beneath him shimmered brighter than the others.
Vael narrowed her eyes. "Controlled, but overcharged. You're not fighting yet, Mr. Aurelian."
He gave no reply, just returned to his spot like nothing had happened.
Then came Eren's turn.
She stepped into her circle, eyes wide but calm. Her voice rang out. "Glacia."
A cold breeze blew past. Frost spiraled gently from her fingertips. The rune beneath her glowed with perfect clarity.
Vael scribbled something down. "Sharp, clean. Almost too natural."
Eren lit up.
Then… Ereno stepped forward.
The room held still.
He stood over the rune drawn with his name. His eyes scanned the flickering symbols beneath him. He raised a hand.
And didn't speak.
The magic didn't respond.
A pause stretched.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came. None ever did.
The rune blinked once. Faintly.
And then... nothing.
Whispers buzzed behind him. A few glances. A snicker.
Eren shifted forward, ready to speak, but stopped at the sight of Vael.
The teacher didn't move. Her voice came quiet but firm.
"Verbal casting is the foundation. Without it, the magic won't listen. You know that."
Ereno lowered his hand, eyes narrowed, not at her, but at himself.
"You can't force it without the word," Vael continued. "But it doesn't mean you won't find your way."
He stepped back.
With no spell, no light and no flare just silence.
Eren's gaze followed him. She said nothing.
He didn't look back.
The next student was called. Class moved on but for Ereno… the stillness stuck.
Vael clapped once, sharp and quick.
The room quieted down immediately.
"Now," she said, walking the edge of the runic circle, "you'll cast the same spell, but this time, with its full incantation. Long form."
A ripple of unease passed through a few students. Others stood straighter.
"Step forward when ready. Speak clearly. Own your words. Magic will only answer those who respect it."
A student stepped forward first.
"By flame unbound and ember bright,
Let fire rise and grant me light!"
A flick of fire burst from his palm, steadier, fuller than before. Controlled.
The class murmured softly. Impressed. The one by one, more students moved up.
Lilly raised her hand. Her voice was soft but confident.
"By frost untouched, by moonlight pale,
Let ice awaken, sharp and frail."
A sheet of frost spread in a perfect arc in front of her.
Next was Kei, whose air spell whipped into a brief but forceful gust that tugged at students' cloaks.
Even the quiet girl in the corner, barely noticed before stepped into the center. Her voice barely more than a whisper:
"By shadow's breath and hidden trace,
Let silence bind and leave no face."
A tendril of black mist curled from her palm and vanished just as quickly. The teacher gave a nod of approval.
Eren's turn came.
"By spark unseen and silence deep,
Let lightning strike and secrets keep!"
Electricity danced across her fingers in thin arcs before vanishing into the air.
A few students clapped. One muttered, "Whoa…"
Then all eyes turned to Ereno.
He didn't move.
The silence grew heavier.
Some waited. Others already looked away.
Ereno stayed still, hands at his side, eyes low.
And across the circle, Aurelian watched him.
He didn't speak.
Didn't mock.
But his sharp golden eyes narrowed, disappointed. Displeased. Almost insulted.
He shifted his posture crossing his arms, weight leaning slightly back but his gaze didn't leave Ereno for a second.
The kind of look that didn't need words to say: That's it?
A look that didn't mock, but judged.
Vael's voice pulled the room back.
"Some of you are getting the hang of it. Some of you… need work."
Her eyes briefly met Ereno's, unreadable, but not unkind.
"Still," she said, walking back toward the center, "it's only the first step."
Aurelian finally looked away.
And Ereno… he didn't sigh. He didn't frown.
He just stood there.
Quiet.
Unmoving.
Like he always did.
The next student was called. Class moved on.
But for Ereno… the stillness stuck.
He returned to his place beside Eren, eyes down.
He sighed.
"Still can't do it, huh?"
He didn't want to think about it any more than that.
From the side, Lilly lowered her hands slowly after applauding Eren.
She looked at Ereno. Her brows drew in, thoughtful.
After a moment, she walked up to him close enough to speak, not enough to crowd.
"…You know," she said softly, "not all magic comes from a voice."
Ereno didn't move, but his fingers flexed slightly.
Lilly gave a small smile, not cheerful, not forced. Just… kind. "If anyone can find another way, it's probably you."
He blinked. Looked at her. Just for a second.
Then looked away.
She didn't press more. "That's all. I'll be over there," she added gently, nodding toward her spot.
And with that, she turned and left him in peace.
But her words stayed.
After class ended, students started to gather their things. Some chatted, others left quickly, but Eren stayed close to her brother, walking beside him slowly.
She glanced at his face, quiet as ever.
"You know…" she began softly, her voice trying to sound light, but not too much, "you still managed to pull a whole rune into shape without a word. That's not nothing."
Ereno didn't look at her.
She continued, "You just… have a different way. Maybe it's not like theirs, but that doesn't mean it's wrong."
He didn't write anything. Just walked. Silently. Still.
Then a voice came from behind them.
"Tch. So that's it?"
The twins turned.
Aurelian stood leaning on the stone archway, arms crossed, golden eyes sharp as ever. His presence wasn't loud, but it didn't need to be.
"You mess up once, and you just shrink into silence like a kicked pup?" he said, not unkindly but not kindly either.
Ereno blinked. Said nothing.
Aurelian clicked his tongue. "You're not like the others. You don't get to be. So stop acting like you are."
Eren narrowed her eyes. "And who asked you?"
But Aurelian didn't even glance at her.
He stepped closer to Ereno, just enough to be heard clearly.
"It's not too late to find your own style. If you can't speak, then do something else. Carve it. Draw it. Feel it. It doesn't matter. Just rewrite it in your own way and don't be useless."
Ereno stared at him, unreadable as always.
Aurelian leaned in slightly.
"You're supposed to be my rival, aren't you? Then stop being pathetic."
He walked off without waiting for a reply, cloak brushing past them.
Eren scoffed, arms crossed. "Seriously, what's his deal?"
Ereno glanced down, the faintest hint of something sharp glinting in his ruby eyes.
But he didn't sigh this time.
He stood still for a second… then looked down at his hand.
It didn't shake. No sigh. No slump.
Just stillness.
And something quiet behind his eyes.
Like a spark. Small. But real.
He turned, walking forward without a word.
Eren followed, close behind watching him.
Not asking anything. Just walking with him.
And behind them, the runes etched into the training floor dimmed…
but one flickered back to life.
A line. A shape. Unspoken. Incomplete.
But his.