The academy’s dining hall seemed endless, its high-vaulted ceilings echoing with the murmur of voices and the clatter of utensils. Tables stretched across the room, laden with a dazzling array of dishes that practically invited the students to indulge. Amid the lively atmosphere, a group of five approached the table marked "Aden Redheart" and settled in, eagerly diving into their breakfast.

"After training, a hearty breakfast is exactly what we need!" Miki declared with enthusiasm. "Enjoy your meal, everyone!"

Joon glanced at her with a slight smirk. "Don’t rush, Miki. The food isn’t going anywhere."

Aden interjected with a dry tone, "Leave her be. She always eats like this and then complains about her stomach later."

"Hey! It’s not always like that!" Miki protested, her cheeks puffing out indignantly.

Joon chuckled. "Aden, let’s not scold her too much. If you do, she might get even hungrier and eat us all!"

Laughter erupted around the table, but it was short-lived as Miki retaliated by flinging a spoon at Joon.

"A hungry man is an angry man," she retorted. "Don’t make me shout at you!"

Aden and Joon exchanged amused glances before stealing a piece of fried chicken from Miki’s plate. Their laughter only grew louder as Miki’s outrage became more dramatic.

Harabi found herself smiling, the warmth of the group’s humor filling her chest. Yet, even as she laughed along, her eyes drifted across the room. She noticed Zero, seated at a separated table.

"Why doesn’t Zero join us?" she asked softly.

Joon followed her gaze and sighed. "He prefers to eat alone, especially after… incidents like that."

Harabi turned to him, her brow furrowing. "Are you talking about when he lost control of his magic?"

Miki leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "He’s kind of creepy to the others. That’s why, aside from training, he keeps his distance - even from us. Well, we usually try to be with him all the time."

"He doesn’t know how to talk to people," Joon added. "And he doesn’t know how to lose. That is why, give him some time."

 Trying to dispel the somber mood, Miki grinned and nudged Rumiya. "At least now we get more dessert! Rumiya, that means double portions for us, right?"

Joon rolled his eyes, swiftly snatching two plates of chocolate cake from Miki’s reach. "Caught you! There’s only enough dessert for those who get it first."

Miki’s indignant yell echoed through the hall as Harabi chuckled softly. Yet her amusement faltered when she felt an intense gaze pierce through her.

Her movements stilled as she cautiously raised her head, her eyes scanning the dining hall. And then she saw him - Zero. He was staring directly at her, his gaze unblinking and disturbingly intense.

A shiver ran down her spine. Even as she met his eyes, he didn’t look away. There was something predatory about his stare. Her appetite vanished. The cheerful noise of the hall seemed to fade, replaced by an eerie silence. Her friends’ laughter and chatter became distant, muted sounds as her attention fixed on Zero.

Why is he staring at me like that?

Harabi blinked, and suddenly, the dining hall around her dissolved into shadows. The laughter, the voices, the clinking of plates - all vanished, leaving behind an oppressive silence. Her breath hitched as she realized she was alone.

"Rumiya? Miki?" Her voice trembled, but no one answered.

Darkness enveloped her, thick and suffocating. The tables and chairs of the dining hall seemed to melt into the void, leaving her stranded in an endless expanse of black. Only Zero remained, seated at his table. Her legs felt weak, her breaths shallow. The darkness seemed alive, coiling around her like an unseen predator.

"Harabi!" A voice broke through the oppressive silence, startling her.

She blinked, and the dining hall returned in an instant. The familiar noise of the bustling room rushed back, disorienting her. Her friends surrounded her, their faces etched with concern.

"You suddenly stood up and collapsed," Joon explained, his hand steadying her arm. "Are you okay?"

Harabi’s gaze darted around the room, searching for Zero, but he was nowhere to be found.

"He… he disappeared,"

Aden’s voice broke through her haze. "Harabi, are you okay?"

"Just tired," Harabi muttered, not wanting to draw any more attention to herself. 

Aden approached her. "You look pale. Maybe you should get some rest."

"I’ll be fine," she said quickly, trying to brush him off. But she couldn’t ignore the way the room seemed to spin around her.

“I’ll take her to the infirmary,” Joon said suddenly, standing up and offering her a hand. "It’s better to be safe than sorry."

Rumiya was already standing. "I’m coming with you." 

Harabi hesitated. "I don’t need anyone to come with me. I’m fine - "

Before Harabi could respond, the voices of people seemed to grow louder. Words like "Kurosaki" and "Sudzukawa" floated through the air, the weight of rumors pressing against her. She clenched her fists, fighting the anxiety that began to rise within her. 

Harabi turned away from the crowd and sighed. Joon’s expression darkened, and he leaned closer. "Let us help you. I know it was Zero."

Joon nodded to Rumiya and, without another word, gently took Harabi’s arm, leading her away from the dining hall. As they left, Aden caught Miki’s eye and gestured for her to stay, though she clearly wanted to follow. He shook his head slightly.

"They’ll handle this," Aden said quietly to Miki.

Once inside the infirmary, Joon guided Harabi to a bed. Rumiya followed closely, her eyes scanning the room. Harabi sat on the edge of the bed, trying to steady her breath.

"I’m really sorry, Harabi," Joon said, his voice low, full of regret. "I didn’t realize how bad this would get. Zero.... his magic"

Rumiya’s eyes widened. "Zero?  I didn’t know."

Joon nodded. "Zero’s power is tied to shadows. It’s not something he can control easily. And when it reacts with someone else’s energy… like yours, for example, it can have a violent effect."

Harabi frowned. "What do you mean by ‘violent effect’?"

Joon turned away for a moment, clearly struggling with how to explain. Then, with a sigh, he extended his hand toward her. His palm glowed with a faint white light, which he directed gently toward her.

"This will help," he said. "I just need you to relax."

Harabi hesitated, but the look in Joon’s eyes made her trust him. She nodded slightly, closing her eyes. The warmth from his magic washed over her, but the moment it touched her skin, Harabi felt something strange. The sensation of shadows stirred inside her, twisting and coiling, as if something was crawling beneath her skin.

“What’s happening?"Stay calm," Joon urged. "This is just a reaction to Zero’s magic. I need to help it settle down."

But even as he spoke, the shadows seemed to grow stronger. The air grew cold, and Harabi felt her chest tighten. Then, suddenly, the shadows began to shift, taking form. Harabi’s eyes flew open, her breath hitching as she watched her own shadow stretch unnaturally. It twisted and writhed like a living thing.

"What is that?!" Harabi gasped, trying to pull away from it, but her feet felt like they were glued to the floor.

Rumiya held her ground, looking horrified. "Is that... Zero’s magic?"

"It’s the residue of it," Joon said. "When it’s not controlled, it takes on a life of its own. It’s not just shadows - it’s something darker."

Rumiya’s expression darkened, and she stepped forward. "Harabi, move away from it!"

“Hold on!” Joon’s voice cracked through the panic. He quickly moved in front of her, raising his hands in a defensive gesture. "Stay back, Rumiya."

The shadow recoiled at his approach, but it didn’t stop. Harabi felt herself fading into unconsciousness, the world spinning around her.

“Joon, do something!” Rumiya shouted.

“I’m trying!” Joon replied, his hands glowing brightly as he called upon more magic to contain the spiraling darkness.

Just as Harabi thought she couldn’t breathe anymore, a new figure appeared in the doorway - a shadowy figure, tall and silent. Harabi couldn’t make out its features, but she knew it was a girl.

As the oppressive darkness surrounding Harabi began to tighten further, she heard strange whispers.

"Burn the magic..."

"The crescent moon draws near..."

"The curse of darkness..."

"Child chosen by the stars..."

The words echoed in her mind, louder and more forceful, as though they were pressing against her very thoughts.

"Quiet!" Harabi shouted, summoning every ounce of strength to resist the voices.

At her command, the shadow began to dissipate, slowly unraveling into the air like smoke. The oppressive presence receded, leaving Harabi breathless but free from the shadow’s grip. The voices, though, still echoed faintly in the back of her mind. The strange figure approached her slowly and vanished as sson as it touched her head. Harabi finally could breathe.

"Harabi!" Rumiya rushed to her side, gently lifting her up. "Are you alright?" She helped her sit on the bed, worry etched on her face.

Harabi looked at her blankly for a moment before answering. "I heard the voices... talking about magic... the crescent moon... a curse... it felt like a nightmare."

Rumiya’s eyes widened in disbelief, glancing at Joon, who was standing silent, lost in thought. When Harabi mentioned the curse, Joon flinched slightly, his face hardening.

"The voices? " Joon muttered under his breath. He turned to Harabi, bowing slightly. "I’m sorry. I didn’t know his magic was this destructive. I’ll find a way to fix this."

Before Harabi could respond, the infirmary door burst open, and Tatsuki stormed inside. Her gaze immediately found Harabi, and her expression softened in relief before hardening once more as she noticed the others.

"What’s going on here?" Tatsuki demanded. Her eyes flicked between Joon and Rumiya. "Harabi..." Tatsuki’s voice softened as she moved closer to the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I’m fine," Harabi replied quickly, trying to reassure her friend.

Tatsuki wasn’t convinced. Her eyes narrowed, and she turned to Joon. "Was this your cousin’s doing? Why did you let this happen?" 

Joon bowed his head. "I didn’t know his magic could affect her like this."

Tatsuki glared at him, fists clenched. "This is more than losing control, Mr. Grimmwood. This could’ve killed her."

"I know," Joon admitted. "But I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again."

"I need you to leave us alone," Tatsuki said.

Joon and Rumiya exchanged a brief glance. Joon, with a gentle but reassuring gesture, placed his hand on Rumiya's shoulder and gave a slight nod. It was clear that they needed to step away. Harabi smiled at them. waved her hand in a comforting manner.

"Everything’s fine. Don’t worry about me. Thank you for your concern."

"We’ll be close by if you need anything," Joon responded.

"Take care," Rumiya added with a soft smile before both of them turned and left.

Once the door was closed, Tatsuki sighed. She took Harabi’s hands.

"Are you really sure you want to stay here?" Tatsuki asked. "This place... it’s becoming more dangerous by the day."

Harabi met her gaze, her expression unreadable. "You’ve just arrived, and already you’re at the center of attention," Tatsuki continued."And worse yet, problems have already begun to pile up around you."

"I’m worried," she added. “ Maybe your mother was right."

Harabi stayed quiet, absorbing the weight of Tatsuki’s words. She understood all too well. But she couldn’t walk away, not when there were still so many unanswered questions. Not with the fire incident still lingering in her mind.

" I need to stay . I need to understand what happened. This isn’t some random incident, Tatsuki. There’s more to this, and I can’t just run away and hide. I’m not a child anymore. You understand, right? I can’t go back."

Tatsuki’s face softened, though the lines of concern remained. She knew Harabi well enough to understand that once she made up her mind, there was little that would change it. With a sigh, Tatsuki nodded.

"Harabi," she said quietly. "But if something goes wrong again, we’ll get help immediately."

"Don’t worry. Nothing strange will happen again."

___

The academy corridor was quiet, its stone walls echoing with the soft footsteps of Joon and Rumiya. They walked side by side, each lost in their thoughts after the unsettling events with Harabi. The tension between them was palpable, until Rumiya, breaking the silence, spoke up.

"Thank you for helping her. I don’t know what we would’ve done without you," Rumiya said. 

"It was the right thing to do. Harabi doesn’t deserve to suffer because of Zero’s magic. I’m really sorry that on our first day of meeting, things turned out like this. And I apologize to you as well."

Rumiya stopped in her tracks, turning to face him. Joon looked at her and lowered his gaze to make a bow. There was concern in her eyes as Rumiya stepped closer, her hand lightly touching his arm to stop him from bowing.

"Everything is alright, really. We should also apologize. If we hadn’t intervened, none of this would have happened," she said. She hesitated before continuing, , "Do you think Zero will do it again?"

Joon looked down for a moment, weighing his words carefully. "I don’t know. But I promised to protect Harabi and you.  I’ll talk to Zero. We need to understand why this is happening."

"I’m grateful to you. Truly. I was terrified for her," Rumiya admitted, her shoulders relaxing as she let out a soft sigh.

Joon noticed the subtle shift in her demeanor. She smiled, albeit faintly, and it was the first time since the incident that she seemed to find a bit of peace. 

"We need to talk to him. You and I. Together," Joon said.

Rumiya hesitated. "I’m not sure I want to do that. Zero… scares me."

"I understand," Joon said softly, giving her a reassuring glance. "But if we don’t, it could happen again. I promise, I’ll be there with you. We’ll just talk. Zero is my cousin. He’ll listen to me. And you…" He paused, meeting her eyes with a gentle conviction. "You’re the one who can reach him from Harabi’s side. I’m sure he’ll listen to you too."

Rumiya’s expression softened at his words, the reassurance in his voice easing her fears. After a moment of contemplation, she nodded, though uncertainty still flickered in her eyes. She didn’t know if it was the right choice, but she wasn’t willing to let the situation escalate. 

"Alright," she said."We’ll talk to him. But… if something goes wrong…"

"I’ll be there," Joon answered with a calm smile.

They reached the point in the corridor where their paths diverged. Rumiya paused for a moment before turning to him.

"You’re a good person, Joon. Thank you for everything," she said, her voice soft but sincere.

"And thank you, too. " Joon replied, his tone warm.

They exchanged one last glance before Rumiya gave him a small wave and continued down the corridor. Joon stood still for a moment, watching her retreating figure. A thought lingered in his mind, something about her felt oddly familiar, as if she held some deeper meaning. He smiled to himself, intrigued by her presence. There was something about Rumiya that was undeniably captivating.