Night had fallen over Olympo.
The campus's floating lights had grown softer, warmer—like fireflies guided by magic.The wind whispered through the stone arches, almost like a collective sigh.
Vex dragged his feet back to Block Terna,his bow slung across his back,his mind heavy.
The door to Room 03 opened with a soft click.
Inside, Kaen sat calmly on his bed, sharpening the tips of his trident with a dark cloth.Elois, on the other hand, had a poorly wrapped bandage on his arm and several crumpled sheets on the desk.
— "Vex! The shadowy archer returns!" Elois exclaimed, raising his arms."Tell me you also discovered that the training targets have souls and take offense when you miss them…"
Kaen let out a faint snort.
— "Or that spears fly out of your hands when you try doing pointless pirouettes," he added.
— "It was style! I was going for style, thank you very much!" Elois snapped, throwing the bandage to the floor.
Vex chuckled quietly, setting his bow aside.
— "It was… interesting."
He collapsed onto his bed, staring up at the stone ceiling.His body ached.But more than that—his mind felt the weight.
"That guy…"
The image of the Ignis student kept returning.His voice.His posture.That shot that hadn't felt like action—but like a perfect breath.
"Is that what a true specialist looks like?"
The other two kept talking, debating which weapon would look coolest in a public duel.But Vex was only half-listening.
He stared at the floating lamp.And for a moment, he thought of his mother.
Her morning smile.The little shop.The basket of vegetables always overflowing in her arms.The way she said goodbye—without shedding a single tear.
And he thought of Jeremy.
"I'm gonna become the best farmer in history, so you better become the best at whatever it is you do, Vex!"
His friend's voice echoed like he was still there, tossing a tomato at his back.
They had all gone to bed.
The lamp dimmed until it was just a floating dot of light.
Vex stared at the ceiling.And he thought.
"I'm behind.""They have bloodlines. Years of training. Familiar weapons. Inherited techniques…""I have…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Then, his mind conjured an image.
A staircase.Huge. Gigantic.Made of stone, wood, crystal.
Each step was taller than the last.Some students started on step twenty.Others, on step ten.
And him…
He wasn't even on the first.
He was below.
Where there were no railings.Where dust covered the names that history forgot.
But if he wanted to reach the top…if he wanted to see his mother smile from afar…if he wanted to keep his promise—to not be a coward…
…he would have to climb every single steplike it was the only ground left beneath him.
And where others took one step,he'd have to take ten.
Without noise.Without complaint.Without falling twice.
Because that was the only way someone with no echo…
…could become unforgettable.
Just then, a floating rune lit up on the dorm wall.
It projected a message in golden letters that faded as they were read:
"Tomorrow at dawn. Evaluation Coliseum.Coordination and Potential Test.Attendance mandatory."
It blinked three times, then vanished—as if it had never been there.
Vex didn't move.He just closed his eyes for a moment…and knew—rest was over.
The night said nothing more.
Only silence…
…and the invisible weight of dreams still unsureif they were ready to be born.