Meanwhile, far away at Elemental High School, the atmosphere was far more relaxed. Students filled the courtyard, chatting, laughing, and enjoying the calm afternoon between classes. Lux sat casually on a wooden bench beneath a large tree with his friends Rose, Emma, and Zack. Zack had just finished telling them about something he had heard. Rose's eyes widened dramatically. "A LIGHT USER!??" she gasped loudly. "HAWWW!! I NEVER THOUGHT I'D GET TO SEE ONE IN MY LIFE!" Lux blinked slowly. "…Is it really that big of a deal?" he muttered while scratching the back of his head. Zack looked at him like he had just said something ridiculous. "Are you kidding? That guy Ray is famous in Meridicus! They say his Light techniques are incredible." Lux leaned back on the bench and stared up at the sky, thinking quietly. What's so special about learning Light techniques… he wondered to himself. To Lux, Light techniques were simply something he had been trained in his entire life. The idea that people dreamed about learning them felt strange. Maybe this is my chance… He had spent years mastering his power, yet he had never faced anyone strong enough to push him seriously. "…Hey," Lux said suddenly. His friends looked at him. "Can we go there?" Zack blinked. "To Meridicus?" Lux shrugged casually. "We're off next week anyway since the principal's leaving for some external work." He grinned mischievously. "So… road trip?" Rose jumped up immediately. "YES!! LET'S GO!!" She suddenly realized how excited she sounded and quickly corrected herself. "I mean—uh—the four of us should go… hehe…" Emma smirked knowingly while Zack sighed. "…Fine." The next morning they boarded a ferry heading toward Meridicus. And as always, Lux made the journey unforgettable. At one point Zack suddenly looked down in confusion. "…Where are my shoes?" Lux leaned casually against the railing, pretending to think. "That's a deep philosophical question." "LUX!!!" Moments later Emma screamed in horror. "WHAT IS THIS IN MY HAIR!?" Lux whistled innocently while a piece of chewing gum stuck perfectly in her hair. Rose burst out laughing. But her laughter didn't last long. Lux quietly shook a bottle of cold drink. Then opened it. PSHHHHHHH!! Fizz exploded everywhere. Rose's face was instantly covered. "LUX!!!!!" Despite the chaos, everyone was laughing. Lux was annoying. Completely unbearable sometimes. And yet… Everyone loved being around him. Especially Rose. Meridicus stood tall and lively when they finally arrived. Massive buildings stretched high above the streets, and the city felt far grander than their hometown. Statues of Ray stood proudly in multiple plazas, his figure carved heroically in shining stone. Posters bearing his image decorated walls, shops sold merchandise with his name on it, and even small keychains of his symbol hung from street stalls. "Wow…" Emma whispered. "Someone's popular." They went straight to Ray's residence, but something seemed wrong. The gates were closed and a small crowd had gathered outside. Lux approached a man standing nearby. "Excuse me," he asked politely. "What happened?" The man sighed heavily. "Ray's sick." "What?" Zack frowned. "Since yesterday evening," the man explained, "his condition suddenly worsened. We've never seen him like this before." Rose looked confused. "But… he's a Light user. Can't he heal himself?" "That's the strange part," the man replied. "He tried. Many technique users have been sent inside to help him. Earth users, Water users, even other healers. They take turns trying to heal him, but they get exhausted after about an hour. Then another one replaces them." He shook his head. "But Ray never wakes up." Everyone fell silent. Even Lux. The question echoed inside his mind. Why can't a Light user heal himself…? Lux stared quietly at Ray's mansion, lost in thought. That night they booked two rooms at a nearby hotel. Zack and Emma shared one room. Lux and Rose shared the other. Narrator's Note: When Rose and Emma were alone earlier, Rose had practically grabbed Emma's shoulders and whispered desperately, "PLEASE take Zack's room!" Emma stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Ohhh… I see what's going on here." With a mischievous grin, she agreed instantly. Lux fell asleep quickly, breathing calmly and peacefully. Rose, however, lay beside him under the blanket, completely awake. Her face was bright red, and her heart pounded loudly in her chest. Finally… She clutched the blanket tightly. FINALLY!!! Her mind was racing while Lux slept peacefully beside her like nothing in the world could bother him. Deep into the night, Lux quietly opened his eyes. Without making a sound, he got up and slipped out of the room. The city was silent as he walked toward Ray's mansion. Two guards stopped him immediately. "Stop! Who are you?" Lux scratched his head casually. "I'm a technique user. I came to help heal Ray." One guard sighed. "There's already an Earth user inside. Wait until he finishes." Lux nodded slowly. "Ah… waiting." He smiled. "Not really my style." The next moment— Lux vanished. The guards blinked in confusion. "…Where did he go!?" They had no idea. Lux was already inside. He moved silently through the mansion until he found the room where Ray was lying. Inside, an exhausted Earth technique user sat beside the bed. Lux leaned casually against the doorway. "It's my turn now." The man looked confused but far too tired to argue. "…Fine." He stood up and left. Lux walked inside and looked at Ray lying unconscious on the bed, wearing simple cotton clothes instead of the royal outfit seen in his statues. Lux checked his pulse. Still alive. "Alright," Lux muttered. He placed his hand over Ray's chest. "Halo Rejuvenation." A radiant golden light erupted from his palm, filling the room with divine warmth. Lux had already covered the windows beforehand, knowing the light might attract attention. After a moment the glow faded. Lux removed his hand. Ray's fingers twitched. Lux smiled slightly. "There we go." But Ray didn't wake up. "…Hmm?" Suddenly Ray sat upright. Slowly. Stiffly. His eyes stared forward without focus. "Hey," Lux said casually. "You good?" No response. Lux crossed his arms. "You owe me an apology by the way. Your guards are really annoying." Ray slowly turned his head toward Lux. His mouth opened. He tried to scream. But no sound came out. Lux frowned. Then he saw it. A thin dark blue-purple crack forming along Ray's neck. Lux's eyes widened. "What the—" The crack spread upward across his face. Lux quickly tore open Ray's shirt. And froze. The place where Lux had used his healing technique looked infected, dark fractures spreading outward like shattered glass. Lux leaned closer, trying to understand. "…What is this?" Suddenly Ray's body began shaking violently. The cracks spread faster. Lux tried to stop it— But nothing worked. And then— BOOM!! Ray's body exploded violently into pieces. Blood and flesh scattered across the room. Lux stood frozen. The strongest Light Warrior alive… Had just failed to save a man. Moments later the guards burst into the room. But all they found… Were pieces of flesh scattered across the floor. And no one else.
Morning arrived in Meridicus like a storm. News spread through the city faster than wildfire. Ray was dead. The great Light user… the hero of Meridicus… had died in the middle of the night under mysterious circumstances. Rumors flooded the streets. Some said a strange technique user had sneaked into the mansion. Others claimed a dark curse had taken Ray's life. Some even whispered that an unknown enemy had assassinated him. The only thing people agreed on was this— Someone had entered the mansion that night. And no one knew who. Guards described seeing a suspicious young man before he suddenly disappeared. No name. No identity. Just a shadow. The city became tense overnight. Soldiers patrolled the streets, investigators questioned witnesses, and Ray's mansion was sealed off as officials tried to understand what had happened. Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of the city— Lux sat alone on the edge of a rooftop. The morning wind moved gently through his hair. For once… He wasn't smiling. His usual playful expression was gone. His eyes looked distant, heavy with thoughts. "…I did that." The words repeated in his mind. Again. And again. His hand slowly clenched. He could still see the moment clearly. The cracks. The explosion. Ray's body tearing apart right after Lux used his healing technique. Lux lowered his head. For the first time in a long time, the strongest Light Warrior didn't feel confident… or carefree. He felt something else. Guilt. If he had arrived earlier… If he had understood what was happening… If he hadn't used Halo Rejuvenation… "…Would he still be alive?" Lux exhaled slowly. Down in the streets below, he could hear people talking. Angry voices. Fearful voices. "Someone attacked Ray!" "They said a technique user entered the mansion!" "The guards are searching the whole city!" Lux looked down at the busy streets. If he stayed outside too long… Someone might recognize him. And if that happened— He would become the prime suspect. But that wasn't what troubled him most. What haunted Lux wasn't the guards. Or the investigation. Or even the danger. It was the single question that kept echoing in his mind. What exactly killed Ray?