Chapter 13: Arrival at Astral academy
Six months had passed since Master Kai vanished into the night, leaving behind only silence and memory. The mountain temple stood empty, but the boy remained — training alone, refining what little guidance remained, and listening to the whisper of the divine within.
Anay stood now at the colossal gates of Astral Academy. The name alone carried weight, known across the realms as the cradle of future Guardians, Inheritors, and Sovereigns. He took a breath, feeling the subtle pulse of energy in the air. The wind here was different — sharp and clear, tinged with power. Above him, the sky shimmered with celestial streams of light, and monumental towers floated gracefully in orbit around the main campus, like silent sentinels in the void.
As he stepped through the arched gateway, the world within Astral revealed itself.
The Academy grounds stretched endlessly in all directions. To his right sprawled the training arenas — vast marble-floored domes and elemental zones where students clashed in duels and honed their spiritual abilities. Lightning cracked in one corner, flames roared in another, and translucent shields shimmered where students practiced defense. Every corner buzzed with raw ambition.
To his left, a towering pyramid-like structure pulsed with a strange violet glow. This was the Pressure Vault, where gravity could be altered and spiritual energy compressed to force breakthroughs. It was said only the truly determined trained there. Above the structure, glowing rings floated — astral circuits used for airborne combat and chakra manipulation.
And straight ahead stood the main academy building — a majestic fortress of white stone and astral steel. Spires rose like fangs into the sky, each one humming with divine seals and ancient technology. This was the heart of Astral Academy: home to the Grand Instructors, Divine Archives, the Resonance Chambers, and more. Its presence was commanding — a symbol of order and limitless potential.
And to the right of the main building he glimpsed the Nutrition Dome, a glass-paneled sanctuary filled with vibrant flora and food infused with spiritual essence, where students gathered to eat, rest, and recover.
His gaze wandered skyward — across floating sparring rings and suspended meditation platforms where students levitated mid-air, legs crossed, eyes closed, caught in deep focus.
Then, suddenly, a calm yet commanding voice echoed through the air.
"All new applicants, please proceed to the Entrance Examination Hall. Orientation begins in five minutes."
The voice came not from a person, but from an intelligent spiritual construct — a projection AI woven from divine codes and astral threads. It appeared briefly in the sky above in the form of a glowing sigil, then vanished like mist in the wind.
Anay blinked once, the last memory of Master Kai fading into the background of his mind.
"It begins," he whispered to himself, taking the first step toward the grand hall.