(POV: Nagi / Rei / Ren)
The hidden music room beneath the stage was silent, yet the air felt alive. Dust motes floated in the faint glow of lanterns as Nagi traced his fingers along a cracked piano, his violet aura flickering.
"Look at them," he whispered. "All the names here… they were once like us. Promising. Talented. Now… just echoes."
Ren crouched beside a stack of sheets. One fell open, revealing a score older than the academy itself. The notes were impossible—twisting, overlapping, each bar containing multiple melodies at once. Faint blood stains marred the corners.
"Why… why would someone leave this?" Ren asked.
"Because," Nagi said quietly, "some melodies are too dangerous to finish. The academy doesn't forget. It preserves them… and sometimes, it demands payment."
A low hum filled the room. Rei Kanzaki appeared at the doorway, her dark hair spilling over one shoulder. Her blue aura glimmered faintly.
"You're not supposed to be here," she said softly. But her eyes lingered on the sheets. Her lips parted. No sound came, but Ren felt her thoughts: I know what it means to be bound by music… don't let it claim you too.
Ren shivered. This room, this place… it wasn't just history. It was a warning.