THE GILR WHO SAT BESIDE ME

CHAPTER 2

THE GIRL WHO SAT BESIDE ME

Panel 1 — Solaris Grand Academy

The first class had finally ended.

The classroom immediately became noisy.

Students gathered in small groups, introducing themselves and talking about their Kingdoms.

Adryan remained seated by the window.

He rested his chin on his hand.

Adryan:

“Finally…”

He looked at the clock.

Adryan:

“Lunch.”

His stomach growled.

Grrrrr…

Adryan froze.

Kael, who was sitting beside him, slowly turned his head.

Kael:

“…Was that you?”

Adryan looked away.

Adryan:

“No.”

Kael:

“Your stomach literally just spoke.”

Adryan sighed.

Adryan:

“Let’s go eat.”

Kael immediately stood up.

Kael:

“That’s the first thing you’ve said today that I completely agree with!”

⸻

Panel 2 — The Academy Cafeteria

The cafeteria was enormous.

Hundreds of students filled the tables.

Food from all seven Kingdoms was available.

Kael looked around with sparkling eyes.

Kael:

“This place is heaven.”

Adryan picked up a tray.

Adryan:

“You’re acting like you’ve never seen food before.”

Kael:

“I’ve seen food.”

He pointed toward the desserts.

Kael:

“But I’ve never seen THIS much food!”

Adryan shook his head.

They found an empty table.

Kael immediately started eating.

Kael:

“Mmm! This is amazing!”

Adryan quietly ate his meal.

For a moment…

Everything felt normal.

No politics.

No royal meetings.

No family responsibilities.

Just two students eating lunch.

Adryan smiled slightly.

Adryan:

“Maybe…”

He looked around.

Adryan:

“Maybe I really can live normally.”

⸻

Panel 3 — An Unexpected Visitor

A shadow suddenly appeared over their table.

Adryan looked up.

It was Elara.

The silver-haired princess stood in front of them.

Kael nearly choked on his food.

Kael:

“P-Princess Elara?!”

Elara smiled politely.

Elara:

“May I sit here?”

Kael immediately moved his chair.

Kael:

“YES!”

Adryan stared at Kael.

Adryan:

“You didn’t even ask me.”

Kael:

“She doesn’t need permission!”

Elara laughed softly.

She sat across from Adryan.

Elara:

“You’re Adryan, right?”

Adryan nodded.

Adryan:

“Yeah.”

Elara:

“I noticed you during class.”

Adryan became slightly uncomfortable.

Adryan:

“Oh.”

Elara tilted her head.

Elara:

“You seem different from the other students.”

Adryan immediately became nervous.

Adryan:

“Different?”

Elara smiled.

Elara:

“You don’t seem interested in status.”

Adryan paused.

Then he answered honestly.

Adryan:

“I don’t care about titles.”

Elara looked surprised.

Elara:

“Really?”

Adryan nodded.

Adryan:

“I just want to be a normal student.”

⸻

Panel 4 — The Training Grounds

Later that afternoon…

All first-year students gathered at the academy’s training grounds.

The instructor stood before them.

Instructor:

“Today, we will evaluate your combat abilities.”

The students became excited.

Some began showing off their magic.

Fire.

Wind.

Water.

Lightning.

The training grounds quickly became filled with powerful energy.

Kael looked at Adryan.

Kael:

“What kind of power do you have?”

Adryan shrugged.

Adryan:

“Nothing special.”

Kael stared at him.

Kael:

“Seriously?”

Adryan:

“Seriously.”

The instructor called the students one by one.

Eventually—

Instructor:

“Adryan Qawwiy.”

Adryan froze.

The entire class turned toward him.

Kael gave him a thumbs-up.

Kael:

“Good luck!”

Adryan walked toward the center of the training ground.

He stood before the instructor.

Instructor:

“Show me your ability.”

Adryan looked at his hand.

A faint black aura began forming around his fingers.

His eyes narrowed.

Adryan:

“…Not here.”

He immediately suppressed it.

The aura disappeared.

The instructor frowned.

Instructor:

“You didn’t show anything.”

Adryan smiled awkwardly.

Adryan:

“I don’t have much talent.”

Some students laughed.

Student:

“What kind of academy student can’t even use magic?”

Adryan ignored them.

But Elara was watching carefully.

She had seen it.

For just a fraction of a second…

That black aura.

And it wasn’t ordinary magic.

⸻

Panel 5 — The Accident

Suddenly—

BOOM!

A powerful blast erupted from another student’s training circle.

A magical projectile flew out of control.

Straight toward a group of students.

Everyone froze.

Student:

“WATCH OUT!”

Elara was standing directly in its path.

Her eyes widened.

The projectile was only a few meters away.

But before anyone could react—

Adryan disappeared.

WHOOSH!

He appeared in front of Elara.

His hand stopped the projectile.

BOOM!

A massive shockwave exploded across the training ground.

Dust covered the area.

Everyone stared.

When the dust cleared…

Adryan was standing there.

His hand was completely unharmed.

Elara stared at him.

Elara:

“…Adryan?”

Adryan quickly lowered his hand.

Adryan:

“Are you okay?”

Elara nodded slowly.

Elara:

“Yes…”

She looked at his hand.

There wasn’t even a scratch.

Elara:

“How did you—”

Adryan interrupted her.

Adryan:

“Lucky.”

Elara blinked.

Elara:

“Lucky?”

Adryan nodded seriously.

Adryan:

“Very lucky.”

Kael ran toward them.

Kael:

“ADRYAN!”

He grabbed Adryan by the shoulders.

Kael:

“THAT WAS INSANE!”

Adryan smiled awkwardly.

Adryan:

“I told you. Lucky.”

Kael stared at him.

Kael:

“Yeah…”

He narrowed his eyes.

Kael:

“I don’t believe you.”

⸻

Panel 6 — That Evening

The sun began to set over Solaris.

Adryan walked alone through the academy courtyard.

He looked at his hand.

A faint black mark appeared across his palm.

He clenched his fist.

Adryan:

“I almost lost control…”

His expression became serious.

Adryan:

“If that power had awakened…”

He looked toward the academy.

Adryan:

“I would have ruined everything.”

Behind him…

Someone was watching.

Silver hair moved gently in the evening wind.

Elara stood beneath a tree.

She remembered what she had seen.

The black aura.

The impossible speed.

The strength that stopped a magical attack with one hand.

She whispered—

Elara:

“Who exactly are you… Adryan?”

Far away, inside the hidden territory of the Qawwiy Family…

Qayyum opened his eyes.

He suddenly felt something.

A familiar presence.

His expression changed.

Qayyum:

“…His power is beginning to awaken.”

The room became silent.

Qayyum slowly stood.

Qayyum:

“It has started.”

And somewhere in the darkness…

A mysterious figure smiled.

???

“So…”

He looked toward Solaris.

???

“The heir of Qawwiy has finally appeared.”

TO BE CONTINUED…

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