Night fell over the academy.
The campus—usually loud and restless—grew quieter.
Dim lights lined the pathways.
Shadows stretched longer.
—
Inside his room—
Chrono stood in front of the mirror.
Adjusting his collar.
He wore something simple.
A black jacket.
A fitted black shirt beneath.
White pants—clean, sharp.
Nothing flashy.
But—
It suited him.
Too well.
He paused for a moment, staring at his reflection.
White hair.
Calm eyes.
"…Still feels strange."
A soft exhale left him.
Then—
His phone buzzed.
Chrono's gaze shifted.
Unknown number.
A single message.
"Sector 3. Training grounds. Come alone."
No name.
No explanation.
Just that.
Chrono stared at the screen for a few seconds.
"…Yeah."
A faint sigh.
"I figured."
Sector 3.
Out of the five training sectors in the academy—
That one was… specific.
Closer to the female dormitories.
Quieter.
Less traffic at night.
More isolated.
'…Who the hell wants to have a private talk inside the academy training grounds…'
His eyes narrowed slightly.
—
The walk was quiet.
Cold night air brushed against his skin.
The academy, under the moonlight—
Felt different.
More… alive.
More dangerous.
Chrono's footsteps echoed softly as he moved through the empty paths.
Students were mostly inside by now.
Sector 3.
The training grounds opened up before him.
Wide.
Silent.
Dimly lit by tall light pillars.
Shadows pooled in the corners.
Empty.
Or so it seemed.
Chrono stepped forward.
"…You're here, aren't you?"
His voice was calm.
Unbothered.
A light breeze passed.
Then—
From the shadows—
A figure stepped out.
White hair.
Still.
Composed.
Vayne Desmund.
She walked toward him slowly.
Measured steps.
Her presence alone shifted the atmosphere.
Chrono watched her approach.
Unblinking.
"…So what do you want to talk about?"
A pause.
Then—
He added, slightly awkward—
"…Also, um—if this is about you wanting to go on a da—"
"Chrono Zephyr."
His words were cut cleanly.
Her voice—flat.
Precise.
"Adopted son of Ragnar Zephyr."
Chrono's expression changed.
Slightly.
His eyes narrowed.
"…You did a background check on me?"
No response.
She simply looked at him.
Unmoving.
Then—
"How about we have a duel, Chrono?"
A beat.
Chrono blinked.
"…A duel? Now?"
He let out a small breath, already turning away.
"I'm good. It's too late."
A casual wave of his hand.
"If that's all, I'm leaving."
He took a step.
Then—
Vayne spoke again.
Calm.
Unchanged.
"Why is the son of Ragnar scared?"
A pause.
"…Afraid that a woman would beat you?"
Chrono stopped.
Slowly—
He turned.
His expression wasn't angry.
Not exactly.
Her provocation—
Didn't work.
Not really.
But—
Those words.
Son of Ragnar.
Something about them—
Irritated him.
Deeply.
"…Tch."
A quiet click of his tongue.
"Fine. Let's du—"
—She was already there.
No warning.
No buildup.
No sound.
Just—
Gone from where she stood.
And suddenly—
Right in front of him.
A hand already moving toward his neck.
Fast.
Too fast.
Chrono's eyes widened.
'That speed—!'
His body reacted on instinct.
Time slowed—
Not fully.
But enough.
His vision sharpened.
Muscles tensed.
He twisted—barely—
Her strike grazing past his shoulder instead of landing clean.
The impact still sent a shock through his body.
"…Tch—!"
Vayne stood there.
Calm.
As if nothing had happened.
"Mhm… your speed isn't bad."
She reached to the side—
And tossed something toward him.
Chrono caught it instinctively.
A wooden sword.
Light.
Balanced.
Training grade.
His eyes flicked up.
Vayne had already picked one up herself.
Holding it loosely.
Casually.
Like it weighed nothing.
"How about we make a deal, Chrono?"
Chrono narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…A deal?"
"Yes."
She stepped back—
Then stopped.
Perfectly still.
"This spot."
A pause.
"If you can make me move from here within five minutes…"
Her gaze locked onto his.
"…I'll do anything you want."
Silence.
Chrono blinked once.
"And if I don't?"
"…You'll come here. Five times a week."
A beat.
"…And train with me."
Chrono stared at her.
Confused.
Suspicious.
'…Is she crazy?'
No tricks.
No conditions.
Just… that.
His grip tightened around the wooden sword.
'Doesn't matter how strong she is…'
A faint smirk formed.
'…I just need to move her.'
"…Fine."
He stepped forward.
"This is a weird deal."
A pause.
"…but I accept."
Vayne nodded once.
"Very well."
"…Begin."
—
Chrono moved.
Fast.
Closing the distance instantly.
His blade cutting through the air—
Clean.
Precise.
Elegant.
Kazis Eclipse Swordstyle.
Each movement flowed into the next.
Like a dance.
Like something crafted for both beauty—
And death.
To anyone watching—
It would've been mesmerizing.
"Not bad."
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
Every strike—
Parried.
Effortlessly.
No wasted motion.
No strain.
No movement from her feet.
Chrono's eyes narrowed.
He slid back a few steps, boots scraping against the ground.
Heart pounding.
Eyes locked onto her.
Vayne stood there.
Calm.
As if nothing had happened.
He increased his pace.
Faster.
Sharper.
More aggressive.
Still—
Nothing.
Vayne's arm moved.
And only her arm.
Deflecting every attack with absolute precision.
Then—
She moved.
Her swings came faster.
Heavier.
Sharper.
Chrono blinked.
"—!"
'Fuck—!'
"Time Perception!"
The world slowed.
Her blade—
Now visible.
Trackable.
He twisted.
Dodged.
Barely.
Each swing grazing past him by inches.
The pressure alone—
Was enough to make his skin crawl.
"Impressive."
Chrono slid back, breathing slightly heavier.
Eyes locked on her.
She hadn't moved.
Not even a step.
"…How is this possible…"
No answer.
Chrono exhaled slowly.
Calming his breathing.
Resetting.
Then—
He rushed again.
Same as before.
Same angle.
Same intent.
"Mhm?"
Vayne watched.
But this time—
Just as he was about to strike—
"Future Trace."
—
Everything stopped.
Sound vanished.
Light dissolved.
The world turned white.
Frozen.
Silent.
Still.
Chrono moved alone.
Stepping forward.
Freely.
Unbound by time.
His eyes locked onto her.
'This ends it.'
He raised his blade.
Prepared to strike—
Then—
He saw it.
His body froze.
"…What?"
Vayne stood there.
Still.
Frozen like everything else.
But—
Her eyes.
They moved.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Looking straight at him.
Chrono's pupils shrank.
"…Impossible."
Even in stopped time—
She was aware.
A chill ran down his spine.
But he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
He swung.
The instant time resumed—
Clack—!
Their swords collided.
Perfectly.
Cleanly.
As if she had been waiting for it.
The impact sent a shock through his arms.
"…!"
Chrono was thrown back.
His body skidding across the ground—
Before crashing hard into the training field.
Dust rose into the air.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Vayne stood exactly where she started.
Unmoved.
Not even an inch.
Her gaze rested on him.
Calm.
Unreadable.
"…So that's your ability."
A pause.
"…Interesting."
Chrono lay there for a second.
Staring up at the night sky.
Breathing uneven.
Mind racing.
'She saw it…'
'She reacted to it…'
Slowly—
He pushed himself up.
Eyes sharper than before.
"…What the hell are you?"
Vayne ignored his question.
As if it had never been asked.
Her gaze slowly lifted—
Toward the moon.
Silver light fell over her.
Her white hair swayed gently with the night breeze.
To anyone else—
It would've been… mesmerizing.
Almost unreal.
But to Chrono—
There was no beauty in it.
Only fear.
A quiet, creeping fear that settled deep within his chest.
The kind that didn't come from strength alone—
But from the unknown.
From something he couldn't understand.
Couldn't read.
Couldn't fight.
Her voice broke the silence.
Calm.
Distant.
"As per the deal…"
A small pause.
"You will come here five times a week, Chrono."
No emotion.
No pride.
No excitement.
Just a statement.
Absolute.
Unquestionable.
Chrono clenched his jaw slightly.
His grip tightened around the wooden sword.
'…I lost.'
The realization hit harder than the blow earlier.
Not because he was defeated—
But because…
He didn't even understand how.
"…Tch."
A quiet breath escaped him.
Frustration.
Confusion.
Something deeper.
He looked at her again.
Standing there.
Unmoving.
Untouchable.
"…You didn't even take a step."
No response.
Of course not.
Vayne finally lowered her gaze slightly—
Just enough to glance at him.
"Go get some rest."
A simple dismissal.
As if the fight meant nothing.
As if he meant nothing.
Chrono's eyes narrowed.
For a moment—
It looked like he might say something.
Push further.
Demand answers.
But—
He didn't.
"…Sigh"
He turned.
Slowly.
Walking away.
Each step heavier than before.
The night air felt colder now.
Sharper.
Behind him—
Vayne didn't move.
Didn't call out.
Didn't watch him leave.
Or maybe—
She did.
Chrono didn't look back.
But his thoughts—
Wouldn't stop.
His eyes darkened slightly.
'She saw it..'
A chill ran down his spine again.
For the first time since coming to the academy—
Chrono realized something clearly.
There were people here—
Monsters—
That he couldn't even begin to understand yet.
And Vayne…
She felt the greatest of them all.
His hand tightened slightly at his side.
'Five times a week…'
A faint breath left him.
"…Fine."
Because whether he liked it or not.