A gentle breeze wove through Athena’s hair, almost like a whisper, nudging her forward. A stone-paved path stretched ahead, inviting her deeper into the mysterious yet strangely familiar garden.


    Everywhere she turned, vibrant flowers bloomed, basking in the golden sunlight. The air was thick with the scent of petals, yet… something felt off.


    Silence.


    No rustling leaves, no chirping birds—just an unnatural stillness.


    Athena’s brows knitted together. ‘Is this an illusion?’


    She had experienced illusions before—crafted in the trial grounds—but this felt different. It wasn’t deception. It was something else.


    She closed her eyes, focusing on the sensation, sinking into the depths of her memory.


    Suddenly, she was no longer in the garden.


    She was back in the woods behind the palace, standing beside her father. The warm glow of the evening sun cascaded around him, making him look almost otherworldly—divine.


    Her tiny hands tugged at his sleeve. She had noticed something strange.


    “Dad, who are you talking to?”


    Alexander chuckled, ruffling her hair with boundless affection.


    “The forest spirits.”


    Athena’s eyes widened in wonder.


    “Wow! They talk to you?” Her voice was filled with awe.


    He shook his head, smiling.


    “Not exactly. They don’t speak, but they understand. This is a gift I inherited from your grandmother.”


    Her lips pursed in thought. “Mom told me we can’t see them or talk to them—only feel their presence.”


    Alexander nodded. “That’s true. But if you inherit this ability, you’ll be able to see them, too. You just have to feel them—not with your eyes, not with your ears, but with your heart, your soul, and your mind.”


    The memory faded.


    Athena opened her eyes, her heartbeat steady, her mind clear. She reached out—not with her hands, but with her senses. And what she saw left her stunned.


    The tugging at her sleeve wasn’t just the wind. A tiny wind spirit, shaped like a sparrow, flitted beside her, impatiently pulling at her.


    Athena''s breath hitched. Her entire body froze. She had always known spirits existed, but never like this. Never this many. Never this… real.


    Then, she realized—there were hundreds of spirits surrounding her.


    Flora, fauna, manifestations of the elements—spirits of fire, water, wind, and earth, each resembling creatures of legend.


    And then—


    The little sparrow stopped tugging and turned toward the rest of the spirits.


    “Why is this child not responding?”


    Athena’s eyes widened in shock. ‘I… I can hear them?’ Not even her father could hear them speak. The sparrow fluttered around her in exasperation.


    “Kid, stop dilly-dallying and start moving!”


    But before Athena could respond, a presence sent a shiver through the air. A heavy pressure filled the space. The spirits trembled.


    One by one, they bowed.


    Even the feisty little sparrow dipped its head in submission.


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    Athena slowly turned.


    A snow-white nine-tailed fox emerged from the trees, walking toward her with grace and power. Golden markings glowed on its forehead—a lotus symbol with nine petals.


    Athena’s muscles tensed. ‘If this fox attacks me… I won’t survive even a single strike.’


    This creature was far stronger than the Orc Lord. But it didn’t attack.


    It sprinted forward.


    Athena froze.


    The fox halted inches away and lowered its head to sniff her. The cold press of its nose against her skin sent chills down her spine, but not out of fear.


    She felt something.


    A connection.


    Deep. Unshakable.


    Then, the nine-tailed fox suddenly stiffened.


    Its golden eyes widened—not just with surprise, but with something raw. Something aching. As if it had been waiting… for far too long.


    It stepped back, staring at her, emotions swirling in its gaze—disbelief, wonder… and something deeper.


    Then, in a move that stunned Athena, the mighty spirit lowered itself and nuzzled against her—affectionately.


    Its voice, when it spoke, was filled with warmth.


    “We meet again… Master.”


    Athena’s heart pounded. ‘Master?’ The title felt foreign… yet oddly familiar. The fox’s chuckle was soft, almost nostalgic.


    “Master, I found you again.”


    Its voice trembled slightly with unmasked devotion.


    “I knew it. No matter how many lifetimes pass, no matter how many times you are reborn…”


    The fox leaned closer, pressing its forehead against Athena’s.


    “I will always find you.”


    A strange tightness gripped Athena’s heart.


    Her fingers twitched, wanting to reach out—to call a name that wouldn’t come.


    The fox spirit let out a soft sigh.


    “You once told me… you would never forget my name.”


    Its voice was filled with longing.


    “But now, you don’t remember, do you?”


    A sudden, crushing ache bloomed in her chest. It wasn’t just pain—it was loss. Grief. An emotion too vast to belong to this moment alone. As if her very soul was mourning something… someone… she could no longer remember.


    ‘Who… are you to me?’


    Before she could speak, a melodious tune drifted through the air.


    It was soothing. Familiar.


    The nine-tailed fox sighed.


    “Master… they are waiting for you.”


    It gently nudged her forward, toward the center of the garden. Athena hesitated, glancing up at the spirit queen. But the fox only smiled.


    And so, with the fox walking beside her and the rest of the spirits following behind, Athena stepped forward—toward the unknown.


    Her mind was racing. Ever since she stepped into this academy, the events unfolding around her had been nothing short of extraordinary. It had barely been a week, yet she had encountered mysteries that even the strongest mage within these academy grounds had never seen. She couldn’t comprehend how a spirit as powerful as this nine-tailed fox could bind itself to a person—it required an immense level of loyalty, something beyond mere bonds of servitude.


    As they walked forward, the sound of music grew louder. She felt her mind unwinding, the melody seeping into her very soul. It wasn’t long before they arrived at a clearing. Instinctively, she scanned her surroundings.


    The first thing that caught her attention was the vast, shimmering lake before her. A mermaid sat atop a massive rock, cradling a harp that looked as if it were made of glass, its delicate strings sparkling like they were woven from pure starlight. The instrument gleamed under the bright light, as if tiny diamonds were embedded within it. The mermaid herself was breathtakingly beautiful, her eyes closed as she played, as though the song were not merely music but an extension of her very being.


    The lake’s water was pristine, its clarity unmatched, and tiny water spirits danced across its surface, moving in harmony with the melody. It was a sight as enchanting as the music itself.


    She stood mesmerized, unable to look away—until the fox spirit nudged her, urging her to turn to the left. Following the spirit’s silent guidance, she shifted her gaze and saw an oval table surrounded by figures unlike any she had ever encountered.


    The table was vast, pristine white, and humming with an unseen force. But it wasn’t the table that made her breath hitch—it was the figures seated around it.


    Not mortals. Not spirits. Something else entirely. Their presence was overwhelming, each exuding an aura of power so immense it made the air itself feel heavy. Some exuded warmth and serenity, while others emanated an overwhelming, fierce intensity. Yet, despite their differences, they all had one thing in common—their eyes, filled with keen curiosity, were fixed entirely on her.


    Their attire looked as if they had stepped straight out of the pages of a history book—one that belonged in the restricted section of the royal library. Their presence carried the same ethereal weight as the voice that had spoken to her earlier, filling the air with an indescribable sense of power and familiarity.


    A woman seated at the table caught her attention. She was draped in a flowing white toga, intricately embroidered with golden patterns that shimmered in the light. Her blond hair swayed gently with the breeze, and her light blue eyes sparkled with warmth and recognition.


    “You have arrived,” she said, her voice as sweet and soothing as a lullaby. It carried a sense of familiarity, wrapping around Athena like a comforting embrace.


    The woman’s gaze softened further as she studied her. “You are just as beautiful as I remember.” Her words, filled with quiet admiration, made something stir deep within Athena—a feeling she couldn''t quite place.