The silence was almost deafening as he stumbled through the thick fog. His feet sank into the damp ground with each step, and he couldn't see anything. Even if he stretched his arm in front of him, he could only make out the faint outline of his hand. What little he could see was unrecognizable. He had no idea where he was or how he had gotten there.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps in the distance. They were faint at first, but they sounded like they were getting closer. His heart began to race as he realized that he was not alone in the fog. He tried to calm himself down and convince himself that it was just his imagination, but the footsteps grew louder and more distinct.

He started to walk faster, but the footsteps seemed to be getting closer and closer. Panic set in as he began to realize that he was being followed. He broke into a run, his feet pounding against the ground as he tried to escape. The fog seemed to thicken around him, making it even harder to see where he was going.

As he ran, he stumbled and fell, scraping his hands and knees on the rough ground. He scrambled to his feet and kept running, not daring to look back. The footsteps were still behind him, and he could hear them getting closer with each passing moment.

Finally, he burst out of the fog and into a clearing. He looked around wildly, trying to get his bearings. It was then that he saw a silhouette standing in front of him.

Yoojin suddenly woke up in a cold sweat, gasping for air. His heart was racing, and his body was covered in sweat. He could hear voices around him, and someone placed his glasses on his nose. He focused on Calisto, who looked really worried.

"Mr Delaney, can you hear me? Do you know who you are and where you are?" the deputy asked him quietly, concern etched on his face.

Yoojin blinked rapidly before trying to sit up and shake off the nightmare. It took him a few moments to realize that he was safe in his own bed and that the fog and the footsteps had only been a dream. But the fear lingered, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was really wrong. He tried to calm himself down, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't belong in his own skin.

When he felt a hand on his cheek, he realized that Professor Nakajima and Calisto were trying to speak to him. He tried to focus on them, but his mind was still foggy from the nightmare.

"Yoojin, it's me, Calisto. Do you know who you are and where you are?" his friend repeated, whispering as if he was afraid someone else could hear.

Yoojin nodded, not trusting his voice and feeling confused as to why they were whispering.

The deputy took out what looked like a talisman and put it around Yoojin's neck. "Someone just tried to kidnap you through your dream. Your body was fading away, but since we were able to intervene immediately, we were able to block the attempt. Fortunately, when we spoke about your nightmare yesterday, I immediately made this talisman. It will block any attempts to contact you using Dream Telepathy. You need to wear it at all times, and every night, we will meet so that I can check its effectiveness. If for any reason you have to take it off or it gets destroyed, you need to come to me or the Headmistress immediately."

Yoojin looked at the talisman around his neck and felt a calming scent emanating from it. He felt a sense of relief, knowing that it would protect him. He nodded, still feeling a bit dazed. "Thank you." he managed to say.

The deputy left the room, but Calisto stayed seated on the edge of Yoojin's bed, looking at him with concern. "Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

Yoojin shook his head. "I'm fine. I'm just a bit shaken up."

Calisto nodded. "You're not alone in this, and we won't let anything happen to you. Everything will be alright."

At that moment, Yoojin knew that he was lucky to have his best friend on his side. He lay back down on his pillow, still feeling a bit uneasy, but also comforted by the fact that he was safe for now.

Eventually, Yoojin fell back asleep, but his dreams were restless for the rest of the night.

The next morning, Yoojin woke up feeling exhausted. Calisto was already awake and playing on his Switch, waiting for him to wake up. Yoojin rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep.

"How are you feeling?" Calisto asked, looking up from his game.

Yoojin shrugged. "Tired, but okay."

Calisto nodded. "We have a busy day ahead of us. You need to get dressed so we can go and eat breakfast."

Yoojin nodded, feeling grateful for his friend's concern and presence. He had been feeling so alone and scared lately, but Calisto had been there for him every step of the way.

He got out of bed and got ready for the day ahead. He knew that he couldn't let his guard down, not when someone was trying to kidnap him through his dreams. But he also knew that he had his friends on his side, and that gave him a sense of comfort.

They made their way to the hotel restaurant, where they met Lucas and Jaein. Lucas was already chatting animatedly with Jaein, his enthusiasm infectious. They sat down together and began to eat, discussing their plans for the day.

Calisto listened to their conversation, a small smile on his face. He was always quiet, but Yoojin could tell that he was enjoying their company.

As they finished their meal, Calisto checked his watch. "It's time to go to the fountain." he said, standing up.

Yoojin felt his heart rate increase as they made their way to the fountain. He realized that in a few hours, he would be leaving behind his old life and starting a new one with his childhood friend and new friends.

As they arrived at the meeting point, Yoojin saw Headmistress Blackwood and Professors Nakajima and Fiordivita sitting in front of the fountain, discussing quietly.

When they saw the group, the deputy got up and approached them.

"Are you ready?" the deputy asked Yoojin.

Yoojin nodded, his heart beating rapidly and his hands feeling warm and clammy. He tried to appear more confident than he felt.

Professor Nakajima chanted something in what Yoojin thought was Japanese, drawing a circle with his finger. Suddenly, something that looked like a portal formed from nowhere, and Yoojin could see the street where he lived on the other side.

"Mr. Delaney, as you can see, every power is different. Some will need words and gestures to work, and others' powers will take other forms, like the amulet. Moreover, all the Olympians are required to get this intricate bracelet-like tattoo when they are born. It makes humans and hybrids unable to see what they shouldn't know." Professor Nakajima explained, showing Yoojin his wrist.

The deputy entered the portal, and after a moment of hesitation, Yoojin followed him. As he passed through the portal, he closed his eyes, expecting to feel something strange, but nothing happened. When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing on the street where his house was located.

When he looked behind him, the portal had disappeared.

Yoojin looked around, feeling a sense of disbelief. He had just travelled through a portal, and now he was standing on the street where he had grown up. It all felt so surreal.

The deputy looked at him and spoke. "Welcome to your new life, Mr. Delaney. You have a lot to learn, but we will be here to guide you."

Yoojin nodded, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness.

As they entered the house, Yoojin's heart sank. He realized that he was there to pack for his new boarding school and that he hadn't even thought about what to tell his grandmother. He hadn't seen her in months, and he had been looking forward to spending time with her. But now he had to leave without telling her anything, and he would need to find an excuse. Fortunately, he had finished high school a year in advance and was enjoying a sabbatical year before beginning his online university lessons in the autumn so he could start immediately at Celestial Academy.

Blue, his adorable cat, appeared running towards him and began rubbing himself against his legs before disappearing again on top of the stairs. Yoojin found it strange but quickly forgot about it.

He was about to show the deputy to the parlour to offer him tea when he heard a key being inserted into the entrance door, and the door opened. To his surprise, he saw his grandmother enter. She wasn't supposed to come back until the summer.

Yoojin's heart was racing, and he felt a lump form in his throat. He had to justify the deputy's presence, and he was never good at lying on the spot. He was afraid that his grandmother would see right through his story.

"Yoojin, my dear, I wanted to surprise you, but I think it was you who surprised me. Who is this man?" his grandmother asked, eyeing the deputy with surprise.

Yoojin swallowed nervously. He decided to try to use the truth. "Uh, hello Grandma, I have something to tell you. So, this is Deputy Headmaster Shogo Nakajima. He is the representative from Celestial Academy."

His grandmother sighed. "Just let me go and make us some tea, and you can explain everything from the beginning. In the meantime, show the professor our parlour." she said before turning to go to the kitchen.

Yoojin and the deputy went to sit in the parlour. "You shouldn't worry. Sometimes, we have turned Olympians, so we have a facade only for humans. What university curriculum were you going to pursue?" the deputy asked.

"Literature." Yoojin replied.

The deputy nodded. "That's a good choice. You'll find that Celestial Academy has an excellent literature program."

Yoojin felt a sense of relief wash over him. He was glad that the deputy was there to guide him through this new world.

His grandmother entered the room, carrying a tray of tea and biscuits. She sat down with them and looked at Yoojin expectantly. "Now, my dear, tell me everything. What is this Celestial Academy, and why are they interested in you?"

The deputy decided to intervene. "Please, firstly let me reintroduce myself. I'm Shogo Nakajima, and like your grandson said before, I'm the deputy headmaster and representative of the private school, Celestial Academy. It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Yoojin's grandmother and guardian, Shashi Delaney." she replied.

Yoojin told his grandmother about the online writing contests he had participated in, including one that was sponsored by the Celestial Academy. "So I had won the contest, and the school was so impressed with my writing that they had offered me a scholarship to attend their program."

Yoojin's grandmother listened intently, her expression softening as she realized how much this opportunity meant to her grandson. She raised an eyebrow. "And why didn't you tell me about this before?"

Yoojin bit his lip, feeling guilty. "I didn't want to get your hopes up. I didn't think I would actually get accepted. And when I won, I didn't tell you anything about it, in case it didn't work out because of my phobia and I had to drop out."

The deputy stepped in. "Mrs. Delaney, I understand that this must be a surprise. But we assure you that Yoojin has been selected for this program based on his exceptional writing skills."

Yoojin's grandmother looked sceptical. "And what kind of program is this, exactly?"

Yoojin took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "It's a unique writing program that focuses on mythology and folklore. They have classes on all kinds of writing, from poetry to screenwriting. They have therapists on staff who can help me with my social phobia."

His grandmother looked at him with concern. "Yoojin, are you sure you're ready for something like this? You've always been so shy, and no matter how many therapy sessions you've had, you never could go back to school."

Yoojin nodded, feeling a sense of determination. "I know it won't be easy, but I really want to do this. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Also, Calisto will be with me because he was also accepted there, so I will not be completely alone."

The deputy chimed in, sensing that they were making progress. "Mrs. Delaney, I assure you that Yoojin will be in good hands at Celestial Academy. We have a dedicated staff who will help him every step of the way. We also have a strict code of conduct and a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of bullying or misconduct. Your grandson will be in good hands."

Yoojin's grandmother looked thoughtful. "Well, I suppose it couldn't hurt to learn more about the program. Do you have any materials you could give me?"

The deputy smiled, reaching into his briefcase and pulling out a pamphlet of the school that he handed to her. "It's a very prestigious school, ma'am. Yoojin was selected for his exceptional writing skills. We understand that this is a lot to take in, but we assure you that he will be in good hands."

As they sipped their tea, Yoojin felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had been so afraid that his grandmother would be worried or disappointed, but she seemed to understand how much this opportunity meant to him.

"Thank you for telling me," his grandmother said as they finished their tea. "I always worry about my grandson, but knowing that he will finally attend school with a competent staff that will take care of him, I'm reassured."

The deputy nodded, handing her his business card. "If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me."

"By the way, where is Celestial Academy?" Shashi asked.

"It's on a private island offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. The island is called Elysium, and it's only accessible by boat. Don't worry. Your grandson's transportation is part of the scholarship. The school year is going to begin on Monday, 9th January. That's why I'm here, to accompany Mr Delaney since he is still underage and he didn't have a guardian that could accompany him."

Shashi nodded, impressed by the exclusivity of the academy. She turned towards her grandson. "You should go to your room and pack your belongings." She sighed. "I will also need to find a solution for your cat. I wonder if we could leave him with the neighbour?"

"Mrs. Delaney, that will not be a problem. Our academy is pet-friendly since many students come to school for long periods of time, and we encourage them to bring their own pets." the deputy said with a smile.

"I can't think of anything else at the moment." Shashi turned towards Yoojin. "You should go and pack your belongings," she said while tapping his cheek lightly.

Yoojin went to his room and rushed around, throwing clothes and books into his suitcase. He couldn't believe that he was actually going to the Celestial Academy. He never thought that he would go back to school.

As he packed, he noticed that some of his belongings were missing, like his pyjamas that he was wearing the night before the last one and his favourite cardigan. He searched around to see that other belongings were missing. His heart sank as he realized that someone had broken into his room and stolen his things.