“Happy birthday!” Salem grinned widely as he handed Kenneth a small, neatly wrapped package.

  Kenneth blinked in surprise. “Thanks, Salem.” He then took the gift.

  It feels like I’ve celebrated my birthday twice this year… today, and on the day of that incident, Kenneth thought, a faint shiver running through him in his memory.

  Joash looked at him curiously, “So, how old are you now?”

  “Eighteen,” Kenneth replied, though he still felt distracted by the odd sensation of repeating this day.

  Joash smiled. “One year older than me, then”

  Salem couldn't resist chiming in. “And I’m fourteen!”

  Kenneth raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Fourteen? Aren’t you a bit young to be a first-year?” He had assumed Salem was at least fifteen or sixteen.

  Salem puffed up with pride. “Yep, I skipped a year. Guess I’m smarter than I look,” he said , with a wink.

  Kenneth chuckled, shaking his head. “I'll give you that, Salem. But don't let it go to your head.”

  He couldn’t help but smile at Salem’s confidence. “You’ve definitely been deep into Dr. Mir’s work lately. I’ve noticed.”

  Salem nodded enthusiastically, his eyes shining. “Yeah! The way he blends herbal medicine with healing magic—it's incredible. I really want to learn more.”

  Joash, catching on, nodded in a grin. “Dr. Mir has been with our family for years, and he'd probably love having someone around who's actually curious about the basics. Most people just care about flash stuffs”

  Kenneth exhaled, relieved. “Thanks, Joash. I think it'd be good for him to have something meaningful to focus on.”

  Joash’s smile faltered just slightly as he shifted the conversation. “By the way, the new school year is starting soon at the academy. I won’t be around much once it begins. Think you'll be alright here?”

  Kenneth nodded, though a flicker of confusion crossed his face. Joash's mother didn't mention that I'd be leaving for the academy, too, he thought.

  Noticing Kenneth's expression, Joash misread his reaction and quickly added, “Oh, the academy does accept non-Wizards, by the way. Mostly in the Theory Division, though. It's not the top division, but for someone like me, it's a place to study magic fundamentals and conduct research.”

  Kenneth listened as Joash continued, “There's also the Practical Division, where most Wizards focus on honing their elemental magic, then there's the Special Division—the one reserved for the successors of the Elemental Guardians, where the Headmaster personally oversees things.”

  Joash looked at him thoughtfully. “You should consider it. You'd fit right with the Theory Division”

  Kenneth fell quiet for a moment, mulling it over.

  ＊＊＊

  “It feels surreal to be back!” Aine said with a grin, glancing around Mageia Academy's courtyard. “Life as an idol is thrilling—cameras, fans, concerts. But I'm exhausted! Didn't think I'd miss this place, yet here we are.”

  Rika stood beside her, arms crossed. “I can't say the same. The mortal world's exhausting in a different way, juggling so much without magic.”

  Ash chuckled, hands in his pockets. “Then why take on the role of Vice President over there if it was so tough?”

  Aine smirked, “Oh, right, you two were at the same school.”

  Rika rolled her eyes. “Yeah, we crossed paths now and then. I was busy with the council, and Ash here was too wrapped up in his baseball team to notice anything else.”

  Ash shrugged, grinning. “What can I say? Winning nationals keeps you busy.”

  “You two must’ve met up a lot, then,” Aine teased. “Must’ve been nice to have a familiar face around.”

  Rika glanced over at Aine. “And what about you? Why the idol world instead of sticking with us? You could've joined our council, you know.”

  Aine laughed, shaking her head. “No way! Just attending this school is enough of a headache—I couldn’t handle adding even more responsibilities like schoolwork,” she said with a grin. But her expression softened. “But honestly, being an idol was… something else. It was strange having to rely only on myself—no magic, no safety net from our families.”

  She paused, thoughtful. “I guess that was the point of being sent to the mortal world, though. To see how life works without magic, without all the privileges we're used to. It really changes how you see things. But back here… we've got responsibilities that go way beyond anything in the mortal world.”

  Ash nodded, glancing between them. “Speaking of responsibilities… I heard something interesting when I got back. Luminel is preparing to announce their successor soon.”

  Aine and Rika exchanged surprised glances. “Luminel?” Rika repeated. “They're finally revealing their successor?”

  “Yeah,” Ash confirmed. “And from what I’ve heard, it’s going to be the Light Guardian’s nephew.”

  As the three of them absorbed this news, a quiet understanding settled over them. Being the descendants of their respective Elemental Guardians, they each knew what it meant to bear the weight of the Ultimate Element.

  They had been raised with the knowledge that one day, they would inherit the role of protectors of the kingdom.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "With Luminel choosing their successor, we're nearly a full circle again," Rika remarked.

  Aine gave a small nod. “Almost. Just one piece missing.”

  The mood shifted as they were reminded of the void left by the Fireon family. “This is the first generation where no Fireon successor will be chosen”, Rika said softly.

  A brief silence fell over them, each feeling the absence of fire magic that had once been a pillar of their kingdom.

  "We’ll do our best to make up for the disappearance of the Fireon," Ash said, his tone resolute.

  Rika and Aine nodded, their expression serious as they each felt the unspoken promise they shared—to uphold the legacy of the Elemental Guardians, even in the absence of Fireon.

  ＊＊＊

  While Kenneth was absorbed in the familiar pages of his novel, seated quietly in the garden outside the Fireon estate—the same one he'd read countless times, searching for any clues— a voice broke his concentration.

  “Enjoying the story?”

  Startled, Kenneth looked up, his eyes widening as he took in the man before him—blue hair, calm yet piercing gaze, and an air of quiet authority that hinted at knowledge far beyond his youthful appearance.

  Kenneth knew instantly this was the person he had been hoping to meet, the one who might finally have answers.

  The man offered a small smile. “Apologies for the delay. There were things I needed to arrange before we could speak. But I trust the Fireon family is treating you well?”

  Kenneth nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and caution. “They are,” he replied carefully.

  But the pressing question slipped out, one he couldn't hold back. “The… incident with the fire—was that real?” He was referring to the moment the fire had surged within him, something he still couldn't fully understand.

  The man paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He hadn't expected Kenneth to remember. But he quickly composed himself. “Yes and no. It happened… but not yet. What you experience was from a future that you've yet to live”

  Kenneth’s brow furrowed in confusion. The more this man spoke, the more questions filled his mind. This man wasn't even mentioned in the novel he'd been reading. How could this be?

  Sensing his confusion, the man continued. “Perhaps, I should properly introduce myself. I'm Nero, the Headmaster of the academy you'll be attending. As you can see, I can control time.”

  Kenneth's eyes widened as Nero explained further. "In that moment you remember, your future self accidentally awakened the fire without proper preparation. Your pnevma lost control, and all the energy escaped your body. In that timeline… you, Aine, and everyone at the school died.

  The revelation hit Kenneth like a hammer. "I... we died?"

  "Yes," Nero confirmed solemnly. "I had to pull your consciousness back to the past to prevent that fate, which is why you likely have fragments of those memories."

  Kenneth's mind raced as he recalled the incident. "What about Eumie? Is she safe?" he asked, referring to the girl who was with him during the event—the successor of Mistral.

  "She's fine," Nero reassured him. "I warned her about the event, so she left the mortal world earlier than planned. She's well out of harm's way."

  Kenneth let out a breath of relief.

  Nero then sighed, a hint of wariness breaking through his calm demeanor. “I won't lie. I interfered with time on a major scale. Because of it, my own magic has been sealed, at least temporarily.”

  He reached into his coat, pulling out a small, intricately carved box, and handed it to Kenneth. “Here. This is for you.”

  Kenneth opened the box, revealing a silver bracelet set with a small, polished blue stone that pulsed faintly with energy.

  "You have an unusual pnevma within your body," Nero explained. "Since you're from the mortal world, you haven't had the training to control it. During the awakening, far too much pnevma was released, feeling the fire until it was uncontrollable. This bracelet will help regulate the release of it."

  Kenneth slipped the bracelet onto his wrist, feeling a faint pulse as it settled into place. Instantly, a calming energy washed over him, easing the chaotic surge of power he had felt that day. “So, this will stop that from happening again?” he asked, looking at Nero for confirmation.

  Nero nodded, “Think of it as a limiter. The bracelet will prevent your pnevma from surging all at once, guiding and restricting its flow. This way, you can develop control over time without risking another uncontrolled release.”

  Kenneth took a steadying breath, finally beginning to understand.

  "Come with me," Nero said, standing up. "We’ll begin the process of awakening the fire properly."

  ＊＊＊

  In the grand chamber, silence filled the air, broken only by the faint hum of magic pulsing through the walls. Kenneth stood at the center, his heart beating in rhythm.

  “Before we begin, I need to remove the seal I placed on you,” Nero said, stepping forward.

  Kenneth nodded, watching as Nero reached for his wrist.

  To his surprise, Nero's hand hovered over a faint mark just above the bracelet he'd been given. Kenneth hadn't noticed it before—it just looked like a small symbol, almost hidden beneath his skin.

  The symbol began to glow softly as Nero muttered an incantation, and Kenneth felt a warm sensation spreading from his wrist, moving up his arm like a gentle wave. As the seal broke, the mark faded, leaving his wrist clear.

  “Do you remember how you summoned the fire last time?” Nero aske, his voice echoing softly through the vast room.

  Kenneth took a deep breath, trying to focus. He recalled the fragmented memories of that chaotic moment—the fear, the instinct that had taken over, and the fire that had erupted around him.

  He could still feel the heat, the raw, overwhelming power. But this time, with the bracelet's steadying presence, he felt more prepared.

  Slowly, he extended his left palm, concentrating on the warmth beneath his skin. His fingers tingle, and small sparks flickered to life, dancing at his fingertips. They grew, gathering into a steady flame that hovered just above his palm.

  Kenneth stared at it, a mix of relief and disbelief settling over him. “I did it,” he murmured, his voice almost inaudible. A hesitant smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he marveled at the flame.

  Nero stood nearby, watching with an unreadable expression. Though his face remained calm, there was a glint of approval in his eyes. “Good”, he said quietly. “You've taken your first step.”

  Kenneth glanced up, meeting Nero's gaze. The Headmaster's calm intensity sent a subtle weight through the air, a reminder that this was the only beginning. Kenneth extinguished the flame, the lingering heat still pulsing faintly in his hand.

  After a brief silence, Nero spoke again. “Did Fintan tell you that you'll be attending Mageia Academy?”

  Kenneth blinked, surprised by the shift of conversation. “She mentioned it,” he admitted, still processing the idea. “But I'm not sure I'm ready for something like that.”

  Nero's gaze sharp and unwavering as it met Kenneth's, “The fire you just summoned is powerful, but it lacks control. If you're going to master it, you'll need proper training. Magic isn't something you can handle by instinct alone.”

  Kenneth swallowed hard, the gravity of the Headmaster's word settling over him, but there was a spark of determination growing inside him.

  Nero studied him for a moment before nodding, “I'll have someone escort you back to the palace, but when the time comes, you'll begin your training at Mageia Academy. Rest for now. You'll need it.”

  As he turned to leave, a mix of anticipation and uncertainty churned inside him.

  “I’ll see you at the academy, Kenneth,” Nero called, his voice calm but firm.

  Kenneth stopped briefly at the door, glancing back at the Headmaster. Nero's gaze was unflinching, carrying a weight of expectation Kenneth wasn't sure he was ready for.

  With a quiet exhale, Kenneth left the chamber, each step filled with the growing realization that his life would never be the same.