Saga Legacy

It's chasing me—"

Before he can finish, a monstrous figure materializes behind Hakuren, its presence suffocating. Akira's eyes widen in horror as the creature plunges its hand through Hakuren's chest, its claws dripping with blood.

Hakuren doesn't scream. He simply looks down at the gaping hole in his chest before meeting Akira's gaze. The creature leans forward, its grotesque face emerging through the wound, locking eyes with Akira.

Akira collapses to the ground, paralyzed with fear, his body trembling uncontrollably. The creature tilts its head, as if studying him, before a chilling grin spreads across its face.

Suddenly, Akira jolts awake, screaming, "Help!"

Mikage, sitting beside him, grabs his shoulder. "Calm down! It's just a nightmare," he says firmly.

Akira, drenched in sweat, shakes his head. "No, it wasn't a nightmare. I know what's real and what's not!"

He glances around, his breathing uneven. "Where's Hakuren?" he demands. "That thing… it killed him!"

Hakuren's voice cuts through the tense atmosphere. "I'm right here." He steps into view, looking as composed as ever.

Mikage hands Akira a glass of water. "Breathe. You're safe now."

Akira takes the glass, his hands trembling slightly. He forces a small, unconvincing smile. "What a terrible first dream," he mutters.

Mikage tilts his head. "First dream? What do you mean?"

"I never dream," Akira replies, staring into the water. "It's always just… darkness."

The words hang in the air, heavy with implication.

Mikage breaks the silence. "We're on a plane, heading to the UK," he says, hoping to shift the mood.

Akira nods slowly, but his mind remains haunted by the image of the creature and the terrifying sense that it wasn't just a dream.

The plane landed with a soft thud, the cabin filling with the hum of deceleration. As the aircraft's jet bridge extended toward the plane, Akira noticed a sleek black limousine parked nearby on the tarmac. A group of men in sharp black suits stood in formation beside it. Their movements were precise, their gazes unwavering as they waited for the passengers to disembark.

When Hakuren appeared at the top of the stairs, the men immediately bowed deeply, chanting in unison, "We're glad you made it back safely, Sir Hakuren."

"Enough," Hakuren said curtly, waving his hand dismissively. The men straightened instantly and opened the limo's door for him. Hakuren stepped inside without a second glance, followed closely by Mikage and Akira.

As the limo glided smoothly away from the airport, Akira couldn't help but stare out the window, trying to take in the foreign scenery. Turning to Mikage, he asked, "Why were those guys acting like Hakuren is some kind of king?"

Mikage chuckled, his tone casual. "Because, in a way, he is one. Hakuren holds one of the highest positions in the magic society. People like those guys would probably lay their lives down for him."

Akira blinked, still trying to process the idea. "He doesn't look like a king," he muttered under his breath.

The car drove for hours, weaving through countryside roads and thick forests until they reached a massive wrought-iron gate adorned with intricate carvings of magical symbols. Without any visible trigger, the gate creaked open on its own, granting them entry.

As the car rolled into the sprawling estate, Akira marveled at the grandeur of it all. Towering buildings and lush gardens stretched as far as the eye could see, a place that looked like it belonged in a fantasy novel.

Hakuren turned to Akira, his piercing gaze locking onto the boy's. "Listen carefully," he said, his voice heavy with authority. "The moment you step out of this car, your life will either change for the better… or for the worse."

Akira felt a lump form in his throat. "What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.

Hakuren's expression didn't soften. "You're about to enter a world that will challenge every part of you. The question is—are you ready?"

The car came to a stop, the door clicking softly as the chauffeur stepped out to open it. Akira glanced nervously between Hakuren and Mikage, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I don't think I have a choice, do I?" Akira muttered.

Hakuren's lips curved into the faintest of smirks. "No. You don't."

As the car rolled deeper into the estate, Akira peered out of the window, his eyes widening as he saw students bustling around the campus. Some were human, but others... weren't. Among the crowd, he noticed a group of students with pointed ears, sharp features, and an almost ethereal grace.

"Wait a minute," Akira said, pointing. "Are those students… elves?"

Mikage glanced at him, smirking. "Yeah, they're elves. What, did you think humans were the only intelligent beings on Earth?"

"Well… obviously," Akira replied, still processing the sight.

Hakuren chuckled lightly as the car came to a stop. He stepped out first, his imposing presence immediately drawing attention.The murmurs began almost instantly, spreading through the crowd like wildfire.

"Is that him? What's he doing here?" one student whispered.

"Why would someone of his status come here?" another added.

Mikage stepped out next, and the tone of the crowd shifted. Excited screams erupted from a group of girls nearby, all shouting Mikage's name. Flashing his signature grin, Mikage gave them a casual wave, eliciting even louder squeals.

Akira hesitated before stepping out, feeling out of place amid the spectacle. As he followed behind Mikage, he asked in a low voice, "Wait, are you popular or something?"

Mikage shrugged nonchalantly. "Not really," he replied, though his smug expression suggested otherwise.

Hakuren, already walking ahead, stopped and turned to Mikage. "Take Akira to meet the principal," he commanded.

Mikage gave a mock salute. "Got it, old man."

"Don't call me that," Hakuren snapped, before striding off in another direction.

Mikage turned to Akira, gesturing for him to follow. "Come on, newbie. Let's go meet the head honcho."

Akira sighed, his nerves kicking in as he trailed behind Mikage. The stares from the other students didn't help, some curious, others judgmental. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was about to dive headfirst into a world he wasn't prepared for.

As they walked through the bustling hallway, Akira couldn't help but notice the growing attention they were drawing. Girls were squealing Mikage's name, waving and calling out to him. A few glanced at Akira, whispering among themselves.

"Who's the guy behind him?"

"Is he new? He's kind of cute."

"Looks nervous, though."

Akira's shoulders tensed under their gazes. "Why are they staring at me like that?" he muttered.

Mikage smirked, leaning slightly toward him. "You're with me. What did you expect?"

Akira shot him an annoyed look but said nothing, focusing on keeping his head down. After weaving through the crowd, Mikage finally stopped in front of a large, intricately carved wooden door.

"We're here," Mikage said, knocking twice before pushing it open.

Inside was an elegantly designed office, with tall windows letting in natural light and walls lined with ancient tomes and artifacts. Sitting behind a well-crafted desk was a tall elf with silver hair, sharp emerald eyes, and an air of authority.

The elf looked up, his gaze locking onto Akira. "Welcome," he said, his voice smooth and commanding. "I've been expecting you."

Akira blinked, taken aback. "You've… been expecting me?" he asked, stepping into the room.

Oliver, the elf, smiled faintly. "Yes, but not for the reason you're thinking."

Akira tilted his head. "Wait, so you didn't already see today before it happened?"

The elf chuckled softly. "No, nothing of the sort." He rose from his chair, gesturing toward Akira. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Oliver Mount. As you've likely guessed by now, I'm an elf."

Akira nodded slowly, still trying to process everything.

Oliver continued, his tone becoming more serious. "Now, Akira, do you know why you're here?"

Akira hesitated. "I'm... not entirely sur—"

Before he could finish, Oliver cut him off. "You're here because you came back from the dead."

The words hung in the air like a thunderclap, and Akira froze, his mind racing.

Oliver's emerald eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward, his hands clasped on the desk. "When the news of your resurrection broke out, it sent shockwaves through the magical community," he began. "The higher-ups were… concerned. You see, such a phenomenon is unheard of, and it led many to fear the worst."

Akira blinked, his heart pounding. "The worst?" he echoed.

Oliver nodded gravely. "They believed it was possible that you were a child of darkness—a harbinger of destruction sent to bring ruin to the world. Naturally, they couldn't ignore the risk."

The elf's piercing gaze flicked toward Hakuren, who stood silently by the door. "So, they sent one of their best—Hakuren—to investigate. And, if it turned out you were a threat, his mission was to eliminate you."

Akira's breath hitched as he glanced nervously at Hakuren. The stoic sorcerer gave nothing away, his expression unreadable.

"But," Oliver continued, his voice softening, "you're sitting here, alive, and I can already tell you're not the child of darkness they feared. In fact, you're far from it."

Akira frowned. "How can you be so sure?"

Oliver smiled faintly, leaning back in his chair. "Because you lack the ability to sense mana. If you had been a prodigy of destruction, you'd have detected mine the moment you entered this room. Your aura is untrained, your power dormant. And more importantly…" He gestured toward Hakuren. "Hakuren, who has seen countless dangers in his long life, approves of you. That is enough for me."

Akira relaxed slightly, the tension in his shoulders easing.

Oliver's smile widened. "So, Akira, welcome to King Arthur High—a place where legends are born and shaped."