Dark runs and finally catches up to Lavin. He stops and leans his hands on his knees, panting heavily.

  Sorry for making us late, I… overslept since I was tired.

  Dark calms his mind and quickly returns to his normal stance, still out of breath, while Lavin responds:

  It’s fine, no problem. I just got here anyway. Well, shall we go to your house then?

  Yes, yes, let’s go to my house, - Dark affirms, straightening his posture and starting to walk down the street.

  Are we going on foot? Like, don’t you have a car or something? - Lavin asks Dark as he walks beside him.

  It’s in a place that’s not easily accessible. And it’s very far too. We’ll have to make stops along the way, right?

  Yeah… I guess - Lavin replies, completely unenthusiastic.

  After hours of walking, Lavin and Dark stand in front of an old, slightly ruined wooden cabin, yet still sturdy enough to be used.

  This is it. This is where I live, - Dark says, slowly opening the door.

  The place is dark since the lights are off. Dark switches on the lights.

  You really live here? Isn’t this place… far from any human civilization? It’s in the middle of the forest, - Lavin says to Dark, puzzled by the location and why this house was chosen.

  Yes, I know. My master used to say it was better for us, but I never understood why. Not that I understand now either, - Dark gestures for Lavin to follow him.

  Lavin follows Dark, and they enter a room with several bookshelves filled with books. Lavin approaches and looks at the titles.

  Hey, it’s here, - Dark says after pulling a book and revealing a secret passage.

  Why is this here? - Lavin questions Dark.

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  I… don’t know why. Maybe it was just so I couldn’t access it as a child, - Dark lies, knowing it was to hide it from certain people.

  “Just to hide it from a child, huh? That seems strange. Why hide this from a child?” - Lavin wonders silently.

  Suddenly, the lights turn on automatically, revealing a pedestal with a closed book in the center.

  You… could read this with me? I really don’t have the courage to read it alone. I’ve tried many times, but I can’t even touch it, - Dark says, genuinely sad for some reason.

  Alright, I’ll read it. - Lavin picks up the book and flips through it, skimming parts. - This is a book of artifacts, magical artifacts of all kinds, but only ancient artifacts, either fairy tales or ones with no records anywhere. Dark, this is simply a new archive that, if proven true, could change a lot… There’s a torn page.

  Yeah, I know. I don’t intend to publish this book. It’s dangerous, Lavin, very dangerous, - Dark looks at the book.

  Lavin thinks about the torn page: “Seems like they wanted to erase something called CronoSphere or an All-Seeing Eye, it seems. But the CronoSphere is more interesting than the All-Seeing Eye. It seems to be a temporal artifact that little is known about.”

  Alright, I think that’s enough. Let’s go. I’m not feeling comfortable here anymore, Lavin. - Lavin wanted to examine the book more, but agrees with Dark, and both return to the academy.

  At the academy, Dark lies on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He thinks about that day and what Lavin told him. Everything is so strange… Why would his master have such things? What was she involved in? Dark turns over on the bed and closes his eyes, his mind gradually fading away.

  The next day, Dark and Lavin are in an arena. The professor soon arrives, a very large and strong man.

  Hey, you weaklings! Hope you’re ready, because… I’m your teacher. My name is Taro Yamiya, but I don’t want to hear introductions. Let’s train! Pick your pairs and fight as if it were a battlefield. Move!!

  Lavin approaches Dark:

  Want to be my partner? I promise I’ll go easy on you.

  Ah, I guess so. I can be your partner.

  After some time, it’s Dark and Lavin’s turn to battle.

  Both enter the arena, all the students and the teacher watching. Dark feels nervous, just like his first fight since coming to the academy, but he trusts Lavin will go easy as promised. Both have daggers.

  Let the match begin!

  At that moment, Lavin charges at Dark, who blocks his attack by crossing his daggers. Lavin moves to kick Dark’s leg to make him fall, but Dark dodges and punches his face, sending him backward. He almost hits the ground but uses his hands to rise without touching the floor.

  Lavin wipes the corner of his mouth, which is slightly red:

  Not bad, Dark. But maybe you should do that stronger. Now I’ll go a little harder since it seems you know how to fight.

  Lavin charges at him again, but disappears. Dark instinctively ducks and steps back. As Dark had anticipated, Lavin was behind him. Dark runs toward Lavin to attack, but Lavin holds both of his blades with two fingers.

  Too slow, Dark - Lavin teases him to provoke him.

  Dark quickly releases one of his daggers to grab one of Lavin’s daggers, which had been at his waist. Lavin notices and steps back slightly.

  Lavin runs at Dark and pushes him out of the arena, but before he falls, he grabs Dark’s hand, as the match has ended. Lavin smiles at Dark—a smile both proud and friendly. Dark smiles back lightly.

  I guess I lost, right? - Dark waits for confirmation, though he already knows he lost.

  Yes, Dark, you lost - Lavin confirms and continues: - …but at least you know how to fight. However, you’re weak and lack speed.

  Lavin pulls Dark back into the arena. With the teacher’s permission, they leave. Lavin is declared the winner.

  After class, Dark walks through the academy to see Lavin, who is in the library. Dark bumps into a girl—not just any girl, but Ingrid Yumi.

  Hey, watch who you bump into! - she says, looking quite angry, but luckily her friend distracts her from what happened.

  Ingrid! Let’s go, or we’ll miss the registration for my club!!!

  Alright, alright. Let’s go then. Hey, you boy! There won’t be a next time that you’re forgiven. Consider yourself lucky I didn’t even take a finger from you, - Ingrid gives Dark a dark glare.

  Dark obviously feels scared but Ingrid soon walks away with the golden-haired girl.

  Dark laughs nervously:

  I… I’m sorry?

  He then continues walking to the library, feeling the air heavy in his lungs, as if he’d been close to dying. Dark, slightly sweating, looks around for Lavin to talk to him.