The morning sun spilled golden light over the sprawling campus of Seiki Academy, illuminating the massive stone buildings carved with ancient runes that glowed faintly in the dawn. The air was cool but thick with anticipation—the scent of pine and damp earth mingled with the faint hum of Seiki energy pulsing around the grounds.
Kaito Renge stood before the towering iron gates, heart pounding in his chest. Behind the gates stretched a world he had only dreamed of: an elite academy where Seiki users from across the nation gathered to train, learn, and unlock their true potential. The brutal Tensei Trial in the Ravine was behind him now—but this new challenge was just beginning.
Beside him, Hina's fiery orange aura flickered softly, betraying the barely contained energy simmering beneath her calm facade. Riku, ever composed, adjusted his glasses and scanned their surroundings with a calm, calculating gaze.
"Welcome," a clear, confident voice interrupted his thoughts. A young woman approached, her silver hair tied back into a sharp braid, eyes like polished steel. "I'm Miyako, your orientation coordinator. I'll guide you through the first steps of your journey here."
Kaito nodded, swallowing his nerves. "Thank you."
Miyako smiled faintly. "Seiki Academy is unlike anywhere you've been before. Here, strength isn't enough. Mastery comes from understanding yourself and your Seiki deeply—and forging a Yakusoku, a binding vow that controls your power and defines your path."
They entered through the heavy gates and passed beneath archways inscribed with glowing sigils. The air thrummed with latent energy, making every step feel charged. Ahead, students of all ages practiced quietly or in groups, each surrounded by faint shimmering auras—some crackling like fire, others flowing like water or wrapping like threads of shadow.
"This is your new home," Miyako said softly. "Where you will become not just a Seiki user, but a guardian of balance."
The trio moved to the main hall, a cavernous chamber with soaring ceilings and walls lined with ancient tomes and banners representing each of the five main Seiki styles: Tensui, Shirabe, Hisui, Kakera, and Kiri.
"Here you will begin your training," Miyako continued. "First, with basic control exercises. Even the strongest Seiki is useless if you cannot command it."
Kaito took a deep breath as he stepped onto the polished stone floor. The Void inside him stirred restlessly, like a storm barely contained. He closed his eyes and tried to calm it—remembering his vow to protect what he had left.
Around him, other students formed circles and pairs, practicing channeling their aura into simple shapes or flowing strands of energy. Some had the brute force of Tensui, others the subtle manipulation of Shirabe, or the eerie unpredictability of Hisui.
Hina moved with practiced grace, her hands glowing with orange light as she formed fist-shaped constructs, each one crackling with raw power. Riku's threads, delicate and precise, weaved intricate patterns in the air, binding shadows like silk.
Kaito's first attempts were shaky. The Void surged too strongly, breaking his focus and causing his aura to flicker dangerously. Miyako's voice cut through the noise.
"Concentration, Renge-san. Your power is unique, but unstable. You must bind the hunger inside with your will."
Frustration burned inside Kaito, but he kept trying, centering himself on the memory of his sister—the only true anchor to his fading humanity.
The day passed in a blur of drills, lessons on Seiki styles, and warnings about the cost of power. Kaito learned that every great Seiki user carried a price—Yakusoku—that balanced their strength with sacrifice.
At lunch, the trio found themselves in a bustling courtyard filled with energetic students. A boy with bright crimson hair and a confident smirk caught Kaito's eye.
"That's Kazuo," Riku whispered. "A Tensui prodigy and notorious rival. He sees newcomers as threats to his rank."
Kazuo's gaze locked on Kaito, a challenge blazing in his eyes. "You don't look like much," he called out. "Let's see if you can back that up."
Hina's fists clenched, her aura flaring. "We're not afraid."
Riku merely smiled, calm and unreadable.
As the sun began to set, Kaito found a quiet rooftop overlooking the garden's ancient stones, the fading light casting long shadows. The serene beauty was a stark contrast to the turmoil inside him.
He clenched his fists and whispered to the void within. "I will master this power. I will keep my vow."
A breeze stirred, carrying with it a whisper of ancient secrets—a promise of strength and sacrifice that only the Academy could unlock.
The journey had only just begun.