POV: Kai Mizushino
Place: Forest Path to Village School
Date: August 29, 2214 (17 Years Before the Fall)
The path to the village school was always peaceful. Morning light streamed through the canopy of the Forest of Withered Stars, casting gentle rays that flickered over moss-covered stones. The chirping of birds was rhythmic and soothing. But today, something in the air felt different.
Kai Mizushino walked in silence, the sound of his scuffed shoes crunching gravel mixing with the cheerful chatter of his friends. Akito was animated as usual, his arms flailing with every word, while Touya offered the occasional dry remark to ground his friend's theatrical energy.
"I'm telling you, today's the day," Akito said confidently, swinging his satchel like a weapon. "I'm gonna cast a real fireball in class!"
"You mean set another desk on fire?" Touya raised an eyebrow.
Kai chuckled quietly, hugging his book bag to his chest. This was only his third day at school, but already he felt a rhythm forming—friendship blooming like wildflowers after a storm. Akito's warmth, Touya's quiet strength… he felt safe with them. Even as the wind began to shift and the trees seemed to murmur a warning.
Then, the forest stilled.
The birds stopped chirping.
Kai froze. A low growl came from the shadows between the trees.
Touya stepped forward first, eyes sharp. "Get behind me."
Akito's joking demeanor vanished. He grabbed Kai's wrist and pulled him back just as the first goblin leapt from the underbrush.
It was small, but twisted and wiry, with mottled green skin and jagged teeth. Two more followed, hissing and snarling, armed with makeshift spears of bone and rusted iron.
"G-Goblins?!" Akito gasped.
Kai's heart pounded. His legs refused to move. The goblins circled, licking their lips. His fingers curled around his satchel, but there was no spellbook inside, no wand, no weapon—just lunch and a few notebooks.
Touya didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, picked up a branch, and took a defensive stance. "We'll hold them off," he said, calm but firm. "Kai, run."
"No!" Kai shouted. "I'm not leaving you!"
A goblin lunged. Akito pushed Kai to the ground just in time. The spear missed by inches. Another came from the side, slashing wildly. Touya blocked it, but he was just a boy with a stick against creatures of the dark.
Then, just as the largest goblin raised its spear to strike—
A burst of violet light cut through the trees.
Magic surged, brilliant and sharp, like stardust forged into fire. A ripple of force sent the goblins flying back, crashing into trees with startled cries. The air shimmered, glowing with runes none of them recognized.
From the edge of the trail, a figure emerged.
A girl—barely taller than Kai—with a white cloak trailing behind her and a silver staff in hand. Her blonde hair caught the morning light, and her eyes burned like stars.
She raised her staff again. "Leave," she said, her voice cold and commanding.
The goblins scrambled to their feet, but another spell exploded beneath them, crackling like thunder. Whimpering, they retreated into the forest, their shrieks fading into the trees.
The three boys stared, stunned.
The girl lowered her staff, exhaled, then turned to them.
"You shouldn't be walking this path without protection," she said, brushing dust from her cloak. "Goblins roam these woods. Didn't your parents tell you?"
Kai scrambled to his feet. "Who… who are you?"
She blinked, then gave the smallest of nods. "Saki. Saki Yamada. I transferred to your school this morning."
Akito, always the fastest to recover, let out a low whistle. "Whoa… that was amazing! Are you like… a real magician?!"
Saki didn't smile. She adjusted her cloak, eyes scanning the forest. "A real magician? No. But I'm strong enough not to die."
Touya frowned. "That's… not something kids our age should be saying."
Kai stepped forward, his gaze still locked on her. Her presence was like nothing he'd ever felt—disciplined, distant, but undeniably powerful. She wasn't like him. She wasn't lost or afraid.
"You saved us," he said softly. "Thank you."
Saki finally looked at him. Something in her expression softened, barely.
"You're welcome," she said.
The silence that followed was oddly peaceful, like the forest was holding its breath again. Then Akito laughed, breaking the tension.
"Well! That was an exciting way to start the day. Welcome to the group, Saki the Goblin-Slayer!"
She frowned. "Please don't call me that."
"Too late," Akito grinned.
Kai smiled, more quietly. Something about this girl felt important. She wasn't like Touya, who protected with strength, or Akito, who shielded with laughter. Saki was a blade—sharp, focused, and forged in something none of them could yet understand.
As the four continued toward the village school, the path felt different now. The sky seemed brighter. The forest, safer.
Kai glanced at Saki walking ahead, her steps precise. He didn't know her story, or why she carried magic that pulsed like lightning in her veins. But he knew this much:
Today, something had changed.
Today, they weren't just three boys walking to school.
They were four.
And for the first time, Kai felt that the stars above—though still far—might just be watching.
To be continued
[End of Chapter 7: The Girl Who Danced with Magic]