—ASTRID—

  As the clock struck eight in the morning, the nervous flutter in Astrid’s chest had grown louder, like a drumbeat she couldn’t silence. She stood staring up at the impressive headquarters of the Hiraya League. The building was nestled in the heart of Mirlaide, right in the Cerecero district. Unlike most parts of the city, this area sat on higher ground—giving the building an almost lighthouse-like presence, towering and proud. In front of her stretched a grand staircase, leading her closer to the gate above.

  Every step brought Astrid closer, not just to the building, but to a life she had imagined a thousand times before. A soft breeze lifted her light brown hair, and the scent of dewy grass grew stronger as the sunlight cast its warm glow over the land.

  Astrid’s gaze lingered on the twin structures before her. The outer wall was adorned with crimson pinewood panels. The first building, low and sleek, revealed its lobby through wide glass windows. But beside it, the second tower stood tall and silent, its interior a mystery. And standing there, taking it all in, she felt the weight of everything it had taken to get to this moment.

  She still remembered the day the announcement dropped last month. The Hiraya League, after years of silence, was finally opening its doors to new recruits. But only those with a valid C.S.A. permit had a shot. And even then, the path was anything but easy. Every hopeful had to pass an unforgiving evaluation—one that tested not just strength, but resilience—because this wasn’t just a dangerous job. It was relentless.

  She had received the message only last night, the one that sent her heart racing faster than it had in days. The interview that led her here had taken place the day before. But the dream of entering the Hiraya League had taken root long before that, in the quiet corners of her childhood.

  Now, the moment Astrid walked in, her eyes were drawn to the imposing willow tree at the heart of the room. It stood in a shallow pool sunken into the floor, its sweeping branches brushing the ceiling like it had always belonged there. As the automatic doors slid shut behind her, the gentle rustling of its leaves faded into stillness. The lobby had no furniture, no distractions, just space and silence, all pointing to the tree. She’d been here just two days ago for the interview, but somehow, standing here now, it still felt brand new.

  Her eyes wandered across the space as she held her shoulder bag a little tighter. The message from last night had been short. Just congratulations and the time for orientation. Standing here, she wasn’t sure what to expect next. Still, one detail stuck out: the sorcerers here didn’t seem to follow a dress code. So she’d chosen something that felt like home, her usual preppy style.

  “Hello?”

  She turned at the sound of a voice she recognized instantly. Eve, the one who had helped her during her interview two days ago. And just like before, Astrid was caught off guard by how stunning she was.

  “You’re Astrid Cordero, right? Remember me? Eve?” Dressed in a flowing red maxi dress, the elegance in her every movement stood out even more. Her golden hair fell in soft waves all the way down to her waist.

  “Of course! Hi,” Astrid replied a little too eagerly.

  “Congratulations. And I must say, you’re quite early. Your call time isn’t until nine. I know, I was the one who sent you a message,” Eve said, her tone gentle but knowing.

  “I’m just super excited,” Astrid said, laughing softly as she rubbed her hands together. Somehow, the way Eve spoke to her, calm, and kind, took the edge off her nerves.

  Eve gave a small nod, her smile warm. There was something about Astrid, something steady and vibrant that she noticed from the very beginning. It made her feel at ease. “Orientation’s today,” she said gently. “Come on, I’ll take you to the room.”

  Then, without hesitation, she reached out, her touch light as she guided Astrid toward the second building.

  When they arrived, Astrid took in the entire hall with curious eyes. Her gaze traveled from the soaring ceiling down to the polished white marble floor. The room reminded her of a canteen back at her old academy, with sorcerers scattered around the tables and chairs, each one busy with their own thing. Others seemed to be having fun in a corner filled with all kinds of games and entertainment. It was a scene Astrid hadn’t expected in a place where the work centered around crime.

  And then there was the bar counter along the west side of the room, stocked with drinks and food. Another thing she never imagined finding inside a law enforcement facility.

  “This is the central space,” Eve said. “Most of us spend our time here, especially when we’re not assigned to missions.”

  They strolled past a row of greenery behind a set of loveseats, and Eve noticed the quiet awe in Astrid’s gaze. “I know it looks impressive now, but you’ll be coming here so often, it’ll start to feel like just another room.”

  Right before stepping onto the stairs, Eve halted, scanning the room like she’d lost track of someone. “Has anyone seen Seven today?” she called out to the room.

  The women at the bar exchanged a knowing smile before one of them said, “You’re way too early. Give it eight more hours, he’ll be here.”

  Eve exhaled with a quiet laugh, shaking her head. Why did she even expect a serious answer in this League? She glanced at Astrid, gave her a nod full of quiet confidence, and waved her along as they climbed to the second floor.

  “Seven?” Astrid echoed, her voice catching in her throat. That name was known far and wide, by sorcerers and ordinary people alike. Of course she knew who Eve was talking about. Astrid had been a huge fan of the League, and she’d lost count of how many articles and magazines she’d read that featured that sorcerer. Sure, they’re in the same League now... technically. But still, just hearing his name made her skin prickle.

  “Yes, that Seven,” Eve said with a knowing smile. Clearly, she was no stranger to that wide-eyed reaction. “He’s going to be your mentor before you join an official division. Let’s just hope he didn’t forget… he can be a little careless sometimes.”

  It was hard to believe anything could make Astrid’s day better after hearing that. And yet, deep down, she knew this was just the start. There was so much more ahead.

  Still, she wondered—what would it feel like when that day comes?

  The one she’d dreamed about over and over.

  The day she’d finally meet the person who saved her life.

  They arrived on the second floor and made their way down the corridor, passing a few rooms along the way. At last, they stopped in front of a door. The study hall.

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  Eve released her hold on Astrid and quietly turned the doorknob, opening it without a word.

  They paused in mild surprise.

  Three people were already inside—two young men and a young woman, sitting separately but relaxed. All eyes turned toward the door, the air shifting just slightly with their attention.

  Eve walked forward, looking at each of them in turn. “I see... you’re all looking forward to your first day. That’s good.”

  “If I may ask, aren’t we behind schedule? Are you the one conducting our orientation?” said the young woman in front, her ponytail pulled tight, with stray hairs tucked neatly behind one ear.

  Eve blinked in confusion at the question. “Late? I’m sorry, what time did you all get here?”

  "Seven," the girl replied in a straightforward manner.

  Astrid was a little thrown. She didn’t think there was anyone more excited to be here than she was. And she could’ve sworn, they were still ahead of time.

  “Your schedule is at nine, not seven o’clock,” Eve clarified. “But ‘Seven’ is the name of your mentor. He’s the one who’ll be handling your orientation.”

  The girl said nothing, her expression steady.

  The boy by the window, however, let out an annoyed sigh.

  And the man in the back? He just frowned and leaned into his seat, clearly unimpressed.

  “So wait, you guys really thought the call time was seven? As in Seven Seven?” Astrid said, barely holding back a giggle.

  “I knew it was nine. I just showed up early,” she said smoothly, nodding toward the two boys. “But they were convinced it was seven, so I believed them.”

  Eve quickly realized there’d been a mix-up about the schedule. It wasn’t a huge problem, but she didn’t want the new recruits thinking the League lacked structure. Without delay, she excused herself to step outside and call their mentor.

  The room became eerily silent and suffocating for Astrid, making it seem as though time had stopped. Typically, she would take the initiative to break the stillness, like a lightbulb, always lightening up any ground she stood. Quiet places made Astrid uneasy, and she couldn't sit still in a scene where nobody talked. However, the two men's scowling faces made it challenging for her to engage with them. Until she caught the eye of the young woman in front of her, who offered a welcoming smile and gestured to the chair next to her.

  She felt a spark of excitement and sat down, placing her bag on the table. "Hi, I'm Astrid." Without missing a beat, she introduced herself and reached out her hand.

  “Zeira,” she said, giving Astrid’s hand a gentle shake.

  Astrid was caught for a moment by how quietly beautiful she was. Her black hair was tied back, sleek and gleaming. Her skin was smooth, untouched by any makeup. But it was her presence, composed, almost serene that left the strongest impression.

  “Was that true? You just came early this morning?” Astrid asked, her tone light but genuinely curious.

  “Yes. I just happened to wake up early and didn’t have anything else planned,” Zeira said. “They say the headquarters doesn’t close for members, and I live close, just in Cerecero.” Then she leaned closer and muttered, “I knew it was nine. The message was clear. I only found out Seven was our mentor when Eve said so earlier.”

  “I know, right?” Astrid said, glancing toward the two guys, who hadn’t said a single thing. She looked back at Zeira with a grin. “Anyway, I’m just really excited. I mean, this is a total dream for me.”

  Zeira responded with a nod and a small, polite smile, clasping her hands together more firmly than she realized. She wasn’t used to conversations like this—not so soon, not so casually. But Astrid’s warmth had a way of making it feel okay to try. She had to admit, it felt simpler earlier when the only other people in the room were two guys who didn’t seem interested in anyone at all.

  “So, how was your interview yesterday?” Astrid asked, her tone still upbeat. “I really thought I blew it. I was so sure I messed up.”

  “Oh, um… I didn’t go through an interview, I was recruited from my college.”

  “Recruited? That’s a thing?”

  “I guess so,” Zeira murmured. “I didn’t have anything lined up after graduation, and when the Commander reached out, I thought… why not?” She averted her gaze, almost shy. “I just graduated.”

  “Wow, you must be really talented then! What’s your magic?”

  “It’s called tactical analysis, but I’m not really that good... I mean, I can’t fight or anything.” Then, almost as if to steer away from the spotlight, she asked, “What about you? Why Hiraya? Did you try applying to other leagues?”

  Astrid shook her head.

  “No. It’s always been Hiraya. There’s someone here I’ve been wanting to meet for a long time.” She looked at Zeira with a grin that couldn’t quite hide the butterflies. “Have you heard of a sorcerer named Blade? He’s part of Hiraya. At least… I think he still is.” Then, her smile slipped away. “I just… I really hope he’s still here. Because if he’s not—”

  “He's an A-division sorcerer in this league, the Blade guy.”

  The two girls turned toward the voice, eyes falling on the man seated at the back of the room. His arms were folded, his build solid and imposing. A tribal tattoo curled around his left bicep, looking more like a battle insignia than decoration. His hair was cut short and faded, his eyes sharp and piercing.

  Astrid inhaled sharply, eyes widening. “You know him??”

  The man gave a quiet nod.

  “But how do you know that? I’ve searched everywhere for anything on him and found nothing.” She had searched every site, every archive, every database. She almost went as far as breaking into the shadow web, but pulled back last minute. That would’ve been a crime, after all.

  “There’s a similarity between our weapons, I’ve heard of him because of that,” he said without much interest. “Looks like his magic enhances daggers. Mine, on the other hand, works with a type of long sword.”

  A low chuckle came from the guy by the window, pulling everyone’s attention. His spiked brown hair stood out just as much as his furrowed brows. He gave the guy in the back a look, sharp, taunting, and let out a sarcastic laugh. “Long sword, huh?” he said, full of bite.

  The man at the back shot him a razor glare. “You got a problem?”

  “Can't really fight without a weapon?”

  “Can't say that to my face?” the man said, his jaw tight as he pushed his chair back with a harsh scrape across the wood.

  The boy looked over his shoulder, eyes narrowed, chin raised, unshaken and clearly ready for a fight. But before anything more could be said, the others intervened.

  "Hey, I don't know what’s going on between you two, but let’s try to keep things civil," Zeira interrupted, trying to diffuse the tension in the room.

  “Yeah,” Astrid added, looking anxiously as the light conversation took a sudden turn and descended into an immature squabble almost immediately.

  Before the argument could go any further, a sharp click from the doorknob pulled everyone’s attention. They all turned to see the door crack open, and a head slowly peek through.

  It was a man wearing a facial mask scanning the room like a shadow sizing everyone up. He just stood there for a moment, totally silent. Then, without a word, he walked in.

  No one said anything. They just watched him, weirdly quiet like stunned sheeps.

  He walked straight to the front desk, removed his mask in one smooth motion… and beamed. “Good morning!” he said, way too cheerfully.

  A hush fell over the group, the energy in the room shifting all at once.

  Astrid’s eyes widened. Her jaw hung open. She didn’t need anyone to say it. She already knew who he was.

  As certain as the sun rises each day, the people of Eastre Vallera knew that face.

  A presence so powerful, so natural, it felt like watching a monarch take his seat on the throne. They said his presence could raise goosebumps.

  They weren’t wrong.

  His name… was Seven.