When Hinata helped me, warmth spread through my chest like soft sunlight after rain.
It wasn't ordinary happiness.
It was deeper.
Stronger.
Almost painful in how beautiful it felt.
I had never experienced anything like it in my life before.
Why did it feel like my heart was waking up?
While those thoughts swirled inside me, a familiar gentle voice broke through.
"Hey… we're going to be late for class."
I looked up.
Aira stood there, her silver hair glowing softly under the hallway light, smiling as always.
"What class?" I asked.
"Mana studies," she said. "Today we learn how divine power was born… and why the gods exist."
I slowly placed my hand over my chest.
"I can feel mana inside me," I whispered.
"But there's something I don't understand."
Aira tilted her head.
"What is it?"
"Humans have mana too… but is theirs different from ours?"
Her expression softened.
"Yes. Completely different.
The first gods were born from pure mana itself. When light appeared, darkness followed. From that darkness came demons — and so gods were created to fight them."
She paused before continuing.
"If humans possessed the same amount of mana as gods, the world would shatter. That's why humans were given only one percent of divine mana."
My breath caught.
"So… the gods created many worlds? Some filled with magic… some without it?"
"All worlds contain mana," Aira replied gently.
"But some have very little, while others overflow with it.
Worlds where people strongly believe in gods grow richer in mana.
Demons exist there too — but humans cannot see them."
My heart pounded.
This universe was far larger than I had ever imagined.
---
The classroom felt like another world.
Students of many races filled the room.
Some looked human.
Some shimmered with strange light.
Some had wings, horns, glowing eyes, or shadowy forms.
The teacher stood tall at the front.
"To become a god," he declared,
"you must master mana and awaken the Seven Body Marks."
He raised his hand and glowing symbols appeared in the air.
"Human mana changes according to environment and choice. That is why some fall into darkness and blame the gods for their fate."
His voice hardened.
"But destiny is shaped by one's own actions."
Suddenly—
A boy stood up.
Flames exploded around his body like a living storm.
His eyes burned crimson.
A long scar crossed his face.
Whispers swept across the room.
"Fire Clan…"
"B‑Class student…"
The teacher narrowed his eyes.
"Your name?"
"Koji."
Gasps echoed.
"Fire God bloodline?!"
My fists clenched.
So he was born from one of the strongest clans…
Yet something didn't add up.
They whispered that his younger sister had already awakened her mana as a child — but Koji still hadn't.
Then I felt it.
There was no visible mana around him.
Yet an invisible pressure crushed the air itself.
The teacher sneered.
"You possess no mana, yet you speak proudly? Your little sister surpassed you long ago."
Koji's body trembled.
"Don't… talk about my sister."
The pain in his voice was sharper than any blade.
---
"Today," the teacher announced coldly,
"you will begin awakening the Seven Body Marks."
My heartbeat roared in my ears.
I have mana.
But what kind?
Weak?
Strong?
Or none at all?
Fear twisted inside me.
What if I'm useless?
What if I don't belong here?
Then—
"Hey!"
Light burst across the room.
I turned in shock.
Aira stood glowing like a newborn sun.
Golden mana surged from her body.
Seven brilliant marks appeared across her skin, shining like divine symbols.
"I did it!" she laughed happily.
"I awakened them!"
Warm light flooded the classroom.
Students shielded their eyes.
Even the teacher stepped back in surprise.
I stared, breathless.
Her power was overwhelming.
And then—
Inside my chest…
Something cracked open.
A deep, ancient energy stirred.
Like a sleeping god opening its eyes