CH6

Chapter 6: A New World

Walking through the towering gates of the academy felt surreal. Rearden glanced around, taking in the polished marble pathways, the glistening fountains, and the sprawling gardens filled with vibrant, otherworldly plants. Everything screamed wealth and power—two things he'd never had. He smirked to himself.

"Guess this place is supposed to feel intimidating," he muttered under his breath. "But hey, bring it on."

The three of them—Rearden, Tim, and Amelia—were herded with the other newly awakened students into a grand hall. The sheer size of it made Rearden feel like an ant. Massive chandeliers hung above them, sparkling with crystals that seemed to shimmer with their own light. The air buzzed with excitement and nervous energy. Around a hundred students filled the space, each looking around with wide eyes, their dreams of power and prestige etched into their faces.

Rearden leaned toward Tim. "What do you think? Fancy enough for you?"

Tim chuckled. "Could use more bookshelves. But yeah, it's impressive."

Amelia rolled her eyes. "Just try to act like you've been somewhere nice before, Rearden."

Before he could retort, the room fell silent. A woman walked onto the stage at the front of the hall. She was tall and commanding, with jet-black hair that cascaded over her shoulders and piercing black eyes that seemed to look straight through you. Her presence demanded attention, and even Rearden felt a faint shiver run down his spine.

"Welcome," she began, her voice steady and authoritative, "to the Arcanum Academy of Dominion. I am Headmistress Viera Elgrave. From this day forward, you are no longer children. You are no longer ordinary. Each of you has been chosen because you possess abilities that set you apart from the masses. But do not mistake this for a guarantee of success."

Her gaze swept over the crowd, pausing briefly on Rearden. He felt the weight of it, as if she could see every secret he was hiding.

"You will be tested," she continued. "Challenged. Pushed to your limits and beyond. Some of you will thrive. Others will fail. And a few of you may not survive at all."

A murmur rippled through the crowd at her words.

"Well, that's comforting," Rearden whispered to himself.

"Silence!" Viera's voice echoed sharply. "You will be assigned to dormitories where you will live for the duration of your studies. Classes begin tomorrow. Until then, explore the campus, familiarize yourselves with your surroundings, and prepare yourselves. Dismissed."

The tension in the room lingered as the students were directed to their dormitories. Rearden found himself in a room that could have belonged to royalty. A large bed with silk sheets, a desk made of fine dark wood, and even a window with a breathtaking view of the academy grounds. He threw his bag onto the bed and flopped down with a satisfied sigh.

"So, this is what it feels like to live the good life," he muttered.

But beneath the comfort and luxury, Rearden felt the weight of something deeper. The headmistress's words stuck with him. Challenged. Pushed to your limits. Some of you may not survive.

He sat up, staring out the window at the setting sun. "Alright," he said quietly to himself, "if this place wants to test me, then let's see how far I can go. They don't know it yet, but I'm not the type to break."

With that, Rearden leaned back on the bed, his mind already racing with thoughts of the challenges to come. He didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain: he wasn't going to let this opportunity slip through his fingers.