The sun blazed over the Academy towers, casting long golden beams across the polished courtyard. Inside Mr. Oren’s classroom, students shuffled to their seats, the usual mix of yawns, murmured gossip, and crackling anticipation thick in the air. Oren stood at the front, clipboard in hand, eyes sharp as knives as he waited for the final stragglers to sit.

"Attendance," The chatter snapped off like a cut wire.

"Ash Green," he called.

"Yeah, yeah, I’m here," Ash muttered without looking up, fingers tapping rapidly on his phone.

"Ava," Oren continued.

"Present," Calli said brightly, a mischievous glint already flickering behind her innocent smile.

"Jayce."

"Alive" Jayce drawled, lazily leaning his chair so far back it looked like gravity itself might give up on him.

"Ryuu."

"Here," Ryuu answered crisply, posture straight as ever.

"Tsukina."

"Here," came a soft, nearly whispered voice. Some students tilted their heads, eyeing the unfamiliar girl with wary curiosity. Tsukina sat still as stone, black hair spilling over her shoulders, green cat-like eyes fixed ahead.

"Kory."

"Here," Stephen said simply, his tone flat and unreadable.

"Soren."

"Yo," Soren called, twirling a pen between his fingers like he hadn’t a care in the world.

"Lyra."

"Still breathing," Lyra mumbled, already slumping in her seat with dramatic boredom.

Oren snapped the clipboard closed with a loud clap just as the heavy doors swung open. Rose entered, her heels clicking sharply against the stone. Every head turned, the room almost holding its breath at her presence.

"We have new blood," Rose announced without ceremony. "Three newcomers: Tsukina, Kory, and Ava."