The boy stood at the entrance door, locked behind him. The place was dark—not completely, but dim enough to make everything feel empty and lifeless. Faint shapes could be seen, but the absence of light made the silence heavier.

He moved forward slowly. His footsteps echoed in the quiet, the only sound in the stillness.

He turned his head and saw a kitchen. The room was completely hollow—no plates, no ingredients, no signs of use. The empty counters and silent air made it feel abandoned. Mice scurried across the floor, their tiny movements breaking the stillness.

He continued moving slowly, each step making the silence feel deeper. He reached a door and stopped. He rested his hand on the handle for a moment, then slowly pulled it open.

The room inside was completely empty. There was nothing—no furniture, no objects—just hollow space.

Suddenly, he heard a sound behind him. He turned quickly and saw a mouse running across the floor. He paused for a moment, then turned his head back toward the empty room.

he saw his mother hanging in the center, lifeless. Blood dripped from her hand, falling to the floor drop by drop, and the sound echoed clearly in the silence.

His eyes widened as he stared at the scene, frozen. His heartbeat started to rise-faster and faster, louder and louder. He didn't move, didn't scream. He just stood there, staring.

His heartbeat was rising—faster and faster, pounding in his chest. From behind him, he could feel something. Someone, or something, was coming closer, moving through the dark. The silence around him made the sensation even stronger. Slowly, it came nearer.

He slowly turned his head, bit by bit, as if afraid of what he might see. As he turned, his eyes caught it—dark red eyes glowing in the blackness. Evil eyes. They stared straight at him, burning with malice.

In that moment, his eyes shot open. He was in bed, staring up at the ceiling. For a moment, he lay there. "I got the dream. I got the bad dream again," he said to himself, his voice quiet in the stillness of the room.

He sat up on the bed and stayed there for a moment then he picked up his phone. He checked the time. It was already late. After that, he stood up and went downstairs.

After he came down, he walked into the dining room, a simple space where the kitchen blended seamlessly with the table. His mother stood near the stove, busy cooking, while his father sat at the table, silently eating his breakfast.

His mother glanced at him as he entered. "Did you brush?" she asked.

"Yeah," he replied casually, heading toward the dining table.

Without a word, his father abruptly stood up, leaving his breakfast unfinished. His mother noticed but said nothing, continuing her work. The boy watched as his father walked away, poured himself a glass of water, and drank it without acknowledging anyone.

"He's gone. You can sit now," his mother said softly, turning back to her cooking.

The boy didn't respond. He had no intention of sitting at the table for breakfast; he had only come to get a glass of water.

By the time he finished breakfast, his father announced, "I'm going to work," directing the words only to his wife. He didn't glance at his son, nor did he say anything to him. With that, he left the house.

The boy returned to his room, put on his uniform, and grabbed his bag. Slinging it over his shoulder, he picked up his headset and headed downstairs. Sitting on the last step, he slipped on his shoes and stood up, ready to leave.

At that moment, his mother appeared, standing in front of him with a warm expression. She came closer, her smile gentle but sincere. "Please have a good day," she said softly. "And try to smile. Always smile."

She smiled warmly, and with her two fingers, she lightly touched his lips, curving them into a smile.

The boy nodded slightly, her gesture lingering in his mind as he opened the door and stepped out into the world.

He walked toward the school, listening to music. When he reached the gate, he stopped, took out his headphones, and put them in his bag.

He noticed a girl walking toward the gate, also late. She looked calm, not worried or in a hurry, just like him.

As they got closer, he looked at her. Their eyes met for a moment. She looked back at him, her face calm, with no reaction, just like his.

He didn't think much about it. He looked away and walked into the school without stopping.

As they both walked into the school, they suddenly stopped. Standing near the entrance was the principal. His gaze landed on them, calm yet commanding, like someone with quiet authority.

"So, you two are late again today," he said in a steady, composed voice. "This isn't the first time either. I've noticed it happening a bit too often lately."

The boy and the girl exchanged a quick glance, neither saying anything, and both looking calm despite the situation.

The principal continued, his tone firm but not harsh. "Classes are about to start, so I'll let it go for now. But after school, I want to see both of you in my office. Understand?"

Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked away, leaving them to head to their respective classes.

He walked to his class, pushing open the door to see the teacher already standing at the front, addressing the students. The teacher noticed him immediately and paused, looking at him with a calm yet questioning expression.

"So, you're late again today," the teacher said, not sounding particularly surprised.

He didn't respond, just walking toward his usual seat without a word.

The teacher glanced at him briefly before speaking again. "Alright, take your seat."

He nodded slightly and sat down, slipping into his chair quietly. The class continued as usual, the lesson going on without any interruptions.

The rest of the class was uneventful, with nothing out of the ordinary happening. When the session finally ended, he packed up his things and prepared to leave for the next part of his day.

After classes were finished, he made his way to the principal's office. As he approached, he noticed the girl who had also been late that morning standing outside the room. She stood there quietly, her face calm and emotionless—not happy, not sad, just neutral.

He glanced at her briefly, and their eyes met. Her expression remained unchanged, and his reaction mirrored hers—detached and unreadable. Without a word exchanged, he walked toward the door. Together, they both entered the principal's room.

The principal, seated behind a sturdy wooden desk, looked at them as they stepped inside. His demeanor was calm and composed, not strict or intimidating.

"Ah, you two are here," he began, folding his hands on the desk. "Usually, you aren't late very often. But there have been a few days where this has happened, and I thought it was better to have a word with you."

He paused briefly, glancing at both of them before continuing. "I'm not going to give you any punishment for being late today. That's not the point of this conversation. Instead, I want to remind you why it's important to be on time."

Turning to the girl, he addressed her first. "You," he said, gesturing gently, "you are exceptional. Your magical abilities are impressive, your battle skills are strong, and your academic performance is excellent. You have the potential to bring great honor to this school, maybe even beyond. But being late? It's not a good habit, don't you agree?"

The girl gave a small nod, her expression still calm, showing neither pride nor discomfort.

The principal then turned his attention to the boy. "And you," he said, his tone shifting slightly. "I can't say the same things about you. You don't have any magical abilities to rely on. That means you need to focus more on your education. It's the only way for you to secure your future. You're not failing, but average isn't enough—not for someone in your position."

He leaned back slightly in his chair, studying them both. "You need to put in more effort. Work harder. I'm telling you this because I believe you can do better."

The principal's words hung in the air, and the boy listened silently, his expression as calm and neutral as before.

After leaving the principal's office, the two walked out together without exchanging a word. Their paths separated as soon as they stepped outside.

He slipped his headphones on and started listening to music. With his hands in his pockets, he began walking toward his home. The sun was dipping lower, casting long shadows across the street as he walked steadily along his path.

While walking home. In front of him, he noticed a girl. She walked quickly, her grip tightening on her belongings as she hurried along, a slight unease in her movements. Two men followed closely behind her. She was a short distance away,

The boy noticed them moving further ahead. They took a turn at the end of the road, the girl leading, and the two men following close behind.

When he reached the same turn, he paused. His eyes scanned the empty road ahead before shifting toward the path the girl had taken. Something stirred in him as he placed a single step toward the turn.

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he froze mid-step. His face darkened as a fleeting memory surfaced in his mind. Without a word, he clenched his fists and beat himself lightly on the side.