CHAPTER 13: The Thirteenth Fracture

We stepped into Principal Lyra's office—and I instantly regretted expecting an order. Books stacked in precarious towers. Scrolls spilled from open drawers. Loose papers floated on stray magical drafts. Crystals hummed in forgotten corners. It looked less like an administrator's office and more like a chaotic wizard's lab.

"Take a seat," Lyra said, flicking a stack of documents off a chair with a wave of her hand. "We need to talk."

Saaya and I sat across from her. Surprisingly, the chairs were comfortable—despite the entropy of the room.

Lyra leaned forward, fingers steepled over a desk that hadn't seen wood in years. "Zamaneh told me the basics. You want access to the structure beneath the academy—the one connecting to the hidden fractal layer. That right?"

"Yes," I said, meeting her gaze. "We're ready."

She studied us in silence—first me, then Saaya. Her expression revealed nothing.

Then: "No."

The word hit harder than expected.

I leaned forward. "Why not?"

She tapped a pen against the desk, slow and deliberate. "That structure isn't just a door you walk through. It's bound to this realm's leyline grid and harmonized with the academy's arcane infrastructure. Misused, it could collapse a portion of this layer—or worse, destabilize the layers above and below."

Saaya frowned. "Then what do we have to do?"

Lyra turned to the massive circular window behind her, hands clasped behind her back.

"Power isn't enough. The structure responds only to those the system deems worthy—those in resonance with this realm's magical law."

She faced us again, eyes sharp.

"You get one chance. In two days, the Ascension Trials begin—an internal tournament held every cycle. The strongest students, and some faculty, compete for access to restricted knowledge and forbidden tools."

She crossed her arms.

"Win. Climb the brackets. Prove yourselves. And I will personally unlock the structure."

I glanced at Saaya. She nodded.

"And if we lose?" I asked.

"Then you walk away," Lyra said. "Or wait ten years."

We turned back to her.

"We accept," we said in unison.

Lyra raised an eyebrow, amused. "Since you aren't officially enrolled, you'll be placed in temporary housing. One room."

I jumped up. "Wait, Principal! Surely there's another option? I mean... I'm still a guy!"

I turned to Saaya for backup.

She smiled. "I don't mind. We're only here a week. No need to trouble the Principal."

I sat back down, defeated.

Then she leaned in, voice teasing. "What, were you expecting something else to happen, Sukara?"

"No. Absolutely not."

Lyra shrugged. I sighed.

"Alright. Fine."

Saaya giggled, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

Principal Lyra walked us to our dorm. The first thing I saw inside were two separate beds.

"THANK GOD!" I shouted.

Both Saaya and Lyra turned, puzzled.

"...Sorry."

The room was huge. Elegant wooden beams. Crystal-lit walls. A mirror. Twin desks etched with runes. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the sprawling academy below.

"This is incredible," Saaya whispered.

"Principal Lyra," I asked, "could you show us the cafeteria?"

"Sure," she said. "Let’s finish the tour."

She showed us training fields, libraries, duel courts, and the glowing spire where the Ascension Trials would be held.

Outside the cafeteria, she turned back.

"Alright, kiddos. I've got work. Try not to burn my school down."

"Yes, ma'am," we said in unison.

I turned to Saaya. "Want to grab food?"

She grinned. "Definitely. I'm starving."

We stepped into the cafeteria—and I froze.

The space was cathedral-sized. Floating lanterns glided across the ceiling, glowing with soft runes. Dozens of food stations lined the walls: trays hovered, soup stirred itself, meat was carved by air-blades. The smells curled like enchantments—fragrant and surreal.

"I've never seen anything like this," I murmured. "Magic schools are insane."

Saaya walked beside me, amused. "What was it like where you're from?"

"Bland food. Boring halls. Nothing like this."

As I scanned the room, I bumped into someone.

A soft gasp. A girl stumbled.

"Oh—I'm so sorry," I said. "Let me help you."

I stopped.

Platinum-silver hair shimmered under the lights. She was Saaya's height. Elegant. Her features like a porcelain blade. Her sky-blue eyes met mine.

And everything stopped.

She wore the academy uniform. Perfectly. But it was her face that held me.

Familiar. Like a memory I never had.

"Wow..." I breathed.

Saaya cut in. "How long are you going to stare?"

I blinked. "Right. Sorry. Are you okay?"

She took my hand, stood with grace.

"Yes. Thank you," she said calmly. Then, looking closer: "Sukara?"

I froze. "Yeah. Do I... know you?"

A smile ghosted her lips.

"Not in this life, maybe. But your hair almost matches mine."

Saaya stepped closer. The air tensed.

"I'm Yuuka," the girl said. "First Division. Top rank." Her eyes shifted to Saaya. "And you must be her."

"I am," Saaya said flatly.

They didn't shake hands.

Before I could react, a mocking voice rang out.

"Well, well. Cozying up to royalty already?"

Eight students approached—smirks, glowing glyphs on their coats. At the center: a tall boy with coal eyes and too much hair gel.

Alric.

He looked at Yuuka. "Careful. You’ll catch something standing near outliers."

Yuuka didn't blink. "Jealousy again, Alric?"

He ignored her, eyes sliding to me.

"I sense nothing from you. No mana. Not even a flicker."

He stepped forward.

"What are you? A void in a world of resonance? A science relic in a mage's dream?"

Saaya tensed.

Alric's voice dropped. "Magic is order. Mana is life. If you lack both, you don't belong."

I opened my mouth, but Saaya stepped forward.

"That black hole nearly swallowing half a city? I reversed it."

Murmurs spread. Students turned.

Alric raised an eyebrow. "So one of you is useful. The other... still a fluke."

Yuuka stepped forward.

A nearby glass slid across the table, hovered midair, then dropped back without a word.

"Don't embarrass yourself before the tournament," she said.

Alric scowled, but turned away. His group followed, some glancing back too long.

Yuuka lingered. Her gaze searched mine like trying to remember something not yet real.

Then she walked away.

I exhaled like I'd forgotten how.

Saaya stood beside me.

"You're staring again."

"What? I wasn't—"

"It's fine," she said, turning. "I just didn't realize we came here for reunions."

"Saaya, it's not like that."

"Then what is it?"

She didn’t wait for an answer.

I watched the mana-lanterns drift like distant stars.

I didn’t know what Yuuka meant by 'not in this life.'

But I believed her.

And that scared me more than anything I'd seen in this world.