The morning began with chaos as usual.

  Tom and Jackson were devouring their food like wild beasts, chewing so loudly that the table practically shook with every bite.

  “Hey! Slow down, you maniacs!” Sasha scolded, trying to shield her plate.

  But Tom grinned with his mouth full, “If we slow down, you’ll eat it all!”

  Jackson chimed in, “Survival of the fastest, baby!” and shoved another pile of food into his mouth.

  Everyone laughed—everyone except Victor and Leo. Their faint smiles looked real enough, but little by little, they began to fade.

  Daniel caught it first, watching quietly from across the table. They’re forcing that smile… why?

  He was about to speak up when Tom yanked him closer.

  “Oi, stop staring at gloomy faces and eat already!” Tom said, shoving a roll into Daniel’s mouth.

  “Mmff! Tom!” Daniel muffled, glaring but half-laughing.

  But Noir wasn’t so easily distracted. He walked over to Victor with narrowed eyes.

  “Dude, you look… stressed. Something’s up, isn’t it?”

  Victor froze for a second. Stressed? About the kids, about the world… about everything I can’t say aloud, he thought

  He finally answered with a calm smirk:

  “No, it’s nothing. Just wondering how this world will accept magic… and what the future might become.”

  Noir scoffed. “Chill, bruh. It’s not like you’re carrying the whole world on your shoulders.”

  Victor looked away but smirked again. “...Right.”

  Breakfast ended in laughter, food fights, and Sasha threatening to ban Tom and Jackson from the kitchen forever.

  Later, Daniel, Tom, and Jackson were walking together.

  Tom stretched, yawning, “Man, after last night, we gotta train harder.”

  “Yeah,” Jackson smirked, punching his fist into his palm. “Next time, I’ll roast that Titan before you even blink.”

  Daniel smiled. “If you two don’t roast each other first, that’d be great.”

  Just as they were about to find Victor and Leo, Selena and Sasha appeared, blocking the hallway with folded arms.

  “You three are coming shopping with us,” Sasha said sweetly, which made it even scarier.

  “What? No way!” Daniel, Tom, and Jackson said in unison.

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  A few minutes later, Tom was being dragged by the collar, Jackson was crying out, “Help! They’re kidnapping us!” while Selena whistled innocently.

  Daniel used the opportunity to slip away. Sorry, guys. You’re on your own.

  He walked toward Victor’s dorm and paused when he heard faint voices.

  At first, he thought they were whispering… but then he realized the words were in a language he had never heard before. Harsh syllables, echoing with power.

  What language is this? I’ve studied so many… but this doesn’t sound like anything human.

  Inside, Victor and Leo continued their strange conversation. Daniel stood frozen, heart racing, just outside the door.

  Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Noir hummed to himself as he cleaned dishes and prepared lunch. At least I can keep things normal around here…

  Hours later, the sun dipped, and Victor and Leo slipped away to the rooftop. Daniel followed quietly, sticking to the shadows.

  Victor’s voice carried in the wind.

  “…after that, I went to those coordinates. And I saw the ‘Holy Cave’ there.”

  Leo’s eyes widened. “You’re serious?! You actually found that place?”

  But before Daniel could process what he was hearing, Victor suddenly turned. His eyes glowed faintly—psychic power. He shoved Daniel’s shadow backward with invisible force, slamming him against the wall before Daniel could react.

  “Sorry, kid, but this is our job” Victor muttered under his breath.

  That night, when everyone else slept peacefully, Victor and Leo entered Noir’s room.

  Noir was startled at first but relaxed. “Oh, you guys again? Want some coffee?”

  “Yeah… coffee,” Victor said with a faint smile.

  But the moment Noir turned, Victor’s eyes gleamed. His psychic magic slipped into Noir’s mind, bending his will.

  “Open a portal,” Victor commanded softly.

  Noir’s eyes glazed for a second, and with a flick of his hand, a glowing rift opened, showing a map shimmering with light.

  Victor and Leo stepped through. Noir blinked, confused, rubbing his temple. Weird… must be tired. Guess they left already. He yawned and went to bed.

  But behind the door, Daniel stood, fists clenched, his mind spinning with questions. What are they hiding? And what is this… Holy Cave?

  Inside the portal, Victor and Leo arrived at a forest. The coordinates matched, but when they reached the exact spot, their eyes went wide.

  “Where's the cave man?” Leo asked

  “The cave…” Victor whispered, “It’s gone.”

  “Gone?!” Leo shouted. “How the hell does an entire cave just vanish?!”

  Then Leo noticed it—a faint glow near the roots of an ancient tree.

  “Wait. Over there.”

  They pushed through the leaves and found a small white stone glowing faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat. The light felt alive, almost like it was calling to them.

  Victor and Leo exchanged a glance. Then, without a word, they touched the stone together.

  In an instant, visions exploded in their minds—blinding flashes of ancient battlefields. Gods locked in brutal combat against titans whose forms twisted with raw chaos. The skies bled crimson, entire continents shattered, oceans boiled away.

  Through it all, one name echoed over and over, heavy and unrelenting—

  “Chronos.”

  The visions snapped away as suddenly as they came. Both Victor and Leo stumbled back, gasping for breath, sweat streaking their foreheads.

  Victor’s eyes widened, his voice shaking.

  “Wait… that’s not the war we know.”

  Leo nodded slowly, his jaw tight.

  “Yeah… that’s not the Millennium War.” He looked up at the night sky, his expression grave. “This was something else… something not so old but still old. Something far bigger.”

  Victor clenched his fists, his thoughts spinning. A war besides the Millennium War? Which part of history has been erased?

  He muttered under his breath, as if speaking to the stone itself:

  “Just who are you… Chronos?”

  ?? Chapter 13 Preview: "The Dawn of Magic"

  The morning begins with laughter again—Tom and Jackson wrestling over food, while Selena scolds them and Sasha tries to play referee. Daniel chuckles softly, glad to see everyone smiling after the chaos of the battle. But peace doesn’t last long—alarms ring out as lower-class Titans are spotted near the outskirts of the city. The group rushes into action, cutting down the weaker enemies with teamwork that feels sharper than ever. After the skirmish, Victor wipes his hands and says in a low, firm tone, “This isn’t enough. We need more than a handful of fighters.” Later, he appears before the Grand Council, declaring that it’s time to establish magic schools across the world. “Every child must be trained,” Victor says. “Every nation must prepare.” His words echo like a spark igniting change. News spreads quickly, rippling through kingdoms—whispers of a new era of magic beginning. Meanwhile, unseen, in a desolate wasteland, the Greater Titan from before watches from the shadows. He smirks coldly, muttering, “Let them build their schools. Let them gather their strength. I’ll tear their ‘Eight’ apart when the time comes…”