As Helion walked toward the crimson banner, a gentle breeze pushed through the courtyard, fluttering the cloth above him. His eyes locked onto two figures already gathered there—one of them unmistakable.
Yuri, Helion thought, a small smile forming. From the line earlier.
The boy in glasses stood casually, hands tucked into the pockets of his Soul Academy uniform, and next to him was a girl. Her long, curly brown hair caught the sun, cascading over a robe-like jacket adorned with an elegant emblem on the back—an academy crest.
That must be Sacred Arch, Helion noted, recalling Zeyr's words. One of the top institutions for magic and spirit training.
As Helion took his final steps forward, Yuri turned and lit up.
"Hey! Helion!" he called. "Looks like we're on the same team after all."
"Good to see you again," Helion replied, waving as he approached.
The girl beside Yuri watched Helion carefully, assessing him with sharp, observant eyes. He looks strong, she thought, though her expression remained neutral.
Helion offered a friendly smile and extended his hand to her. "I'm Helion. Nice to meet you."
She shook his hand firmly, returning the smile. "Zezzy. Good to meet you too, Helion."
He nodded toward her robe. "That's a cool jacket. Academy?"
"Yes," she replied proudly. "I'm sponsored by the Sacred Arch Academy."
Yuri's eyes widened behind his glasses. "Wait—you don't know who this is, Helion?"
Helion blinked. "Uh… should I?"
Yuri gestured dramatically. "Zezzy's top-ranked at Sacred Arch! Highest grades, best combat scores—she's basically a legend over there!"
Zezzy giggled, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Oh, stop it. I just study hard, that's all."
Helion rubbed the back of his neck. "That's… really impressive. I'm still figuring all this out, honestly. Sorry if I seem clueless."
Zezzy shrugged, her smile warm. "That's fine. You'll catch on fast."
Before they could say more, another figure approached the group—a girl with flowing blonde hair, eyes the color of a clear summer sky. She wore a light pink robe with gold trim, and on the shoulder was a noble family crest that shimmered subtly in the sunlight.
She waved cheerfully. "Hello, everyone! I'm Liena. It's really nice to meet you all. I'm looking forward to working with you."
Yuri, caught off guard, fumbled as he gently grabbed her hand. "Uh—hi! I'm Yuri! It's… it's an honor!"
Helion grinned. "Nice to meet you, Liena. I'm Helion."
Zezzy waved. "Glad I'm not the only girl on the team. Welcome."
But Yuri's gaze drifted to the emblem on Liena's robe. He froze. "That crest… wait… that's the Virell family seal…"
His voice cracked slightly. "You're—part of a royal family?!"
Liena giggled behind a gloved hand. "Guilty. But please, don't treat me any differently. I'm just another participant, same as you."
Zezzy looked amazed. "Wow… that's incredible. The Virell family is tied to Captain Arinelle, isn't it?"
"Yup," Liena said, still smiling. "She's my sister."
Helion's eyes widened. "You're the first royal I've ever met. It's… honestly an honor to be on your team."
Liena turned to Helion fully now—and her breath subtly caught in her throat.
This mana… it's unreal, she thought. Who is this guy?
Still, she kept her tone light. "So, Zezzy's the ace of Sacred Arch… I'm here through my family's sponsorship…"
She looked at Yuri and Helion with curiosity. "What about you two? Where are you from?"
Yuri adjusted his glasses. "I'm with the Soul Academy," he said proudly, pointing to the insignia on his sleeve. "It's not as renowned as Sacred Arch, but it's known for training solid, dependable knights. That's good enough for me."
Zezzy turned toward Helion. "And you?"
Helion reached into his cloak and pulled out the leather booklet with Zeyrs seal. He opened it and showed them the official emblem pressed into the inner page.
"Sponsored by Master Zeyr," he said calmly.
The moment they saw the seal, all three froze.
Zezzy gasped. "Wait—what?! Former First Arch Captain Zeyr Chrono?!"
Yuri's eyes went wide. "You mean Chrono the Hero?! That Zeyr?!"
Helion chuckled. "He doesn't like that title, actually."
Liena laughed gently. "Well, that's a surprise… being personally endorsed by a former Captain? That makes you… a spotlight."
She folded her arms thoughtfully. "Zezzy earned her place through top-tier performance. Yuri's coming in with Soul Academy prestige. I'm here through my lineage…"
Her blue eyes locked on Helion's with curiosity and respect.
"But you… you're here because a legend chose to train you. That's a rare kind of privilege."
Zezzy nodded. "That's beyond impressive."
"I'm looking forward to seeing your power," Liena added, her smile soft but sincere. Then, with a playful wink: "Try not to let us down, alright?"
Helion grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."
As the four of them stood beneath the crimson banner, the sun continued to dip behind the castle walls. Their team was formed. Their bonds were new—but promising.
Team Crimson had assembled.
Tomorrow, their trials would begin.
The chatter in the courtyard died down as a voice, calm but commanding, echoed across the space. It resonated like a low bell, drawing every eye toward the balcony.
The man in the light green armor stepped forward, placing one hand on the stone railing, his red cloak fluttering behind him.
"Many of you may already know me," he began. "I am Arion Drael, the Third Arch Captain of the Royal Guard."
A quiet murmur swept the crowd—recognition, reverence.
"All teams have now been assembled," Arion continued. "With that, the Placement comes to an official close. Tomorrow marks the beginning of the Royal Draft."
He paused briefly, letting the weight of his words settle in the air.
"You are to return here at 7 a.m. sharp. Come fully equipped, fully focused, and ready to compete. This isn't just a test of strength… but of unity."
A gust of wind swept across the courtyard, as though nature itself was listening.
"This is an assessment," he said firmly. "An evaluation of your teamwork, your spirit, and your discipline. Only your main weapon—be it sword, staff or spear—is allowed. No enchanted items. No magical trinkets. No familiars or summoned creatures will be permitted on the field."
Helion felt Loken's absence at his side like a brief pang in his chest.
"You will be judged on your skill, coordination, and how well you resonate with your elemental spirit," Arion finished. "Let that be your edge."
From the side of the balcony, Captain Arinelle stepped forward, her pink and gold armor catching the last rays of sunlight. She gave a small, confident nod.
"She will be announcing the first challenge tomorrow," Arion added. "And it will take place in front of a full crowd."
He let that sink in.
"The entire capital will be watching. And beyond that—thanks to the Kingdom's Broadcast Spell—all of Arch Kingdom will be tuned in."
A wave of tension rippled through the teams.
"This is your moment," Arion said, his voice steady but filled with gravity. "The time to rise… or be forgotten."
He stepped back, giving a final glance across the courtyard. "Rest well. Gather your strength. And remember—the draft only happens once every three years. Don't waste it."
With that, the magic amplifying his voice faded, and silence fell once more.
Zezzy glanced at her new teammates, hands on her hips and a small smile on her face.
"Alright, you three," she said, firm but friendly. "We need to be back here by 7 a.m. sharp. Let's meet at this exact spot—no excuses. Don't be late."
The rest of Team Crimson nodded in agreement.
With parting waves and quiet goodbyes, the team began to split, each heading in their own direction beneath the deepening glow of twilight.
Helion lingered for a moment, glancing back at the towering Royal Castle. Its golden spires shimmered under the fading sun.
He clenched his fist, heat rising in his chest.
"I can't wait for tomorrow…
"I'm fired up."
Without another word, he took off at a full sprint, kicking up dust as he ran through the forest path—his cloak fluttering behind him, the castle growing smaller in the distance.
By the time he reached the familiar clearing outside Zeyr's home, the moon had risen, casting soft light through the trees.
Thump! Thump!
Loken was the first to spot him. The massive white wolf let out a howl of joy and sprinted across the grass, leaping toward Helion with uncontained excitement.
"Loken!" Helion laughed, staggering back as the wolf nearly tackled him, licking his face in greeting.
From the sky above, Linx swooped down in a spiral, landing gracefully on a nearby branch. Though visibly smaller than earlier, his golden feathers still shimmered faintly with embers.
"You two missed me or something?" Helion grinned, rubbing Loken's head.
From the porch, Zeyr stepped out, arms folded, leaning casually against the railing. The warm glow from inside the cabin framed him like a painting.
"So," Zeyr called out, "how'd the placement go?"
Helion looked up, eyes bright with excitement. "It went great. I saw Syrus—he was there, along with three other captains. I passed the assessment and got placed."
Zeyr raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "And your team?"
"I'm with Team Crimson," Helion replied. "Three other candidates. Seem strong, too."
Zeyr nodded with a small, knowing smirk. "Crimson, huh? Still using the same colors. That hasn't changed since my time."
Helion blinked. "Wait—really? So it's a tradition?"
Zeyr chuckled. "Not exactly. The colors just help organize the teams. They don't match the actual Royal Guard units. Each arch captain oversees their own squad—five arches total. But the colored teams in the draft? That's all just temporary."
He stepped off the porch and gestured toward the night sky, pointing up.
"The real structure of the Guard looks like this: one Head Arch Captain sits at the top—directly under the King. Then there are four Arch Captains below them, one for each of the remaining arches."
"Syrus Elowen is the 2nd Arch Captain, Arion Drael the 3rd, Airnelle Virell the 4th and Axel Nova the 5th"
Helion's brow furrowed. "So… who's the current Head Captain?"
Zeyr's expression changed. A pause. Silence settled in like mist.
"There isn't one," he said at last.
Helion blinked. "What? Then who's running the Guard?"
Zeyr shrugged, turning toward the house. "Nobody officially. The captains have been so busy with missions and kingdom affairs, they haven't named a replacement since I stepped down."
Helion's eyes narrowed. "You were the last Head Captain?"
"Mm-hmm." Zeyr's tone was casual, almost dismissive. "It's a desk job, really. Lots of paperwork, strategy meetings, and staying glued to the palace. The Head Captain rarely leaves the capital. Their job is to protect the King directly and oversee the Guard."
He gave a soft laugh. "Too slow for me."
Helion chuckled too, shaking his head.
"Well," Zeyr said, clapping a hand on Helion's shoulder, "you've got a long day ahead of you. Go get some rest. Clear your head. Tomorrow's your real test."
He pointed toward the distant mountains.
"I'll be there in the stands. Got a nice VIP seat all to myself, courtesy of retirement. Linx and Loken will be joining too. We'll be watching."
Helion glanced down at Loken, then up at Linx, perched above.
"Guess I better give you guys something to cheer for."
Zeyr grinned. "That's the spirit."
Helion threw a thumbs up over his shoulder as he stepped inside, Loken close behind him, tail wagging in perfect sync with Helion's excitement.
Zeyr stood still for a moment, gazing up at the darkening sky. The stars were beginning to dot the heavens, flickering softly through the canopy of trees. A quiet breeze brushed against his face, carrying the scent of pine and evening dew.
He exhaled slowly, arms folding behind his back. Linx fluttered down beside him, resting calmly on the porch railing.
Zeyr looked toward the stars — not in awe, but in quiet conversation.
"Let's see how well I've trained him… old man," he muttered, a hint of reflection in his voice. "Let's see if he really carries the spark we saw in him."
Linx let out a soft chirp, his glowing eyes reflecting the starlight.
Zeyr stepped back toward the door, glancing once more at the sky — vast and eternal.
Then, without another word, he entered the house and shut the door behind him.
Outside, the forest exhaled in peaceful stillness. The night air shimmered gently. Crickets sang their songs beneath the moonlight.
The world, for a few fleeting hours, was calm.
Tomorrow, everything would change.