Morning sunlight filtered through the small window, landing on a boy sprawled across his bed. His hair was messy, his body tired from the previous day’s training. The light hit his face, and Arashi slowly opened his eyes.

He stretched, took a long bath, changed his clothes, and stepped into the hall. Majin was already there, sitting deep in thought. When he noticed Arashi, a wide smile spread across his face.

“Son, congratulations on reaching **Basic Rank Level 1**. At the age of fourteen, that’s truly impressive. You must’ve been practicing that old man Zerish’s technique.”

Arashi rubbed the back of his neck and said shyly, “Ah, that... I guess I was just lucky, Father.”

After breakfast, he headed to the academy.

---

The classroom was alive with chatter.

“Yesterday, I almost reached Basic Rank,” one boy bragged.

“Do you think I’m a fool?” his friend scoffed. “Reaching Basic Rank isn’t that easy.”

Before the argument could continue, the teacher entered. “Alright everyone, take your seats,” he said. The room fell silent.

After the lecture, the teacher called students forward one by one to show their progress. When it was Arashi’s turn, he stepped forward, closed his eyes, and began to focus. A faint **blue aura** appeared around him, swirling gently at first—then growing stronger, pulsing through the air.

The teacher’s eyes widened. “You’ve already reached **Basic Rank Level 1**,” he said, astonished.

But Arashi didn’t open his eyes. The aura around him deepened, absorbing the surrounding energy until it burst brighter than before.

In front of everyone, he broke through again—**Basic Rank Level 2**.

For a moment, the entire class froze in silence. Then came the whispers, the shock, the jealousy.

When Arashi finally opened his eyes, he looked around, confused.

“Sir... is something wrong?” he asked.

The teacher hesitated, still stunned. “You... you advanced another level.”

Arashi blinked in surprise. “Really? Maybe I just got lucky again.”

The teacher sighed, thinking, *No one advances like that by luck alone.*

---

The bell rang, breaking the tension. The students left the room, and Arashi felt relieved. He returned home smiling, thinking about tomorrow—it was his **birthday**. His mother told him proudly, “Even your father’s leader friends are coming.”

Arashi’s heart leapt. *Maybe... Fost will come too.*

That night he went to bed early, excitement buzzing inside him. The next morning, he dressed quickly and went to the academy, but his mind wasn’t on studies—it was on *her*.

“Arashi!” a voice called, snapping him out of his thoughts.

He turned to see a girl looking at him nervously.

“Hm?” he said.

“I... I’m Jenne,” she stammered, handing him a small folded paper before running away.

Arashi blinked. “What was that about?”

He unfolded the paper — and froze. It was a **love proposal**.

He stared at it in disbelief. *Why me? We’ve barely spoken...*

When he looked up, Jenne was watching him from across the room, her face red.

Arashi smiled awkwardly. *I’ll tell her later... I already like someone else.*

He stood to approach her — but she blushed harder and ran again.

Arashi sighed. “I’ll talk to her some other time.”

---

That evening, his home was decorated with lights and banners. Guests arrived one after another, and Arashi stood outside, welcoming them. His excitement returned when he saw the banner of the **Hera Race**. *Fost... she must be here!*

He watched eagerly as the horse cart stopped. A man stepped out, his aura powerful and commanding — **Leader Krot Hera**. Arashi waited, his heart pounding, but... no one else emerged.

His chest sank. *She didn’t come.*

The ceremony went on, laughter echoing through the hall, but Arashi felt like a broken hero, smiling on the outside, empty within.

That night, under the silence of the moon, **dark figures** moved through the village. Each wore the mark of a **scorpion** on their armor. They spread like shadows, fast and silent. Then, flames began to rise.

The smell of smoke filled the air. Screams followed.

The night of celebration... turned into a night of destruction.

To be continued...