8:23 AM - 23rd August 2026 (2126)
Schelvia City • Faber Building • City's Heart
The streets were alive with a soft, lively ambience. Younger students walked in orderly lines, heading toward their schools with the aid of robotic assistants. On the other hand, teenagers moved in clusters, their conversations blending into a symphony of chatter that echoed down the clean, smoke-free streets. The air was untainted, free from pollution, a testament to Schelvia City's advanced infrastructure and reliance on clean energy.
Some students rode sleek electric tricycles along designated pathways, weaving effortlessly among pedestrians. These futuristic vehicles, designed for quick transportation, emitted only a faint hum as they glided forward.
The summer air felt peculiar-a stark contrast to the warmth expected of the season. Instead of sunshine and heat, the city was cloaked in a cool breeze. The climate changes of the last decade had scrambled the seasons, leaving even summer mornings feeling like the cusp of autumn.
Yoshi Manami rubbed his hands together, exhaling softly as his breath formed faint wisps in the chilly air. He shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets, seeking warmth.
He wasn't fond of the cold; winter's frosty embrace had never appealed to him. As a child, he had never built snowmen or engaged in snowball fights like others. Now, walking through the streets of Schelvia City, he silently wished for the summer heat to return. But today, the cold bit at his skin like an uninvited guest.
His messy, wolf-cut hair shifted with the occasional gust of wind, three small braids swaying slightly on the left side of his head. Among the clusters of chatting students, Yoshi stood out like a sore thumb-silent and solitary.
Not that he cared.
His dull purple eyes stared ahead, unfocused yet unwavering, as he followed the stream of students. His boots made soft, rhythmic clicks against the pavement, the sound barely audible over the chatter around him.
"East Gate patrol..." he muttered, stopping in his tracks for a brief moment. His gaze lifted toward the sky, pale and cloudless. It was as if he were searching for some unseen reassurance, a silent prayer for warmth to return.
"Hope it's not too cold out there. I should've brought a warmer jacket," he added with a sigh, shaking his head before continuing his walk.
---
8:42 AM
Asterick Unity Education • Ground Floor • Hallway
"Alright, class! Let's begin our first period. Today's topic is history. Now, who can tell me-"
The robotic teacher's voice echoed faintly from behind the closed classroom doors. Its tone was steady and precise, programmed to engage students.
Yoshi walked past these classrooms, paying no mind to the lessons starting inside. His footsteps echoed softly against the polished floors, the faint hum of air conditioning filling the otherwise empty hallway.
Turning a corner, he came to an abrupt stop.
Ahead stood a girl with auburn hair tied back into a neat ponytail. Her cantaloupe-colored eyes, framed by sharp glasses, scanned the hallway with a hawk-like vigilance. Her gaze locked onto Yoshi almost immediately, her expression unreadable but firm.
"Why are you still wandering around?" she asked sharply, striding toward him with measured steps.
Yoshi remained still, his dull purple eyes meeting hers without flinching. Instead of responding, he casually reached into his coat and pulled out a metallic tag, letting it glint under the hallway lights.
"Yoshi Manami. Student Council," he said flatly, his tone carrying no emotion.
The girl halted briefly, her own hand reaching for a tag pinned neatly beneath her uniform's lapel. She slid it out and let it catch the light, the name Wêrïn Eldoneta engraved across its surface.
"Wêrïn Eldoneta," she introduced herself. "Also Student Council."
Yoshi raised an eyebrow, slipping his tag back under his coat. "So, what are you doing wandering around? The first period already started."
Wêrïn adjusted her glasses, her cantaloupe eyes narrowing slightly. "Patrolling the ground floor," she replied, crossing her arms. "Making sure no one's slacking off. And you?" Her tone took on a sharper edge. "You're not slacking off, are you, Mr. Manami?"
Yoshi sighed softly, crossing his arms as well. "I'm heading to the fourth floor. Using the elevator," he replied coolly. His eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Not against the rules, is it?"
Wêrïn huffed, clearly unimpressed. "Just asking. No need for that tone, Mr. Manami." She adjusted her glasses again, the light reflecting off the lenses. With a dismissive shake of her head, she stepped past him, her ponytail swaying behind her.
"Don't linger too long," she called over her shoulder. "You don't want to be late for class."
Yoshi's gaze followed her as she walked away, his expression neutral but his thoughts racing.
"Who does she think she is?" he muttered under his breath, his hand raking through his hair in mild annoyance.
---
8:45 AM
Elevator • Asterick Unity Education
Yoshi stopped in front of the elevator and pressed the button. As he waited, his thoughts drifted back to Wêrïn. Something about her gaze unsettled him, though he couldn't quite pinpoint why.
"Wêrïn Eldoneta..." he murmured, testing the name. "...Eldoneta?"
The realization hit him like a sudden gust of cold wind.
"She's from one of the..Celestial Families," he muttered, his eyes narrowing slightly.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and Yoshi stepped inside. He pressed the button for the fourth floor and leaned back against the wall, the faint glow of his Vitreous pendant pulsing beneath his uniform.
His vitreous pendants..glow faintly under his uniform.. as if sensing it's user struggle
He didn't notice the incline step he just take..that would led him into
---
Elsewhere in the Hallway
Wêrïn leaned against a wall, her hands clutching her uniform tightly. Her breathing was shallow, her body trembling as her mind replayed the encounter.
"...That's Noir Prince? He can't be... But those violet eyes... That has to be him. 'Artoria's Shadow'..."
Her lips trembled as fear clawed its way through her chest. The rumors of Yoshi's presence, his aura, his unsettling gaze-it was all more real than she could have imagined.
"That guy... isn't Artoria's Shadow," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "He's something else entirely... something worse."