Meanwhile, in the real world...
Brightgate City. Bright Academy.
The cafeteria bustled with noise, students crowding around screens propped up by the faculty to stream the Federation’s official broadcast.
At the center of it all, a certain girl looked utterly unamused.
Lily was being dragged by the wrists by two of her friends who practically bouncing with excitement.
"Come on, Lily! Hurry! They’re starting the stream—maybe we’ll see him again!"
Her friends’ voices were bright, eyes glittering. The reason was simple. Earlier today, they had seen Michael.
To them, it was enough that he looked like the kind of "main character" you only ever saw in stories.
But Lily knew better. Maybe.
As her friends pulled her along toward the largest cafeteria screen, Lily’s lips pressed into a thin line. She was tired of their hopeless fantasies—girls swooning over someone they could never touch.
Her steps didn’t slow.
Because for all her exasperation, for all her rolling eyes at their nonsense, she too was curious.
Curious to see if he’d really appear.
If her brother would show himself before the entire Federation.
And though she wouldn’t admit it aloud, there was something else mixed into her chest—a faint stir of pride, tangled with unease.
Part of her wanted to see with her own eyes just how far Michael had come.
Elsewhere, in Brightgate City.
A cozy fancy restaurant bustled with customers.
Behind the counter, a woman fixed her gaze on the mounted television hanging in the corner.
Mia—Michael’s aunt—stood frozen, her usual cheerful demeanor tempered by something deeper.
Her eyes lingered on the broadcast feed. The news anchors were discussing the Federation’s announcement, hinting that the "selected participants" would soon be revealed in the live trial projection.
Mia’s lips pressed together.
She had always been curious about her little boy. Not just about what he was doing, but about the changes happening to him and many more.
Now, there was a chance to see him in action.
She didn’t want to miss it.
And yet, she was unsure. Would he really show? The reporters had said the displayed participants were chosen. That not every examinee would appear on screen.
Even so, Mia couldn’t help the anticipation building in her chest.
If Michael appeared, even for a moment... she wanted to be there to see it.
But Lily and Aunt Mia weren’t the only ones.
Across the Federation, similar scenes unfolded.
The truth was simple: a portion of the population was already hooked. But many others still treated it as background noise.
What was uncertain—what no one could predict—was whether this divide would remain.
The cafeteria of Bright Academy buzzed with chatter, but the volume dipped as the giant wall-screen flared.
Two reporters filled the feed—one a sharply dressed man with a confident smile, the other a woman with keen, clear eyes and an air of practiced poise.
"Good evening, citizens of the Federation," the man began, voice smooth and polished. "In just a few minutes, the Education Council will be bringing us a broadcast—one that showcases the promise of tomorrow’s talents."
The woman nodded. "That’s right, Darius. For the first time in years, the public will be given a direct glimpse into the examination trials. Normally, these are sealed events, recorded only for official review. But today..... today is different. A select number of participants have been chosen for display."
Lily’s friends leaned forward eagerly, whispering, their eyes glued to the screen.
Lily crossed her arms, pretending indifference, though her heartbeat quickened.
The female reporter leaned closer to the camera, her tone shifting into something almost conspiratorial.
"You know, Darius," she said, "while the supernatural is such a vital part of our world—when you really think about it, very little is actually known to the ordinary citizen. Aside from the supernaturals themselves, and the officials who manage them, the public is largely kept in the dark."
Darius nodded smoothly, his smile thinning with seriousness. "That’s true, Selene. Years have passed, and people still ask the same questions. How strong is the strongest supernatural? How long can they live? What limits exist, if any? Some of these questions have been answered here and there, in whispers or in carefully controlled reports. But so many remain unanswered."
Selene’s eyes glimmered as she tilted her head slightly. "And the broadcast tonight—it has people wondering. Will this be the beginning of those answers?"
The cafeteria at Bright Academy stirred with chatter. Students leaned closer, suddenly more attentive. Even those who’d been treating the whole thing like background noise found themselves listening now. The mystery, the possibility of answers, tugged at their curiosity.
In the restaurant across the city, Aunt Mia gripped the counter tighter, her lips pressed in a firm line. Around her, customers murmured to one another. One man chuckled skeptically, while a young couple leaned forward with keen interest.
Selene leaned forward slightly, her voice soft but deliberate, as if she were letting viewers in on a secret.
"Take knights, for example. Everyone knows that breathing methods are the first step—a way to refine the body, to awaken dormant potential. From there, one can ignite a life seed and officially become a knight. But beyond the raw increase in physical strength, how much more do they truly gain? The average citizen sees them as warriors with stronger muscles. Yet... is that all there is?"
Darius’ smile tightened with a thoughtful nod. "And what about mages? We hear the word often, we see clips online—glimpses of fireballs, of ice walls—but even those videos, impressive as they are, leave us with the same impression. They are strong, yes... but stagnant. Their power looks the same as it did ten years ago, or twenty. Which begs the question: is that really the whole story? Or is there more to these paths that the public never sees?"
A/N; Sorry for the mishaps. All errors have been corrected. Also I saw a comment saying this is a translation. No it’s not. It’s an original novel written by me daily.