[Bumbleberry, Night City (Syzygy)]
Kaia lazily glanced at his watch.
Tsk. "Thirty minutes and that idiot 'Zack' still isn't here."
He tapped his foot against the wooden planks of the small pond bridge, irritation bubbling in his chest. The bridge stood in the middle of a garden straight out of a fairytale—lush bushes, blooming flowers of every color, and soft, ethereal streetlights casting a magical glow across the shimmering pond.
"Who maintains this place?" Kaia muttered, his eyes scanning the scenery. "And why let commoners in? They'll just trample everything." His gaze drifted across the vibrant petals and glowing waters, the light reflecting in his narrowed eyes.
Then—footsteps.
Kaia turned sharply. Two figures approached—one broad and looming, the other thinner but tall, both moving toward the bridge. The larger one stepped forward first, crossing the bridge in a single stride.
"So, you're the cousin?" Zack asked, voice low and slurred. His hands were shoved into his coat pockets, and his eyes—red and swollen—screamed hangover or heartbreak… probably both. The heavy stench of alcohol confirmed the latter.
Kaia took a cautious step back.
"Never heard of ya," Zack went on, eyes scanning Kaia top to bottom. "Where d'ya live?"
Kaia opened his mouth, then froze. "I—I… uh… Syzy… Syzygy. Of course."
Zack blinked slowly, his body swaying. "Do ya have… hm…"
He paused mid-sentence, his gaze slipping off Kaia's face as if he forgot where he was. Zack struggled to stand properly, his feet stumbled as he tipped sideways.
"Any… y'know… experience with magic?" Zack slurred as he tried to straighten himself. "Or ya one of those losers who only just figured it out?"
Kaia's mind raced. Crap. Do I lie? What if they don't take in rookies? I can't blow this.
"I asked you something," Zack mumbled.
And then he stumbled—completely—and Kaia barely caught him in time, arms full of dead weight. Kaia's nostrils sniffed the heavy alcohol fumes from him.
Before Kaia could react, the larger man stepped in. Sharp-eyed. Quiet. Watching.
Chang took Zack by the shoulders with practiced ease. His gaze dropped to Kaia's feet. His expression darkened.
Kaia followed his eyes—heels.
His soul left his body.
Fuck—why didn't I change? Right, the uniform code at Nexus… the heels were to look taller… and I wasn't able to change because I never got the time for it after that!
"I-It's not what it looks like!" Kaia blurted. A bit too loud. "Kiki! She—she was struggling with her heels, so I swapped shoes. Forgot to switch back. Hehe" He laughed, scratching the back of his neck, praying his face didn't look as panicked as he felt.
Chang's stare was unreadable.
Kaia braced for judgment.
Then—
"You're a real gentleman, buddy," Chang said solemnly, his eyes glittering with respect. "Keep it up. You just might find yourself a loyal wife."
Kaia stared.
"…Oh. Okay?" he mumbled, completely unprepared for that response.
***
Chang had laid Zack on the ground, helping him drink from a tiny plastic bottle that looked more like a doll's prop in his oversized hand.
These guys are seriously weird. Kaia leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed, one brow twitching.
"Hnn…hm." Zack stirred, eyes fluttering open. He blinked slowly—like a confused cat waking from a nap—and then his gaze landed on Kaia again. A once-over. Head to toe.
"Heels?" Zack mumbled.
"I know," Kaia replied, poker face as flat as a deadpan pancake.
"Anyway." Zack still squinted, fighting his eyelids like they were mortal enemies. "You're trying to get into the Academy, right? That's...dedication, especially for Kiki's brother."
Chang whipped his head around. "He's not sober yet. Don't take it seriously if he blurts out truths without a filter."
"Yeah, yeah." Kaia waved it off. "But why exactly are we here?"
"This place was made by a scholar from Varyon Academy," Chang said, gazing up at the star-drenched sky, letting the silence hang like old memories. "It also contains a hidden gate to the Academy itself." He turned back, handing Kaia a paper bag. "We've already registered you. Just put on the uniform and you're in."
Kaia accepted the bag. Then paused. Zack and Chang stared at Kaia. Kaia stared back.
A long, awkward silence.
"…What now?" Kaia asked, squinting.
"Change your clothes. What else?" Zack said bluntly.
Kaia froze like he just got hit by a full-body paralysis spell. "Wait. Here?!"
"Of course," Zack replied. "There's no one else around."
"But it's outside! And you two are here!"
"So what?" Zack raised a brow. Chang, dramatically placing a hand on Zack's shoulder, crouched down.
"He's a shy little lad, Zack. We'll just look away."
"…What?" Zack's voice cracked with irritation. "Ugh. Fine." He turned around with exaggerated grumbling.
Kaia stood still. Like, Sahara desert still. I don't even know how this body works… how am I supposed to—?! He sucked in a breath and started unbuttoning his shirt, moving like he was defusing a bomb.
Calm down. Don't scream. Deep breaths. Just change and survive.
He somehow managed to get the uniform on without combusting. His face was pale like a ghost had whispered tax forms in his ear.
"Done?" Zack asked without turning.
"Y-Yeah. Done."
They turned to face him. Kaia's soul looked half-evaporated, but Zack ignored the haunted expression and zeroed in on the uniform.
"Does it fit? Not tight, not loose?"
"It's perfect," Kaia mumbled and walked to the nearby pond, finally catching a glimpse of himself. I almost jumpscared myself…
The uniform was pristine — a maroon cloak trimmed in gold, a proud crest emblazoned on the chest. Underneath, a sharp vest over a crisp shirt and a striped tie, tucked into sleek black trousers. The kind of outfit that screamed, I study magic and taxes with equal discipline.
"Cool." Kaia examined the sleeves, expression calm — though internally, he was screaming. His face still looked mostly like him, just sharper features, a stronger jawline, shorter hair… Still enough to confuse anyone who wasn't looking too hard.
"Alright," Chang announced. "Let's open the gate."
"Where's your stuff?" Zack asked.
"…I forgot."
"You forgot?" Zack repeated, voice rising like an opera singer hitting a tragic note.
"Hostel has everything," Chang cut in. "If you need help, just call me."
"Okay, cool. Let's go."
"Step into the pond," Chang instructed.
Kaia blinked. "Won't that get my clothes wet?"
"They can't get wet," Zack deadpanned.
Kaia stepped in without further questioning. Surprisingly, the clothes didn't get wet. The water wasn't too deep, just an inch below his knee.
"Recite this spell," Chang said, handing him a small note.
Kaia looked at the gibberish scrawled across the paper. "…This is a spell?"
With dead eyes, Kaia stared into the still water. "Hey, pond," he mumbled. "Why are you so still? Is it because you hold your breath when I get close?"
Silence.
.
.
.
Zack and Chang slowly turned toward each other, side-eyeing like judgmental cats.
Kaia flushed and looked down. "This wasn't a spell in any way?!"
But just then, the water rippled. The moonlight's reflection dissolved, replaced by a deep, shimmering blue glow. Kaia blinked at it, mesmerized.
"Bye-bye now!" Zack and Chang waved cheerfully.
"Huh?" Kaia turned—then the pond sucked him down. No floating. No resistance. One moment he was standing, the next he was plummeting into a liquid abyss.
And boom disappeared with the glow fading.
"We didn't ask his name, right?" Chang said, narrowing his eyes at Zack.
"Forget it, I have other things to do." Zack yawned as he walked away. Chang quietly followed.
How deep is this pond?! Kaia screamed mentally, arms flailing—but he could still breathe.
The water disappeared—replaced by endless sky—and ahead lay something colossal.
A magical castle in the clouds.
Silver lakes hovered in mid-air, their waters falling upward into the sky below. Luminous bridges connected crystalline towers. It looked like a dream stitched together with starlight and ambition.
At the center, a glowing ring — the Halo of Ascension — floated with divine majesty, shimmering like heaven's own gate. Beyond it, the Courtyard of Wings gleamed under moonlight, watched over by an angelic statue with radiant wings.
The academy shifted gently like it breathed, its halls lined with glowing runes. The Lake of Reflection shimmered nearby — not reflecting just a face, but a soul.
And at the edge stood the Archway of Trials — pulsing, ominous, daring.
Kaia didn't have time to admire it. He fell straight into one of the silver lakes with a splash — then the water spun into a spiral and yeeted him onto dry ground.
"Urgh…" Kaia groaned, coughing. Not wet, but water still sloshed in his mouth. How does that even work?!
A figure appeared beside him — tall, graceful, and criminally well-dressed.
He wore a coat like freshly fallen snow, glinting with gold stars. Fur-lined cuffs, high collar, noble chains, a belt of turquoise gemstones. His boots clicked like music as he walked.
He extended a gloved hand.
"Welcome," the man said, his eyes narrowing like a pleased cat. "To the Prestige Academy of Sorcery — Altarian. Where great sorcerers are made."