The wind howled through the silent remnants of Valharen Ridge. The students were recovering—some being tended to by medics, others sitting quietly, still shaken by what they had witnessed. Naelle stood with her arms crossed, watching Jin from a distance. He was staring at the spot where Aegis had vanished, his brows furrowed, his expression unreadable.
A part of her wanted to confront him. The way he fought, the power he held, and the words Aegis had said—it all pointed to something bigger, something deeper than just another senior at the academy. And that name...
"Master."
She took a breath and walked over.
"Hey," she said, keeping her voice steady. "You gonna tell me what the hell that was back there?"
Jin remained silent.
Naelle sat down beside him. "You don't get to keep dodging it forever."
Jin finally looked at her. "He wasn't supposed to be like that."
"Aegis?"
He nodded. "He was... loyal. Fierce. One of the strongest people I ever knew. And now…" He trailed off.
Naelle studied his face. "He called you Master. Like, Master. Not 'leader' or 'commander.' It was something deeper than that."
Jin didn't respond, but his silence spoke volumes.
"You were his Master. In another life," she said.
A long pause passed before Jin finally spoke again. "I wasn't always just Jin. Before I woke up in this world… I was someone else. Someone with responsibilities. Disciples. A mission."
Naelle blinked. "Wait, you mean—like, reincarnated?"
"Yes."
The silence between them thickened.
Jin stood, brushing the dirt from his coat. "I didn't come here looking to reclaim that past. But now it's finding me. And if Aegis is involved… then this world is in danger."
Naelle stared at him, trying to process everything. "Does anyone else know?"
"No," Jin replied. "And I intend to keep it that way."
She raised a brow. "So you're just going to keep acting like nothing's changed?"
Jin's gaze grew distant. "Not nothing. Just... not everything."
Suddenly, a communication orb hovered toward them—an official academy message. It flickered and projected a voice: "All students and staff, report back to Arcadia Academy immediately. The Council requests an emergency meeting. High-level dungeon break protocol has been initiated."
Naelle and Jin exchanged looks.
"Guess the fallout's already started," Naelle muttered.
Jin nodded. "It's just the beginning."
---
Back at Arcadia Academy
The grand marble halls buzzed with unease. Students whispered nervously as instructors barked orders and scanned for injuries. Word of the rift and Aegis' appearance spread like wildfire—even though no one knew his name, only that something wrong had stepped through that crack.
In a secluded chamber deep within the academy's administrative wing, Jin stood before the Council. Their robes shimmered with magical runes, and their expressions were grave.
"You were there, Jin," said High Magister Rellin. "You saw the entity that emerged from the rift?"
Jin nodded. "Yes."
"Can you identify it?"
Jin paused. "No," he lied.
Rellin narrowed his eyes, but said nothing. Another Council member, an older woman named Elira, leaned forward. "What's your assessment? Was this a rogue dungeon event, or something more?"
Jin clenched his jaw. "It was a warning."
The Council went quiet.
"A warning from what?" Elira asked.
Jin met her eyes. "From something we're not ready for."
---
Later That Night
Jin stood on the academy's rooftop, overlooking the glowing spires of Arcadia. The moon hung low, its light cool and distant. He knew Aegis wasn't done—not by a long shot. The door had opened, even if only slightly. And if Aegis could find him… others could too.
He heard a soft rustle behind him.
"You always did prefer rooftops, Master," said a voice quietly.
Jin turned sharply—only to see a hooded figure step out from the shadows.
Jin's grip tightened on his sword.
But the figure knelt.
"I am not your enemy."
The hood fell back, revealing a woman with sharp eyes and a scar across her cheek.
"Aira," Jin breathed.
She looked up, a slight smile on her lips. "You disappeared. We searched for you for years. And now… the old world is stirring again."
Jin stared, heart pounding. "You remember."
"Of course I do," Aira whispered. "How could I ever forget you, Master?"