Chapter 6

I felt the morning sunlight break through the gaps in the curtains, and warm rays caress my face. Finally… Perhaps for the first time since I've been here, I truly feel somewhat refreshed. Of course, I'm not saying I couldn't sleep a little more, but at least I don't feel as though a mountain has crushed me.

My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a sudden, sharp sound. My phone rang.

"What the…" I muttered to myself as I reached for the device.

According to the clock, it was five o'clock. Well, yes… It was time to get up. A quick morning wash wouldn't hurt, especially since, if I remember correctly, a long day awaits me. I wasn't particularly excited about the idea of heading among the people and apologizing to Michael—someone I don't even know—yet I had indeed kicked him off a roof. So this is the least I must do. A command. I obey the command, and that's that.

As I made my way to the bathroom, I tried to shut out all thoughts. I let the hot water wash the sleepiness from my mind, then thoroughly washed my hair. Looking into the mirror, I noted that although faint circles had formed under my eyes, at least I no longer looked like someone who had just come out of an all-night battle. I dried my hair, quickly combed it, and finally managed to dress.

Then I noticed that carefully folded next to my bed was a new black overall and a pair of black boots. They were probably there since yesterday, but I was so tired I hadn't even noticed. I picked up the boots and tried to slip into them. As soon as I stood up in them, I immediately felt that their heels were much higher than usual.

"Oh, come on…" I muttered under my breath. "Either they're preparing me to be a kickboxer or expecting me to train in them. Neither sounds good."

But in the end, I just shrugged and headed toward the dining hall. Walking along the corridors, I enjoyed that my access card practically opened every door. At least that was one advantage of it all…

When I entered the dining hall, I glanced at the clock. It was a few minutes before six. I paused for a moment and looked around. The room was surprisingly full. The people had already arrived after their workout—refreshed, energetic. I didn't see a single tired face. Everyone was alert, as if a night's sleep were merely an optional activity for them.

"These aren't even human…" I muttered to myself.

I sat down at the same table where I had dinner yesterday. Not long after, the little group that had been around yesterday evening also appeared. The short, black-haired girl once again settled beside me, but this time she remained silent for a while.

"Good morning," she finally greeted, along with the others.

I merely nodded, not really sure how to respond to this sudden friendly mood. Then I remembered that yesterday they helped me get back to my room, so I had no reason to be grumpy. Everyone ate in silence, except for a few guys from the group who loudly chattered about various trivial matters.

The black-haired girl eventually spoke up again:

"I heard about yesterday's trouble. It was pretty cool. Not everyone manages to kick an angel off a roof on their first day."

I looked around and noticed that the others were also smiling faintly—not mockingly, but rather… appreciatively.

It felt somewhat nice.

"Yeah…," I finally said with a sigh. "And now I have to go apologize to him."

The girl chuckled.

"At least you got off lightly. But you'll probably have to appear before the ruler too. Don't worry though, everyone eventually ends up before the ruler when something gets messy."

At first, I wasn't sure if she was trying to comfort me or simply stating a fact, but in the end, I let it go.

"And then?" I asked, having a feeling that my day wasn't over yet.

"Then?" she raised her eyebrow. "Then the real fun begins."

"What do you mean by that?"

Her smile widened.

"Since the rookie training hasn't officially started yet—there are still two weeks to go—they're going to throw you right into the thick of things. You'll be taking part in the same training as the rest of us. And believe me, it won't be easy."

I began to feel less and less happy about this whole day.

But before I could say anything more, the dining hall suddenly fell silent. The door opened, and in walked the dark-clad men I had seen yesterday. In the center stood the same man who had slammed onto the table yesterday, and next to him, the blond general entered with a serious expression.

They headed straight toward us.

Our table was the only one still chatting, while everyone else watched tensely in silence.

The general stopped in front of us and looked us over with a stern gaze.

"If the little birds have finished chirping," he said coolly, "I would like to request the kung fu panda to get moving. I understand we have a little matter to attend to."

That was all that needed to be said. I stood up, and with one last smile directed at the little group, I set off. The blond general led the way, followed by the dark-clad men, then me, and finally a couple more dark-clad figures closed the line.

As we exited the building, a long black off-road vehicle awaited us, with several more black cars lined up behind it.

For a moment, I felt as if I were part of a royal procession, not someone setting off to apologize.

I liked this parade.

But when I looked at the general and saw that his expression remained just as somber, I kept silent. Wordlessly, I got into the car, and we headed toward the gate.

Then one more question bubbled up inside me, which I ultimately couldn't keep to myself.

"Am I even allowed to go out through the gate? My last two attempts… weren't really successful."

The general replied coolly, in his usual detached manner:

"They won't let you out the gate if someone doesn't want you to leave permanently. Since you belong to the city, you can roam freely with your access card. If you don't return within the specified time, thanks to our refined techniques and abilities, we'll even dig you up from under the ground—but you'd better not even consider a similar situation. If you break the law, you'll end up underground sooner than you think."

It's quite frightening how they always remind me of that. My mind just couldn't let that idea go.

In the end, I simply nodded and allowed the car to merge into the long convoy.

As the vehicle started moving, I watched the landscape through the window. The mountains, the verdant hills… they were the same as when I first arrived.

But now, somehow, the feeling was different.

The long convoy moved silently along the road. Inside the car, only the soft hum of the engine and the faint sounds of the outside world could be heard. The people sitting beside me remained silent, and for some reason, I didn't feel the urge to break the silence. I watched the passing landscape through the window—the mountains, the winding road between the trees, the distant outline of the city. Somehow, everything seemed much clearer, more defined than when I first saw it.

Suddenly, the general spoke:

"Prepare yourself. Not everyone will welcome you kindly."

I turned toward him, and our eyes met in the rearview mirror. His face was expressionless, as if he were merely stating a fact rather than issuing a warning.

"That doesn't surprise me," I finally replied.

The general didn't respond, only turned his gaze back to the road. But his words made me think. In truth, I wasn't concerned about how Michael would react. What worried me more were the consequences of this entire situation.

The convoy eventually slowed down and came to a stop in front of a large building surrounded by high walls. The gate slowly opened, and the cars drove in one by one. The inner courtyard was spacious, and the buildings were dark and imposing. I stepped out of the car, and as I glanced around, I noticed several people watching us from the windows of the building.

The general gestured for me to follow him. The men in black silently fell in behind us, as if following a carefully rehearsed choreography. We passed through a massive archway and entered a long corridor. Our footsteps echoed in the quiet space.

We stopped in front of a door. The general looked at me, then entered without knocking. After a brief moment of hesitation, I followed him.

Inside, a spacious but sparsely furnished room awaited. A single long table stood in the middle, and at one end of it sat Michael. His face looked worn, but his gaze was sharp and alert. When he saw me, he tilted his head slightly, as if assessing why I was here.

For a moment, we just stared at each other, then I sighed and broke the silence.

"I came to apologize."

A faint, bitter smile appeared on Michael's lips.

"Apologize?" he repeated, as if tasting the word. "I suppose that's something."

The general stood behind me with his arms crossed, clearly not intending to intervene.

"Look," I continued, "I'm not saying I didn't deserve the consequences, but… I think the situation escalated a bit faster than it should have."

Michael remained silent for a moment, then leaned back in his chair.

"You know," he finally said, "I'm not the type to hold grudges. But next time you decide to kick someone off a rooftop, maybe think twice about whether it's worth it."

He seemed amused. It reminded me a bit of my friend Elis's playful nature.

A faint smile appeared on my face as well.

"Understood," I replied.

Michael nodded and stood up.

"Then that's settled, isn't it?"

The general finally spoke behind me.

"I'm afraid it's not completely settled. The ruler wants to speak with her as well."

Michael snorted.

"Of course. Why wouldn't he?"

But he seemed to think it was unnecessary.

The general gave a slight nod, then turned and headed for the door. I remained next to Michael for a moment before finally following.

As I stepped out of the room, I felt the air around me grow slightly heavier. Walking down the long corridor, it became increasingly clear that this day was far from over. Yet, oddly enough, everything felt lighter. I just had to stay calm.

"Hey, little girl!" I heard the now familiar, friendlier voice.

I turned back, ignoring my escorts, a kind smile on my face. I felt free, not fragile in the slightest.

Michael watched me silently for a moment, then laughed.

"Honestly, I'm not mad at you at all," he said easily. "Actually, I think you refreshed my bones a little."

He stretched playfully.

"I don't fall off rooftops every day, so I guess I should be grateful. Besides, you didn't know I was harmless."

I knew he wasn't angry, but his reaction still surprised me. Yet he seemed sincere—there was no resentment, no grudge. Just a friendly smile.

"Then… okay," I finally said, because I couldn't think of anything else.

"I hope we meet again," he added, waving briefly before we parted ways.

I walked back to the car, and as I got in, I glanced at the blond general. He said nothing, only cast a barely noticeable, satisfied look at me, as if marking the matter as closed. Then they bid farewell to Michael, and we set off on the return journey.

The entire trip was silent. No one spoke; the soft hum of the engine and the sound of the wheels rolling over the road filled the space. It was a strange feeling to leave the city—and even stranger to return. But at least this time, I could pass through the gates without fainting or experiencing any other unfortunate incident.

And yet, a peculiar excitement stirred within me. As if I could sense that this day still had more in store. A strange, unexplainable feeling settled inside me—one that, in hindsight, proved to be entirely justified.

Passing the massive blocks, crossing their shadows, we drove through the entire city.

Through the tinted window, I observed the houses, the streets, the people. The city was both naturally human and angelically mystical. I don't need to mention again that everything here shines in a strange combination. Modern buildings blended with rustic elements, as if standing on the border between another world and ours.

The streets were filled with angels… yet humans lived among them as well. Their coexistence seemed natural, as if it had always been this way. Of course, in many parts of the world, humans and angels lived together, but only in this city did my kind truly exist—our daily lives imbued with greater powers. Beyond the city's gates, things were different. Clara and John liked it this way. They enjoyed living among humans, pretending to be one of them.

Through the tinted window, we passed the training academy, where drills had been underway since morning. I watched the moving figures on the practice field, their focus unwavering as they carried out their exercises. As the road began to rise, I knew we were heading toward the castle. I had only ever seen this place from a distance—now, I was being taken straight there.

Someone was already waiting for us at the gate.

As the car stopped and I stepped out, I immediately recognized the dark-clad figure. For a moment, I had hoped never to see her again, but fate seemed to have other plans.

She was the arrogant woman I had previously had the displeasure of meeting.

This time, however, she wore black instead of white, as if preparing for battle. She watched me with her arms crossed, and when our eyes met, she smirked.

"When I first saw you, I knew it wouldn't take long for us to meet here," she remarked in a condescending tone.

It was clear she never believed I'd be a trouble-free recruit. I wasn't sure if she was trying to provoke me or if she simply found the situation amusing. Either way, I chose to ignore her, forcing a polite smile onto my face. I didn't want to make my situation any more difficult.

We stepped into the castle.

The interior was both grand and somewhat oppressive. The walls were adorned with massive, intricately detailed frescoes and towering stone statues that exuded both dignity and intimidation. Rustic elements mixed with modern features, creating an oddly cold yet strangely home-like atmosphere.

Eventually, we stopped in front of an enormous, ornate hall. Most of the convoy stayed behind, leaving only a few dark-clad escorts with me, along with the blond general and the arrogant woman, who stood a few meters away in quiet conversation.

I waited in silence.

Then, footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.

A figure approached—dressed in black, with part of his face covered by a mask. It didn't conceal him completely, only partially, but his eyes…

A pair of emerald-green eyes flashed, and for a moment, I felt his gaze in my throat. My pale green eyes could have hidden in comparison—his glowed with a deep, almost unnatural shade. I had seen him before, when I first arrived.

At first, he glanced at the two dark-clad figures behind me, then at me.

But when he spoke, it was as if he wasn't even addressing me.

"The ruler will not receive you now," he said coldly.

His voice was quiet, yet it carried a heavy sense of menace. Just like last time.

Then he looked directly at me.

"I don't want to hear about a similar situation again. But considering that you're new, I'll overlook this incident," he continued. "Your courage is commendable."

I was surprised. I hadn't expected him to phrase it that way. It almost sounded like praise, even though the coldness in his voice hadn't faded.

Before I could say anything, he added,

"We don't have time for such minor matters right now. The ruler is not present."

As he spoke, a strange feeling crept over me.

Why was he wearing a mask? What was he hiding?

The two dark-clothed guards didn't seem surprised at all by his words. But I couldn't shake the thought. His gaze, his voice… there was something strange, an energy lingering around him. The matter itself no longer concerned me—Michael clearly wasn't angry, and my mind had already drifted elsewhere.

I didn't understand why, but I felt that this figure would still play a role in my life.

As he passed me, I instinctively turned to look back and saw a brief glance exchanged between him and the general. As if, in a single look, they had conveyed a message to each other.

What?

I wasn't sure.

Ugh, why am I always so terribly curious?

But in the end, we returned to the cars and set off.

By the time we arrived, all I could think about was that training was about to begin.

Everyone was already in the courtyard—people, exhausted and sweating, carried out their exercises with full concentration. For a moment, I just stood there, watching them, and I knew…

The real work was about to begin.

I watched the others as they moved, fighting in the courtyard. For a moment, I just stood there, then I stepped in among them. Since I hadn't arrived with the newcomers—who were only due to arrive in two weeks—I had skipped the introductions, if such a thing even existed here. I had no idea who the trainers were, what I was supposed to do, what was allowed, but I tried to follow the others' lead.

I noticed the small group who had sat with me at breakfast and dinner. They gestured for me to join them, and for some reason, I felt compelled to do so. After all, we weren't enemies. I walked over with a friendly smile, got in line, and the trainers acknowledged me with a nod. Just like that, I started training.

I won't go into detail, mostly because the warm-up was agonizing. I had never run so much in my life. The combat moves weren't unfamiliar to me, but as the pain slowly faded, everything started to feel more natural. The more I practiced, the more I felt that this was meant for me.

At first, we fought one-on-one, then in groups, and finally as teams. It was both mesmerizing and terrifying to witness how these people did this every single day. Not just fighting others, but battling themselves to maintain this pace, this strength. It was unbelievable to me. Exhausting beyond words, yet they never seemed to tire.

I admired them. I wanted to be like them.

I focused. I didn't fall, I didn't let myself be defeated. I kept pushing forward, and the more I immersed myself in it, the more I enjoyed it. Deep down, I knew—I was finally where I truly belonged. Here, I could become someone who could protect those I cared about.

Even though I wasn't unfamiliar with combat—Clara had hired people to train me—this was entirely different. Fighting among humans was nothing compared to this. Learning from angels… it felt unnaturally perfect. As if their every move carried the essence of their knowledge.

By the end of the day, I was completely drained. I couldn't even count how many hours we had spent training. I took the last sip of water from my flask when the black-haired girl and her companions threw their arms around me, leading me toward the dining hall.

On the way, we got to know each other. I learned their names:

– Dave—short, but unbelievably fast, like a rabbit.

– Zak—tall, strong, a warrior with incredible physical power.

– Chloe—the black-haired girl, also an exceptional fighter.

– David, Rosalind, Jace, and Nico.

– Emily—a very sweet girl who immediately seemed kind.

They were a colorful group. It was surreal to find myself among them, but it felt good to be accepted.

We were already deep into our dinner when Chloe suddenly spoke up beside me, her voice filled with excitement:

– Everyone, grab your stuff! We're meeting at the gate after dinner!

I looked at her, confused.

– Why are we meeting at the gate? Is training continuing? – I asked suspiciously.

Chloe laughed.

– No, don't worry! I know that after today, you'll probably be reliving these moves even in your nightmares, but no—we're going out to have fun!

– Fun? – I repeated in disbelief.

– Yes, why? – she looked at me with amusement. – Do you think we live in the middle of the apocalypse? Of course, we can have fun!

Jacob, the taller one, grinned and added:

– That's the best part of all this!

One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was standing at the gate.

I put on a white knee-length dress, curled my hair into soft waves, and let it fall over my shoulders. I wasn't a fan of makeup—I liked showing my natural face. This way, I felt truly like myself.

As we headed toward the city, I noticed we weren't the only ones going in that direction. My curiosity got the better of me, and I turned to Chloe.

– Those who are always on duty, guarding the castle, the city… Are they trained for that, or do they get time off?

Chloe explained that, of course, they had breaks, and eventually, we would be assigned similar duties as well. But that wasn't important now.

– This is our night! – she declared and, with a determined pull, led me toward the city.

As we walked through the winding streets, I became more and more excited, wondering where they were taking me. Everyone else seemed just as eager. Emily walked beside me with small, bouncing steps, linking her arm through mine, while Chloe did the same on my other side.

I missed Elise so much, and I couldn't help but think about how much she would enjoy this moment. But it felt good to be surrounded by friendly people—even if our first meeting hadn't exactly been friendly. I was in awe of the way the city was filled with stunning lights, how human and inviting its atmosphere was. It almost felt like I was in a completely normal human city.

The place we were heading to stood out from the rest—it was huge, and there was something truly special about its presence. As we walked down the red carpet and entered, I immediately sensed that this was no ordinary venue. Watching the many familiar faces, I realized that most of these people were likely from the academy. It was reassuring to see them relaxing, enjoying life.

As the music started, I let go of everything and danced without a care. There was a strange feeling lingering inside me, as if someone was watching me, but I tried to ignore it—after all, since I arrived, this wasn't unusual. I had already made up my mind: tonight, I would focus only on enjoying myself, on being happy, on growing—because in the end, isn't that what life is supposed to be about?

I was never much of a drinker, but I did have a couple of glasses of wine. I adored its taste, the elegance it brought to the evening. But I didn't get drunk—neither did my friends. We simply enjoyed the music, the atmosphere, and the incredible energy of this place.

Then I noticed that there was an open stage where people could go up and sing. Chloe and Emily immediately encouraged me, saying they couldn't sing, but they knew I could, so I agreed, making them squeal with excitement. I had loved singing for a long time, especially those old, mystical ballads. And there was one song, in particular, that felt deeply personal to me. I knew I had to sing it.

When I whispered the song's title to the DJ, he played it almost instantly. And as soon as the first notes filled the air, I was swept away. All the tension from the day, all the mystery, all the uncertainty faded, replaced by the warmth of newfound friendships.

As I sang, I felt a gaze locked onto me. I glanced to my right—and there he was. The blonde general, watching me from the upper level of the club. Leaning against the railing, his strong frame at ease, his eyes fixed on me. I tried not to pay attention, but there was something in his gaze—something like admiration. Something I had never seen from him before.

Then, I felt another stare. This one was different. As I looked down into the crowd, my eyes met a pair of deep, venom-green irises. I froze. A strange mix of fear and tension washed over me, just like it always did when I saw him. But this time, I didn't let it consume me.

Maybe it was the wine, or maybe it was the sheer fire of my own will—but I refused to let that gaze control me. In fact, I did the opposite. I met his eyes head-on, and as if I were singing just for him, I became even more radiant, even more carefree. I danced with more energy, I sang with even more passion. I focused on the way the black-haired girl and her group swayed so freely to the music, on how everyone was simply lost in the moment.

As the song neared its end, I allowed myself one last glance at those green eyes. My gaze pierced through his, as if my little emerald specks had conquered his strong irises. I crowned my silent victory with a sly, knowing smile. And that's when I saw it—his expression shifted.

His eyes softened, just for a second. As if, for the first time, they were inviting me in.

But nothing could shake me tonight. Standing on that stage, I felt invincible. No sorrow, no fear could reach me here.

This world had been trying to break me since the moment I arrived.

But now, it had to face the truth.

I could not be broken.