A/N: ^^rofessor Redwood looks like^^

  "Alright css take your seats! " Professor Redwood's voied across the , his tone carrying authority. He then took a puff from his pipe before exhaling a plume of smoke, then tapped his e twi the floor. Suddenly, shadowy tendrils slithered from underh the Professors shadow as they silently passed out todays lesson materials.

  "As you see, css, we will be studying the aura of mana that lives in ead every one of us," he announced. His sharp eye surveyed the room as he tinued , "However, before we begin the lesson, we have a udent." "Elnora, you may rise."

  Beside me, Elnora hesitated for a moment before pushing back her chair and standing. "G-good evening, everyone," she said with a polite bow. "My name is Elnora. I deeply look forward with studying with you all this year." She ended her introdu with a warm smile, her voice delicate but posed.

  A wave of mutters flooded the .

  "Oh, what cutie"

  "Her skin is like a doll's..."

  Professor Redwood ighe whispers, his gaze cold. "Elnora here is Mr. Ashford's Assistant," he stated. "Due to this I expect you all to remember your station in this kingdom."

  At his words, the idle chatter instantly went away. The room fell into eerier silence as Elnora's new positioned settled in.

  Professor Redwood, satisfied with the sileook another leisurely puff of his pipe. "For today's lesson, we will be movihe kingdoms dungeon and assessing your mana aura capacity. "Once your testing is pleted, you will be divided into groups of four based on your results. Am I clear?"

  The css moaned with aowledgment.

  "Good." Professor Redwood exhaled another puff. "Now, css follow me."

  As the css followed Professor Redwood, he led us to a clearing behind the school, which was bordered by a forest. The surrounding air was crisp and carried a faint smell of old earth and magic. Without a warning, the professor stopped.

  "This is where yical aura will be evaluated," he annouapping his e against the ground.

  One by oudents were called up to test their aura. I watched as each student eled their energy, their aura's flickering into different shades of blue and purple.

  How Basic.

  Their magic cked weight; their trol was mediocre at best.

  Then, Lilli was called up. The moment she began to circute her mana, the atmosphere quickly shifted. Uhe previous students her aura radiated a brilliant white, thid heavy. Small roearby begun to levitate a bit. Tiny golden particles shimmered around her—spirits, drawn to her fox spirit lineage.

  "You require more trol of your spirits however nicely done, Ms. Kirkwood. !" Professor Redwood called out with his usual ral tone.

  More students followed, their aura not leaving much of an impression—that was until Alex was called up. My mind quickly drifted to our versation in the park earlier, where his aura turned an unusual pink. Yet now, as he activated his mana, it remained an ordinary blue. Though his mana had weight to it.

  Still hiding it huh? Smart.

  Then, it was my turn.

  As I walked Infront of the css, I focused on eling my aura. Of course, I couldn't reveal my true strength—I had to keep it at bay. Carefully I adjusted my mana to be slightly above Alex's, ensuring I went over the radar as above average.

  After me, Elnora .

  "Elnora! You're ," Professor Redwood announced.

  Elnora stepped forward; her expression posed. I leaned in slightly, curious.

  Just how much magical aura does she possess? For someone who was held up in that orb I would assume, she must be average... unless...

  "You may begin," the professor said his voice carrying his usual ck of care.

  Elnora raised her hand, and the moment her aura fred, the tree's nearby begun to catch wind.

  A weight—dense and trolled—pressed down on the css. Some students instinctively fliheir postures lowered slightly uhe force of her aura. It hummed ever so slightly, the color hue of light green—like her hair—flowing with a level most students could wish to achieve during their third year.

  Iing. Her trol—its.... like mine.

  Professor Redwood, who rarely showed i in his students, stood there for a moment—with silence—g his hands.

  "Haha! Yes.... Yes. A well applied aura," He mused, his sharp eyes gleaming. "Yic is akin to those of aimes. Nicely done, Elnora."

  Now that's ued. The ever nont, never-amazed Professor Redwood had actual praise—without adding corres.

  Professor Redwood wasted no time divided the css into groups of four befiving us the actual assig.

  "Tomorrow, you and your entire graduating css will be thrown into the dungeon," he announced, adjusting his gsses. "Whoever obtains the most monster gems—be they from high or low tier-monsters will—be decred the official winner of the tour."

  A ripple of excitement—arrogand dread—spread through the css.

  "However," he tiapping his e against the earth, "you are not permitted to enter floor sixty or below. The academy's dungeon is one of the few endless dungeons in the kingdom. It has not been fully explored, nor has the dungeon master been located." His gaze darkened. "If you see anything unusual, run a it to the professor they be located at each floor checkpoint."

  A few students whispered among themselves. Unexplored floors? The unknown where abouts of the dungeon master? The thrill of the versation in the air brought a smile to my face.

  Additionally, you must e up with a party name," Redwood added. "I expect to see you all here tomorrow m—sharp. Css Dismissed!"

  As pnned my group sisted of myself, Elnora, Alex, and Lilli.

  "I 't believe we are in the same party Ryn!" Lilli squealed, practically boung with excitement. Her tail swaying behind her.

  A/N: ^^What Lilli looks like however, she has longer hair^^

  Alex grinned and, without a warning, threw his arms around Lilli and me, pulling us in. "Ha! This is going to be fun!"

  Before I could shake him off, Elnora joined in ing her arms around all three of us. "Alright! How about we grab something to eat first? We figure out a party here!" I added

  "Sounds good to me! Elnora chirped "I'm quite hungry!" Her stomach growled and a slight blush came across her face.

  "Oh, oh! A party name? What about the 'Four Tails'? Or The Hungry Bdes! Or maybe—"

  "How about, we eat first and then discuss this?" I interrupted, letting out a snicker.

  Wait.

  Did I just ugh?

  W-why did I ugh at something Lilli said? That...that never happens.

  What's wrong with me?

  As we ehe cafeteria, long wooden tables were scattered around the hall, their surfaces scratched with years of use. Above us, some students casually floating mid-air their legs swinging from tables as they eheir meal. The deliers overhead casted a warm glow, refleg the polished stone floor. The st of freshly baked bread and miso broth, filled the air, mingling with the chatter of students.

  roached the food line, where ented trays moved along, carrying different dishes, students could pick from. Elnora hesitated, staring at the menu.

  "Would you like my help?" I asked her furrowed brow.

  She nodded shyly. "Miso soup and bread, b-but I'm unsure how to order it."

  With a quick tap on the floating menu, I selected her food, and the tray in front of her instantly arraself with a steaming bowl of soup and ed loaf of bread. We found ay table near one of the arched windows and sat down as the setting moo its hue over roup.

  Before we could resume our previous discussion about our party he cafeteria door swung open with a resounding thud. A figure appeared; he demanded his preseo be known.

  Aric.

  His gaze filled with envy sed the cafeteria before log into me. He gave me the usual cold look. His eyes flickered between Elnora and Lilli, his expression tightening. Yes, they were cute in their ht, but his jealousy wasn't about them—it was about me being around them.

  The utter audacity.

  He shook his head, grabbed his food, and stormed out, but not before I caught a whiff of bloodlust from him.

  "T-that was y brother, wasn't it?" Elnora's voice echoed in my mind.

  Yes, I replied telepathically. How do you know that?

  "Since we formed a pact, we have access to one another's past memories."

  My breath hitched. Y-you what? My past life..... does she know?

  Elnora's gaze softened. "I only see glimpses. You as a child. But you look pletely different—with different parents."

  I fell silent. So, she does know.

  "W-what about your memories? Why 't I see them?" I asked.

  "Perhaps.. because I don't remember my past," she admitted. "And because of that I have nothing to share?"

  She hesitated before speaking telepathically again. "Ryn, about your past I-I don't see everything. Only what your mind is willing to share. But—" She bit her lip. "I keep seeing the name Phantom being brought up. W-was that your previous party?"

  The moment I heard her voice echo in my mind, I flickered back. The memory surfaced like a whisper from my past—I saw myself staring at a tablet, anding Phantom Squad 1-46.

  I was their lead tacti, orchestrating their assault to recim an enemy checkpoint. We were ambushed as I charged ahead, taking a bullet to the chest while my squadmates fell one by one.

  They were pawns to me. Expendable.

  They all died—because of me.

  B-but... do I want to lead that way again?

  The blurry fay squadmates came into vision. I never even took time to remember their real names.

  "Phantom..." I muttered without realizing it.

  "Oooooh! Phantoms?!" Lillis voiapped me from my thoughts. "I love that! Dark—mysterious—it totally fits a party that lurks in the shadows of a dungeon."

  "I'm for it," Alex grinned.

  I gnced up at my party members. Their faces weren't blurred. They had names.

  M-maybe I could be different this time?

  Elnora reached ently grabbing my trembling hand. Her touch was warm, grounding me in the present.

  I smiled slightly.

  "You..? You still think you ge?" A voice whispered ba my mind. "Deny yourself?! The audacity. er than your father."

  My smile faded. I pulled my hand back from Elnora and reposed myself.

  "Yes," I said firmly "From here on out we will be known as The Phantoms."

  Elnora looked at me worriedly but gave me a warm smile.

  "Yes! I'll go report this to the Professht now!" Lilli cheered, stuffi piece of bread into her mouth before dashing out of the cafeteria.

  As she left, the room fell silent. A new presence had entered.

  A blonde, blue eyed girl stepped gracefully into the cafeteria.

  Whispers spread like wildfire.

  "Look, it's her."

  "It's the princess!"

  The ever-popur Princess a

  A/N: ^^What a looks like^^

  I internally groaned, I should steer away from her she would cause me to much attention.

  She was adorned by both men and womee her charm, many royals despised her—due to her dislike of the Holy Church of the Hero.

  "She's so pretty," Elnora whispered, watg her.

  "She may be," Alex muttered "but I wouldn't get involved with her."

  "Oh, I wouldn't even try," Elnora added. "It would bring to much trouble to Ryn."

  Alex shot me a knowing gnce as she spoke.

  "Well, it's getting te," he said stretg. "I should get some early sleep tonight since we're busy tomorrow m."

  "Same. I'll be right behind you." I replied. "Elnora, you know how to get back to your dorm, right?"

  "Y-yes" she nodded.

  "Good." I stood up following Alex back to the dorm.

  As soon as I ehe dorm, Alex turned with a smirk. "Well, Leader of The Phantoms has a nice ring to it. We have three official members now. Besides, Lilli still not knowing your little secret."

  "Why would I share anything with her, she would only cause me a headache." I replied.

  "If that's what you believe." Alex chuckled. "But I think you're uimating her power, after all she's your friend. And her aura is of a spirit."

  I began unfastening my robe, pulling out my night wear. Alex leaned against the bedframe. "I suppose we'll see how this party works together tomorrow.... Leader." He grinned.

  I gave a small smirk. "Perhaps you're right."

  I stepped into the bathroom, pulling off my uniform.

  The warm bath weled me, steam rising as bubbles popped from the surface. The soft st of soap filled the air. As I submerged myself, the tension from my body and mied away. For the first time in a while my mind was empty for a moment.

  Maybe... I enjoy this for a moment.

  As the night swept away, m arrived.

  A/N: We have merely 12 more chapters left for this arc! Then I will release a page describing the ing arc! Stay Tuned!