Fantasia Library

"Shhh!"

The automatic doors of the Student Council Office slid open again, allowing Aizen to step out.

Inside, the ever-composed Claudia Enfield stood motionless, her characteristic smile notably absent.

The golden-haired beauty stared at Aizen's retreating figure before withdrawing two peculiar objects from the holster on her waist.

The items were a pair of activation devices with eerie patterns resembling eyes. Their unsettling appearance could make anyone uneasy.

Claudia fixed her gaze on the twin "eyes" as though they were staring back at her, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"...Was that my imagination?"

She murmured to herself, only to shake her head in denial.

"No, something unusual definitely happened just now."

When Aizen had turned his back to leave, the twin activation devices at her waist had trembled for an instant.

As their wielder—and someone with profoundly complex feelings toward them—Claudia was certain of what she felt, brief though it was.

But this certainty only heightened her bewilderment.

"What was that reaction?"

"Fear?"

"Or perhaps... reverence?"

Claudia scrutinized the devices as if seeking answers from their inscrutable gaze, speaking softly to herself before a faint, mocking smile crossed her lips.

"So even you are capable of fear or awe?"

To her, this revelation seemed almost laughable.

"How fascinating."

Inevitably, Claudia's interest in Aizen grew.

She hadn't initially paid much attention to this fellow first-year student who had boldly walked into the Student Council Office, declaring his intent to apply for an Orga Lux.

The value and rarity of Orga Luxes were well-known. While some students were indifferent to them, most harbored dreams of wielding such powerful weapons to elevate themselves.

For those aiming to improve their abilities, achieve recognition, or make a name for themselves in the Festa, an Orga Lux was a tantalizing goal.

Especially for students with otherwise average capabilities, the allure of an Orga Lux was hard to resist. Many dreamed of breaking through their limits, gaining fame in school, and even shining on the global stage of the Festa, thanks to the power of such weapons.

History was filled with tales of individuals who had soared to prominence after acquiring an Orga Lux. These stories, frequently covered in major news outlets, fueled the ambitions of countless students.

At first, Claudia had assumed Aizen was just another one of these hopefuls.

Were it not for her Student Council duties, she wouldn't have spared him a second thought. If Aizen had left without incident, Claudia would have processed his application formally, then forgotten about it.

Aizen, with his unremarkable status at Seidoukan, would have almost certainly had his application rejected. There was no chance of him obtaining the rights to an Orga Lux at this stage.

But now, Claudia found herself reconsidering.

"Something capable of eliciting such a response from Pandora... yet absent from my 'dreams'... What makes him special?"

Claudia moved to the large glass window, gazing out at the view below with a smile that hinted at deeper thoughts.

"Let's give him a little push and see what happens…"

Outside the High School Building, Central Courtyard

Emerging from the building, Aizen glanced up instinctively toward its highest floor.

"She must have noticed by now," he muttered under his breath.

Being familiar with the original work, Aizen knew that with his current abilities and obscurity, his application for an Orga Lux would almost certainly be denied.

The proper approach would have been to first improve his rank and reputation within Seidoukan Academy. By drawing the school's attention to his potential, he could then reapply, significantly increasing his chances.

If he could rise to the top among Seidoukan's students, the academy would eagerly grant him an Orga Lux to further strengthen him for the Festa, benefiting the school's reputation in the process.

But that approach would take too much time and effort—time Aizen didn't have.

So, he decided to take a shortcut by drawing Claudia's attention.

"With the Student Council President's backing, my chances of approval would increase significantly," Aizen reasoned.

Claudia's influence extended beyond her position as Student Council President. Her parents were high-ranking executives within Ginga, one of the six major Integrated Enterprise Foundations and the primary sponsor of Seidoukan Academy.

Seidoukan's Orga Luxes were, in fact, owned by Ginga.

If Claudia chose to intervene on his behalf, Aizen's application could bypass many hurdles.

And knowing Claudia's complex feelings toward the Orga Lux in her possession, Aizen suspected that demonstrating even a slight influence over it would pique her interest.

If she became intrigued, she might be willing to help him secure the usage rights.

Of course, this was merely a possibility.

Aizen's plan hinged on his knowledge of Claudia's character from the original work. He understood her unorthodox views and decided to take a gamble.

Whether his strategy would succeed remained uncertain.

"I just hope her Orga Lux reacted to me…"

Aizen couldn't be sure of this either.

"My Authority is said to be the ultimate power over armaments. A weapon with self-awareness like an Orga Lux shouldn't remain indifferent if I activate even a fraction of my strength."

With this hopeful thought, Aizen left the courtyard.

He had done all he could. The rest was up to fate.

In the following days, Aizen lived the life of an ordinary student, blending seamlessly into Seidoukan's routines.

He attended classes punctually, practiced swordsmanship in secluded areas when free, and spent his leisure time improving his physical fitness.

He couldn't help but relish his new body. Youthful, energetic, and powerful, it even cured his natural laziness, filling him with a constant urge to move and train.

Though aware of the many notable characters from the original work attending Seidoukan, Aizen made no effort to approach them. Occasionally, he felt curious to see them in person, but otherwise, he remained indifferent.

He kept himself informed through online updates and Seidoukan's official website, browsing profiles, photos, and duel recordings of familiar names.

One feature of this world particularly fascinated Aizen: its advanced technology.

Personal devices were as compact as laser pointers, operable through gestures without needing to be held. Virtual screens could be summoned with a simple motion, allowing users to browse, video call, and more, like an interface from a game.

"This is another application of mana, isn't it?"

Aizen often marveled at the ingenuity of this world.

A few days later, Aizen finally received good news from Claudia.

"Your application has been approved, Aizen."

That day, Claudia appeared in his classroom, causing a stir as she entered with a stack of documents. Her ever-present smile was directed at him.

"Let's finalize the paperwork, then head to the Equipment Bureau together."