Jay left his apartment while the city was still asleep.
The sky above was dark blue, the kind that comes just before dawn—when the world feels suspended between night and morning. He checked his belongings one last time. Documents. Device. Essentials. Nothing more than what a normal student would carry. No excess. No traces.
He locked the door quietly and descended the stairs without looking back.
Public transport was already running, though sparsely. A few early workers sat scattered across the bus, eyes dull with routine, minds already drifting toward another ordinary day. Jay took a seat near the window, resting his head lightly against the glass as the vehicle began to move.
No private cars.
No escorts.
No unnecessary attention.
If anyone looked at him now, they would see nothing more than a boy heading toward an exam—just another name among a thousand.
That was exactly how it needed to be.
The journey took hours.
As the bus crossed regions and the landscape slowly shifted, the air began to change. By the time Jay arrived in Ociana, the scent of salt lingered faintly in the breeze. The sun was just beginning to rise, its light spilling over the horizon where the ocean stretched endlessly—calm and vast.
Ociana was different.
The city lived with the sea, not against it. White-and-blue architecture lined the roads, curved and open, designed to welcome light and wind. Early morning vendors were already setting up stalls, fresh seafood laid out on ice, the distant cries of seagulls echoing overhead. Theme parks and water attractions stood quiet for now, colorful structures waiting for the crowds that would soon arrive.
People moved with ease here.
They greeted one another. Helped one another.
Jay noticed it all as he walked, eyes observant, steps unhurried. This place felt warmer than Stella—not just in climate, but in spirit. A major region of trade and tourism, powerful in its own way, though not built on pressure and hierarchy alone.
He adjusted his bag and continued toward the designated meeting area.
That was when he saw it.
A small puppy sat near the edge of the road, licking at its paw. Its fur was dusty, one leg scraped, tail barely wagging as it whimpered softly.
Jay's steps slowed without him realizing it.
He stared.
Too long.
His vision blurred for a split second, a sharp pain pulsing behind his temples. He closed his eyes instinctively.
A flash.
The small body of a dog lying still. Blood staining the ground. The memory was incomplete, fragmented—but the feeling was unmistakable.
Helplessness.
Silence.
Loss.
Jay sucked in a breath as the image vanished. His hand pressed against his forehead, fingers digging in slightly until the pain subsided.
Then he heard it.
A loud honk.
Jay's eyes snapped open.
A truck was approaching fast, its path aligned straight toward the puppy. The driver hadn't noticed it yet. The puppy froze, its small body trembling, unable to move in time.
Jay's muscles tensed.
It's going to die, his mind stated calmly—too calmly.
Before he could act, a blur crossed his vision.
A girl ran into the road.
She moved without hesitation, timing precise, steps calculated. She scooped the puppy into her arms just as the truck roared past, missing her by inches. Wind whipped around them, dust swirling in its wake.
The girl fell to her knees on the pavement, holding the puppy tightly against her chest.
"You're safe now," she whispered, over and over. "It's okay. You're safe."
Her voice was steady and warm, as though she were calming a frightened child rather than an animal.
The puppy slowly stopped shaking.
Jay stood frozen beneath the shadow of a roadside tree. His breath was uneven for a moment, chest rising and falling as he forced himself to regain control.
The sun finally broke free of the horizon.
Golden light spilled across Ociana, reflecting off glass and water, illuminating the street. In that light, the girl lifted her head.
Golden eyes met cold blue ones.
For a brief moment, the world narrowed to that exchange.
She studied him openly, curiosity flickering in her gaze. Then, as if understanding something unspoken, she lifted the puppy slightly and smiled.
"It's safe now."
Jay's eyes widened—just for a second.
Then the moment passed.
He straightened, his expression settling back into calm neutrality. He gave a short, silent nod in acknowledgment and turned away, continuing down the road as if nothing had happened.
Yet the image lingered.
The warmth of her voice.
The certainty in her actions.
The way the sunlight had framed her figure.
It stayed with him longer than he expected.
Behind him, hurried footsteps approached.
"Miss! Are you alright?"
Two guards rushed toward the girl, expressions tense as they scanned her for injuries. Their concern was immediate and practical.
"That was dangerous," one of them said. "You could have been hurt."
The girl stood smoothly, brushing dust from her clothes, posture composed.
"I calculated the truck's speed and distance," she replied calmly. "There was no risk."
The guards stared at her, momentarily stunned.
"…Understood," one finally said, exhaling. "Still, please avoid unnecessary danger. It's time to go."
She glanced once more in the direction Jay had left, then nodded.
"Yes," she said softly, a small smile forming. "It's time for the second test."
She turned and followed them toward a waiting car.
Far ahead, Jay continued walking—unaware that the girl he had just met would soon stand beside him on Aurora Isle, where masks would be tested and destinies would begin to collide.
The sea breeze carried the morning forward.
And the next stage was about to begin.