Linking Stars

As the timer ticked into its final minutes, the arena crumbled to its last remnants. Only a few pairs remained, fighting with relentless determination. Explosions of magic and the sharp clash of blades filled the air, echoing across the battlefield and reaching those watching from the bleachers through the monitors. Suspense gripped everyone as the chaos unfolded. 

Near the center of the arena, Kazuki stood alone. No one dared approach him, while Liene lay trembling on the ground, struggling to stand despite her overwhelming exhaustion. She refused to succumb and be teleported back to the bleachers. 

Suddenly, Kazuki bent sharply to his left, evading a sideways slash from behind. He turned to see Takumi, smirking as he swung his scythe in a wide arc with one hand. Takumi spun mid-air, revealing his other hand clutching three mechanical balls. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled them at Kazuki, triggering a massive explosion. Both combatants were blasted apart, Kazuki skidding backward with his blade stabbed into the ground to steady himself, crouched and poised. Takumi landed in a quick, controlled flip, stopping at an equal distance from Kazuki, his confident smirk never faltering. 

"Oh, so you saw that coming? Cute." Takumi's grin widened, his voice dripping with smug amusement. 

Kazuki remained silent, his expression unchanging. 

Without hesitation, they charged at each other with blinding speed, their movements leaving gusts of wind in their wake. The clash of their blades rang out like thunder, each strike faster and more intense than the last. 

Claire, lying on the ground paralyzed, could only watch. Her amber eyes widened, a tremble coursing through her body with every surge of lightning that jolted her. Her outstretched hand twitched, fingers barely moving as she recalled how Takumi had overwhelmed her defenses. His scythe had broken through her parries with devastating speed. Then, in a calculated move, he had reached into his pouch and slammed a coin-shaped device onto her waist. The instant it made contact, electricity surged through her, rendering her helpless on the ground. 

Now, she could do nothing but watch as Takumi engaged Kazuki, the explosive clash of blades illuminating the battlefield before her.

"So, you wouldn't mind if I took your little girlfriend out for a spin, huh?" Takumi quipped, leaping back from Kazuki after their blades rang out in a sharp metallic clash. Mid-air, he reached into his pouch and pulled out a triangular prism-shaped device, hurling it downward with practiced ease.

On the ground, Claire's face flushed red at Takumi's taunt. She shook her head in flustered disbelief but couldn't tear her gaze away as the battle unfolded, her anticipation mounting.

The device detonated with a controlled blast wave, propelling Takumi skyward. He spun rapidly, scythe raised high, using the momentum to arc down toward Kazuki in an aggressive overhead strike meant to overwhelm.

Kazuki, unbothered, moved with calculated precision, angling his blade upward at a sideward slant. His gloved hand pressed lightly against the flat side of his sword to support the block as Takumi's scythe connected with a resounding crash. The force reverberated, but Kazuki held steady, his expression unreadable.

Takumi grinned wickedly, using the force of the clash to propel himself behind Kazuki in a swift maneuver. He swung his scythe in a sideward arc, but Kazuki anticipated it, turning smoothly to parry the attack. The impact sent Kazuki skidding back into a crouch, his head dipped slightly.

Before Takumi could press the advantage, Kazuki charged, his blade flashing in a sideward strike. Takumi prepared to block, but Kazuki flipped over him with practiced ease, his movements fluid and sharp. While mid-flip, Kazuki twirled and brought his blade upward in a devastating strike aimed at Takumi's back.

The blow connected, disrupting Takumi's mana flow that shielded him from the attack. He gritted his teeth in brief frustration but quickly replaced it with his signature smirk. Spinning around, Takumi revealed a larger mechanical device clenched in his hand and hurled it toward Kazuki with a flick of his wrist.

Kazuki leaped just in time, narrowly avoiding the explosion as the device detonated, sending a massive shockwave through the arena and a cloud of smoke and fire billowing into the air. As the dust settled, Takumi emerged from the wreckage, his movements fluid as he launched himself forward without hesitation.

The two clashed again in a furious exchange of blades, the sound of steel on steel ringing through the arena. Kazuki parried and dodged with precision as Takumi swung arcs of his scythe, using the weight of the blade to build momentum. His strikes flowed seamlessly from his left to right hand, delivering quick, tilted slashes that left deep gouges in the floor.

Kazuki dodged each one with calculated grace, leaping to avoid the next swing. As he soared into the air with a swift back arc, his palms grazing the ground, he launched himself skyward, landing a short distance away. Without missing a beat, he charged forward, his blade flashing as he brought it down in a swift slash. Takumi met the strike with his own scythe, blocking it with a sharp clang. Using the arced blade, he skillfully diverted both weapons to the ground, then propelled himself into the air with a swift side kick. Kazuki ducked, narrowly evading the blow, before yanking his sword from the ground just as Takumi did the same. In one fluid motion, Takumi spun the scythe, meeting the handle with both palms, then twisted his body, delivering a rapid, precise strike. Kazuki parried with swift efficiency, their blades locking before the force sent them both skidding back, momentarily forcing them into a pause.

As they reset, their stances told a story of their contrasting styles. Takumi stood tall, his scythe resting casually on his shoulder. The curved blade gleamed ominously in the arena lights, and loose strands of his orange hair fell over his face, adding to the sharp confidence of his smirk. 

On the other hand, Kazuki crouched low, poised and calculating, his sword angled with perfect intent—an embodiment of balance between offense and defense. His expression remained impassive, his sharp gaze locked onto Takumi, his body coiled like a spring, ready to strike or counter in an instant.

The tension in the air was thick, each movement deliberate and charged with unspoken promises of what was to come. Claire and Liene, still lying on the ground, watched in stunned silence. Liene's frustration transformed into awe, while Claire's concern grew deeper.

"Think you're ready for this?" Takumi taunted, his smirk widening.

Kazuki, undeterred, gave a slight nod. "Mmmhmmm."

With that, they charged. Mana surged into their weapons, the glowing edges lighting up the arena as the tension reached its peak. Their forms blurred with speed, each move a dance of precision, both poised to unleash their Stellar Skills. Liene and Claire's eyes widened in anticipation, the final clash of these two titans looming on the horizon.

But suddenly, just before the blades collided, everything froze, nothing in their could move, not even slightly, it was if time stop itself, only their eyes were able to dart around to scan the situation, Claire lied on the floor confused at the moment whilst Kazuki's gaze remained emotionless as he was frozen mid-sprint in contrast to both Takumi and Liene's shock reactions. 

Then a loud beep echoed through the arena, piercing their ears. Every student—including Claire—heard on thing ring through their ears-Time's up. Her eyes widened, then blinked with a shrinking relief as she realized the timer above reached zero. The duels ceased instantly, and everyone was teleported back to the bleachers amidst a collective wave of shock as they all glance up at the elevated floor and above them, the time was exactly 00:00. 

The sudden transition was followed by a cacophony of cheers, groans, and fervent discussions about the battles, both analytical and excitement. Claire who at first felt tired, now back in her seat but just then a jolt in her body instantly caused her to stand up as she instinctively patted her body, realizing her injuries had been healed. She noticed the same for the others, their bruises and cuts now gone. 

"Wha—?" Claire shrieked, looking around in confusion. 

The once-crumbling arena dissolved into faint gray particles before vanishing entirely, returning to its pristine, pre-battle state. 

Their instructor, Darui, whom Claire had momentarily forgotten about, appeared in the center with a mic in hand. Slowly, the students' chatter subsided, their attention drawn to him. Claire's eyes flickered to Takumi and Liene, who were slumped in their seats, mentally drained despite their restored physical states. The two exchanged exhausted glances before rolling their eyes and redirecting their focus. Claire then noticed Rose nearby, groaning in frustration, her head buried in her hands whom Claire realized that she hadn't seen her since the start of the battles. 

Claire chuckled lightly, shaking her head before turning back to Darui as he began to speak. 

"Ahem, that was quite the spectacle… Put me at the edge of my seat, actually," Darui announced, his tone filled with pride, punctuated by small chuckles. "Though I must admit, I was sorely disappointed by the abrupt ending. But let this be a demonstration of the intensity you'll face ahead. These battles are just the beginning. Prepare yourselves, because greater challenges await. That said, class is dismissed. Go rest—physically and mentally. I expect great things from all of you." 

As Darui's words echoed as she watched him disapear right before everyone's eyes, Claire sat in mild confusion while most students began filing out of the stadium. Before she could fully process, her attention shifted to Kazuki. He moved silently, barely making a sound as he walked away. Something about his calm, almost ghostly demeanor stirred her curiosity. She replayed his effortless defeat of Liene and his near-clash with Takumi. 

"Hey, if you're done drooling over him, we're leaving," Takumi quipped from beside her, his voice dripping with sarcasm, the corner of his mouth curling into a smirk.

"Ack—geez, Takumi!" Claire's head shot up, her cheeks burning as she hissed in flustered protest, clutching her cloak tighter around her shoulders.

She gave her head a quick shake, trying to shrug off the embarrassment, and glanced over to see Takumi leaning casually against the railing near the stairs. Rose stood beside him, beaming her usual bright smile and giving Claire an enthusiastic wave, while Liene lingered nearby, her gaze unfocused. They were clearly ready to leave, waiting for her. Panicked, Claire bolted after them as they started descending the stairs.

"W-why didn't you wait for me, capisce?!" Claire called out, her voice trembling as she reached the group, bent over and gasping for breath, her hands on her knees.

"Well," Rose teased, a mischievous grin forming on her lips, "you seemed so absorbed in your thoughts, we didn't want to ruin the moment." She extended a hand playfully, stifling a giggle.

"I-I… Wait! Where were you during the battle, huh?" Claire retorted, straightening up with a mock authoritative stance, hands on her hips, her lips curling into a teasing smile.

"Eh… hehe… you know what? Congrats!" Rose said, her tone suddenly lighter, folding her hands under her chin with a sheepish laugh. "You all were among the very few students who lasted until the timer went poof!"

"I think you're just too embarrassed to admit it," Claire teased back, a triumphant glint in her eyes.

Takumi, watching from the sidelines, scratched the back of his head beneath his messy orange hair, clearly uninterested in stepping into their banter. With a casual shrug, he leaned against the railing, his attention drifting. His sharp gaze caught Liene standing quietly behind him, her mind seemingly elsewhere. Nudging her elbow with his own, he startled her into a soft yelp. 

Liene blinked in surprise, her wide eyes meeting Takumi's smug grin and subtle nod toward the two friends bickering below. Realizing she'd zoned out, she exhaled in relief before her usual calm demeanor slipped back into place, her lips curving into a faint, knowing smile.

"Wouldn't want to get between them, would you? You seem awfully down," Takumi remarked, his tone dry, his lips pressed into a flat line as he side-eyed Liene. 

"What makes you say that?" Liene replied, her voice soft, though there was a subtle shift in her tone that felt unusual. 

"Well," Takumi began, crossing his arms casually, "you've had plenty of chances to tease me, Claire, or even Rose. But you've let all those golden moments slip by. Seems like the battle really got to you, huh?" 

"And what gave you that idea, boy?" Liene asked, her soft tone rising slightly, though it carried an almost challenging edge. 

"I just told you," Takumi replied with a shrug. "And, let's be real, you've been pretty distracted." 

Liene bobbed her head slightly, her gaze lowering. "Well, I just happen to be exhausted, that's all..." Her voice was soft but carried a mellow weight, as though she was trying to convince herself as much as him. 

"Right," Takumi drawled, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Sheesh, I could take this chance to get back at you, but hey, I'm a nice guy. I'll let you off the hook—for now." He threw her a lighthearted shrug, his tone deliberately playful. "In the meantime, we should probably go once all this wraps up."

Both of them glanced back at Claire, who stood with a bossy stance, her hands on her hips, while Rose jittered nervously, slightly crouched as if trying to shrink under Claire's gaze. 

"Nothing! It was probably because I was on the other side of the arena," Rose stammered, her embarrassment evident despite her attempt to sound convincing. 

"So why didn't I see you when the arena collapsed around us?" Claire asked, her tone sharp and demanding. 

"Alright, geez!" Rose blurted out, throwing her hands in the air. "I got knocked around as soon as the battle started and—bam!—flung outside the barrier before I even had a chance to do anything. What was I supposed to do, huh?!" 

Her words tumbled out in a rush, a mix of frustration and embarrassment coloring her face as she avoided Claire's gaze. Claire burst into giggles, and, with a slight tinge of embarrassment, Rose slowly joined in.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur, the clock ticking to exactly 11:30 AM as the school bell rang, signaling the start of the lunch period. The academy halls buzzed with students moving in opposite directions, their actions varied—some opening and closing lockers, others mingling in groups—but the most noticeable sound was the collective groans that lingered in the air.

Among them, Claire and Rose leaned onto each other as they walked forward, just moments after stepping out of their previous class—History.

"Remember to review today's lesson thoroughly and study page 16. Also, answer the questions on page 17. I'll be expecting your papers tomorrow. Have a nice lunch, everyone," their teacher, Mr. Renji, called out in a loud tone as the students poured out of the room.

Claire and Rose groaned in unison at the sound of their teacher's parting words. Before they could roll their eyes further, a faint shimmer of light surrounded Mr. Renji, and with a soft whoosh, he disappeared, his body dissolving into a swirl of wind. The sudden gust rustled the papers on his desk, leaving the room eerily silent as though he had never been there.

"Geez, that was such a total downgrade from all the action!" Rose complained, her tone dry, punctuated by a long groan as she leaned further onto Claire. "Like, seriously, what was even the point of that class?"

"Tell me about it..." Claire replied, her tone lower but equally annoyed, sighing heavily. "Mr. Renji—no offense to him personally—just bored the heck out of me…" She trailed off, her words accompanied by another groan as she adjusted to the weight of Rose leaning on her. "Like, maybe just maybe, the history of Stracia might've been interesting, but not when it feels like a bedtime story, capisce?!"

The two continued to groan as Claire found herself recalling the endless monotony of their History class earlier that morning. She could almost feel the weight of boredom again—slumped in her chair beside Rose, her open notebook filled with meaningless scribbles. The effort of staying awake had been difficult, her eyes drifting up only briefly before falling back to the nonsensical lines she had drawn.

Mr. Renji's voice had been a relentless drone in the background, rambling on about the Treaty of Unity. Something about the Seven Celestial Territories signing agreements, trade regulations, and a standardized calendar called the Stellar Chronos. He had even mentioned a census—numbers, occupations, magical potential. None of it had sparked even the faintest interest in her.

There was a vague mention of Chancellor Lothar and some enchanted quill that took forever to sign with, but by then, her mind had fully checked out.

"Y'know the only clear thought that stuck? That was the longest hour of my life!" Rose yelled suddenly, her high-pitched, complaining voice snapping Claire out of her recollection.

Claire stopped by her locker, slipping her key in to open it. Rose leaned against the closed locker beside her, groaning dramatically. Claire silently placed her books and notebooks back inside, picking out what she needed for the afternoon.

As she turned, her eyes caught Takumi walking past them, his gaze fixed ahead as he followed Liene, who was moving quickly down the hall. Liene barely glanced back as she opened her locker at the far end.

Rose's eyes lingered on them for a moment before turning back to Claire, her expression softening.

"I'm worried about Liene…" Rose murmured, her voice tinged with concern. 

She was interrupted as a student approached to open the locker she had been leaning on.

"Oh, sorry!" Rose exclaimed, stepping aside quickly as Claire paused, glancing briefly at Rose before resuming her task.

"I know… She's been really down since her battle with Kazuki. It's weird, but I totally get it," Claire replied, her tone subdued as she closed her locker.

Meanwhile, Takumi casually quickened his pace, hopping slightly to catch up with Liene, who seemed distracted and was walking noticeably faster. Her blue hair swayed vigorously with each step, catching the light as she moved. He fell into step beside her with an easy, curious smirk, his hands casually tucked behind his back.

Liene glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, her expression shifting to one of mild annoyance as they continued walking forward.

"What's up?" Takumi asked, tilting his head slightly with a playful smirk.

"Nothing much, boy… Will you stop following me now?" Liene replied in a soft yet clearly irritated tone, her words clipped as she shot him a bothered look.

"Oh, sure, I'll stop… right after you quit power-walking like you're late for an appointment with destiny," Takumi quipped, his smirk widening. "Seriously, you're like a storm cloud with legs today. What's the rush? Got a secret world-saving mission I should know about?"

Before Liene could respond, the two were forced to a sudden halt as a rogue shard of ice narrowly zipped past in front of them—a result of a student's accidental magic casting. Both paused briefly, exchanging a look, then continued walking as though nothing had happened.

Liene narrowed her eyes, clearly trying to muster a retort despite her distracted state. "Oh, please. The only thing I'm rushing from is you. Your ego's so big, it needs its own class schedule, boy," she shot back, her tone sharp but missing the usual sting of her teases.

Takumi raised an eyebrow, his smirk as unwavering as ever. "Ouch. Solid attempt. B-minus for effort," he replied with exaggerated sarcasm before adding, "But let's face it—you're off your game, Blue. Normally, you'd have me questioning my life choices by now. But hey, that's okay. We all fall from our prime eventually… you just happened to lose yours a little early."

Liene shot a quick glance at him but didn't respond, simply quickening her pace. Takumi, unfazed, followed closely behind. His mind wandered back to the earlier lesson. Despite the overwhelming boredom it caused him, something about it still nagged at him.

He glanced at Liene again, perplexed. She was the type of person who, if anyone, would've been engaged in a lesson like that. Yet, here she was, clearly distracted, her gaze fixed downward as if the world around her didn't exist. Takumi frowned, a wave of confusion crossing his face.

Now, in the present, he continued to follow Liene, trying to make sense of the strange disconnect he'd noticed earlier.

As Claire and Rose walked down the halls towards the cafeteria, Claire's gaze drifted to an empty corridor. She tilted her head back slightly, catching a fleeting glimpse of a familiar black figure passing through. A sense of curiosity stirred within her, but her attention quickly shifted to Rose, who was happily chatting away beside her, her hands gesturing animatedly as her eyes bounced back and forth between the students around them.

Claire's concern grew as she noticed how easily distracted Rose was. Unable to ignore the sudden tug of curiosity, she subconsciously veered toward a small group of students clustered in the hallway, her focus torn between the sight she had caught and Rose's cheerful chatter.

Embarrassed and shy, Claire hurried past groups of students, dodging those heading in the opposite direction. She finally reached the empty hall she had spotted earlier, letting out a sigh of relief as she leaned against one of the walls. Her heart raced, and her eyes widened as she pressed her lips together that barely formed a line.

She glanced quickly left and right, trying to make sure no one was watching before peeking around the corner. There, she saw him—Kazuki, walking forward with an almost mechanical precision. All she could see was his back, his black cloak swaying slightly with each step.

Without thinking, Claire moved to follow him, her feet light as she crept behind him. But in her haste, she nearly slipped, her balance faltering for a moment. A quick sigh escaped her as she caught herself just in time, heart pounding in her chest. She quickly recovered, her curiosity driving her forward as she continued to trail behind him, silently cursing herself for almost blowing her cover.

Kazuki suddenly stopped, and Claire froze in her tracks. Panic surged as she quickly ducked behind the threshold of a nearby door, pressing herself against the wall. Her breath caught in her throat as she peeked around the corner, watching Kazuki continue on his way, seemingly unaware of her presence.

Heart racing, she tiptoed quickly to follow him, careful to make no noise. To her surprise, Kazuki turned left, and she immediately hid behind the wall, her body tense. She risked a quick glance, just in time to see him standing still in front of the closed headmaster's office, motionless like a statue. The sight only deepened her curiosity. 

"The office? What's he doing here?" Claire curiously thought

Her curiosity grew along with the tense as she gripped onto the wall's edge in anciptaiton before it cut from the sound of the office door opening as Mr. Isaac welcomed Kazuki in as he emoitonless walked in as the door closed behind him in which she sighed in relief before quickly rushing to evedrops behind the door onto the inside of the office as she stuck her ear onto the door to head a conversation between them

"So... I take it you've already settled in my school?" Isaac asked, his voice calm and polite. "Though you surpassed my expectations when you barely made an effort in Starfield and the arena. I heard you made quite a spectacle..."

"Cut the poetic nonsense," Kazuki replied, dry sarcasm lacing his voice. "I did what you asked, sir. Now, with no disrespect, I ask you to uphold your end of the bargain..." His tone remained emotionless, but a deep tension lingered in the air. 

Claire's heart raced, her thoughts tumbling over one another as she stood frozen, barely breathing behind the doorframe. The fragments of conversation she overheard were like pieces of a puzzle she couldn't quite make sense of. Kazuki's quiet yet intense urgency, Isaac's cryptic questions—everything felt so much bigger than she had anticipated. 

Her mind flashed back to the night Kazuki had wiped out the men who had almost run them over. She remembered the cold, calculated way he moved, his precision, as if he knew exactly what he was doing. It was that same stillness in his voice now, the same controlled force. 

"You're eager, I see," Isaac's calm voice drifted through the door, but there was something unsettling about it. "But rushing ahead won't give you what you're looking for. The threads are still being woven. In time, you'll see the picture, but for now, you'll have to trust the process."

Kazuki's response was flat, but Claire could feel the weight of his words, the urgency behind them even if it wasn't obvious to Isaac. "Your process is irrelevant. All I ask is answers."

Claire's grip tightened on the doorframe, her fingers trembling slightly, as the tension between them grew. Isaac's voice, smooth and unnerving, cut through her thoughts.

"Tell me, Kazuki, if you were to have all the answers right now, what would you do with them? Would they bring you closer to what you seek, or would they only blur the path even more?"

Kazuki's reply was as emotionless as ever, but Claire could sense something deeper in his words.

"That remains irrelevant, doesn't it? The question isn't what I would do, but whether you'd even tell me the truth if I had the answers in the first place."

Isaac's silence hung in the air for a moment, and Claire instinctively pressed her back further into the shadows, her breath shallow. She wanted to hear more. 

Isaac's next words were measured, almost as though he were savoring the moment. "True, but let's assume, for the sake of this conversation, that I am providing you with answers. If you knew everything—every thread, every piece—how would you handle it? Would you still play your part, or would you go beyond what's expected of you?"

Claire felt a cold shiver run down her spine as she processed Isaac's words. What did he mean by "go beyond what's expected"? And what part was Kazuki playing in all of this? 

She swallowed hard, trying to suppress the whirlwind of thoughts that flooded her mind. New questions spun through her head—questions she wasn't sure she was ready to confront.

Kazuki didn't reply, not because he lacked an answer, but because the answer was something Claire couldn't yet grasp. She could almost feel the weight of his gaze through the door, the emptiness in his eyes as he turned and then paused briefly. Without a word, he opened the door and stepped out, closing it with a soft click.

Claire's eyes widened, her body frozen as she instinctively held her breath. Kazuki, however, remained oblivious to her presence, his steps unwavering as he moved forward, his back fading into the distance. A soft, inexplicable worry crept into her chest, an unsettling feeling sinking deep within her.

Meanwhile, Isaac sat at his desk, a soft smile playing on his lips, fully aware of the observer nearby. His gaze lingered with an air of quiet curiosity, an unmistakable interest in the one who was shrouded in mystery.

Claire's expression softened, her hand instinctively pressing over her chest, feeling the weight of her uncertainty. With a reluctant sigh, she gathered herself and, after a pause, followed him.