The Academy

The wind howled as the ship cut through the endless sea, waves rising and falling in a rhythmic dance beneath the golden sun. Seagulls circled above, their cries piercing the air as Kenos leaned against the railing, lost in thought. His fingers traced the edges of the silver badge his uncle had given him, its intricate design catching the light. Across from him, Atrom stood with his arms spread wide, letting the salty breeze tangle in his hair.

Then it hit him—hard, like a punch to the gut.

"Ah, shit!" Atrom's voice shattered the moment.

Kenos turned, eyebrows raised. "What now?"

"We forgot to check on my group!" Atrom groaned, raking his fingers through his hair. "Thain and the others—we just left them behind!"

Kenos frowned. "Oh... right." He glanced toward the deck, suddenly feeling guilty. "Maybe we can ask the captain?"

"You think he'll let us?" Atrom asked, skeptical.

Kenos shrugged. "We can try?"

Before they could take another step, the ship jolted violently, and a deafening crack echoed across the deck. A rift split open in the sky ahead, the fabric of reality itself parting. Beyond it lay something beyond imagination.

A city—or was it a fortress?

A colossal structure floated in the sky, bathed in golden light. Towering spires reached toward the heavens, and bridges of shimmering crystal connected levitating platforms. The Academy stood like a divine creation, a beacon of knowledge and power suspended over the sea. Its walls gleamed silver, adorned with intricate glyphs that pulsed with an inner glow. Waterfalls cascaded from nowhere, flowing into nothingness.

The captain's voice boomed across the deck. "WE'RE HERE! THE SOURIT ACADEMY!"

Kenos' breath hitched. "W-What the...?"

Atrom, usually loud and energetic, stood frozen, his eyes wide with awe.

Kenos snapped out of it first, grabbing Atrom's arm. "Now what?!"

Atrom swallowed hard, guilt returning to his face. "I... I guess it's too late. I just hope Thain and the others are okay. They're gonna be so pissed."

The ship glided forward, crossing the threshold of the rift. As they passed through, the air itself seemed to change. It became heavier, charged with a strange energy that made Kenos' skin tingle.

With a soft hum, the ship docked. The Academy's entrance loomed ahead—twin gates made of living stone, their surfaces shifting like rippling water. Before Kenos could take another step, a firm hand clapped his shoulder.

The captain.

The captain grinned, his usual carefree demeanor still present. "Heh, you boys sure are lucky, getting into the Academy like this," he said, shaking his head with a chuckle. "Not many get this chance."

Then, just as quickly as his smile had come, it faded. His eyes darkened, his voice lowering.

"You boys have your badges, right?" His voice was lower now, almost a whisper.

Kenos and Atrom exchanged a look. "Yeah, why?" Kenos asked.

The captain hesitated. Then, just as quickly, his grin returned. "Nothing! Study well, train hard! HAHAHA!" He turned, stepping back onto the ship as the rift behind him began to close.

Atrom blinked. "What a weirdo."

Kenos, however, didn't shake it off so easily.

The feeling in his gut told him that wasn't nothing.

As they stepped toward the gates, the stone guardians flanking them came to life. Towering statues with hollow eyes, their stone bodies groaned as they moved. Their gaze locked onto Kenos and Atrom, and for a moment, silence stretched. Then, their eyes glowed blue, scanning the two boys from head to toe.

A soft chime rang through the air. The statues stepped aside, and the gates slowly creaked open, revealing the grand entrance of the Academy.

"That... was so cool," Atrom whispered, still watching the statues.

"Yeah, but what the hell? Their eyes were glowing," Kenos muttered.

"Awesome, right?!"

The grandeur of the Academy was overwhelming. The floors were smooth marble, reflecting the sunlight from the floating chandeliers above. Massive staircases led to platforms that levitated mid-air, shifting positions in a never-ending dance. Golden arches stretched across the ceiling, with intricate runes carved into them. The walls pulsed with a faint energy, as if alive.

Then, the door ahead of them swung open on its own.

A woman floated inside.

She was old, her silver hair flowing behind her like a cloud. Her robes shimmered between colors, never settling on one. Despite her age, her presence was overwhelming—powerful.

"You two must be the last arrivals," she said with a warm smile. "Follow me."

They obeyed, stepping deeper into the Academy.

Kenos couldn't stop staring at the walls, the lights, the floating books that drifted lazily through the halls. Then something else caught his eye.

A shadow.

A figure stood in the darkness at the edge of his vision, its eyes glowing.

Kenos' heart pounded.

Not again.

He had seen it before. The same glowing eyes watching him from the rooftops back in the city.

"Atrom, loo—" He turned to tell Atrom, but when he looked back... the figure was gone.

Nothing but empty air.

"What is it?" Atrom asked.

Kenos hesitated. "...Nothing."

But deep down, he knew it wasn't his imagination.

They arrived at a massive open field within the Academy, where nature thrived in harmony with magic. Trees stretched tall with leaves of silver, their roots entwined with streams of glowing blue water. Hundreds of students sat in curved rows, forming a vast amphitheater. At the center stood a grand podium, and atop it, a sphere of pulsating light.

But something was wrong.

The students weren't moving.

Kenos' breath hitched. Every single student sat frozen—locked in time. Some mid-laugh, others mid-conversation. It was as if reality had simply paused.

"What the hell?" Kenos muttered.

Atrom waved a hand in front of a student's face. No reaction. "This is creepy as shit."

Before they could ask questions, a voice rang through the air.

"The final students of the year have arrived. [1000/1000] Students. Deactivate time freeze."

Instantly, the frozen students sprang to life. Laughter resumed, conversations picked up mid-sentence, and the once-lifeless field became a sea of motion.

Kenos took a step back. "What was that?!"

The floating woman smiled. "Nothing to worry about, young one. You see, gaining a badge to enter this Academy is... difficult. Most students wait months—sometimes an entire year—to be accepted. Instead of making them wait, we place them in a time-freeze. That way, when all 1000 students have arrived, it feels as if no time has passed at all."

"That's insane!" Atrom grinned, clearly impressed.

Kenos, however, was more focused on what she had said.

We were lucky that man had the badges.

His uncle.

Why did his uncle have the badges?

Before he could ask, the woman gestured toward the seats. "Please, take your place. The entrance exam is about to begin."

Kenos froze. "Wait... entrance exam?"

"What happens if we fail?" Atrom asked.

The woman only smiled. "Take your seat."

Kenos and Atrom exchanged glances as they took their seats.

Atrom leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Man, that woman gives me the creeps. She's way too calm for someone running this whole thing."

Before Kenos could respond, a boy next to them smirked and spoke up. "She can hear you, you know."

Atrom nearly jumped. "Damn! Who the hell are you?"

The boy chuckled. "Mike, from Moore. Nice to meet you."

"Moore?" Kenos repeated.

Atrom's eyes lit up. "No way! The City of Trade?! I never thought I'd meet someone from there!"

"Wait, what's Moore?" Kenos asked.

Atrom turned to him, about to explain, but before he could, a booming voice interrupted.

"WELCOME, STUDENTS OF SOURIT ACADEMY!"

The entire amphitheater fell silent.

At the podium, a figure stood tall, his presence commanding absolute attention. The air grew heavier.

It was about to begin.