The morning sun poured through the tall windows of the Tristan mansion dining hall. The long table was covered with warm bread, golden eggs, fresh orange juice, and little silver dishes of jam. Everything looked perfect.Asta sat alone at one end, still in his soft blue pajamas, hair messy from sleep. He was quietly spreading butter on his toast and taking small bites.Cassian stood in the doorway,his arms crossed. He was already dressed in his neat school uniform, his tie perfect, his shoes shiny. His sharp eyes stared at Asta for a long second.Asta looked up and met his gaze.Cassian let out a tiny, cold chuckle, just a puff of air, nothing friendly. Without saying a single word, he walked past Asta’s chair, his shoulders stiff, his shoes clicking loud on the marble floor. He headed straight for the grand staircase and disappeared upstairs.The old butler, Grogerry, stepped closer, wiping his hands on a small towel.“Young master Asta, did Master Cassian wake up on the wrong side o

The whole hall went dead quiet.Every eye wide in surprise. Cassian’s cold face slowly turned into a dark smile as unclenched his fist and folded his arm.‘What is happening…I…don't understand,why isn't the crystal ball glowing, what does it mean?’Asta Xavier muttered to himself, his face building up sweats as his hands began to tremble.The students began to murmur.“What is happening?”One female student asked.“I don't actually know, but I think the crystal ball might be broken or something, right?”Another female student asked.“Asta, are you sure you laid your hands as I instructed you to do?”The teacher asked, her tone thick with curiosity as she stepped closer to Asta.“Uhmm, yes ma'am, I placed my palms on the crystal ball as you instructed and…”“Teacher!”The Empress voice cut in, attracting the attention of everyone in the hall, Asta stood frozen and trembling as his sweats began to drip down to his clothes and hands.The Empress got up from his seat and then walked towa

Asta’s eyes snapped open.His chest was rising and falling fast, like he had been running for hours. He sat up so quickly the thin mattress on the bunk bed creaked loud. The room was small and gray. Bare walls. A tiny window high up let in cold morning light. The air smelled of dust and old wood.An old man sat on a wooden chair beside the bed, watching him with calm eyes.“You okay, boy?” The old man asked, his voice rough but not unkind.Asta blinked, rubbed his face.“Yeah… I think so.”He looked around again, confusion written all over his face.“Where the hell am I?”The old man gave a small smile.“No need to be scared. You’re in the Labourers’ Unit. Bottom floor of the academy. This is where flameless students work now.”Asta’s heart dropped.“Labourers’ Unit…? How did I get here?”The old man stood up slowly, joints cracking.“You ask too many questions.” He said, turning toward the door. “When we were rounding up the flameless ones after the ceremony, we found you passed o

Asta stood up slowly, still feeling like the floor was swaying under him. “I… I really appreciate you telling me all of that, even if it feels like someone just dropped a mountain on my head.”He said, his voice low. Old Man Kael was already at the door, wrestling with an ancient iron key that looked older than the academy itself. “Yeah, yeah, it’s fine.” He grumbled, jiggling the key left, right, up, down, then left again. “I just need to lock this damn door before the rats throw a party in my scrolls.”The key refused to turn, Kael muttered curses under his breath, shook the handle like he was trying to choke it, then kicked the bottom of the door so hard the whole frame rattled. “Come on, you rusty piece of…”Asta pressed his lips together so hard they hurt. A tiny laugh was trying to escape and he was losing the fight.Kael whipped around, one white eyebrow raised so high it nearly touched his hairline. “What’s so funny, boy?”“Nothing, sir!” Asta squeaked, his eyes wi

The floating bench swayed gently under them like a boat on quiet water. Old Man Kael sat with one elbow on the table, scarred hand rubbing his chin, staring at the torn-out page as if it had personally insulted his entire bloodline.“Who might have done this…?” He muttered, his voice rough as gravel.Asta couldn’t sit still. He leaned forward, elbows on knees, fingers laced so tight his knuckles went white.“There has to be another way.” He said, the words tumbling out fast. “Anything. I don’t care how dangerous. I need to know what’s inside me.”Kael lifted his palm. A perfect sphere of golden-white flame bloomed above it, spinning slowly, soft and warm like sunrise.“There is one way.” He said quietly. “I send this Dawn Lotus Flame straight into your heart. It’ll act like a mirror,let you look inside yourself and see the dragon face-to-face.”Asta’s eyes lit up. “Do it!”Kael’s grin turned wicked. “Of course, the second my flame touches the seal, the dragon wakes up furious.