"Khh–!" Luna gasps for air as she jolts awake, breath hitching from the shock of the cold metal floor beneath her. She's inside a towering structure—no ceiling in sight, no visible bottom. The walls stretch endlessly up and down, lined with repeating gate-like indents on every floor, vanishing into darkness.
She pushes herself up abruptly, eyes scanning her surroundings, brows drawn in perplexity.
"Where am I?!" the question echoes in her mind, sharp and immediate.
Her gaze drifts to the remains of a cage—its metal bars cracked, bent outward, and scattered across the platform. Frost clings to the edges, and a strange ice-formed arch bridges the gap to an exit-like gate across the way.
"Huh…?" she mutters, tilting her head.
Rising to her feet, she steadies herself, glancing around.
"What happened?"
"What is this place? It's so dark…"
A sudden sensation runs through her. Her brow tightens.
"Ice?"
Something clicks in her memory. She reaches up to her forehead, parting her bangs. Her fingers find the familiar snowflake tattoo. The moment she touches it, a subtle burning sensation makes her flinch back, her eyes narrowing.
Carefully, she steps beyond the shattered cage, approaching the platform's edge. Looking down, her eyes follow the abyss stretching far below.
"Huh. I wouldn't want to fall there." The observation is flat, her tone almost analytical.
She steps onto the icy bridge, slow but steady, her shoes crunching gently against the frost.
"Isn't a person supposed to feel scared in a situation like this?" she wonders aloud, head tilted.
A thoughtful frown creases her face as she taps her cheek with one finger.
"Oh well… Maybe that has something to do with that day…?"
Her eyes close as her expression tightens, the thought drifting.
"...Or maybe I'm just dumb…?"
She lets out a soft, amused exhale.
"Well, anyway—"
Her voice lifts with a spark of energy.
"Adventure awaits!"
And with that, she carries herself across the frozen bridge, step by step toward the dark exit ahead.
Before passing through, she glances back at the cage. A subtle smile touches her lips—something stirs faintly inside her. She doesn't fully understand the feeling, but somehow, it brings her peace.
Turning back, she continues forward, her pace calm and unhurried, until she vanishes into the shadows of the unknown.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile Inside a Nursery Hall
The nursery hall sat within the healing wing of the Academy, quiet and warm. Smooth stone walls shimmered faintly with warding runes, and soft-glowing lanterns hung from carved wooden beams. Beds of whiteleaf wood lined the room, each draped in charm-woven blankets to ease pain and fever. Gentle magic lingered in the air, like the scent of mist and herbs. Pale curtains of spellthread cloth offered rest and privacy, while a silver basin at the center—fed by blessed springwater—whispered with healing power.
"Is everything alright, Aria?" Nyx asked.
"Pfff." Aria chuckled, a slight blush coloring her cheeks, her laughter light and full of warmth. "What are you saying?" she said, glancing at Nyx as she wiped at her tears. "I'm totally fine, as you can see. Just a few more days and my arm will be as good as new!"
Nyx studied her quietly, taking in the many surface cuts scattered across her face. Her right arm was stabilized by magical bolts, her left arm badly wounded and wrapped in thick bandages. His gaze rose to meet hers, and with a slow breath and quiet concern, he said, "Really? You don't look too well in my eyes."
"You look like a knight who stumbled into a wyvern's den."
"What?! No! That's not true!" Aria snapped back with a grin.
"I'm totally fine! This is just a scratch compared to meeting a wyvern!"
"Pfff." Nyx chuckled softly. "Fine, fine, whatever you say... my weak sister." He covered his mouth to hide his smile, but his laughter slipped through.
"Don't laugh! I'm not as strong as you are!" Aria huffed, looking away in embarrassment—then turned back with renewed fire in her eyes. "Not yet! at least."
"I'll be on par with you—just you wait!"
"Now go! Leave me alone and go claim your reward, you bastard!"
"Haha!" Nyx stood up, laughing. "As you say, Sister."
He smiled from ear to ear, glancing down at her with warmth in his gaze—though a flicker of regret lingered there, his brows twitching as he looked at her one last time.
"Alright," he said, turning toward the door. He opened it and raised his hand in a backward wave. "Rest well, and recover fast. I want to duel you soon!"
"Sure! Whatever you wish!" Aria called after him with a chuckle, waving back. "Claim it fast, or I'll take it!"
"Just you dare," Nyx replied.
"Bye!"
"Alright, bye!" Aria echoed.
As the door clicked shut, Aria's warm gaze lingered on it.
….
Nyx walked down the hall, boots pressing into the red carpet.
"Heh, praise it will be."
"Hmm… I know," he thought to himself, snapping the fingers of his right hand.
"I'll ask her to train with me!" he declared inwardly, resolve flashing in his eyes as he struck his fist into his open palm.
"…I've been training… way too much," he admitted, gripping his sore deltoids with a wince.
His eyes fell to his palms, fingers curling tightly into fists.
"That's how losers think."
Nyx looked forward, letting his arms drop to his sides.
"No matter what… I can't stop training."
"I can't allow such a thing to happen again." His eyelids clenched, eyebrows tightening.
He came to an abrupt halt in front of a towering door.
"Oh… here," he mumbled.
Drawing in a deep breath, he exhaled slowly.
"Alright."
He reached for the handle and pushed the door open, its hinges creaking as it revealed a throne-like chair waiting atop the red carpet.