Galactic Gallant Academy

The metallic hiss of the ship's pressurized doors reverberated through the cabin, a sound like the exhale of some great celestial beast. Light—unfamiliar, tinged with hues of violet and gold—spilled into the dim confines of the transport vessel. Beyond that threshold lay the Galactic Gallant Academy, a crucible where the universe's finest warriors, scholars, and strategists were forged.

Kal stood at the edge of the ramp, his boot hovering over the floor, the weight of the moment pressing down upon him. One step. That was all it took to cross the threshold of the old life into the new. A deep inhale. The scent of pulse-root, ozone, and the crisp, alien air of a world unlike any he had ever known. He could hear his own heartbeat in his ears, a steady drum against the chaos swelling behind him.

Thrown into the Current

"Move it, rookie!"

A shove from behind sent Kal stumbling forward. A flurry of students, human and alien alike, streamed past him in a technicolor blur of robes, armor, and exosuits. He twisted in place as the crowd surged around him, his footing unsure. A six-armed Aztharian nearly bowled him over, clicking its mandibles in irritation. An insectoid Dranarkian let out a guttural scoff.

"You're not the only one here, you know!" someone barked.

Kal exhaled, centering himself. It was easy to forget—this wasn't some sacred, divine moment for everyone else. This was just another year at the Academy, another class of hopefuls, another flood of would-be legends all vying for their place in history. To them, he was just another face in the sea.

First Impressions and Cold Realities

He adjusted his *DataHauler and made his way toward the registrar's booth, where an alien girl—her skin the color of midnight with constellations glittering across her arms—wordlessly handed him a data packet.

"Accommodation, ID, glyph books, and all relevant orientation materials," she rattled off with mechanical efficiency. "Orientation starts in one hour. I'd suggest dropping your things off first."

Kal scanned the data screen, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar interface.

"Uh…where exactly is my room?"

She sighed, pointing down the corridor. "Third building on your left. Don't get lost."

Kal nodded, muttering a quick thanks before heading down the bustling pathway. The Academy sprawled before him, a blend of the ancient and the hyper-modern—gleaming towers of silver and black, their surfaces humming with kinetic energy, interwoven with structures of old stone and archways inscribed with forgotten languages. Hover platforms darted through the air, ferrying students from one end of the campus to the other. *NeonEyes glided overhead, scanning the crowds with pulsing red eyes.

Finally, he reached his dormitory. The doors slid open with a soft chime, and as he stepped in, a flicker of movement to his left caught his attention.

A Rude Awakening

A loud thud. A grunt of pain. Kal turned sharply.

A young Plutornian—a humanoid with pale, cool skin—lay sprawled on the ground, his data packet scattered across the floor. Towering over him was a bipedal reptile, its scales gleaming like polished amethyst—a Krothian. Its talons flexed as it sneered, its deep-set eyes glinting with cruel amusement.

"And you'd best watch where you're going next time, Plutornian," the Krothian rumbled before sauntering away, his two lackeys chuckling as they followed.

Kal's fists clenched. His breath hitched. Prana surged through his veins, and before he even realized it, his skin had begun to shift—his knuckles darkening, hardening, taking on the luster of living metal.

The memory struck him like a fist to the chest.

Three years ago. Training with Art. Kal lunging, shouting, his strikes wild and reckless. Art, effortlessly blocked each one with a single finger, an amused smirk on his face.

Then—

A single motion. Art seizing his wrist, twisting just enough to make Kal wince.

"I'll say this once and one time only, Kal." Art's voice had been low, steady, the kind of tone that buried itself deep in the bones. "You're either the master of your emotions, or they'll make you their slave. You decide."

Kal exhaled sharply. The fire cooled. His hands returned to flesh.

He walked forward instead, offering the fallen student a hand. "You sano?"

An Unlikely Alliance

The Plutornian hesitated, then nodded, grasping Kal's hand. "Yeah. I'll be fine. Thanks."

"Here, let me help you to your room."

The Plutornian gave him a tired smile. "It's just down the hall."

They walked in silence, the air thick with unspoken gratitude. When they reached the door, the realization hit them at the same time.

"…Wait." Kal frowned. "This is my room."

The Plutornian blinked, then looked down at his own ID. A beat passed. Then another.

Kal squinted. The Plutornian squinted back. Both tilted their heads in opposite directions, mirroring each other.

Then, they burst into laughter.

"Well," the Plutornian said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess we're stuck together."

"Guess so," Kal smirked. He extended a hand again. "Name's Kalvis."

The Plutornian clasped it. "Gandose. But you can call me Gan."

Kal chuckled. "Looks like I just saved my roommate from getting trampled on day one."

Gan grinned, the light glinting off his pale skin. "And I just got lucky enough to have a roommate who's not an absolute gutterspawn."

Kal smirked. "Give it time."

They stepped inside, the door sealing behind them. Outside, the Academy pulsed with life—young warriors, scholars, and explorers from across the galaxies setting foot on the path toward greatness.

And among them, Kal was no longer the boy who had first set foot on that transport ship. No longer the child haunted by his past, driven solely by anger. He was something else now. Something more.

A storm on the horizon. A future unwritten. A legend in the making.

Glossary

DataHauler - a duffel-like bag w/ built-in encrypted storage for digital and physical gear

NeonEye - a compact surveillance drone with adaptive cloaking

Gutterspawn - it originally was a rough, urban insult for someone of low status that evolved into a more versatile insult