The classroom buzzed with quiet chatter as the students waited. Rio, head down on his desk, was half-asleep, his arms folded like a pillow.
Just then, the door creaked open.
The teacher stepped inside with a stern expression, and the room immediately changed. Chairs scraped back as the students stood in unison.
"Good afternoon, teacher!" they all chorused.
"Sit down," the teacher replied, adjusting the files in his hand.
"Thank you, teacher," the students echoed, settling back into their seats.
But the moment the teacher turned to the board, the whispers returned. Students began murmuring to each other, some giggling softly, others exchanging notes or snacks.
The teacher turned around sharply. "Silence!" he snapped. The room quieted, though a few students still suppressed grins.
He continued, "Listen carefully. Today, we're going to practice basic magic—outside."
Excited murmurs stirred again, but the teacher raised a hand to calm them.
"Before we leave, a few things. Walk in line. No noise in the hallways—other classes are in session. Once you reach the training ground, don't run around. Wait for instructions. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" the class replied, their voices overlapping.
The teacher gave a small nod. "Good. Let's go."
Chairs scraped again as the students got to their feet, filing toward the door with barely contained energy. Aisha, sitting near the front, turned to Miya.
"Let's go," she said with a soft smile.
Miya stood up from her bench, adjusting her uniform slightly. As the girls joined the line, Aisha glanced back over her shoulder.
Rio was still at his desk, rubbing his eyes groggily, barely awake.
He was coming—but something about him felt distant, like his thoughts were still somewhere far behind.
A few minutes later, the class arrived at the training grounds, gathering in small clusters. The space was wide and open, surrounded by tall stone walls, with the sky stretching endlessly above them. One by one, the groups formed a large semi-circle around their teacher.
"Everyone, eyes here!" the teacher called out, his voice firm yet encouraging.
The students turned their attention toward him.
"Today, we'll learn how to cast your very first magic spell," he said with a small smile. "We'll start with something simple—air magic."
"Okay, sir!" the students replied in unison, their excitement barely contained.
The teacher extended his hand and muttered a brief incantation. A gentle breeze stirred around him, forming a visible swirl of air that danced in his palm. Gasps echoed around the circle, followed by claps of amazement and wide-eyed stares.
"Now it's your turn," he said. "Come forward one by one and try it yourself. Don't worry if nothing happens—this is your first time. Just try your best."
He called the first student, who nervously stepped forward. Concentrating hard, the student managed to stir the air just slightly—barely a puff. A few giggles rose from the back, but the teacher raised a hand to silence them.
"Good job," he said gently. "Don't be sad. With more practice, you'll get better."
One after another, students took their turns. Some created tiny whirlwinds, others only managed a breeze, and a few couldn't summon anything at all—but the encouragement never stopped.
Then, it was Aisha's turn.
She walked to the front slowly, glancing around at everyone watching her. Her hands trembled slightly.
"Don't be nervous," the teacher said kindly. "Just focus. Feel the flow of magic inside you and reach for it."
Aisha took a deep breath and raised her hand. At first—nothing.
Silence.
Then—whoosh!
A sudden, powerful swirl of air burst from her palm, whipping her hair back as the wind spun fiercely for a few seconds before fading.
The crowd of students gasped, then erupted into cheers and applause.
"Excellent, Aisha!" the teacher beamed. "That was impressive—your first try, and you already managed such control. I'm sure you'll become a great magic user one day."
Aisha smiled shyly and returned to her group, where several classmates congratulated her.
Then it was Miya's turn.
Her hands clenched nervously as she stepped forward, her head low. What if I mess up? What if they laugh at me?
She extended her hand, trying her best to ignore the eyes watching her.
A small breeze stirred—tiny, but it was something.
"Well done, Miya," the teacher said warmly. "You did it."
She breathed a sigh of relief and walked back quietly, her heart pounding.
One by one, the line grew shorter.
Then, finally, it was Rio's turn.
Everyone went quiet.
Some exchanged looks, already assuming he'd fail. Rio wasn't exactly known for trying hard—or succeeding.
But Rio walked forward, silent and calm. His eyes half-lidded, almost bored.
He stopped, raised his hand, and said softly, "Air Tornado."
In an instant, the wind exploded around him.
A massive cyclone of air surged into existence, roaring as it spun wildly. Dust, leaves, and even small stones lifted off the ground, swirling with violent force. The students screamed and scattered.
"Everyone, get back!" the teacher shouted.
Other instructors ran in from the nearby buildings, joining the teacher in containing the tornado. With their combined efforts and a few sealing spells, the storm finally died down.
Breathless silence followed.
Rio stood still, not a scratch on him, his eyes calmly observing the chaos he had caused.
"Rio," the teacher said, stepping forward, "you're coming with me."
Without protest, Rio followed. The other students watched in stunned silence.
As he passed, Aisha stared at him, eyes wide with disbelief.
That… that power. It wasn't normal. It was like… a professional's.
Later, Aisha, Miya, and the rest of the students returned to their classroom. They quietly took their seats, though the atmosphere felt a little off—like something was missing.
As the next period began, one thing was clear: Rio still hadn't returned.
Class continued, but Aisha's eyes kept flicking toward the empty seat at the back. Even when the final bell rang to signal the end of the school day, he never showed up.
Is he still in the principal's office? she wondered.
As Aisha sat in silence, lost in thought, Miya walked over and leaned against her desk. She raised a brow when she noticed Aisha zoning out.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" Miya asked. "Let's go home already."
Aisha blinked and looked up.
Miya crossed her arms and added with a scoff, "Don't tell me you're still thinking about that idiot who messed up our training. That bastard probably got stuck in the principal's office for good. Honestly, he deserved it."
Aisha didn't respond. She just stood up quietly.
Miya rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Let's go."
The two girls walked side by side through the hallway. The school had begun to quiet down as students poured out toward the gates. When they finally reached the entrance, Miya gave Aisha a small wave.
"Alright, see you tomorrow!" she said cheerfully.
"Bye, Miya," Aisha replied with a soft smile.
As Miya turned and walked away, a sleek black car pulled up in front of the school gates. A man in a black suit, the family's chauffeur, stepped out and opened the door for Aisha.
She climbed into the backseat silently.
The car slowly began to move, gliding through the gates.
As it did, Aisha looked out the window, her eyes trailing back to the school building.
Her thoughts lingered on Rio.
There was something different about him… something strange. He's not like the others. That power… it wasn't normal.
The image of the swirling air, the tornado he created, and the calm look in his eyes flashed in her mind again.
Who exactly are you, Rio…?
After reaching home, Aisha headed straight to her room. A few minutes later, she had already changed into a comfortable dress and was sitting on the edge of her bed, her mind still replaying the events from earlier.
Sakura, her personal maid and one of the few people Aisha trusted, stood nearby folding a blanket. She glanced at Aisha with a gentle smile.
"How was school today, Miss Aisha?" she asked. "I heard you had your first magic class."
Aisha looked up, her expression mixed with surprise and confusion.
"Yeah… we learned basic air magic today," she replied softly. "At first, everyone was trying one by one. Some could barely create a breeze. But when it was my turn… I don't know what happened. I held out my hand, and suddenly, a powerful wind burst out of me. It was strong—too strong for someone who's never used magic before."
Sakura paused her folding and turned to face her fully. "That's not surprising at all, Miss Aisha," she said warmly. "It's because of your bloodline."
"My… bloodline?" Aisha tilted her head.
Sakura nodded. "Yes. You may not realize it, but your magical ability runs deep. You inherited your power from your parents. You're not just any student—you're a noble. That makes your magic naturally stronger and more refined than others."
Aisha blinked, trying to process her words. "So… I didn't do anything special? It's just because of who I am?"
Sakura smiled reassuringly. "No, Miss Aisha. It's not just that. You have talent too. But it's true—your power is different. It's in your blood. All you need now is control, and with practice, you'll become even more powerful."
Aisha looked down at her hands. The memory of the magic swirling around her flashed in her mind.
Different… huh?
"Thanks, Sakura," she said quietly. "I'll try to understand it better."