Aurora battlefront: Era of Salvation

I stared at the blue sky without any expression while my pencil moved in random patterns on the edge of my desk. The classroom buzzed with a soft hum around me. But my mind drifted beyond the cracked ceiling. A distant melody of laughter floated in through the open window, and I felt a pang of envy. Excitement. That’s what I craved. I wished I could leap into the fray like the students outside, their movements fluid and carefree. "Man, I wish for some excitement..." I muttered, watching a group of classmates dart across the field. Their laughter felt like a taunt, a reminder of the thrill I’d never experienced. A grace.

The final bell had rung, and most of the students had left the classroom. I leaned back in my chair, letting my gaze wander. “Maybe I should just give up on becoming—”

“Suki!” A voice snapped me from my thoughts, and I jolted upright, startled. Kristine leaned over my desk, her shoulder-length black hair swaying as she cocked her head at me. “How long are you gonna sit here staring at nothing?” Her eyes sparkled with mischief, an infectious energy that always seemed to draw me in. “Ah—” I stammered, caught off guard. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”

“Come on!” she insisted, a grin stretching across her face. “School’s out. Let’s go!” Before I could protest, she grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the classroom like I was some kind of luggage. I stumbled after her, trying to keep my balance. “H-Hey! Hold on—”

“Oh please,” she laughed, casting me a teasing glance over her shoulder. “Don’t act like I’m dragging you to your execution or something. You wanted excitement, right? Or am I too much of a burden, Suki?” I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the smile creeping onto my face. “Yeah, yeah…”

As we navigated the bustling hallway, I could feel the air thrum with energy. A sudden whoosh of wind whipped past us, sending loose papers and Kristine’s hair flying. I saw a blur dart by. A student rode a wave of water. Laughter spilled from his lips as he raced after another student. “GET BACK HERE!” someone yelled, the voice strained but full of adrenaline. I felt a rush of envy well up inside me. Why couldn’t that be me? A teacher’s voice boomed from the office, frustrated and annoyed. “NO USING POWERS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS! How many times do I have to say it?”

A gust of wind sent another student soaring above us. They twisted and flipped like they were in an aerial ballet. My jaw clenched, tension coiling in my stomach. I longed to feel that rush of power, to break free from this ordinary existence, even if for a moment.

Graces—the very thing that separated me from everyone else. It had been like this since I could remember. Forty years ago, a failed experiment tore our world apart. It unleashed chaotic powers upon humanity. I could only watch as others embraced their abilities. I felt more like a spectator than a participant. “Rei?” Kristine’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I glanced at her. She looked at me with concern, her brow furrowed in worry. “Hey, you’re spacing out again…”

“Sorry,” I mumbled, shaking my head as if to dispel the dark thoughts. I tried to pull away from her grasp, but she tightened her hold, refusing to let go. “Just had something on my mind.” She sighed, her expression softening. “I know it’s tough not having a Grace, but there are still options, y’know?”

“Like what?” I shot back, though the words felt weaker than I had intended. “Well, becoming a magic engineer isn’t a bad start,” she replied, adopting a practical tone. “It’s the closest thing to having a Grace." I opened my mouth to argue. But before I could, she launched into an excited monologue about a new anime she'd discovered. Her voice rose and fell with her excitement. I found myself smiling despite everything. Kristine’s passion was contagious, and for a moment, I let the worries fade.

“So, what do you want to do?” she asked, turning to me with that same sly smile she always wore when she was up to something. “Suki?”

“Um, I didn’t have any pla—”

“Great! Let’s go to the cat café!” she declared with a sense of triumph. “I brought the new volume of that novel I’ve been waiting ages for!” She laced her fingers through mine and pulled me toward the school entrance. “W-Wait!” I protested, but she was already leading me outside. The warmth of the sun hit my skin as we stepped into the fading daylight. “Ah, crap! I forgot my bag,” I said, recalling the weight of my responsibilities with a rush of realization. “I’ll be right back, Kristine.”

“Alright, hurry up!” she called after me with a mock salute. I sprinted down the hallway, my legs pumping with a familiar rhythm. I wasn't super-fast like some of the Graced students, but I was faster than the average person. I felt a thrill as I pushed myself, savoring the brief escape from my usual mediocrity. “WATCH OUT!” Kristine’s voice pierced the air, but it was too late.

A soccer ball flew at me—CRASH!

The impact jolted through my body, stealing my breath. Pain radiated from my side as I staggered back, the world spinning out of control. I hardly noticed the ground approaching before darkness enveloped me.

[End of chapter]