The summer breeze blew again in that bright and quiet day as every students of ArCiel Academy are studying for their exam. There’s only one more week of exam before their summer vacation starts. So, they wouldn’t mind study hard because after this, there’s no works or studying to do besides having fun and relaxing time. Most of them are planning to return to their original world and a few of them spending their vacations here especially the students that received <returner’s licence>. For them, it will be hard for them to reach the end of summer because they will do something dangerous.

Anyway, for now, they only need to concentrate on the study so that they receive excellent marks from the teacher after the vacation. At the academy’s garden is the most suitable place for them to study because there’s many shady trees and comfortable place there. You can call the place is also a romantic place because there’s countless of beautiful flowers planted there. It’s all like pure, nature, flower-field-alike. Though, because it’s summer time, fewer students went there because they rather study at the library thanks to the summer heat. However, Rikuo and Mizuki are forced to study there instead of the library. Mizuki could only whines of the heat while Rikuo just concentrate on reading history textbook under the shady tree.

“Senpai… why are you doing this? Why torture us with the HEAT?!” whined Mizuki as she walks around in a circle in front of Rikuo who just continue reading the textbook. “TAMOTSU! Where’s senpai… why? Why? Is he a sadist or what?” she just kept on whining because she really can’t stand with the heat.

“Hmm. Hm.” Sounded Rikuo and kept on reading.

Mizuki stopped her feet and wiped her sweat with her clothes before turning to Rikuo. “As expected from A blood person.”

“Same as you, O blood person.” He replies shortly without averting his eyes away from the book while turning to the next page of the book.

“Hmm~ I think Senpai is A too or AB… and anyway, Tamotsu…” Mizuki walked closer to Rikuo and kneeled down in front of him. “You looked cool with those glasses.” She praised.

Rikuo blinked and managed his glasses before reply, “Really? Most peoples said I looked like a nerd with this.”

“Well, if you have pile of books with you… It is… short or long?” she asked.

“Short. Anyway, I want to study. Go study for your exam too.” He uttered, doesn’t want Mizuki to disturb him anymore.

Though Mizuki knows he wanted space for him to study, she just really bored right now. “Why didn’t you use it when you are in a battle?”

“Unnecessary. I don’t want it to get broken when fighting. Also, I’m an offender. I fight in close distance. Not long.”

“Then… why are you wearing it when reading the book? You are short-distance, right?”

Rikuo didn’t answer the question and with that, silent fell between them. Both of them can only hears ruffles bushes and grass that the wind made and the sound of the turning to the next page. Half hour later, Rikuo closes his book and done with reading, understanding and memorizing. He stretched his hands up in the air and turned beside him where Mizuki is laying down, staring at the sky. She looked almost died because of bored-ness.

“That person, still isn’t here yet, right? What’s taking him so long?” he uttered almost like he is whining like Mizuki. It’s been a few weeks now that he become their advisor or they become a team; Team 3. However, there’s nothing interesting happen at all. Kaizora always have works to do and when he tells to wait for him, he always late. Usually when he said afternoon, he meant at dusk. There’s one time when Mizuki late coming to the gathering; she was punished by Kaizora because at that time… surprisingly, he was early. Because of that, none of them want to be late ever again after that unforgettable day… too much suffering. So, they decided to always come early and do something together while waiting. To tell the truth, their relationship can be called close friends as they always hanging around together during after school because they are in different class including Kaizora. All he talked about was his little brother. That’s all he ever talked about! Does he have a brother complex or what?

Finally, when Rikuo also felt bored, he removed his glasses and placed it inside his pocket before began to move his lips, “Hey, Nanajima. Want to have another spar with me?”

With that, Mizuki’s ear peeked up. “Spar? Let’s do it!”

Then, both of them stand up on their feet, stretching their body and have a light exercise before starting the battle. After that, Mizuki and Rikuo looked at each other with their blue and golden eyes before dashing backwards, summoning their weapons. The score is now 12-12. Someone will take the lead if one of them won the fight. Battle after battle, they began to understand each other moves and tactics. When Mizuki or Rikuo find out what their weaknesses are, they will cover it except for long-ranged battle and close-ranged battle. Mizuki can’t really handle with close-range while Rikuo can’t do with long-range. That’s the reason why they made a team together; to cover their ultimate weaknesses. However, Rikuo and Mizuki already able to moves in high speed so that they can approach their enemies or ran away from their enemies. So, it would be hard for their foes to battle against them. But till now, they never fought real enemies… boring and blamed to not enough teammates!

Rikuo slid to his left, dodging small fire. The small fire balls disappeared before reaching the garden’s flowers. They are still reminded that this is the academy’s garden. They’ll be in trouble if one of the flowers got burned. And this is their bet. Whoever wins without damaging the garden is the winner. 

The blue haired female student dashed to the nearest building wall and climbed it using her feet. When she feels that she couldn’t climb anymore, she jumped to the air and began to shoots the fire ball at Rikuo. She always uses this technique to get her positions in the air so that she can view her foes better than on the ground. However, due to the bet’s conditions, she can only shoot small fire balls. It can’t damages the foe much but the fire balls are really fast.

For Rikuo, since Mizuki’s magic attacks are limited, he may just win the bet but Mizuki isn’t only strong in using magic but she also good with controlling her magic skills. So, the winner of this bet is still unknown.

The spar between them keeps on continuing for hours till the really serious about winning this betting. Mizuki began to shoot fire balls rapidly while Rikuo just dodge the attack easily and approaches her so that he could be the offender next. Mizuki tried to keep the distance between them but her fatigue become worst. Then, just in a few minutes, Rikuo already reached her back and swings his black sword. Mizuki defended it with her sword as she tried to endurance the pressure. Rikuo smiled and pushed his sword, making Mizuki backed her sword away. With that, they already know the winner of today.

Suddenly, Mizuki curved a smirk at her lips. Fire balls was casted to surround herself and in the same time, making Rikuo backed away from the female student. Then, Mizuki dashed forward, making her sword clashed with the black sword.

For the first time, Rikuo was totally shocked. His eyes become wide and he called out for Mizuki. “Battle is over, Nanajima! At your back! Your previous flame caught the flowers on fire!” This time, Rikuo tried to calm himself from the shock because Mizuki seems like… out of her character because she just ignore the fact that the academy’s garden may caught by fire thanks to the summer heat if they didn’t take out that flame. “Nanajima!” Rikuo called her name once more but she still didn’t snap from her serious gaze to Rikuo. “Tch” Rikuo sounded before pushing Mizuki’s sword and swiftly, slashed Mizuki’s sword away from her, making the sword flew away from the owner and making it’s obvious that he is the winner.

‘I… can’t control myself…’ uttered Mizuki in her mind.

“Geez, Nanajima. It’s just a spar. This isn’t like you at all.” Rikuo stated as he reached to water pipe and sprays the water to the burnt flowers. “We going to get yelled if the gardener found out about this…” he sighed.

‘Why can’t I move my body?’ Mizuki uttered in her mind again before noticing that her body moves on its own, walking closer to Rikuo’s back. Then, her hand rises directly at Rikuo and she began to cast a spell; A huge fire ball magic that able to make Rikuo in critical conditions. ‘Tamotsu! Watch OUT!’ She yelled, closing her eyes and tries her best to takes over her body back.

Rikuo scents danger behind him but he couldn’t feel anyone around them besides he and Mizuki. Slowly, Rikuo turned his back to make sure it’s just a feeling but it isn’t.

“It’s too late.” Mizuki said in different and dark tone.

In a few seconds, the flame ball is released and tick smokes were created due to the impact. ‘Tamotsu, Tamotsu…’ Mizuki kept calling his name in her mind. This really shouldn’t happen! She just used a powerful magic to her own teammates. What just happen? Why can’t she control her body? Is Tamotsu alright? Please… let Rikuo be okay. Suddenly, a chuckle came out from Mizuki which made her shocked to what actually possessed her body. Is it… her? Suddenly, Mizuki is pushed to the ground and she felt heavy thing on her. Now, not only the ‘real’ Mizuki became really confused but the other ‘Mizuki’ is confused too.

“Release my student.” A sharp and dangerous whisper can be heard. The voice is somewhat very familiar to Mizuki. Her body turned up to see who it is but her head was pushed to the ground once more, making her eyes unable to see the person’s face. “Do it or I’ll kill you right now.” another threat can be heard.

“Tch.” A cursing sound can be heard before Mizuki feels her body is getting lighter and she able to move her hands and body once more. However, able to controls her own body isn’t going to change the fact that she just intend to kill her own and only teammate. ‘Is he alright? Is he saved? Is he… still alive?’ The word that currently playing in Mizuki’s mind...

When the tick smoke has disappeared slowly, Mizuki was surprised that Rikuo didn’t even had any scratch at all. Mizuki felt relieved. However, the something inserts more to her surprise is the person who managed to protect Rikuo from harm with only his sword. The person is a male, perhaps younger, with crimson eyes, sienna hair and bandages warped at his head, hand, legs and other parts of his body. Plus, his expression… there’s nothing to describe in his face. He is emotionless.

“Good work.” A voice can be heard behind. The voice that is very familiar with previous threating voice. It’s Kaizora.

Kaizora stands on his feet and patted Mizuki’s head before looking around to see if there are any more problems. While that, Rikuo who was frozen become confused, “What was that for, Nanajima?” he asked, wanting answers for her offence on him.

The female student snapped from her stupor as become speechless, don’t know what reason she attacked him just now. “I…” she lost her words.

Suddenly, Kaizora peeked behind Mizuki and he gave a smile to Rikuo as he pulled Mizuki’s shoulder lightly. “She helped me on something.” He uttered the reason. Mizuki blinked to hear what Kaizora just said and just nodded when saw her advisor’s smiling at her. Then, Rikuo just shrugged which means he believed what Kaizora just said. Mizuki relieved while Kaizora ignores both of them and walks to the fourth person who is still a mystery to both Mizuki and Rikuo.

Thought that the two members are still confused with what just happen, Kaizora pulled the person in front of him, showing the person’s face to Mizuki and Rikuo. “This person who just saved your life here… will be your new teammates.” He uttered which made they become more confused than before.

Dream IV Awaken.