After Lilly stepped back, she noticed something strange about the twins. One thing shimmered on Ereno's bicep, and another glowed faintly over Eren's heart.
"They look like marks," she thought. Marks of a tribal lineage, no doubt.
And then she saw it... a thread-like mark, wrapped around each of their pinky fingers.
Still, she didn't say a word. She didn't want to interrupt or get in the way. Instead, she quietly stepped back, choosing to respect the moment.
Then, she went to the teacher and asked her not to disturb them.
"Please it won't do any good," Lilly explained softly.
The teacher nodded.
"Let's give them space. Today's session has ended."
Lilly gave a polite thank you, then glanced back at the twins one last time.
"How interesting you two are," she murmured to herself.
An hour later, in Sir Erling's office.
"Are you two okay?" he asked, his tone calm. "Lilly told me everything."
"Y-Yeah! We're TOTALLY fine! Hehe… he," Eren replied, clearly nervous.
"Oh really? Then why do you sound nervous? Are you… afraid, maybe?"
"M-Me? A-Afraid? Noo, not at all!"
Ereno saw his sister getting flustered and stuck in a corner, so he slipped a small note across the desk to Erling:
"It's your eyes and vibe. That's what's scaring her."
"Why ask her anyway? Why not the actual culprit? Shouldn't we at least be allowed to sit close?"
Sir Erling read the note and smirked.
"Sharp as always, huh?" he said. "Okay, yeah, you're right. I wasn't supposed to ask that when I only called you here to check on you."
He leaned back in his chair. "My apologies, both of you. I'll do what I can to make sure this doesn't happen again."
"Really!? Thanks, Sir Erling!!" Eren jumped happily, her smile finally returning. "I think I get why Grandpa likes him now."
Ereno nodded in agreement.
On their way to the next class, Eren glanced at her brother, hesitant. "Do you think the others will think we're weird, brother?" she asked, voice shaky. "I don't want to ruin our first impression… and I don't want to lose Lilly."
Ereno turned to her, calm as ever, silent as always. He signed: Took a liking to her already?
"Y-yeah… When she hugged us, I felt warm. It was strange… like a déjà vu."
He responded with soft, reassuring gestures, as if saying: Don't worry. You won't lose her. She's not that kind of person... promise.
"Yeah, right! She's not like that!" Eren smiled, then squinted at him. "But it's kind of interesting how you already know what kind of person she is. You've only just met her."
She paused, her eyes narrowing. "It's not like you to focus on someone that mu—wait… ooooh~"
Ereno shot her a flat look, clearly unamused by where this was going.
"Whatever you're thinking... No," he signed.
"Did you take an interest in her? Hmm~?"
Ereno crossed his arms in clear disagreement. His eyes were lifeless, not even bothering to hide how little he cared about the topic.
"Hmph. You're no fun," she pouted, puffing her cheeks. "Can't a cute little sister tease her big brother?"
He didn't respond. He just kept walking, knowing that reacting would only make her worse.
When they stepped into the classroom, all eyes turned to them. The room was filled with curiosity, not hate. But three people stood out.
Lilly, with her worried, crown-shaped pupils, met their gaze.
The golden-eyed guy stared at Ereno with far too much interest... Ereno didn't like it. He turned quickly while shivering.
Then there was the shy girl, glancing at Ereno like she was trying to figure out if he'd actually noticed her before or if it had all been coincidence.
Ereno looked around calmly, locking eyes with each of them. He lingered on Lilly just a moment longer before shifting his gaze to the shy girl... to let her know, yes, he noticed.
She startled and quickly looked down.
"Welcome to my class," said the teacher with a kind smile. "I'm Vael, your magic instructor. Nice to meet you both."
"Oh! Nice to meet you too!" Eren beamed.
"Miss Anne told me what happened earlier. I apologize for her behavior," Harold added. "You're free to choose your seats."
"Really!? That's amazing!" Eren practically jumped with joy. "Ereno, we can sit together now! Yay!"
After Ereno glances longer at Lilly and then shifts to the shy girl.
Eren noticed the way her brother's gaze lingered on Lilly. Longer than usual.
Her smile faltered, just for a second.
It's fine, she told herself. Of course he'd be curious. She hugged us, after all…
Still, something about it tugged at her chest.
Not jealousy... at least, she didn't think so.
Just… discomfort. Like something was changing, and she wasn't ready for it.
She shook it off quickly, forcing a grin back on.
He was still her Ereno, her person... her brother, after all.
While the students settled into their seats, the atmosphere shifted when professor Vael, the magic instructor, stepped forward with a calm yet commanding presence.
"Welcome, everyone," he said, his voice warm but clear. "My name is Vael,i'm your magic instructor, let's begin today with something foundational...nsomething every mage must understand, no matter their path."
He tapped his staff once on the floor. A soft pulse echoed through the room, and glowing diagrams began to materialize midair.
"Aurelia Academy teaches magic not only as art and science, but as a discipline. And it begins with your Mana Core."
A gentle hum resonated as a crystalline sphere shimmered in front of every student. Each one looked slightly different, some weak, others faintly coloured and a rare few pulsing brightly.
"Everyone has a Mana Core within them. It forms naturally over time, usually becoming active during childhood. The core is more like a heart that channels mana into your body."
He raised his hand, and a layered diagram appeared showing different cores like colored gemstones.
"Mana cores have clarity ranks, from lowest to highest:
Weak, the common one. An unstable core with slow mana absorption, difficult control.
Clouded, the slightly refined even though it's still rough, it is trainable.
Clear, a stable one gives you good control and flow.
Refined, a rare core that allows fast mana cycling and sharper casting.
Radiant, an extremely rare core that absorbs and circulates mana efficiently.
Crystalline, a legendary phenomenon with perfect flow that makes whoever has it unmatched by normal standards.
Clarity determines not just how much mana you have but also how cleanly you can use it."
He let the image fade, and a new one appeared: a series of glowing rings stacking outward in sequence.
"This brings us to the main thing, the Circle System, the measure of magical mastery and power:
1st–3rd Circle: Novice tier. The level where everyone starts with limited control, basic spell understanding.
4th–5th Circle: Intermediate tier. A level that is achievable by most people that gives improved flow, minor spell weaving begins.
6th–7th Circle: Expert tier, a high-level casting, starting silent casting.
8th–9th Circle: Master tier where you have creative control over magic, area-of-effect mastery.
10th Circle: Grandmaster tier where myths speak of those who reshape reality itself.
Raising your circle requires refining your mana core, expanding your reserves, and mastering spellwork. It's not about brute strength. It's about control, discipline, and clarity."
He flicked his wrist, and a fire spell ignited in the air as a small flame began floating above his palm.
"Now, to cast magic, you must speak it into being. Every spell has a name. Every element, a command. The more focused and/or clean your words, the more reliable the result is."
He opened his mouth and whispered something. The flame vanished and reformed as an ice shard.
"But… once a mage reaches mastery, words become optional. The intent alone is enough. Your mana listens to you as if it were an extension of your will."
Some students leaned forward, eyes wide.
"This academy exists to take you from spelling your first sparks… to mastering the silence between spells."
He let the last of the illusions fade and glanced across the class with a smirk.
"Now, let's see who among you can feel their core without trying to force it."
He turned to the class. "Partner up."
Eren grinned and grabbed Ereno's arm. "No chance I'm letting anyone else take you."
Lilly turned away, trying not to show any emotion.
The golden-eyed boy, Aurelian, narrowed his gaze at Ereno. A low, unreadable hum resonated from his throat, like the growl of a dragon not quite ready to strike, but definitely watching.
The diagrams faded.
"Now, let's see who among you can feel their core without trying to force it."
Vael turned to the class. "Partner up."
Eren grinned and grabbed Ereno's arm. "No chance I'm letting anyone else take you."
Lilly turned away, eyes narrowing, lips pressed in a thin line.
The golden-eyed boy, Aurelian, didn't move. He didn't need to. His gaze remained fixed on Ereno like a beast assessing prey it hadn't yet decided was worth devouring.
In the far corner, the shy girl, Yona, stiffened when Ereno's eyes passed over her.
The dark elf girl, Sylra, crossed her arms and stared forward like this was beneath her.
The spy, Nina, by the window leaned in slightly, listening to conversations across the room without ever being noticed.
The necromancer muttered something under his breath, his fingers twitching as though conducting unseen strings.
Vael clapped his hands once.
"Good. Now, focus inward. Feel your pulse. Feel your flow. Let your mana speak to you."
A quiet fell over the room.
Ereno sat beside Eren, mirroring her calm. She had already closed her eyes, already murmuring softly under her breath, her posture shifted. Relaxed. Natural.
He followed.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Focus inward.
Silence.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
Then, beside him.
A spark.
A wave of violet light swirled around Eren's chest, vivid and alive. Not just a glow, it seemed like it's dancing, like a ribbon of flame. Her fingers twitched as the air pulsed gently around her.
Vael passed by and stopped. "Eren. Strong clarity. Very refined for a beginner. Well done."
Eren blinked. "Did… did I overdo it?" she whispered.
The professor gave a faint smile. "No don't worry, i'm just impressed."
Around the room, others began to show progress.
The foreigner exhaled lazily as his forearm lit up faintly.
"Cael, barely awake but consistent," Vael murmured.
The shy girl flinched as her fingers pulsed silver.
"Yona. Subtle, but stable," he noted, nodding slightly. She quickly hid her hands again.
The necromancer let dark smoke seep from his collarbones, like mana bleeding.
"V. As expected," Vael said, passing him with an approving glance.
Even Lilly's glowed, with a bright, steady light.
"Lilly. Excellent job."
And Ereno.
Still.
Nothing.
He gritted his teeth, tried harder. Closed his eyes, thought of his heart. His breath. The connection he was supposed to feel. The more he reached, the further it slipped.
Eren opened her eyes and turned. Her smile dimmed slightly. "…Ereno?"
He didn't answer. He couldn't.
But his face remained unreadable.
Not calm but more to detached.
Like none of this mattered.
Like he didn't care. Like he already knew about it.
The amulet at his neck stayed cold.
The professor stopped behind him. A long pause, the kind that makes others look up.
"…Ereno."
No comment. No praise. No criticism. Just the name, measured, unreadable.
Then Vael moved on.
Lilly glanced again. Her brows knit, just a little. Not pity. Just… concern. Then she looked away and scribbled in her notes, too forcefully.
Aurelian's eyes sharpened, curious while watching. Not mocking but measuring.
The silence around Ereno felt different. It felt thicker.
Other students were beginning to glow pulses of light answering the instructor's call.
And Ereno sat still, cross-legged, eyes closed with a passive expression.
No glow.
No flicker.
He seemed indifferent, untouched by the moment. Like he'd chosen not to bother.
Only Eren, sitting inches away, could feel the tension in his hand. She reached out as she rested her fingers lightly on his wrist. No words, just presence.
"Alright," Vael called at last. "That's enough."
The lights faded. A few students relaxed with quiet cheers. Some exhaled, others groaned.
Ereno opened his eyes. No shift in expression. No sign of frustration or shame. He stood, brushed his pants as if dusting off a speck. That was all.
Vael gave one final look around. "If you didn't feel it today, you will. Mana is patient. Tomorrow, we begin circles. And, perhaps, your first spell."
From the back, Aurelian remained seated. Still watching.
The soft chime ended the lesson. Chairs scraped back. Voices rose.
Eren looped her arm through Ereno's before he could move. "You okay?"
He nodded once.
She leaned in. "You didn't feel anything, huh?"
He looked down. Another nod.
Eren didn't tease. "You'll get it next time. I know you."
He tapped her wrist once. She smiled at the sign.
"I'll bring your favorite fruit to the roof later," she said, eyes bright. "Don't be late."
She gave his arm a last squeeze and added a wink, then walked off, humming to herself like nothing was wrong.
He stayed back. The classroom thinned
A few moments passed. The room grew quiet.
Then...
"Ermm," a voice came from behind.
Lilly.
She stopped beside his desk, arms crossed loosely, notebook tucked under one elbow.
"You didn't feel it," she said, not a question, not sharp. Just stated.
Ereno didn't react.
Lilly tilted her head. "It's not that rare. Some people take longer to connect. Doesn't mean anything."
Still, she watched him for a second too long. Her tone was calm, but something behind her eyes flickered. Not pity. Not judgment.
Just thought.
Then she smiled, yet almost distant.
"You've got a weird calm about you, you know that?" she said. "It's either annoying or impressive. Haven't decided yet."
With that, she turned, already walking. "Don't vanish after class, Hataka. I might need you for the next partner thing." She didn't look back.
But her steps slowed just before the door. Only a little.
The quiet settled again, but something had changed, a quiet question hanging in the air, waiting to be answered.