The 9A classroom looked ordinary that morning. However, when Leith's footsteps echoed down the hallway, the atmosphere slowly tensed. There were no cheers, no whispers. Only the steady sound of footsteps and the rhythmic beating of the students' hearts as they speculated about what they would face that day.
The door opened. Leith entered as usual—without expression, without introduction, only silence and an aura that seemed to swallow the entire room.
He stood at the front of the class, flipping through the pages on the digital device attached to his wrist, then stared at the students without a single smile.
"Today," he said flatly yet firmly, "we will be covering material that is... different."
All heads lifted. Some students who had previously looked sleepy now sat up straighter. The sound of pages being turned softly. Some pens were ready to write, though no one knew yet what would be noted.
"Our topic is not advanced magic. Not memory tactics. Not one-on-one combat. Today... we will discuss something you once considered mythology."
Some eyebrows raised. In the corner of the room, a student almost chuckled, but stopped when Leith walked slowly to the blackboard. With white chalk, he wrote two words that immediately caught the attention of the entire class:
Sagitarius Sylas
Leith put down the chalk. He turned, leaned lightly on the desk in front of him, then spoke again.
"You remember the old story—the fairy tale about the Knight of Light who supposedly appeared when the world was in chaos. A Syn in a golden white robe, bringing hope, and wearing a mask to hide his identity. That story used to be played on the holo-player before bedtime, right?"
Some students nodded slowly. Others furrowed their brows. One student—a girl with neatly braided hair—whispered to her friend, "It's just a children's story, right?"
Leith heard, but didn't respond. He continued, his voice now slightly deeper, almost stirring the curiosity embedded in every student.
"Three days ago, someone appeared in the state of Jharaka. He wore a white robe with gold patterns. His face was hidden behind a mask... And he called himself—Sagitarius Sylas."
The class fell silent. Soft murmurs began to be heard. Some students looked left and right, trying to confirm the news with their friends.
"I heard he appeared in the middle of the Jharaka market," said one student, his voice almost a whisper.
"And immediately caught the attention of the Syn there…" another added.
"He… he asked who the strongest Syntara was, right?"
What makes someone worthy of being called a Legend?
"Today's assignment," he said as he wrote quickly, "Write a 400-word essay. Analyze based on the Jharaka event recordings and your childhood stories. Is Sagittarius Sylas a symbol of hope... or a threat?"
At exactly 3:00 PM, the school bell rang loudly, echoing throughout the Academy.
Leith stepped out of his classroom without looking back. As promised, this afternoon he would teach Liyn some basic material about Syntara. In exchange, Liyn would lend him some rare astronomy books that Leith couldn't access from the public library.
He walked down the increasingly empty hallway toward Liyn's classroom. Upon arriving, the room was nearly empty. Only one person remained—Liyn, asleep at her desk, her head leaning toward the window, bathed in the dim afternoon light.
"She's asleep again," Leith murmured to himself, then smiled slightly.
It's unusual for it to be this quiet at this hour, he thought, his eyes sweeping the silent classroom.
When his gaze returned to Liyn, the girl began to stir slowly and opened her eyes. She yawned softly.
"Leith-senpai? Sorry, I fell asleep… did I make you wait long?" she asked in a hoarse, sleepy voice, her cheeks still slightly flushed from sleep.
"No, I just arrived," Leith replied briefly.
"So," he continued, raising an eyebrow, "what can I help you with today?"
Liyn didn't answer immediately. She sat up straight, then looked at Leith with a sudden sharp and determined gaze.
"Join me in battle, Senpai."
Leith fell silent. Liyn's tone had completely changed—no longer casual or cheerful. Her eyes held something deeper than mere ambition. Behind her desire to challenge Viola lay a craving for pain... or perhaps, an outlet.
"Alright," Leith finally replied.
They walked toward the academy's backyard—an open field often used as an unofficial training ground. It was far enough from the classrooms to be quiet and rarely visited by other students at this hour.
Unlike their previous meetings, this time Liyn walked side by side with Leith. Though there was no conversation, their steps felt in sync. For Liyn, this was progress—a small closeness growing slowly.
Upon arriving at the garden, Leith calmly removed his school uniform and placed it on the garden bench. Beneath it, he wore a simple black shirt and matching pants. His appearance remained
Neat and elegant without trying too hard—enough to make Liyn look away and sigh inwardly.
Annoyingly handsome, she thought. But she quickly dismissed the thought, replacing it with complete focus on one thing—the fight.
"Ready?" Leith asked softly as he took his position, his body relaxed but ready to move at any moment.
Liyn nodded. Her breath was deep, both hands already raised forward. A light aura began to emanate from her body—not too strong, but stable enough. A faint blue flame enveloped the palms of her hands.