White.
For a moment, Ren saw nothing but white.
His mind was alert instantly. Years of battle instincts awakened the moment his senses returned.
Then the light slowly faded.
The room came back into view.
The wooden walls. The dim lantern by the window. The quiet darkness of midnight.
Ren lowered his gaze.
The crystal in his hand was glowing.
Not faintly.
Not weakly.
It was shining with a steady, clear light.
Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.
“…Refined.”
He had done it.
But something felt strange.
He replayed the moment in his mind.
During the final attempt, he had pushed his threads toward the crystal with slightly more pressure than before. The threads had tangled together, forming a small web around the crystal before sinking inside it.
At the time, he thought it was a mistake.
A messy, uncontrolled movement.
Yet somehow… it worked.
Ren studied the glowing crystal silently.
His understanding of thread control was still far beyond that of any beginner.
Even if his body was weak, his experience remained.
But soon another thought appeared.
A problem.
Ren’s expression became serious.
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"If someone else refines their crystal tonight… How will the academy know who did it first?"
"The reward would be given based on the first refinement."
Ren thought.
"But without proof, the academy could simply assume the most talented student achieved it."
"Someone like Akamine Ryu. Or perhaps another prodigy. "
Ren slowly stood up.
"If I stay here… the credit may not be mine."
He had no intention of losing a reward because of something so simple.
Ren opened the door quietly.
The house was completely silent. His uncle and aunt were asleep. Shiro’s room was dark. Ren stepped outside without making a sound.
The night air was cold as he moved through the empty streets.
Lanterns flickered along the road while the town slept peacefully.
Within minutes, Ren reached the academy gates.
Two guards stood there, leaning against their spears in the quiet night. One of them frowned when he noticed the approaching figure.
“…Kid?”
The other guard straightened.
“What are you doing here at this hour?”
Ren walked forward calmly.
“I need to see the academy elder.”
The guards exchanged confused looks.
“The elder? Now?”
“Yes.”
“And why exactly?”
Ren raised his hand.
The glowing crystal illuminated the darkness between them.
Both guards froze.
“That…”
“The crystal is refined,” Ren said quietly.
“I came to report it.”
The guards stared at the glowing stone. Shock slowly spread across their faces.
“Already?”
Ren remained silent.
Finally, one of the guards sighed.
“Stay here.”
“I’ll report it.”
Inside the academy residence, the night remained peaceful. The academy elder had already gone to sleep.
But soon
Knock. Knock.
A servant approached the elder’s chamber door.
“Elder… forgive the disturbance.”
Inside the room, the old man slowly opened his eyes.
“What is it?”
“There are academy guards outside.”
“And a student.”
“A student?”
The elder frowned slightly.
“What nonsense brings a child here at this hour?”
“They say the student refined his crystal.”
The elder sat up immediately.
“So soon?”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Interesting.”
He had expected talented students to refine their crystals quickly.
Perhaps Akamine Ryu.
Or maybe the promising child from the Regisaka clan.
"But even for them… the first night was impressive."
The elder stood up and opened the door.
“Bring them.”
Moments later, Ren entered the room accompanied by the guards. The elder examined him calmly. The boy looked ordinary. Too ordinary.
“Show me.”
Ren held up the crystal. The soft glow filled the room. The elder’s eyes sharpened. It was genuine. The crystal was truly refined.
“Impressive,” the elder murmured.
Then he looked at Ren more carefully.
“…You.”
Recognition flickered in his mind.
“You are the boy with low thread affinity from the ceremony.”
Ren nodded slightly.
“Yes, elder.”
The elder leaned back in his chair. His curiosity deepened. Low affinity students should struggle to refine crystals. Yet this boy had done it on the first night.
“How did you accomplish this?”
Ren answered calmly.
“I focused on controlling the threads carefully.”
He did not elaborate further. The elder watched him silently for a moment. Then he laughed softly.
“Interesting.”
“A low-grade student refining a crystal before the prodigies.”
He gestured to the servant.
“Record his name.”
“Ren.”
“First successful refinement.”
The servant wrote quickly. The elder nodded.
“You may return home.”
“The reward will be announced tomorrow.”
Ren bowed slightly.
“Thank you, elder.”
Then he left. The elder watched him go. His eyes thoughtful.
“…That boy is not simple.”
Morning arrived quickly.
Students gathered again in the academy courtyard.
Many of them looked tired. Some had clearly spent the entire night trying to refine their crystals.
Most crystals remained dull.
Only a few students held faintly glowing ones. Akamine Ryu stood confidently with his refined crystal. Beside him stood another student from the Regisaka clan.
Their talents had already begun to show. Excited whispers spread across the courtyard.
“It must be Ryu.”
“Or Regisaka Haru.”
“They refined it first for sure.”
The instructor stepped forward.
“The academy elders have confirmed the first successful refinement.”
The crowd quieted instantly. The instructor continued.
“The student who achieved this will now receive the reward.”
Students held their breath.
All eyes turned toward Ryu. Even Ryu himself looked calm and confident. The instructor opened a scroll.
“First successful refinement…”
At this moment , either the academy would go fair or put partiality on it .
"People giving out something in order of status isn't something new"
Ren crossed his hands.
"Unjust is human nature indeed"
Ren thought.
The instructor was about to read the name .
He paused. Then read the name.
