[Scene: Aurelian Academy — Year 2 Lecture Hall]
The room hums with Resonance energy crystals powering the lights, faintly flickering. Students sit slouched or scribbling notes. At the very back…
Lysander Valenor, 16 years old, silver-haired and gravity-braceleted, is completely passed out.
His mouth hangs slightly open, and his fingers twitch as if flipping through imaginary manga pages.
Teacher (stern, tired):
“…And as we conclude the theory behind dual-resonance synchronization—”
(She glances at the back)
“of course he’s asleep again.”
She calmly walks down the aisle, pointer stick in hand.
[WHACK!]
Lysander:
“AGH—!!! The hero survives?!”
He jolts awake, fists clenched in dream-defense mode.
Class:
(Laughing softly)
Teacher:
(Deadpan)
“Glad you’re so invested in your imagination, Mr. Valenor. See me after class.”
[Scene: Bell rings — Students exit]
Lysander stays behind, rubbing his head. The teacher looks at him, genuinely worried.
Teacher:
“You’re not a bad student, Lysander. But lately, you’ve been slacking off more than usual… You’re talented — you know that, right?”
Just then, a student courier peeks in through the door and hands the teacher a sealed envelope.
Teacher (opening it):
“Hm… Looks like you’ve been summoned to the principal’s office.”
Lysander (groaning):
“What did I do this time?”
[Scene Change: Principal’s Office — Executive Wing]
A grand office with floating data panels, shimmering resonance waterfalls flowing down the walls, and a faintly glowing symbol of the Valenor crest embedded in the glass floor.
Inside:
Three students wait, all looking confused Amara Nullis, arms crossed, her uniform already slightly damaged like she got into a fight on the way here
Seren Sylvaris, silently reading the room, silver-thread wrapped around one finger, watching everything and everyone.
Lysander, who just arrived, still half-awake.
A large chair turns slowly — revealing none other than Caelen Valenor, in full professor drip, legs crossed, holding a report upside down and pretending to read.
Caelen (without looking up):
“So… this is what they send me. A comic reader, a quiet boy, and an angry chihuahua.”
Amara:
“What did you just call me?”
Caelen (grinning):
“Relax. You’re all here because I picked you. Though the higher-ups will say it was their idea. Politics.”
Seren (quietly):
“Why would you handpick us?”
Caelen:
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“Because I see things others don’t. Potential. Chaos. Disruption. Also, I got bored and wanted to test a theory.”
He tosses a folder onto the desk — stamped with the name:
“UNIT 0: Special Team”
Caelen (serious tone for the first time):
“You’re not just students anymore. You’re part of something off the record. Missions, combat, intel gathering… high risk, low recognition.”
Lysander:
“…Cool name though.”
Caelen:
“Unit 0. Zero expectations. Zero excuses.”
He then leans back, smug as ever.
Caelen (grinning):
“Now… who wants to nearly die in a training exercise before lunch?”
Scene: Aurelian Academy – Open Training Grounds]
The sun beams down on a wide, dust-cleared field. In the distance, the academy’s towering spires glint with embedded resonance crystals. Three figures stand ready. Or… somewhat ready.
Amara Nullis is already bouncing on the balls of her feet, fists clenched, barely containing her energy.
Seren Sylvaris lounges under the shade of a tree, his gakuran collar pulled up to his mouth like always, silver threads dancing loosely from his fingers, scanning the terrain quietly.
Lysander Valenor stretches like he’s preparing for a warm-up jog… or trying not to pass out.
Across from them stands Caelen Valenor, hands in his coat pockets, staring at his younger brother like he’s trying to figure out how he ended up with him as blood.
Caelen (mock sigh):
“Lysander, your grades are so bad I think you should drop out and just draw those trash comic books you dream about for a living. You might actually be decent at that.”
Lysander (grumbling):
“Harsh…”
Amara:
“C’mon, are we gonna talk all day or fight? Let’s go!”
Seren (quietly, behind his collar):
“…Impulsive as ever.”
Caelen (waving lazily):
“Alright, alright. Simple rules: first one to tag me, wins. No teams, no weapons. Just you and your cute little limbs against me.”
Lysander:
“Wait, that’s it?”
Caelen:
“Oh, and… one more thing You guys won’t be able to touch me. But try anyway, I need some entertainment.”
[Test Start]
Lysander takes off like a bullet, trying to close the gap with raw speed. For a moment, it looks like he might actually land a hit.
Caelen sidesteps effortlessly, grabs Lysander by the back of the shirt, and with a flash,
[CUT TO: Lysander hanging from a tree branch by his underwear, flailing]
Lysander:
“HOW DID THIS HAPPEN SO FAST?!”
Caelen (calling out):
“Too slow, comic boy.”
Amara snarls, charging in like a missile. She throws a flurry of punches, kicks, spins raw power and technique fused with martial grace.
Caelen, barely moving, trips her with a single sweep of his foot.
Before she can react, he casually lifts a long strip of cloth from his coat and….
[CUT TO: Amara tied to a post, blinking in shock]
Amara:
“…What the actual—?!”
Caelen (grinning):
“Better luck next time, chihuahua.”
Seren watches, silent. His threads snake outward, forming a decoy version of himself approaching from the left while his real body flanks Caelen from the shadows.
Just as the threads begin to tighten..
Caelen disappears.
Seren’s eyes widen.
Caelen (from behind):
“Creative.”
And in a blur—
[CUT TO: Seren hanging upside down from a tree next to Lysander, one foot bound in thread]
Lysander (deadpan):
“…Hey, at least we’ve got the best seats in the house.”
Seren (muffled):
“…This wasn’t part of my strategy.”
Caelen (walking away, hands behind head):
“Lesson one: brute force, tactics, and instincts mean nothing if you can’t keep up. Get creative. Or stay tied up.”
Scene shifts to Caelen standing at a distance, back turned to the trio still tangled up in failure.
With a sharp glint, he tilts his glasses downward, a sinister grin tugging at his lips. The light catches his Aria Lux eyes, swirling in a thermal spectrum of color, reacting to the faint emotions and resonance energy around him—a visual storm of perception and control.
He turns his head just enough for them to hear him clearly.
Caelen:
“Tsk… this level of teamwork? You’re better off opening a clown act.” Maybe next time… try working together?”
And just like that—he vanishes, leaving only distorted air and a faint shimmer in the training ground dust.
Cut To: Amara, Still Tied to the Post]
Amara (thrashing):
“AAARGH! I hate him! Untie me right now or I’m kicking ALL your—wait. I can’t kick anything! I’M STILL TIED UP!”
[Cut To: Seren, Upside Down Next to Lysander]
Seren (deadpan):
“…That was informative.”
[Cue chibi version of Seren with a neutral expression and sweat drop]
[Cut To: Lysander, Wedged Into the Tree Branch]
Lysander:
, still hanging by his underwear next to Seren, groans in defeat.
“Pretty sure my future kids just felt that one…”
Scene Shift:
A few students from other units peek over from a nearby rooftop, pointing and laughing as they witness Unit 0’s “training results” — Seren dangling upside down, Lysander groaning about future generations, and Amara tied up like a captured beast.
Random Student:
“Yo, is that training or public humiliation?”
Another Student:
“Either way… lesson learned.”
Back to Unit 0:
The trio bruised, scuffed, and red-faced — glance at each other, embarrassment setting in.
They may have failed the game, but they all silently acknowledge the same thing.
All Three (in unison, internally):
“Caelen-sensei… is strong.”
Chapter Ends. - “Lesson Zero: Reality Check”
(Season 1 Opening ep1)
