Orin Alpheratz (15 years old) Location: Solaris Date: Year 873 / Pegasus Cycle (1) / Emperor's Day (4)
Orin's heart thudded with uncertainty. The ache from his earlier acrobatics hadn't left him, and worse, the atmosphere had shifted. His earlier victory now felt hollow, like he'd stumbled across a locked door he didn't have the key for.
But there was no time to dwell.
Before long, both boys were back at the center of the training ground, swords in hand. Schedar gave the signal, and the second round began.
This time, Perseus stood differently, his weight more evenly distributed, his posture fluid and aware. He'd learned from the last match, and this time, he wasn't underestimating his opponent.
Orin, by contrast, felt the same obstacle looming before him. He didn't know any offensive Knight Skills, not yet. His training at the military academy hadn't prepared him for this kind of battlefield. Not really.
Then Perseus moved.
Like a coiled spring released, he launched forward with alarming speed. His voice rang out clearly:
“ACTIVATE KNIGHT SKILL: Total Defense!”
Suddenly, his shield fragmented into shimmering copies, phantasmal forms spinning and orbiting around him like protective satellites. The air itself pulsed with mana.
Orin instinctively dodged, but one of the ghostly shields clipped his foot mid-motion.
He stumbled.
His sword slipped from his grasp, clattering to the floor. He dropped to one knee, heart pounding as Perseus advanced.
The blade came fast.
Orin barely brought his shield up in time to deflect it, metal ringing against metal, but Perseus was already pressing in again.
This time, the strike came not from his sword, but from the shield itself. Perseus shoved forward with such force that Orin was driven fully to the ground, his arms trembling under the pressure.
Perseus leaned in with a smile. Calm. Cold.
“ACTIVATE KNIGHT SKILL: Solar Shield.”
The contact point between their shields glowed white-hot. Orin's eyes widened as heat seared through his gauntlets.
His shield began to melt.
He gritted his teeth as a drop of molten metal fell onto his cheek, sizzling on contact. The burn was small, but it made the moment feel endless.
And then, thankfully—
“Enough!”
Schedar's voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Perseus. Orin. Return to your seats.”
Perseus backed away with a satisfied smirk. Orin slowly got to his feet, the remains of his shield clattering dully as he lowered it. He didn't look at the other students. Couldn't.
As he passed the professor, Schedar leaned in slightly and said quietly, “Don't be discouraged. You have potential. For now, focus on learning all you can.”
But the words offered little comfort.
Orin sat back down, his cheek still stinging from the burn. The warmth of embarrassment and frustration settled deeper than any wound.
Had everything he learned at the military academy been so meaningless outside that narrow world? He'd trained for years, mastered forms, endured discipline. But here, among those wielding skills like magic, he felt like a child holding a stick against a soldier's blade.
If only he had mastered one more Knight Skill. Just one.
And just like that, Orin's first class at Solaris Academy came to an end. But before he could leave the room, Professor Schedar called out to him.
“Orin, you did very well for your first day. I can see why you were recommended for a direct transfer,” the professor said with a nod of approval. “Tomorrow's class will focus on group tactics. You'll be joining a mixed session with other departments, so I won't be the one instructing.”
Orin noticed a subtle shift in Schedar's expression, just a trace of something like disdain, before the professor quickly added, “Nothing to worry about. It's just... I've never gotten along well with magic users. Different ways of thinking, I suppose.”
He began gathering the scattered papers from the desk, his voice returning to a lighter tone. “Anyway, I'm sure you'll do just fine tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir! I'll give it my all.”
With that, Orin finally left the classroom and made his way through the long corridor toward the dormitories.
Group tactics, huh...
At the military academy, he'd had similar exercises, but never in a unit that included sorcerers. The thought made him uneasy. Working with magic users meant coordinating strategies he wasn't trained for. And worse, it meant relying on others, a challenge for someone like him.
Teamwork had always been his weakest point.
But more than anything, Orin couldn't shake the feeling of disparity between the military academy and Solaris Academy.
The sheer difference in level was staggering, an invisible chasm that left him questioning his worth.
His thoughts were so clouded he barely noticed he'd wandered out of the main building. The cobbled path beneath his boots was flanked by rows of tall, whispering trees, their branches filtering the afternoon sun into golden fragments. Not far from the path stood the dormitory building, where he'd moved in just a few days earlier.
But before he reached it, his eyes caught the silhouette of a figure leaning casually against a tree trunk.
As Orin slowed, the figure pushed off the tree and walked toward him.
“Long time no see, Orin.”
That voice. Familiar, calm and deep.
Orin blinked, then broke into a smile.
“Eridus?”
It was indeed him. Eridus Achernar, one of Orin's closest friends from his early school years. Despite his intimidating build, nearly twice Orin's weight and a head taller, there was an undeniable softness to him. His round, pink-cheeked face didn't quite match the gloomy aura that clung to his dark, scholarly robes. With his blue-gray hair falling to his shoulders and black eyes like obsidian, he looked like something between a monk and a ghost. But behind that odd appearance was one of the most brilliant water magicians Orin had ever met.
“I heard from some instructors that Captain Alpheratz's son had transferred in,” Eridus said, offering a rare grin. “I'm glad it was true. So, tell me... how was your first day?”
“Well...” Orin scratched his cheek with a sheepish smile. “The difference in level is... overwhelming. Honestly, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.”
“You'll adapt,” Eridus said. “The real challenge begins in the third and fourth years. That's when summoning becomes the core of the curriculum.”
That gave Orin a small spark of relief. It wasn't much, but enough to lift some of the weight from his shoulders.
Eridus's tone grew more serious. “Speaking of which... you already know, don't you? Huxley is here. He's one of the academy's professors.”
“Yeah,” Orin said, a flicker of tension crossing his face.
Five years ago, the Imperial Princess, Orin's childhood friend, had vanished without a trace. Since then, Orin had searched relentlessly for answers. The only leads he'd ever found were Hector, the princess's other childhood companion... and Huxley, her former bodyguard.
And back then, it was Eridus who stood by his side. The two had spent entire days sneaking into libraries, gathering rumors, playing detective in the dark corners of the empire. They hadn't uncovered much. but those memories remained, vivid and dear.
“Are you going to talk to him?” Eridus asked quietly.
“I want to,” Orin admitted. “But... not yet. I need more information first. I can't afford a repeat of what happened with Hector.”
At the mention of that name, Eridus raised an eyebrow. “Hector... he's in your class, isn't he?”
“Yeah.”
“And you still think he's hiding something?”
Orin nodded slowly. “He approached me earlier and brought up Huxley, like he already knew I was here for him.”
“That's not exactly strange,” Eridus reasoned. “He was close to the princess too, wasn't he? If Huxley was always by her side, and the three of you were childhood friends... it makes sense that Hector would suspect your intentions.”
“That's what I thought too. Except... five years ago, when I asked him for help, he denied even knowing who she was. Said he didn't remember her or Huxley. Nothing.”
Eridus went quiet.
Orin looked away. “I've been wondering all this time... Why? Why lie? Why pretend she never existed?”
After a long pause, Eridus murmured, “What if... he wasn't lying to hurt you? What if he was ordered not to speak?”
“I've considered that possibility,” Orin replied. “But even so... I would've hoped Hector would do something on his own. Anything. But instead, it's like she was erased from his memory.”
Eridus folded his arms and seemed to ponder something.
“Solaris, and the rest of the Alliance kingdoms, they all have that protocol, right? Heirs are hidden until they turn fourteen. What if the Emperor decided it was too risky for the princess to keep close friends who knew her true identity? Maybe... they erased her existence on purpose.” Eridus hesitated. "If that is what really happened... Hector and Huxley would know, that's why they act like nothing happened.”
“But if that were true...” Orin replied sharply. “Wouldn't her identity have been revealed last year? If she's still here, she should've appeared publicly by now. Enrolled here, even. But she didn't... Because she's missing.”
Eridus gave him a long, measured look. “And you believe Huxley holds the key?”
“If anyone outside the Imperial Family knows the truth... it's him.” Orin's voice hardened. “He was there. He was her guardian.”
Eridus let out a sigh. “But think about it. If Huxley was involved in her disappearance, don't you think he'd be in prison? Or worse? He wouldn't be calmly teaching at an academy.”
Orin faltered.
He'd buried that thought again and again over the years. But now... it clawed back up.
“Unless...” Orin whispered, his eyes narrowing. "The Imperial Family..."
Eridus stiffened. “Wait... Are you saying... you think the Imperial Family itself is hiding something?”
Orin didn't answer.
He didn't have to.
Eridus placed a firm hand on his friend's shoulder. “You know what your father would say if he heard you speak like that.”
“I know.”
“But... I can't deny it either. It is a possibility worth investigating.”
Orin turned to him, a little surprised. “Investigate? Don't tell me you're planning to help again.”
“Well,” Eridus said, a sly smile forming on his lips, “if you're starting to dig again, you know I'm in. The Investigative Duo returns.”
A rare laugh escaped Orin's throat. Despite the weight of his suspicions and the gravity of the mystery surrounding the princess, he was glad, no, relieved to have Eridus at his side once again.
“I appreciate it, my friend,” he said softly. “Truly.”
Afterward, the two made their way back to the dorms, reminiscing over stories from years past. The afternoon air was pleasant, with a cool breeze whispering through the trees, carrying the scent of pine and the distant aroma of the academy kitchens.
Within minutes, they arrived at an old, imposing brick structure, the Solaris Academy dormitory. Its ivy-covered walls exuded a quiet dignity, and the worn stone steps creaked slightly under their boots as they entered. Inside, the warm scent of dinner preparations filled the hall, mingling with the chatter of students returning from their first day.
Unlike Orin, whose room was on the second floor of the main hall, Eridus was housed in the Wizards’ Pavilion, a quieter annex at the rear of the building, reserved for students who specialized in magic.
Before parting ways, Eridus turned to him with a sly smile.
“By the way, tomorrow, during the group tactics exercises... we'll be on the same team.”
Orin raised an eyebrow. “What? How do you know that? They haven't announced the teams yet.”
Eridus chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. “Professor Velorum is helping lead the exercise. He's a fellow water mage, like me. Let's just say I asked him for a little... magical favoritism.”
Orin let out a laugh. “So much for trusting the integrity of the system.”
“Consider it strategic foresight,” Eridus said with a grin.
“Well, I won't complain. It's a relief knowing I'll have one of the best water spellcasters on my side.” Orin raised his fist.
“And I'm curious to see what the new guy at Solaris Academy is capable of,” Eridus replied, bumping his fist with Orin's.
With that, they exchanged farewells and headed to their respective rooms. Orin, exhausted from the whirlwind of the day, decided to skip dinner and go straight to bed.
His room was modest and sparse. A single bed against the wall, a desk with a few scrolls and inkpots, some basic training equipment, a rack with two well-maintained swords, and a cabinet holding his combat gear. Nothing extravagant, just enough to live, study, and train.
He dropped onto the bed with a heavy sigh, eyes fixed on the ceiling. His thoughts swirled, his unexpected encounter with Huxley, Hector's cryptic behavior, the duel with Perseus, and the welcome return of his old friend Eridus. But even with all of that... he couldn't stop thinking about her.
Princess Andromeda... where are you? Are you safe? Do you still remember me?
Sleep came slowly at first, but eventually, exhaustion claimed him.
And then, darkness.
Deep, formless, endless darkness.
Until... a voice.
Distant. Muffled. Like it was echoing through water, or through a dream.
“Orin... can you hear me? Are you there?”
A crackle of static, or perhaps magic.
“Damn it... I can't reach you... I need you to listen... but I can't...”
The voice faded into silence, swallowed by the void.
Then, only stillness.
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