Morning at Astra Magna Academy was far from ordinary. The sun had yet to reach its peak, and already the main gate was swarmed by a crowd of students. Excited voices merged into a sea of rumors, laughter, cheers, and gasps.

  “They’re here! They’ve arrived!”

  The first voice rang out like a spark, and as if it were a signal, the crowd exploded in wild applause. A sleek black car had just pulled up in front of the academy's gates. Its tinted windows reflected the sky and the insignias of a noble and powerful lineage.

  From the back seat, two figures stepped out.

  First came a girl with a proud stance, crimson eyes like burning coals, and raven-black hair cascading over her shoulders like a curtain of shadow. Her pristine uniform was contrasted by a crimson cape draped over her back. Every step she took claimed the ground beneath it.

  Homura Kurogane.

  The top student of the academy. And the most feared.

  “Ugh… why are they so loud this early in the morning?” she muttered, arms crossed, clearly annoyed by the noise.

  Next to her, her younger brother stepped out with a very different aura. His presence was calm—almost elegant. Dark brown hair, a serene expression, and a finely crafted sword at his waist.

  “Don’t be mad, Homura,” Ishiki said with a faint smile. “They do it because they admire you—even if it’s annoying.”

  She sighed in resignation.

  “I suppose you’re right… We should head in before this gets even more unbearable.”

  The moment they stepped onto the staircase, the crowd erupted again.

  “HOMURAAAA! WE LOVE YOU!”

  “Ishiki-sama, look this way!”

  The cheering wouldn’t stop.

  A bit farther back, a group of new students watched with wide, curious eyes. A guide—a girl with tied-up hair and a firm voice—stood before them, gesturing toward the crowd.

  “That commotion? It’s for the Kurogane siblings,” she explained. “The girl with black hair and red eyes is Homura. They call her the Hell Kettle. She’s the strongest magic knight to ever walk these halls.”

  “Hell Kettle…? Why that nickname?” asked a curious boy.

  The answer came in the form of a sharp boom.

  A wave of heat blasted through the gates. Amid the smoke, Homura appeared—her hair now blazing a fiery red. Her aura burned with visible rage, like the sun itself had taken human form.

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  “ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE! MOVE ASIDE!” she roared, shaking nearby windows.

  The students scattered instantly.

  The guide simply sighed and shrugged.

  “That’s why. And honestly… the nickname doesn’t do her justice.”

  “And the guy with her?” asked another student.

  “Ishiki Kurogane,” the guide replied. “Second strongest in the entire academy. They call him The Ember Samurai. A swordsman feared even by the instructors. Much calmer than his sister, though.”

  As the new students continued their tour, the Kurogane siblings walked through the halls as if the crowd didn’t exist. One radiated fire and force. The other, like an ember waiting to ignite.

  In one of the academy’s oldest wings, the new students arrived at a wide corridor where glass cases held floating medals, enchanted weapons, and glowing crests—each telling a piece of the academy’s history.

  “This is the Trophy Hall,” the guide said, stopping in front of a large golden plaque. “Here we display the awards our academy has earned since the end of the magical wars, over a hundred years ago.”

  A sky-blue-haired student raised his hand, clearly excited.

  “Can we see the statues of the heroes? With their real gear?”

  The guide shook her head with a slightly apologetic smile.

  “Unfortunately, no. The real statues are housed in the Founders' Tower. These are only replicas and symbolic items.”

  A soft wave of disappointment swept through the group. Still, no one could take their eyes off the displays. The echoes of past legends still lingered between these walls.

  The footsteps of Homura and Ishiki echoed through a quieter hallway, where morning light streamed through the windows, as if trying to calm the heat radiating from her.

  “It’s always the same…” Homura murmured, arms crossed. “So annoying.”

  Ishiki glanced at the floor, raising an eyebrow.

  “Sis… you’re burning the tiles again.”

  Homura looked down to see the stone floor beneath her feet sizzling faintly.

  “Oh… right.” She waved her hands to dispel the mana buildup.

  “Feeling better now?” he asked with a half-smile.

  “…Yeah.”

  They walked in silence for a few more steps, until Ishiki resumed the conversation.

  “It’s no surprise people gather to see you. You’re the strongest. Even the Shiba Clan sent their two prodigies to help stabilize your mana.”

  “I guess that’s something.”

  “But don’t let your guard down. The inter-island tournament is close. And even if they call it a 'friendly exhibition'… we all know they want to pit you against her.”

  Homura stopped in her tracks, her gaze sharpening.

  “The second daughter of the Amagiri Clan…”

  “They say she inherited all of her ancestor’s prana and stigmata. She won’t be an easy opponent.”

  “Perfect. I like a challenge.”

  She smiled—not out of arrogance, but with the kind of unwavering resolve that made her both feared and admired.

  “Don’t worry, Ishiki,” she said, a fire glinting in her eyes. “I won’t lose.”

  The classroom was full, yet the usual chatter remained quiet. Everyone knew the atmosphere changed when the Kurogane siblings entered. Most avoided making eye contact with Homura.

  Except for one.

  From the back of the room, a mocking voice broke the silence.

  “Well, that was quite the entrance downstairs.”

  Homura didn’t even turn her head, but the tension in her jaw spoke volumes.

  “Not your business, Yanagi,” she said coldly.

  A girl with lilac hair leaned smugly on her desk, smiling like she’d just found a crack in steel.

  “Always so sharp, kettle girl. But as president of the journalism club, it is my business.”

  She strutted closer, elbow resting on Homura’s desk, phone in hand like a microphone.

  “Ishiki…” the boy whispered under his breath, “…you should probably step in.”

  Ishiki sighed.

  “Yanagi, if you value your life… back away.”

  “What? I’m not allowed to talk to her now?”

  “It’s not that,” Ishiki said in the voice of someone who’d seen this go badly before. “It’s just… the kettle’s about to boil.”

  The temperature spiked. Homura’s hair ignited in crimson flames, and a pressure filled the room like an unseen hand pressing

  Hey guys! ??

  This is the first official chapter of Astral Zero. I truly hope you enjoy it.

  I'm still a beginner when it comes to writing and turning my ideas into words, but I'll do my best to bring you this story in the most enjoyable way possible.

  I’m open to constructive criticism and would really appreciate any advice or feedback you’d like to share. Thanks for giving this story a chance!