It's the new semester at Luminous Magic Academy. Amidst the murmurs of students gathered in the heavy, stone-built lecture hall, a man steps up to the podium, introduced by the academy director. The man—Gaius—with his deep indigo hair carelessly tied back and a tattered cloak draped over his shoulders, casts a sharp glance across the room and lets out a small sigh. In the back row, Elise watches him with an anxious expression.

As he steps down from the podium, Gaius's gaze briefly catches on Elise, who is looking down in the very back row.