CHAPTER 28: The Twenty-Eighth Fracture

The sky above the academy was soft again.

No longer fractured. No longer screaming.

Just clouds—gentle, slow-moving clouds—casting shadows across the glass dome of the courtyard.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I heard birdsong.

We were back.

Back to uniform halls. Back to polished stone and morning bells.

Back to the illusion that everything was normal.

But nothing was.

I walked beside Saaya, our shoulders almost touching. Neither of us spoke much.

Words felt too small now—too blunt for what we’d seen. What we’d survived.

She glanced at me as we turned the corner, the sunlight catching in her eyes—those soft violet eyes that had once reversed death itself.

I still remembered the feel of her lips on mine. The way time had stopped—not because of her power, but because in that moment… it needed to.

She brushed her hand against mine.

Not by accident.

And I didn’t pull away.

It wasn’t just comfort. It wasn’t habit. It was tethering. Reassurance.

Something unspoken that said: I’m still here. You’re still here. We made it.

I looked at her.

The chaos of battle was gone, but she was still beautiful in a way that felt… quieter now. War-touched. Real.

Her hair moved gently in the breeze, and for a moment, I wanted to stop time again—just to stay in this feeling.

“We’re safe,” I said softly.

Saaya’s gaze shifted toward the sky, thoughtful.

Then she leaned into me.

Just slightly. But it was enough.

Her head rested on my shoulder.

My fingers closed gently around hers.

The world pretended to be calm.

But I knew better.

So did she.

We stood there in silence a moment longer, looking up through the dome.

Then I asked, “I’ve been thinking… instead of traveling to another island or country—how about we stay here? Live the magic school dorm life for a while?”

Saaya let go of my hand and stepped in front of me, turning to face me fully.

“Why would you want that?” she asked, curious.

“I never got to experience a magic school,” I admitted. “Back home, science ruled everything. No floating skies. No enchantments. No magic.

But here… I thought maybe this could be a chance to learn something new. To grow. Maybe even develop magic of my own.”

She tilted her head, eyes searching mine.

“Are you sure that’s what you’d like?” she asked—her fingers finding mine again, holding tighter this time.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “I think it is. Yuuka and Principal Lyra have been good to us. If we need help, they’ll be there. We can build something here.”

She took a slow step forward and gently grabbed both of my hands.

“I’ll go with you anywhere,” she said, voice warm and sweet. Soft like a vow.

I smiled, a strange peace settling in my chest for the first time in what felt like years.

“Alright then,” I said. “Let’s give it a try.”