Fifty years.
That was how long Master Ryu and the Headmaster had been apart. And yet, as they stood before each other now, it felt as if no time had passed at all. Their gazes met, and though lines of age had creased their faces, their camaraderie remained unbroken. A shared history lay between them, woven through victories and losses, through whispered secrets and shouted oaths.
"To think that I would live to see the day of another successor." The Headmaster's deep, rich voice carried both amusement and solemnity. "Ever since that incident with the previous one, I would've thought you'd never pass the torch again."
A hearty chuckle followed his words before he slapped Master Ryu's back with enough force to send dust flying from his cloak. Master Ryu stumbled slightly but quickly composed himself, clearing his throat as he adjusted his stance.
"That kid is special," Master Ryu said firmly. "If you'd seen him when I met him for the first time, even you would have been surprised."
The Headmaster's jovial expression darkened slightly, his scarlet eyes reflecting something distant, something unreadable. He let the air hang heavy between them before speaking. "Still... are you sure about this? That kid... Kirihara. He's here, you know."
A hush fell over the space between them. Then, as if unwilling to let the weight of the past take root in the present, the Headmaster let out a lighthearted laugh, his aura shifting back to something warm, something welcoming.
"In any case, fifty years, huh? To think that this place has grown this much. I guess it was all worth it in the end." Master Ryu surveyed the academy, his eyes lingering on its golden towers and sprawling courtyards, filled with life and vigor.
The Headmaster smirked. "Don't raise a flag, old friend. The war is not over yet. We're at an impasse. You don't want to jinx it, do you?"
"Of course not!" Master Ryu scoffed, shaking his head.
While they spoke, Hikari had taken to exploring the academy grounds, walking along stone pathways that stretched beneath towering marble pillars. The sheer scale of the place was overwhelming. Not in the sense of grandeur alone, but in how oddly familiar it felt. A strange nostalgia settled in his chest—like stepping onto the grounds of a school he had once attended but had long forgotten.
His mind, however, lingered on something else.
"Master Ryu had a previous successor?" he murmured under his breath. It was an unsettling thought, and though curiosity burned within him, he knew better than to pry. Some questions were not meant to be asked so soon.
As they arrived at the academy's entrance, the towering gates loomed overhead, crafted from obsidian and lined with golden inscriptions. The moment seemed significant, as if stepping past these gates would solidify his new reality.
The Headmaster and Master Ryu turned to face him.
"Hey, kid, so this is where you're going to study, huh?" The Headmaster's lips curled into a grin. "Why don't you take a look around? Lemme give you this."
Reaching into his pockets, he pulled out a temporary visitor's ID and handed it to Hikari. His enthusiasm was infectious as he explained how an official ID would be issued the following day.
"I'll assign your class and inform your homeroom teacher." With that, the Headmaster and Master Ryu turned, their conversation reigniting as they walked away, leaving Hikari standing in the middle of the school grounds, utterly unsure of what to do next.
A deep breath filled his lungs as he looked around, trying to take in the sights. Students clad in pristine uniforms bustled about, laughing, talking, some even sparring with their abilities as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Flames flickered in midair, water coiled like serpents, and sparks crackled between fingers.
"So this is the academy, huh?" Hikari mused to himself, tilting his head. "I still have no idea what this academy is even called."
"The Golden Sanctuary Academy."
A voice cut through the air, crisp and clear. Hikari turned to see a boy standing a few feet away.
He looked regal—blond hair, sharp blue eyes, and a uniform embroidered with golden accents. The way he carried himself screamed nobility.
"We don't call it the Golden Sanctuary Academy, though," the boy continued, his tone casual yet condescending. "Just Golden Sanctuary... you probably already know why."
Hikari narrowed his eyes slightly. "And you are?"
The boy smirked. "You don't have to know. But I can tell you're new here. Who brought you?"
Hikari crossed his arms. "Just... someone."
A flicker of something unreadable passed through the boy's expression before his smirk widened.
"Well then, see you at the academy... or not."
Without warning, he unsheathed his sword, its blade gleaming as it cut through the morning light. In a single fluid motion, he brought it down with terrifying speed—aiming directly where Hikari stood.
Hikari's body reacted on instinct. His enhanced senses flared, and he twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. The sword slammed into the ground with a resounding clang, splitting the stone beneath it.
The boy wasted no time. He lunged forward, his sword a blur of silver. Hikari ducked, feeling the wind of the blade pass over his head. Another strike followed, a sharp upward slice. He barely managed to pivot away, the edge missing him by a hair's breadth.
"Stop dodging," the boy growled.
"I will if you stop swinging your sword at me, you moron." Hikari exhaled sharply, keeping his movements sharp and precise.
But something about that sword...
His eyes flickered to it for a brief second, and his stomach twisted. A mysterious energy wrapped around the blade like a living entity, radiating an overwhelming presence. If that sword touched him, he knew—he wouldn't just be injured. He would be cut down entirely.
Before the boy could press forward again, a new voice interrupted.
"Enough! What are you two doing? We're in the sacred grounds of the Golden Sanctuary. Show yourselves as befitting students here... wait, who are you?"
Another student stepped forward, looking older, his expression one of mild disapproval.
Hikari let out a sigh, shaking his head. "I'm not even enrolled here yet, and I'm already getting an eventful welcome."
Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away. He'd had enough of the academy for one day. Maybe the city outside would offer a little less chaos.