Magic in Anterthon: The Awakening Fire

Kenneth dreamt he was holding a small flame in his hand. In front of him stood a mysterious figure, with four others lingering in the shadows behind it. The figure extended its hand, offering something back to him.

It spoke, but the words were in a language he couldn't understand.

He awoke, his heart heavy. This dream had been recurring for some time, always leaving him with a sense of unease, a feeling he couldn't shake. He wondered if it was somehow connected to the novel he had been reading, but deep down, he suspected it was more than that.

Living in an apartment with his aunt, he led what most would call a normal life. His parents, still in the countryside, had sent him to the city right after middle school, wanting him to receive the best education possible. But even with a routine and the predictability of his life, something always felt off—not because of the city, but because of the world itself.

Mornings came and went, marked by the same rituals. He'd call his parents, get ready for the day, and try to push aside the nagging feeling that gnawed at him. On the kitchen counter, a note from his aunt reminded him she was away on a business trip. He crumpled it up, used to the solitude by now.

He sighed as he prepared for another day. His life, though normal on the surface, felt... distant. It was as if the world he inhabited wasn't quite his own, like he was meant for something different but couldn't grasp what. Days passed, but the feeling lingered, leaving him questioning everything.

He then went out to commute to school, his mind still lingering on the dream that haunted him, the flicker of fire, and the mysterious figures just beyond comprehension.

When he arrived at school, Kenneth noticed something unusual. Rika wasn't in class. She hadn't mentioned anything about being absent, which struck him as odd.

Later in the day, the teacher called Kenneth over. "Rika will be transferring to a school abroad," the teacher said plainly, but the news hit Kenneth with surprise. Rika had never mentioned anything about leaving, especially not the day before when everything seemed normal.

Confusion lingered in Kenneth's mind, but there was no time to dwell on it. There was a major school event coming up, and Rika's absence created a logistical problem. As the student council president, he needed all hands on deck.

Kenneth decided to ask the second-year representative for assistance, knowing the workload would increase with Rika gone. He saw potential in the second-year as his successor for when he eventually stepped down. However, today, Kenneth had another pair of hands at his disposal.

Salem, the first-year representative, stood beside Kenneth, eager to help. Young, innocent, and full of energy, Salem idolized Kenneth. "You're my role model," he had said more than once, and today was no different.

Kenneth gave him a reassuring pat on the head. "You'll learn plenty, Salem. Just stick with me."

Together, they reviewed the plans for the event, but Kenneth couldn't shake the feeling something wasn't quite right. He needed to double-check everything, especially the invitation for the idol group that Rika had been handling before she left. Glancing at Salem, he asked, "Is there any word on the idol group we invited? Any problems?"

Salem perked up, his face lighting with youthful enthusiasm. "No problems at all, President! I checked the final details this morning!"

Kenneth nodded, satisfied for now, but a sense of unease still lingered as Rika's abrupt departure weighed on his mind.

＊＊＊

During the school event, the atmosphere was lively and filled with excitement. It was an important day not just for the school, but for Kenneth as well—it was his birthday. As the president of the student council, he had responsibilities to monitor the event, but his fellow officers made sure to start the day by greeting him.

"Happy Birthday, President!" they said in unison as he entered the student council room.

Kenneth smiled, grateful for their enthusiasm. "Thanks, everyone."

His phone buzzed, and he glanced down to see a message from his aunt. She had sent him a money from his digital wallet for his birthday with a simple message: Buy whatever you want. It was a generous gift, but Kenneth, ever modest, didn't have any immediate plans to use it.

"I'll probably treat the volunteers once this event is over," he said casually, already thinking of ways to thank those who were helping.

As the day unfolded, Kenneth kept a close eye on the event. Things were running smoothly, but something tugged at the edge of his awareness. A nagging feeling that someone had intruded on the campus. He quickly acted, pulling aside a few of the volunteers.

"If you see anything suspicious or notice anyone who doesn't belong here, report it to the teachers immediately," he instructed, his calm voice hiding the tension beneath.

Soon, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived—the idol group finally made their entrance. The students buzzed with excitement as the group approached, and at the center of it all was Eumie, the rising star who had captured the attention of the entire school.

Several student council members, thrilled at the chance to meet a celebrity, murmured among themselves about how lucky they were to be part of the student council and have access to these moments. Kenneth, however, remained composed, observing as the group made their way through the crowd.

But then, something strange happened. Kenneth noticed that Eumie kept looking at him. It wasn't a brief glance either—every time he looked her way, she would quickly avert her gaze, as if she didn't want to be caught staring.

After a moment, Kenneth decided to approach. He greeted the group with his usual calm demeanor. "Welcome to our school, and thank you for joining us today," he said, his tone professional but warm.

Eumie and her group smiled, introducing themselves properly. "We are Lumix"

"It's an honor to be here." Eumie continued.

Her voice was steady, but there was something in her eyes—something that hinted at more than just the usual respect for a student council president. Kenneth noticed, but before he could think too much about it, one of his friends nudged him.

"I saw that, Kenneth," his classmate teased with a grin. "She keeps staring at you."

Kenneth chuckled and shrugged it off, smiling in his usual calm manner. "It's probably nothing. She's just being polite."

But even as he dismissed the thought, the feeling lingered. Eumie's gaze, the sense of someone watching him, and the unshakable feeling of an intruder—it all swirled in his mind as the event continued.

＊＊＊

The night of the school festival had finally arrived, and the school ground was glowing with vibrant lights, laughter, and music. The crowd buzzed with excitement, students came together to celebrate and enjoy the festivities. At the center of attention was the highly anticipated performance by the idol group.

Kenneth stood at the back of the audience, away from the bustling crowd. He preferred it that way, keeping his distance while still ensuring everything ran smoothly. His eyes, however, were fixed on the stage where the group had just begun their performance.

As they danced, Kenneth couldn't help but notice the grace in Eumie's movements. She seemed to flow effortlessly, her every step in perfect harmony with the soft breeze that played around her. Her performance was more than just a spectacle—it was like watching someone who was completely in sync with the world around her. It was almost as if she was one with the wind itself, moving fluidly, gently, as if she belonged to it.

Kenneth allowed himself a brief moment of admiration before returning to his duties. When the performance ended, the crowd erupted in applause, cheering for Eumie and her group. As the students celebrated, Kenneth made his way backstage to handle the formalities.

He approached the group's manager, thanking him for their time. "Thank you for coming today. The performance was incredible," Kenneth said politely, before turning to the more practical matters. "I'll have the remaining payment processed by the end of the week. Please let me know if there are any issues."

The manager nodded, offering a friendly handshake. "We appreciate the opportunity."

Just as they finished their conversation, the group's manager left, and Eumie herself walked over, leaving them alone, her energy still radiant despite just having finished her performance. She approached Kenneth with a bright smile, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

"Thank you for the performance," Kenneth said, maintaining his usual composed demeanor.

Eumie tilted her head slightly, a playful glint in her eyes. "How was it?"

Kenneth paused for a moment, giving her a thoughtful look before responding. "It was good. Your movements were precise, and you kept perfect synchronization with your group. The energy was consistent, and you had great stage presence. It was clear you put a lot of effort into the details, especially your timing with the music and interaction with the audience."

Eumie's smile widened at his words. "Thank you," she said softly, though her eyes sparkled as if she had hoped for something more than a logical breakdown of her performance.

Before the conversation could become awkward, Eumie's expression shifted to one of curiosity. "By the way, what's your name? People kept calling you 'President,' so I didn't catch it," she asked.

Kenneth blinked, surprised she didn't already know. "Kenneth," he replied.

Eumie nodded, repeating the name softly as if committing it to memory. "I see... Kenneth. I hope we meet again sometime," she said with a small, mysterious smile before stepping back to rejoin her group.

As Kenneth watched her walk away, something felt off. A sudden sense of danger washed over him, his instincts kicking in. Without thinking, he stepped in front of Eumie protectively.

"Wait," he said sharply, narrowing his eyes at the shadowy figures emerging from the darkness.

A dark figure stepped forward, its voice cold and direct. "Aine of Mishal, come with us."

Kenneth's mind raced. Mishal? The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it. He quickly assumed these were dangerous stalkers and moved Eumie behind him, shielding her with his body. "You're not going anywhere near her," he declared, trying to sound confident despite the growing dread inside him.

The figure's eyes gleamed, and with a swift motion, it attacked. But before Kenneth could react, Eumie pulled him behind her, and in an instant, she deflected the attack with a powerful gust of wind. It wasn't just any defense—it was wind magic.

Kenneth's heart pounded as he watched her fight back, her movements precise and lethal. She easily overpowered the first group of attackers, but just as Kenneth felt a brief moment of relief, another presence appeared.

A masked figure, far more menacing than the others, stepped forward. His voice was laced with an eerie calm. "As expected from the successor of Mishal," he said, his gaze fixed on Eumie.

Without hesitation, the masked figure attacked. Eumie tried to block it, but his strength was overwhelming. She was thrown backward, right toward Kenneth, who barely managed to catch her.

Kenneth's mind reeled. This wasn't normal. This was magic—real magic. Everything he had just witnessed felt like something out of the fantasy novels he'd read. His body trembled with fear, unable to comprehend what was happening.

The masked figure raised his hand, casting a dark spell. "Dark nova," he muttered, and a massive pulse of dark energy surged toward them.

Kenneth's instincts screamed at him to move, to run, but he couldn't leave Eumie behind. He threw himself over her, shielding her with his body, bracing for the impact. As the dark energy drew closer, he thought of the dream that had haunted him for so long—the one with the small fire.

Suddenly, warmth enveloped him. His eyes shot open, and to his astonishment, flames—bright, fiery, and powerful—ignited around his body, shielding both him and Eumie from the dark energy.

The masked figure stumbled back, his eyes wide with disbelief. "No... this is impossible," he muttered, his voice filled with shock. "Fire magic?"

Eumie, too, was stunned. "Fire magic?" she echoed, staring at Kenneth in awe.

The flames around Kenneth grew stronger, fiercer, beyond his control. He could feel the raw power coursing through him, but it was too much—he couldn't contain it. The flames expanded, consuming everything in their path, scorching the ground and threatening to engulf them all.

Then, without warning, everything stopped. The crackling sound from the flames disappeared. The world around him went completely silent, as if time itself had frozen. Kenneth couldn't move, couldn't hear, couldn't feel anything but the eerie stillness.

His body weakened, his strength fading rapidly. His eyes fluttered, fighting to stay open, but the darkness was closing in fast. Just before he lost consciousness, he saw a mysterious figure standing before him, cloaked in shadow, watching him with unreadable eyes.

And then, everything went black.

＊＊＊

The mysterious figure stood quietly, observing the scene from a distance, his gaze fixed on the raging fire engulfing the area. The flames danced wildly around the boy, their intensity far beyond anything ordinary. A fire that pure hadn't been seen in over a decade.

Rika had referred to him as the Headmaster, but his presence here wasn't just as an observer. He recognized the fire immediately—the unmistakable essence of the Ultimate Fire, once held by the Fire Guardian, now reborn. But something was wrong. The fire was growing uncontrollably, far too powerful for the boy to contain.

"If this continues," the Headmaster murmured to himself, "both the Ultimate Fire holder and the successor of Mishal will perish."

His expression hardened. "I have no choice."

The Headmaster extended his hand, and with a flick of his finger, the world around him froze in time. The flames, once fierce and crackling, were suspended mid-air, frozen in their destructive path. Everything—sound, movement, even the wind—stilled under his command.

Stepping through the frozen world, the Headmaster approached the boy and Aine. Gently, he tapped their foreheads, dispelling the effects of the time magic on them. Both collapsed to the ground, unconscious but safe from the fire's reach.

He knelt beside him and placed a hand on his forehead. Whispering a spell, a soft, glowing light formed around Kenneth's head. The Headmaster worked swiftly, resetting the boy's timeline, pulling him back to a point before he awakened the fire. His movements were precise, careful not to disrupt more than what was necessary.

"Sleep well," he murmured softly as his breathing returned to a calm, steady rhythm. He then turned his attention to Aine, performing a similar spell to restore her.

The Headmaster stood, glancing once more at the boy who had unknowingly unleashed the Ultimate Fire, a magic thought lost. The flame was far too pure to be anything else. It was the fire of legends, passed down through the Fireon bloodline. And yet, it had manifested in a boy with no knowledge of its existence.

But his thoughts were interrupted. His eyes drifted toward the masked figure, still frozen in time. Curiosity piqued, he stepped closer and, with a swift motion, removed the mask.

The Headmaster's breath hitched in his throat as he saw the face beneath.

"You..." His voice, usually calm and measured, was laced with shock.

Why are you here?