The elevator hummed softly as it ascended through the gleaming heart of Avionis, each level of the Sanctuary Spire passing by like a living mural. The transparent walls gave a full view of the floating city. A maze of silver bridges, glowing arteries of light, and distant aerial ships cutting smooth paths across the blue expanse. The group of Espers stood close together, necks craning to take it all in.

  “This place is huge…” Zane muttered, eyes darting across the sweeping skyline.

  “It’s more than that,” Violet said from the front of the group, her voice calm but proud. “Avionis isn’t just a city. It’s a promise that even after everything. War, rifts, the fall. We can still build upward.”

  Victor, walking beside her, nodded once. “Each tier has its function. Lower ring is commerce and docking. Middle ring has administration, research, and defense. Top ring is the Sanctuary. That’s where we are.”

  The elevator slowed, light flickering around the glass panels as the view shifted to the upper ring. The Sanctuary Spire stretched upward like a tower of crystal and alloy, lined with luminous veins of blue and gold energy that pulsed gently beneath its sleek surfaces.

  When the doors parted, a faint hiss of cold air brushed their faces.

  “Welcome to your quarters,” Violet said, turning with a smile. “Dorms are split between male and female wings. You’ll find your names marked on the doors. Showers, kitchens, training bays. All within this level. The meeting starts in three hours, so rest up or explore.”

  Some immediately collapsed at the nearest couch.

  Caleb stretched, shoulders cracking. “Rest sounds perfect.”

  Carter dropped beside him, rubbing the back of his neck. “Same. I’ve had enough turbulence for one day.”

  Lysander leaned on the doorframe of the hallway, smirking. “You all really gonna waste the chance to explore a literal sky capital?”

  Elisa’s head popped up from behind him. “Finally! Someone who gets it.”

  Zane sighed, already seeing where this was going. “You’re gonna drag us whether we say yes or no, aren’t you?”

  “Yep.”

  Ten minutes later, four figures: Elisa, Zane, Daisy, and Lysander were wandering the radiant corridors of the Sanctuary Spire.

  The architecture was a fusion of future and myth: metallic trees spiraled upward, their branches etched with faint glyphs; holographic banners shimmered midair with emblems of the WEO factions; the distant hum of airships echoed faintly beyond the transparent walls.

  Elisa darted from one corridor to another, peering through observation decks and leaning over railings to watch the world below. “Look at that! Is that a griffin taxi?!”

  “Probably an outworlder ride service,” Daisy guessed, half amused, half breathless trying to keep up.

  Lysander chuckled. “Careful, You’re gonna—”

  Thud—!

  Elisa collided with something. Or rather, someone. Hard.

  The impact sent her stumbling back and onto the polished floor. Her breath caught as she looked up.

  The figure she’d hit was towering. At least two meters tall, broad-shouldered but elegant in posture. A woman with deep auburn hair tied in a bun beneath a black officer’s hat, golden chain insignia glinting faintly in the Spire’s light. Sharp amber eyes met Elisa’s, softened by mild surprise.

  “Ah. My apologies,” the woman said, lowering herself and offering a gloved hand. “Are you alright?”

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  Elisa blinked, momentarily starstruck. “Y-Yeah! I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you—”

  “Rin Saeki,” the woman introduced, her voice calm, slightly low, with a soldier’s cadence. “squadmate under Violet and Victor’s supervision.”

  Elisa grabbed her hand and shook it quickly. “Elisa. From Aiden’s squad! Wow, you’re tall. how tall are you? Two meters? Do you eat a lot? Are you human? You look human but your aura’s kind of—”

  “Uh—” Rin’s composure faltered as her eyes darted between Daisy and the two boys approaching. “She’s… energetic.”

  Zane rubbed his face. “You have no idea.”

  Before Rin could answer another of Elisa’s rapid-fire questions, a playful voice rang from behind her.

  “Saeki-san! You ran off again!”

  They turned to see a girl with platinum hair streaked in pastel hues, glowing choker and neon sneakers catching the light as she bounded over.

  “Serena Raye, a.k.a. N0VAST@R, at your service!” she announced with a grin before spotting Zane. Her eyes lit up. “Zane!”

  “Oh no,” Zane muttered.

  In one motion, Serena launched herself forward, practically tackling him into a hug. “It’s been forever! You didn’t tell me you were joining this program!”

  Lysander laughed outright. “Well if it isn't Zane's popular cousin?”

  “Favorite cousin,” Serena corrected, pinching his cheek before turning back to the group. “And these are my teammates, Dorian and Rex!”

  Two figures approached through the corridor.

  Dorian moved with quiet weight, tall and broad, his black hair streaked with silver, amber eyes steady and sharp. His uniform was simple but carried a soldier’s gravity.

  Beside him, Rex towered even higher, muscles tense under a reinforced vest. His golden-amber eyes gleamed with a beastlike edge, his steps heavy, measured.

  “New faces,” Rex said, his tone calm but edged. “So these are the young Espers from Carmen and Raphael’s division.”

  Dorian gave a brief nod. “Heard a lot about your squads. Good to finally meet.”

  Elisa, practically vibrating with excitement, clasped her hands together. “You guys look so cool! Are you part of the Monster Generation too?”

  Serena winked. “We’re the next line of chaos.”

  Her grin widened. “You know what? Let’s have a meet-and-greet! Squad to squad. It’ll be fun!”

  Daisy hesitated. “Right now?”

  “Right now.”

  Zane groaned softly. “She hasn’t changed at all.”

  ---

  Inside the Dorm Lounge

  The main living area buzzed with noise. The couches and tables were rearranged to make space, and laughter spilled through the air as Serena’s idea came to life faster than anyone could stop it.

  Elisa and Serena acted as self-appointed hosts, practically dragging both squads into introductions.

  “Everyone!” Serena announced. “This is the team under the legendary Violet Willow and Victor Hale!”

  Her squad stepped forward one by one.

  Lyle Blackwood adjusted his glasses, offering a polite nod. “Nice to meet you all. Try not to break anything.”

  Felix Calder twirled a casino token between his fingers, flashing a grin. “If anyone wants to test their luck, I’m your guy.”

  Celeste Veyra bowed slightly, her lavender hair catching the light like starlight trails. “It’s an honor.”

  Then came Dorian, silent as ever, followed by Rex, whose mere presence quieted the chatter for a second.

  Caleb crossed his arms, unbothered by the towering man’s size. “You look like you can bench a truck.”

  Rex grinned faintly. “Only if it fights back.”

  He leaned forward on the nearby table, arm extending. “How about a test of strength? No powers. Just grit.”

  The room went dead quiet for half a second.

  Lysander nudged Caleb. “C’mon. You can’t turn that down.”

  Caleb sighed, smirking despite himself. “Fine. Don’t cry when I win.”

  They sat across from each other, hands locking over the table.

  “Three,” Felix counted, spinning his token lazily. “Two… one… go!”

  The tension was instant. Muscles flexed. The table creaked under their grip.

  Rex’s expression didn’t shift; his strength was steady, unrelenting. Caleb held firm, teeth gritted, every tendon straining.

  The others leaned in, cheering and betting. Lysander betting on Caleb, Felix on Rex.

  Daisy laughed nervously. “This feels like a bad idea.”

  “Relax,” Carter said, smirking. “He’s got this.”

  Seconds stretched. Sweat formed. Caleb’s arm trembled, but he didn’t yield.

  “You’re strong,” Rex said, his tone almost approving.

  Caleb managed a strained grin. “Training… and a crazy mentor.”

  Then—

  Thud—!

  Caleb’s arm hit the table.

  Rex exhaled softly, not triumphant, but respectful. “Good match.”

  The crowd erupted, some cheering, others laughing. Caleb rubbed his wrist, grinning. “Guess I’ve still got work to do.”

  The rest of the evening flowed with easy energy. Conversations sparked across the lounge. Lyle and Oliver discussing tech; Felix trying to teach Carter card tricks; Serena convincing Elisa to join a holographic karaoke challenge; Luna quietly observing from the couch with a faint smile.

  But one person wasn’t joining in.

  Rei sat by the window, gaze distant. The laughter around him faded into a soft blur. His thoughts drifted to Ariel, the angelic woman in the forest. Her voice still echoed in his head.

  “You can regret the past. You can worry for the future. But what will you do in the present?”

  He exhaled, standing quietly. The chatter faded behind him as he slipped out of the lounge.

  ---

  Outside, the air was colder.

  The terrace opened to a vast horizon of clouds stretching endlessly below, painted in the soft gold of the setting sun. The hum of anti-gravity engines filled the silence, a mechanical heartbeat of the city.

  Rei leaned against the railing, watching the wind ripple across the sea of white.

  So high up… and yet I still feel like I’m falling.

  He took a slow breath. The calm helped, even if just a little.

  Then a quiet voice broke the silence.

  “You’re Moutsuki, right?”

  Rei turned.

  A figure stood a few meters away. A man, around his age, with short silver hair that partly veiled his eyes. His uniform bore no insignia of rank, yet his stance carried quiet authority.

  “Yeah,” Rei answered cautiously. “Who’s asking?”

  The man tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging his lips. “Someone who’s been curious. Not every day Carmen and Raphael both vouch for the same rookie.”

  Rei frowned. “And you are?”

  The silver-haired man lifted his hand, pointing toward him. “The one who’s going to see if their faith is worth it.”

  The wind howled between them, carrying the faint hum of the engines below.

  “I challenge you,” the stranger said, eyes gleaming beneath his hair. “Let’s see what you’re really made of.”

  Rei blinked once, caught between confusion and rising adrenaline.

  “Wait—you’re serious?”

  “Very.” The man’s smile sharpened, almost teasing. “Try not to disappoint me, Moutsuki.”

  The hum of Avionis seemed to fade into silence, leaving only the echo of that challenge hanging in the cold air as the city lights flickered to life around them.

  [End of Chapter]

  Rin design

  Rex design

  Dorian design

  Lyle design

  Serena redesign

  Felix design

  Celeste design