Mikuami’s thoughts raced as the menacing shadow of the chandelier grew ever closer, its presence becoming more and more overwhelming. Deep down, she knew there was only one way for her to survive this on her own: using her magic. But how? She had lost all memory of who she was, of this world, and of how to wield her powers...Over and over in her mind, the same words echoed:

“My magic… If I use it now… I could protect myself… I have to make it work… But…”

Suddenly, Mikuami remembered the brief training sessions she had undergone between her awakening and her departure for the Academy. Despite the little time they had, Mr. Adler had insisted on teaching her the basics once more.

“Mastering magic allows you to strike at potential enemies, but it can also be used to defend yourself. You need to relearn your magical reflexes. This could save you in many dangerous situations,” he had told her in the family manor’s training room, his expression serious. Who could have guessed that this advice would come in handy so soon? But as she continued to think, the moments stretching endlessly, the chandelier was now right in front of her face.

“If I can’t use my magic, I’m done for! Mr. Adler was right! I have to do this! I HAVE TO—!”

At that moment, her usually gray-black eyes, matching the color of her hair, began to shimmer with a blood-red hue. And then, suddenly! A deafening explosion echoed through the hall. A blast so loud and deep, mixed with a bright flash of magic. There she stood, her face lifted toward the chandelier, which had vanished completely. All that remained was a cloud of stardust floating in the air before it disappeared like a fleeting breath of life.

Once the smoke cleared, Mikuami’s shocked expression—mirrored by those around her—turned toward the one who had, arm outstretched, prevented the disaster.

Mr. Shine, calm and composed, stood on the platform. Lowering his arm, around which a few particles of magic still swirled, he returned to his position. The hall fell silent, and whispers began to rise, speculating about what had just happened.

“Oh my god, Mikuami! Are you okay? I thought we were done for!” Kazuko exclaimed, a mixture of panic and admiration in her voice, still shaken by the events.

Mikuami, still in shock, didn’t answer, focusing on trying to ground herself back in reality.

“Please remain calm, dear students. It was merely a minor inconvenience. There appear to be no injuries. Let us proceed, I assure you, you are safe here.”

A few tentative applause echoed as Mr. Shine, with a few subtle hand gestures, finished clearing the area. At the back of the hall, murmurs grew louder, likely fueled by the distance.

“The Director is so powerful! He just saved our lives!”

“Can you believe these students almost died on the first day…”

In the back rows, some gazes grew more intense, though they remained detached, as if unconcerned by the scene that had just unfolded. The same, strikingly unusual gaze that had caught the students’ attention when it first arrived at the Academy. There she was again—the angel who had stirred so much talk, arriving in a carriage from the Grand Temple of Light. There she was again, in her immaculate white and cream attire, adorned with delicate accessories, her posture carrying an air of restrained disdain.

“One less demon wouldn’t have hurt us… What a shame.”

“Miss Rei! You can’t say that here! Someone might hear you!” a girl with pink hair whispered urgently, her voice laced with worry over the words just spoken.

A slight, mocking smile appeared on the face of the angel sitting next to them. Dressed in an elegant outfit, his noble status was easily guessed. However, his attitude betrayed a certain arrogance and barely concealed disdain for those he deemed inferior.

"And yet… I completely agree with her," he said in a mischievous and condescending tone. He turned to observe Rei at his side. "So, you are indeed the angel from the Grand Temple, aren’t you? Your arrival caused quite a stir. Many of us noticed you, you know?"

Rei, impassive, looked at him for a moment before responding, "Does my presence here surprise you so much?"

"Well, it’s true that I wonder what a member of the Grand Temple is doing here. After all, you are hard to reach and rarely leave your altars, always too busy praying to Hirae," he said, leaning slightly towards her.

Rei remained still, her gaze cold.

"What would be wrong for an angel like me to want to join such a prestigious academy? Should I not have the right simply because I come from the Grand Temple?"

"Haha, not at all!" He moved even closer to Rei, so that they could now feel each other's breath. "But I think your presence here is no accident. The Grand Temple never does anything without ulterior motives." He then whispered in her ear, "But don’t worry, my family is very pious towards you, so I won’t interfere with any of your plans. And… if you happen to need some good soldiers for your schemes, know that I, Gabriel, would be more than happy to help with such a noble cause."

A silence followed this exchange. Emi, the girl with pink hair and small golden horns, was seething inside. Unable to contain herself any longer at the thought of someone treating the one who deserved the utmost respect in such a manner, she decided to put an end to this unpleasant conversation.

"How dare you speak to Miss Rei like that?!" she spat, making sure not to alert the entire room.

With a slight movement of her hand, Rei calmed her down and spoke again. Wearing a rare, haughty smile, she challenged him: "We’ll see about that… Let’s first see if you have the ability to stand beside me."

Far from being offended by her reply, which seemed to amuse him, the arrogant angel smiled playfully: "With pleasure."

With those words, heard only by this small group of three, the director resumed speaking.

"This incident is now concluded, and we will proceed to the moment you’ve all been waiting for! The class selection, by the Urn of Oaths!!"

A cheer rose immediately, followed by an excited buzz. Mikuami, on the other hand, was somewhat taken aback by the situation.

"They’re acting as if nothing happened, even though that chandelier almost crushed me, as well as five other people… They must have been absolutely sure nothing would go wrong. But… the director remained perfectly calm, as did the entire teaching staff. He must know what he’s doing… and he must be very powerful..."

Mr. Shine took a step forward.

"As you all know, the class distribution is done through a magical artifact that cannot be questioned: the Urn of Oaths! It will assign you to one of three classes: Class I, the Aetheris; Class II, the Eburnea; and Class III, the Caelum. Now, please write your deepest desire on the pieces of paper we’ve given you. It could be a personal wish, a dream, or a resolution, but the key is that it be sincere and expressed in complete truth. Then, place them in the baskets provided."

One by one, each student wrote down their wish on small pieces of paper before handing them to older students who were walking through the rows with small baskets.

"Is this little piece of paper really going to decide the class distribution?" Mikuami whispered to Kazuko.

"Yes! Do you know what you’re going to write?"

Mikuami paused for a moment to think, and when it was her turn to write down her wish, she could only think of one thing to say. "I wish to regain my memory of who I am."

Once the collection was complete, all the wishes were placed in the urn, which began to glow. With a bright yet warm light, all the written words burned, transforming into glowing particles that began to gather into a distinct scroll, which Mr. Shine took into his hands.

"Here comes the class distribution of the Hatsu Academy for this year!"

-

"Mikuami! We’re in the same class, this is incredible! I’m so happy!"

Kazuko couldn’t contain her joy after learning that she and her new friend of a single day wouldn’t be separated. Mikuami also seemed happy, though her mind was elsewhere.

"It had to be that he’s in the same class as me," she thought, glancing at the boy she had bumped into earlier. "Well, I’m not going to make a big deal out of it. Let’s just ignore him; it’s for the best."

A clap of hands echoed. Miss Harina addressed the group of students in front of her.

"Please gather, Class II students, if you would."

Kazuko stepped closer to Mikuami and whispered, "And did you see who our homeroom teacher is? Miss Harina! Everything is perfect so far!"

At these words, Mikuami let out a small laugh at Kazuko’s enthusiasm. "You’re so lively, Kazuko."

"How could I not be? I have my favorite teacher and my new friend with me!" She took Mikuami’s arm again, as if this gesture now symbolized the friendship that bound them. "It’s true, right? We are friends, Mikuami, aren’t we?"

Mikuami blushed, surprised, then smiled warmly at Kazuko and replied, "Yes, we are friends, Kazuko."

These smiles filled Mikuami’s heart with a feeling she hadn’t known since her awakening. Deep inside, she felt it: this day marked the beginning of something great, whatever it might be, that was yet to come.

-

Higher up, beyond the clouds, within the skies, on a platform made of intricately designed stone pillars, a feminine figure stood, leaning against one of the pillars. Adorned with two straight black horns, the same color as her short hair, and a gown that revealed only her arms and a portion of her leg, she observed the scene unfolding below. Like Hirae, she watched calmly, though she let a tender gaze slip, accompanied by a soft smile. It seemed that she was directing these gestures to someone in this world.

"Good. It has begun. Let’s hope everything goes well from now on."