As the new term commenced, Ayame ascended the stage in the grand hall of Aetheria Academy, her figure illuminated by the soft glow of enchanted chandeliers. Her presence was both commanding and serene, an aura that demanded attention without effort.

Ayame: "Welcome, distinguished students of Aetheria..."

Her voice was calm yet powerful, carrying the weight of wisdom and confidence born of lifetimes past. Her gaze swept across the assembly, pausing ever so slightly on a figure near the back. Time seemed to slow as her heart skipped a beat. It was him. She knew it was him—or you—she always would.

A practiced smile remained fixed on her face as she continued her address, but her thoughts raced beneath the surface. How many lives had it been since their paths last crossed? How many times had she been forced to witness his end—your end—? Not this time. This time, things would be different.