Joash walked into his mother's office, the faint scene of burning incense greeting him as usual.

  Fintan sat behind her desk, her attention focused on the documents spread before her. She didn't look up immediately but offered a faint smile as she sensed his presence.

  “You seem to be getting along with Kenneth,” she remarked casually, her tone light but curious.

  Joash nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, we do. He doesn't treat me differently. Like I'm less than just because I don't have magic. Most people either pity me or act like I'm not worth their time.” His voice softened, the vulnerability in his words unguarded.

  Fintan finally looked up, studying her son's expression thoughtfully. “I'm glad to hear that,” she said, her tone gentle. “It's good for you to have someone like that.”

  Joash nodded, his smile lingering. “It's nice. He's easy to talk to.”

  Fintan set her pen down, folding her hands on the desk. “I've been thinking about Kenneth's future,” she said. “And I've decided to let him attend the academy.”

  Joash's face lit up with surprise. “Really? That's great! He'll do well there.”

  Fintan's lip curved into a faint smile at his enthusiasm. “I thought you'd be pleased.”

  Joash straightened, excitement clear in his voice. “Could he join me in the Theory Division? He'd fit right in, and we could even work on my research together.”

  Fintan leaned back in the chair, considering his words. “It's a possibility,” she said after a moment. “But Kenneth's path may not be as simple as the Theory Division”

  Joash's brow furrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”

  “He'll be in the Special Division,” Fintan replied.

  Joash froze. His heart raced as the weight of her words sank in. “The Special Divison?” he repeated, disbelief lacing his voice. “But that's where the successors of the Elemental Guardians go. Only those chosen to inherit the Ultimate Element can enter. Kenneth isn't…”

  Fintan's gaze was steady, cutting through his protest. “Kenneth is going to be the successor of the Fireon family.”

  The words hit Joash like a blow. His chest tightened, disbelief and confusion colliding in his mind. “What?” he stammered, his voice trembling. “He's not even a Fireon! How can someone who isn't part of our family be the successor?”

  Fintan stood and stepped closer towards him, her calm demeanor contrasting sharply with Joash's growing turmoil. “Joash,” she said gently, “this isn't about bloodlines. The Ultimate Fire has reawakened—and it chose Kenneth. He will be the one to restore our family's legacy.”

  Joash shook his head, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. “But he's an outsider!” he exclaimed, his voice cracking. “How can he revive what we've lost? He doesn't understand what it means to be part of this family.”

  Fintan's expression softened as she placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know this is hard for you. I won't deny that it's unexpected, but this is bigger than lineage. The Ultimate Fire chose Kenneth for a reason.”

  Joash's throat tightened. “And what about me?” he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. “What's my place in all of this?”

  Fintan's grip on his shoulder tightened, grounding him. “You've always had a place, Joash. Your knowledge, your dedication to our family, your efforts to revive fire magic—all of it matters. Kenneth may be the successor, but he can't do this alone. He needs someone who understands the intricacies of magic, someone who can guide him.”

  Joash lowered his gaze, a storm of emotions brewing inside him. “But I…I've worked so hard…”

  “And that hasn't gone unnoticed,” Fintan assured him. “This isn't about replacing you. This is about restoring what we've lost, together. Kenneth has his role, and you have yours. Give it time, Joash. You'll see how much he needs you.”

  Joash swallowed hard, forcing himself to nod. But even as he acknowledged her words, the sting of revelation lingered in his chest.

  ＊＊＊

  “Did you hear?” Aine's voice broke the silence, her tone light but carrying a spark of excitement.

  Rika and Ash turned towards her, their curiosity piqued.

  Lucian, the new successor of Luminel, remained seated at the edge of the group, seemingly indifferent.

  “Hear what?” Rika asked, tilting her head slightly.

  “Fireon announced their successor,” Aine said, her grin widening as she leaned forward, her enthusiasm palpable.

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  The reaction was immediate. Rika's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and Ash straightened in his seat, clearly intrigued. Even Lucian, who had been ignoring the conversation until now, finally looked up.

  “Wait,” Rika said slowly, as if needing to process the words. “Fireon… they actually named a successor?”

  “They did,” Aine confirmed, clearly enjoying the attention. “And from what I've heard, that person is already here at the academy.”

  Rika and Ash exchanged glances, a heavy mix of shock and apprehension passing between them. Fireon, once one of the most revered families, had fallen into ruin after losing their magic. The idea of a successor now meant one thing: had the Ultimate Fire returned?

  “Does that mean…” Ash began hesitantly, his voice trailing off.

  “That Ultimate Fire is back?” Rika finished, her tone sharper. “It has to be, right? Otherwise, they wouldn't name a successor.”

  Lucian, who had remained silent, finally spoke. “It could be a political move,” he said casually leaning back in his chair. “A way to restore their standing without actually regaining their magic.”

  Aine frowned, though her excitement didn't waver. “Even so, isn't it worth checking out? If the Ultimate Fire didn't return…” She let her sentence hand, leaving the implications unspoken.

  Rika crossed her arms, still processing the news. “It's just hard to believe. After all these years, how could the magic come back?”

  Ash stood, his jaw tight. “There's only one way to find out.”

  He glanced at Lucian, who remained seated, clearly uninterested. “You're not coming?”

  Lucian shrugged. “If the Fireon magic really has returned, it won't stay hidden. The successor will make their presence known, one way or another.”

  Aine rolled her eyes. “Well, I'm not waiting for them to come to me. Let's go.”

  Without another word, Rika, Ash and Aine hurried toward the Headmaster's office, anticipation fueling their steps. As they rounded the corner, they froze in their tracks.

  Standing beside Headmaster Nero was someone they never expected to see here.

  “Kenneth?” Rika and Ash exclaimed in unison, their voices tinged with disbelief.

  Startled, Kenneth turned toward them, his eyes widening as recognition dawned. “Rika? Ash?” His voice was uncertain, as though he couldn't believe they were there.

  Aine, trailing between them, raised an eyebrow at the exchange. “Wait… you know him?” she asked, looking between them with growing curiosity.

  Kenneth's gaze shifted to Aine, and for the moment, his breath caught. His eyes lingered on her face, a flicker of something unspoken passing through him. “Eumie…” he murmured, barely audible.

  Aine blinked, her confusion evident. “Eumie? I haven't gone by that name for a while.” she said, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “How do you know that?”

  Kenneth quickly recovered, forcing a casual smile. “So, that really was you,” he said, more to himself than anyone else. “I had a feeling.”

  Ash stepped forward, slinging an arm over Kenneth's shoulders with a wide grin. “He's from our school,” Ash explained to Aine. “Our student council president. Can you believe it? Never thought I'd run into you here, President.”

  Kenneth chuckled lightly, some of the tension easing. “Yeah, it feels like a lifetime ago.”

  Turning to Rika, Kenneth gave a small nod. “Vice President. Long time no see.”

  “It's been a while,” Rika replied, a faint smile softening her usual serious expression. “You look… different.”

  Aine snapped her fingers, suddenly remembering. “Wait! You were the one running that school event I was supposed to perform at!” She winced, an apologetic look crossing her face. “Sorry for canceling at the last minute.”

  Kenneth waved her off with a laugh. “It's fine. We figured something out, though I didn't stick around to see how it turned out…seeing as I ended up here.”

  The group shared a brief laugh, the familiarity between them slowly easing the tension in the room. But as the initial excitement faded, Rika's expression grew serious. “Kenneth,” she began, her tone measured. “You're the new successor of Fireon, aren't you?”

  Kenneth hesitated, his gaze dropping for a moment. “It's complicated,” he admitted. “There's a lot I don't fully understand yet.”

  Before anyone could press further, Headmaster Nero, who had been standing silently with his usual composed authority, cleared his throat. “I believe you'll have plenty of time to catch up. Classes are about to begin.”

  Ash grinned, nudging Kenneth playfully. “Let's go, President. You've got a lot to explain.”

  Kenneth couldn't help but smile, the familiarity of Ash's teasing easing the weight of the situation. The group began making their way towards their classroom, their footsteps echoing in the halls.

  The air buzzed with unspoken questions, their reunion carrying the weight of past lives and the unknown future that awaited them.

  ＊＊＊

  “Did you hear? The successor of Fireon is attending the academy now,” one of Joash's classmates remarked, their tone brimming with curiosity.

  Another leaned in, lowering their voice conspiratorially. “It's been years since we've heard anything about them. Do you think the family's power is finally coming back?”

  The casual chatter made Joash's hand still over the notebook he had been writing in. The mention of Fireon—the name tied so closely to his family and his life's work—stirred a complicated mix of emotions within him. Ever since his mother had named Kenneth, an outsider, as the successor, the knot of resentment and confusion in his chest had only tightened.

  It wasn't just that Kenneth wasn't part of their family. His mother had even suggested the possibility that Kenneth might be his half-brother—the other son of his father. But instead of clarity, that only deepened the ache. Joash has spent years pouring his heart into researching the revival of fire magic, trying to bring it back to life. And yet, it wasn't him who had awakened it. It was Kenneth.

  “Hey, Joash,” one of his classmates called, pulling him from his thoughts. “You've spent so much time researching fire magic. What do you think about this successor? It must be exciting for you, right?”

  Joash forced a smile, though it felt stiff and unnatural. “Yeah, it's definitely a big deal,” he replied. “It's a huge step toward reviving Fireon's legacy. I'm curious to see where it leads.”

  The words left his mouth easily enough, but they felt hollow. Inside, his thoughts churned relentlessly. Why wasn't it me? He wanted to feel happy that his family's magic was coming back, but the bitterness was impossible to ignore.

  As the conversation around him continued, Joash stared down at his notebook, his grip tightening on his pen. His classmates might not have noticed the storm brewing inside him, but the question burned in his mind, consuming his focus.

  Why couldn't it have been me?