Luke woke to the sound of a girl's voice calling his name. "Luke! Luke! Hurry up, we have to go to the academy!" The voice was accompanied by the gentle shaking of his shoulders. Groggily, he opened his eyes and saw a familiar face staring down at him—a girl with silver hair, silver eyes, and fair skin. His heart skipped a beat. *Luna?*
"Luna, why are you here? Did I come to heaven?" Luke asked, his voice trembling with disbelief.
Luna rolled her eyes and laughed. "What are you talking about? Here, put these on. The train to the academy has arrived. I'll wait outside." She tossed a shirt at him and hurried out of the room, leaving Luke in stunned silence.
He sat up, clutching the shirt in his hands, and looked around. The room was small and sparse, with peeling wallpaper and a single window that let in the morning light. It was the same room he had lived in as a child at the orphanage. *How is this possible?* he thought, his mind racing. *Am I dreaming? Or… did I somehow go back in time?*
Luke quickly changed into the shirt and grabbed his black bag, which was filled with books and clothes. He rushed out the door and down the hallway, where Luna was waiting impatiently. She waved him over, her silver hair catching the sunlight as she smiled. "Come on, slowpoke! We're going to miss the carriage!"
As they walked through the orphanage's garden, Luke couldn't help but notice how everything looked exactly as he remembered it—the vibrant flowers, the old oak tree, the cobblestone path. It was as if he had stepped into a memory. *Is this real?* he wondered, his chest tightening with a mix of joy and dread.
When they reached the carriage, a group of children was already seated inside. Among them was Davin, a boy with a round face and a perpetual scowl. "Hey, lazybones, don't come!" he sneered as Luke approached.
Luna shot Davin a glare. "Don't call him lazy, Davin. You're just jealous because he's smarter than you."
Davin's face turned red. "What did you say, you—?"
Before he could finish, the old man driving the carriage raised his straw hat and interrupted. "Enough, you two. We're leaving now." He flicked the reins, and the horses began to move, cutting off any further argument.
Luna sat down beside Luke, her expression softening. "What's wrong with you today? You're so quiet. Are you feeling okay?" she asked, her silver eyes filled with concern.
Luke forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just… thinking about the academy."
The carriage rumbled along the dirt road, passing fields of golden wheat and distant mountains. Luke stared out the window, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of his bag. Inside, he felt a strange pull, as if something was calling to him. He opened the bag slightly and saw the wooden ring Luna had given him, its surface smooth and unbroken. *This is the same ring,* he realized, his heart pounding. *But how?*
"Luke, are you sure you're okay?" Luna's voice broke through his thoughts. She leaned closer, her silver eyes filled with concern. "You've been quiet all morning."
Luke forced a smile. "I'm fine. Just… thinking about the academy."
Luna grinned. "You're nervous, aren't you? Don't worry, we'll be fine. They say the academy is where heroes are made. Maybe we'll even meet the gods someday!"
The mention of the gods sent a chill down Luke's spine. He clenched his fists, the memory of James' golden barrier and the mysterious man in black flashing in his mind. The gods… they're the ones who started all of this.
Before he could respond, the carriage jolted to a stop. The old driver turned around, his straw hat tilted low over his eyes. "We're here," he announced.
Luke looked up, and his breath caught in his throat. The academy loomed before them, its towering spires reaching toward the sky. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings of gods and heroes, their faces stern and unyielding. Students in uniform bustled about, their laughter and chatter filling the air.
As Luke stepped out of the carriage, he felt a strange energy in the air, as if the very ground beneath his feet was alive. He glanced at Luna, who was already dragging her bag toward the entrance. "Come on, slowpoke!" she called, her voice full of excitement.
Luke hesitated, his eyes scanning the crowd. Among the students, he noticed a figure standing apart from the others—a tall, cloaked man with piercing blue eyes. Their gazes met for a brief moment, and Luke felt a surge of unease.* Who is that?* he wondered, but the man turned and disappeared into the crowd.
"Luke!" Luna's voice pulled him back. She was waving at him from the academy gates, her smile as bright as the sun. "Let's go! Our future starts today!"
Luke took a deep breath and followed her, his heart heavy with the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future. Whatever this is, he thought,* I'll protect her this time. No matter what.*