Underneath the great clocktower, Larena stood by her window looking out at the great courtyard below. The afternoon sun bathed the sprawling grounds in golden light, highlighting the colorful clothes of children scattered across the grass. Some raced in circles, playing games from their own minds. Others sat in small groups, discussing what seemed to be very serious subjects.

Larena's fingers rested lightly on the smooth wooden windowsill. The uniform she wore still felt strange—stiff in places where her captain's attire had been broken in, looser in others. She had resisted removing her sword, thinking it was better to be prepared.

A great big smile was plastered on her face, not even diminished by the two children digging holes in the ground. Their small hands worked furiously, dirt flying in all directions as they competed to reach some imaginary treasure. Their clothes were already stained with grass and soil, but their faces were bright with determination.

"What would you think if you saw this, Prince Gynn?" she whispered to the empty room.

A knock sounded at her door, sharp and light. Larena already knew who it was, having seen two small figures cross the courtyard and enter the main building. She didn't turn from the window, savoring the view for one moment longer.

"Come in, you two," she called over her shoulder. "You don't have to knock."

The heavy oak door swung open with barely a creak, having just been oiled at her command. Nova and Anny stepped inside, wearing the same oddly mature expressions as always. Although Anny seemed somewhat sharper than usual.

"We greet Headmaster Larena Hargrave," Nova announced formally, bending into a deep bow. Anny mirrored his movement precisely, folding her small hands neatly at her waist as she inclined her head.

Larena turned from the window, crossing her arms over her chest. The golden insignia on her uniform glinted in the sunlight. "Stop it. I already feel lonely enough in here."

The massive desk between them dominated the room, covered with neat stacks of requisition forms, staff schedules, and budget proposals. A half-empty cup of tea sat forgotten among the documents, still faintly steaming.

Nova straightened from his bow and smiled at her. His blue eyes scanned the opulent office, taking in the changes she'd made—the simpler chair that replaced an ornate throne-like seat, the fresh flowers on the side table, the open window where heavy curtains had once blocked the light.

"Just offering our respects," he said, stepping further into the room. The plush carpet muffled his footsteps. "It seems things are going well."

His gaze drifted to the window, where children continued their play below. A faint breeze from the open window ruffled the papers on Larena's desk, carrying with it the scents of grass and distant kitchens preparing the evening meal.

Larena's posture relaxed. She moved to the front of her desk, perching on its edge rather than sitting behind it. "Yes, things are going well. All the children are adapting to their new environment quicker than expected, and their language skills are improving rapidly. I think we can thank you for that, since all the most advanced children are from your group, teaching the others during free-time."

She gestured toward a chart pinned to the wall nearby, covered in carefully organized names and assessments. The meticulous handwriting showed hours of personal attention.

"That's great!" Nova clasped his small hands behind his back, rocking forward slightly on his toes. "Are there any issues?"

Larena sighed, running a hand through her red hair. A few strands had escaped her usual tight ponytail, softening her appearance. "Well, nothing big. Some of the children have completed souls, which makes them a bit of a risk when playing, but we've created a class for them to learn how to control it."

She pointed to another chart, this one marked with colored symbols next to certain names. "And some of the caretakers are feeling overworked, so I've increased our efforts in hiring more."

"Sounds like you have things under control, then. I knew you were the right woman for the job."

Larena smiled, turning back to the window. "I'm happier than I've ever been. The only thing bothering me is... that this is one out of over a dozen cities."

"Yeah... We're not yet strong enough to protect more children. Which is why we're headed—"

Nova stopped mid-sentence, suddenly tensing. He turned his head, looking back at the door with narrowed eyes.

'I'm sure I sensed something there… But Anny's right here, so it's not her hiding again.'

His essence moved to his eyes, connecting and activating in a second, giving his eyes a red light.

[You have learned the skill: Thermal Sight (Master - 79%) {Grade 6}]

[Your eyes can see the heat radiating from everything around you, letting you easily spot hidden enemies in challenging environments.]

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The air near the doorway shimmered slightly, like heat rising from summer stones. Then, as if materializing from nowhere, a small person became visible. They stood just inside the office, slightly shorter than Nova himself. Their slight frame suggested a child, but something about their stillness felt unnatural, dangerous.

"...Tuck?" Nova questioned, keeping his stance guarded.

But the person remained motionless, neither confirming nor denying. They seemed too thin to be Tuck, either way.

'...It can't be, right?'

Nova's eyes narrowed further. "Millie?"

The shadowy figure reacted when Nova said the name. The small form shrank backward toward the door.

"You little sneak!" Nova stepped forward with hands on his hips, grinning wide. "How did you manage to hide yourself that well?"

Light laughter filled the room from the doorway. Then Millie suddenly appeared, becoming visible as if someone had pulled away an invisible cloak.

"I hid!" Millie clapped her hands together, clearly pleased with herself. Her small face beamed with pride at her accomplishment.

"Yeah, but..." Nova stared at her with confusion. He shook his head in disbelief. "I never taught you any spells like that. I don't even know any that would work for you."

Millie bounced on her toes. Her shoes made soft tapping sounds against the wooden floor. "I made it!"

"...What runes do you use?"

"Oh, first I used a smaller spell that takes soul sense away." Millie wiggled her fingers in the air to demonstrate. "Then I use a forming rune all around me to form the light around me!" She spread her arms wide, mimicking the shape of her spell.

Nova's jaw dropped. "...Form light? Do you have any idea how..." He paused and collected himself. "That's what you did? Really?"

She nodded, puffing her chest out. "I am smart!"

"...Yeah. Yeah, you are smart." Nova ran a hand through his white hair, disturbing its usual neat arrangement. "But even then, that's not something even I could do. The light would have to bend around you from all angles… Right?"

Millie's shoulders rose and fell in a casual shrug. "I just practiced in the mirror."

Anny moved to stand beside Nova. A smirk spread across her face as she watched his bewilderment. "You can't expect to understand everything, right? Millie is a prodigy after all."

"Hmm..." Nova studied her with intense focus. His finger tapped against his chin. "Can you show me the runes?"

Millie's eyebrows drew together. Her mouth turned down at the corners. "...Mmmh, will you figure out how to see me, then?"

"I did figure out how to see you." Nova crossed his arms over his chest. "And just so you don't turn completely undetectable, I won't tell you how."

"That's unfair!" Millie stomped her foot. The floor shook slightly from the impact.

"Millie, I understand it's fun to do. But you're not allowed to sneak around like this." Nova's voice turned firm. "It's very rude."

"But I just want to know!" She threw her hands up in frustration. Her voice rose in volume, bouncing off the high ceiling. "You always leave me out of things!"

Nova hesitated. He didn't want Millie to see them as different than herself. Even though they both were hundreds of times older than her, he wanted her to feel safe around them. Especially him, whom she had known her whole life as someone her age.

But perhaps it was time for some truth.

'It will likely become a problem if we don't address it properly...'

Nova took a deep breath. The air filled his lungs as he prepared to share something important. "Millie, you've always known that I'm different from the others, right?"

Millie looked at him. Her blonde hair fell across her forehead as she tilted her head. "...Yeah, you're Nova."

"I am, but what does that mean? Do you think there are other children like me?" Nova asked. His blue eyes looked directly into hers. "Who can tell stories from a thousand places, who can teach everyone how to count, who can tell you how to talk, and who can use more types of magic than you've ever imagined?"

Millie thought about this. Her small fingers twisted the hem of her dress. "...You're different. But everyone is different."

"Everyone is different, but no one else could know the things I know." Nova's voice grew softer. The room felt still around them. "It's because I had a very long dream before I was born. A dream where I lived entire lives, as a mage, as a blacksmith, as a doctor, and all kinds of things. That's why I am Nova."

Millie's eyes widened. She turned to look at Anny, standing just a few steps away. "...But Anny?"

"I also had a dream like that. It was shorter than Nova's, but still…."

Millie looked back and forth between them. Her brows drew together as she processed this new information. "...That… But… what about me?"

"You just need to be you," Nova said. His voice turned gentle. "Whatever you want to do, that's what you should do. Let us take care of all the difficult stuff."

Millie straightened her back in defiance. "But I'm strong!"

"You are strong, Millie." Nova nodded. "You have a responsibility because you are strong. Just like we have a responsibility because we know a lot of things."

Millie kicked at the carpet with the toe of her shoe. Her lower lip stuck out in a pout. "Mmh… I don't like it."

"There's not much I can do about it, I'm afraid. But this doesn't mean we're different. I am still Nova, just like I've always been. And the same goes for Anny, even though you haven't known her all that long."

"We girls share a bond you can't understand," Anny cut in. She crossed her arms and looked at Nova like he was missing something obvious.

Nova ignored the look. His attention stayed on Millie. "...Well, fine. But, like I said, this doesn't change anything. You understand that, Millie?"

Millie nodded and smiled, almost like her worries had never existed in the first place. "I understand!"

CRACK!

The sound hit like thunder. A massive, violent shattering noise tore through the New Garden. It sounded like a giant glass bowl smashing against stone, echoing across the grounds.

Nova felt a sudden hard pull on his essence. The small formation on his hand burned cold as it tried to maintain the barrier, draining whatever it could through the small formation. But just as quickly as it appeared, it gave in. There was no chance of repairing it with the little essence they could provide.

'Fuck! A major power just came to visit, and I don't think they're friendly!'

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