Raiden Alaric

The boar's blood was still warm on my hands as I worked my dagger around the core. With one hour left in the exam, we'd been moving at a steady pace through the forest, picking off whatever creatures we could find.

Nyxa was squatted down beside me, her chin resting in her hands as she watched me work. She'd been unusually quiet since we'd started this hunt, just observing with those golden eyes.

Still trying to figure me out, I guess.

The core came free, its crystalline surface glowing faintly with concentrated aura. I wiped it clean on the boar's hide and held it up to catch the filtered sunlight.

"You know…" I said, more to myself than anyone else. "These boars are too easy now."

"Rai," Nyxa said, her voice carrying that same purring quality it always had. "I want to ask you for something."

I glanced at her, noting the way she was leaning forward slightly, her eyes fixed on the core in my hand. "Hand holding must wait until marriage," I said with a grin.

She spat out a laugh,. "No, you idiot. I want to see you catch a Wisp."

That got my attention. I looked up from the core, studying her expression. There was curiosity there, but also something else. A hunger for knowledge that reminded me of a certain sleep-deprived researcher.

"If I find one for you," she continued, "will you do it? You can keep the core, of course. I just want to see how you do it."

Interesting.

I considered the request. We had time, and Wisps were worth good points. Plus, I was curious about what exactly she thought she'd learn from watching me hunt one.

"Alright," I said, standing up and wiping my hands on a patch of grass. "You find it, I'll catch it. Deal?"

Her face lit up with excitement, a genuine beam spreading across her features. "Deal!"

She jumped to her feet with surprising energy and walked over to a nearby oak tree. Placing her palm flat against the bark, she closed her eyes and went completely still. I could see her aura shifting, reaching out through the tree's root system like she was reading some invisible network.

Is this an innate dryad ability? I'll pester Chronos or Selena later.

I absorbed the boar core into my bracelet and checked our score while she worked. The display showed 8,825 points. It was our original 2,775 plus the generous donation from Thorgrim's alliance (7,650), minus the 1,700 I'd given to Nyxa. Now we can add the two additional boars (100 points) and a hare (20 points) we'd picked up since then.

More than enough to pass comfortably. Now it's just about running out the clock.

After a few minutes of concentration, Nyxa opened her eyes and pulled her hand away from the tree. "Found one," she said with satisfaction. "About half a kilometer northeast."

She started walking in that direction, and Sol, Luna, and I fell into step behind her. The forest was quieter now than it had been earlier in the exam. Most of the creatures had either been hunted or had retreated deeper into the wilderness.

"Sol, Luna," Nyxa said as we walked, glancing back at them curiously. "You've seen how Rai catches Wisps before, right? Can you explain how he does it?"

Sol and Luna exchanged a look. Sol scratched the back of his head thoughtfully.

"I mean, we've seen him do it," Sol said carefully. "But I'm not sure we could explain it in a way that would satisfy your curiosity."

Luna nodded in agreement. "It's... hard to describe. He just goes and grabs it."

Nyxa pouted and leaned over while walking, bumping her shoulder against mine in an obvious attempt to get me to spill some secrets. I just shrugged. "You'll get your chance to see soon enough."

"Booo," she said, drawing out the sound like a disappointed child.

We crept through the underbrush as quietly as we could manage, following Nyxa's lead as she tracked the Wisp's movements. After about ten minutes of careful stalking, I felt it nearby.

There it is.

I held up a hand to stop the others, then turned to face them with exaggerated seriousness. "Alright everyone, this is it. I need to prepare."

I started with some elaborate stretches, reaching toward the sky and bending at impossible angles like I was limbering up for some kind of athletic competition. Then I moved into breathing exercises, taking deep, dramatic breaths and holding them while closing my eyes in mock concentration.

Finally, I broke into what could generously be called a dance. A series of fluid movements that involved spinning, arm waving, and what might have been interpretive gestures toward the trees. I looked like one of those inflatables that sit in front of car dealerships. I just used my hips a little more.

My hips, in fact, do not lie.

Throughout the entire performance, I gradually suppressed my aura, bit by bit, until it was completely concealed. The control required was actually pretty demanding, but I made it look like it was all part of the ridiculous ritual.

Nyxa watched with rapt attention, her head cocked to one side as she studied every movement. When my aura finally disappeared completely, her eyes widened with genuine amazement.

Hook, line, and sinker.

Luna just looked confused, her ears flicking back and forth as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing.

Sol had turned away quickly, inspecting a tree. "T—this tree… i-t's," he stifled a laugh. "It's so f—f-fascinating." I saw his shoulders shaking slightly as he fought to hold back laughter.

"Preparation complete," I announced with theatrical flair, then started walking in the direction where I could sense the Wisp.

The others fell into step behind me, moving carefully through the underbrush. After a few minutes of quiet stalking, it came into view. We spotted the wisp floating lazily between two trees, completely oblivious to our presence.

Everyone stopped except me. I kept walking forward at the same casual pace, like I was just taking a stroll through the forest. The Wisp didn't react at all as I approached.

I reached out and simply grabbed it.

The creature offered no resistance, just settling into my palm like it was the most natural thing in the world. I absorbed it into my bracelet, then turned around to face the others with my arms spread wide.

"Tadaaaa!" I said with a flourish.

Nyxa's jaw dropped. "WHAT?!"

I tilted my head with innocent confusion. "What?"

"What do you mean 'what'?!" she sputtered, gesturing wildly at the spot where the Wisp had been floating. "How did you just... it didn't even try to run! They're supposed to be impossible to catch without specialized techniques or having a dyrad's natural aura!"

I shrugged. "I just walked up and grabbed it. Pretty standard stuff."

"Standard?! STANDARD?!" Her voice was climbing in pitch. "Wisps can sense aura signatures from hundreds of meters away! They flee the moment they detect any threat! But it just sat there like... like it couldn't even see you!"

"Maybe it was sleepy?" I suggested helpfully.

Nyxa began pacing back and forth, her hands running through her hair as she spiraled into full-blown analysis mode. "No, no, that's not possible. Your aura suppression is incredible, yes, but even perfect suppression shouldn't work like that. There has to be something else. Some kind of natural affinity or..."

She spun around to face me, her golden eyes wide with a sudden thought. "Wait. Are you even human?"

"Pretty sure I am," I said, looking down at myself. "All the usual parts seem to be in the right places. Ah wait." I reached up and touched my ears. "Yup, I'm human."

"But what if you're not? What if you're part dryad? Or some kind of demi-human? That would explain the connection with creatures like Wisps!" She was getting more excited by the second. "Or maybe you have fae blood? That could create a natural harmony with aetheric creatures that—"

"Nyxa," Sol interrupted, finally turning around with tears in his eyes from holding back laughter. "You're overthinking this."

Nyxa whirled around and pointed at him accusingly. "I am not some crazy aura fanatic!"

Sol blinked. "That's... not what I said in the slightest."

But Nyxa wasn't listening anymore. She turned back to me with renewed determination and suddenly pressed her hands against my chest, her aura reaching out to probe mine. "I need to examine your aura flow patterns. There has to be some kind of unique channeling that—"

I tensed up immediately, unwelcome flashbacks hitting me like a truck. A certain green-haired researcher's "inspections." Her hands prodding at my aura channels while she muttered about "fascinating anomalies" and "unprecedented data points." The way she'd poke and prod like I was some kind of interesting specimen.

Nope. Not doing this again.

"Absolutely not!" I said, taking a quick step back.

But Nyxa wasn't deterred. "Wait, I just need to trace your aura pathways to see how you—"

I turned and ran.

"Come back here!" Nyxa shouted, immediately giving chase. "I need to examine your core resonance! Your channel distribution could hold the key to understanding your techniques!"

I dodged between trees with Nyxa hot on my heels, her voice growing more desperate as she listed off increasingly technical terms about aura analysis.

Luna stared after us, her ears flat against her head in confusion. "What's going on?"

Sol watched the chase with a knowing look. "I have no idea," he said slowly, "but this seems... familiar." He shivered slightly.

Suddenly, our bracelets started beeping insistently, the displays flashing bright orange in rapid pulses. I skidded to a halt, nearly crashing into a tree as I looked down at the device.

Time's up.

The beeping grew louder, more urgent, and then I felt it. That familiar pulling sensation, like invisible hands were reaching out to grab me. The forest around us began to shimmer and fade.

Purple light erupted from our bracelets, enveloping all four of us simultaneously. The last thing I saw was Nyxa's frustrated expression as she reached out toward me, still shouting something about "aura resonance patterns."

Then the world dissolved into light, and we were gone.

The teleportation ended as abruptly as it had begun, depositing us onto polished white floors in what was clearly a medical facility. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, and I could hear the efficient bustle of healers and medical staff moving between treatment areas.

Dozens of other exam takers were materializing around us in flashes of purple light, and immediately staff members began directing people toward different stations for assessment. Some examinees were clearly injured, so staff quickly took them to treatment rooms. Staff members guided others who looked relatively unharmed toward basic check-up areas.

A healer in white robes approached our group. "Please follow me for your individual assessments," she said professionally. "We need to ensure everyone receives a proper medical evaluation before proceeding."

They separated Sol, Luna, and me and took us to different examination rooms. Someone directed Nyxa elsewhere as well. She didn't fight or get injured, so she's gonna get a basic check-up it seems.

Someone led me to a small, well-equipped medical room and requested that I sit on the examination table. A few minutes later, a healer walked in accompanied by his assistant, both wearing the clean white robes.

The moment they entered, I felt their auras and my eyes widened slightly. Both of them were Violet Rank. The power radiating from them was substantial. It was a rich, layered energy that pulsed with a steady rhythm like a deep heartbeat.

They are not messing around here, huh?

The lead healer's eyes swept over me for barely a second before he moved with startling efficiency. "Multiple bruised ribs, three cracked ribs partially healed, muscle strain in shoulders and back, minor lacerations," he rattled off to his assistant without even touching me. "Start with the ribs."

His assistant was already preparing as he spoke, her aura flaring as she began the healing process. "Remarkable pain tolerance for someone his age," she noted. "Most would writhe with those rib fractures."

Before I could even respond, both healers placed their hands on me simultaneously. The healing energy was immediate and intense. Warm honey flowing through my veins, but sped up far beyond what I'd expected. I could feel my ribs knitting back together in real time, the muscle strain dissolving, cuts sealing themselves.

I chuckled wryly. "It's not the first time... You build up a tolerance when people can't stop hitting them."

"Clearly," the lead healer said, but his focus remained on his work. The entire process took less than five minutes. I've only healing this efficient I've ever experienced was Sylva's.

"All injuries resolved," his assistant confirmed, stepping back. "Full mobility restored, no residual damage."

"You're cleared for the assembly," the lead healer said with professional satisfaction. "Impressive durability for a Green Rank."

"Assembly?" I asked.

"The ranking ceremony," his assistant explained. "All examinees will be notified of their results immediately and directed to the main hall."

As if on cue, my bracelet chimed softly and displayed a message: EXAM RESULTS AVAILABLE - PROCEED TO ASSEMBLY HALL

I thanked them and was directed out of the medical wing, where I found Sol and Luna waiting in a reception area. They both looked refreshed and injury-free as well, their own bracelets showing similar notification messages.

"How'd it go?" Sol asked.

"It was my ribs as usual," I said with appreciation. "Everything else was minor. You?"

"Basically the same here. Apparently, we're heading to some kind of ceremony now."

A few minutes later, Nyxa joined us. A staff member in formal robes approached our group.

"Please follow me to the Assembly Hall," she said professionally. "The ranking ceremony will begin shortly."

Someone led us through a series of corridors until we emerged into what could only be described as a cathedral of impossible proportions. Soaring arches stretched high above us, their surfaces covered in intricate golden patterns that seemed to shift and flow in the light. The ceiling was a masterpiece of architecture. A star-filled dome that looked like someone had captured a piece of the night sky and suspended it overhead.

Thousands of people filled the vast hall, all of them healthy and refreshed after their medical evaluations. The marble floor beneath our feet was so polished it created perfect reflections, making the already enormous hall seem to extend infinitely downward.

At the center of it all, a massive crystal floated in the air, slowly rotating as it projected information in letters of light. Rankings, scores, and names scrolled across its faceted surface in a constant stream of data.

What is this place?

Sol whistled low. "They don't exactly do things small scale, do they?"

Luna's ears were flat against her head as she stared up at the impossible architecture. "How is any of this even standing up?"

Nyxa, for once, seemed to have forgotten about her obsession with my aura. She was gazing around the hall with the same wide-eyed wonder as the rest of us.

I turned my attention to the floating crystal, watching as names and scores scrolled past in glowing letters. The rankings seemed to be cycling through different exam groups, showing the top performers from each session.

Let's see how we did.

I spotted our group designation and waited for our rankings to appear. When they did, I had to do a double-take at the numbers.

Exam Group 47-C Final Rankings:

1st Place: Team Alaric-Apollo-Nightwhisper - 8,875 points

2nd Place: Team Vex-Mordain - 4,200 points

3rd Place: Solo Kaine - 3,800 points

Someone got 3,800 solo? Not bad.

The gap between us and second place was massive. More than double their score. I could see other exam takers in the hall looking up at the crystal with various expressions of pride, disappointment, or shock as their own group rankings were displayed.

I nudged Sol with my elbow, grinning. "Team Alaric-Apollo-Nightwhisper? Really sticking with the fake name, huh?"

Sol rolled his eyes. "You know that's what I have registered in the A.A., so that's the info they're gonna use."

I shrugged, conceding the point. "Fair enough. But I'm still gonna make fun of you for having two names that both reference the sun. Maybe I should start calling you Sun Sun."

"Please don't," Sol said flatly, though I could see him fighting back a smile.

"Too late, Sun Sun. It's already stuck in my head."

Sol's eyes glinted with mischief. "Alright then, so should I call you Rai-Bea—"

"I've had a severe lapse in judgment," I cut him off quickly, holding up my hands in surrender.

Sol smirked. "That's what I thought."

As I looked around the massive hall, I noticed something that made the scale of this operation even more impressive. Our group wasn't the only one receiving attention. Scattered throughout the enormous space, I could see dozens of other clusters of exam takers, each gathered around their own instructors. The groups were positioned far enough apart that individual conversations wouldn't interfere with each other, but close enough that I could make out the general pattern.

They're all getting the same briefing we're about to get. How many exam groups did they run simultaneously?

Each instructor put on similar formal robes, and from what I could observe, they all seemed to follow some kind of standardized presentation format. Some groups were larger than ours, others smaller, but the same general energy of congratulation and explanation seemed to happen everywhere.

A familiar voice boomed across our section of the hall, cutting through my observations. "Congratulations to all of you who made it this far!"

Ironbeard strode into view, his massive frame somehow commanding attention even in this enormous space. His beard gleamed in the light from the floating crystal as he looked out over our particular group of exam takers.

"Out of the 237 individuals who entered this exam session," he continued, his voice carrying easily throughout our section, "only 89 of you have successfully passed the minimum requirements to advance."

Less than half. That's rougher than I expected.

He paused, letting that number sink in, then continued with a more encouraging tone. "But for those of you who didn't quite reach the passing threshold, don't despair. The Academy understands that circumstances during any exam can be unpredictable, and talent doesn't always shine through in a single attempt."

Ironbeard gestured toward the floating crystal above us. "If you scored within ten percent of the passing requirement, that's 1,350 points or higher, you're eligible to retake the examination next week. This retake session will be smaller, with only those who barely missed the mark, and will follow a similar format to what you experienced today."

Several exam takers in our group perked up at this information, hope flickering across their faces.

So Sol was right, good thing we gave Nyxa 1,600.

"For those who scored below that threshold, or for anyone who prefers to wait, the next full examination cycle will be in exactly one year," Ironbeard continued. "There are no limits on how many times you can attempt the entrance exam, though we do require you to wait the full year between standard attempts."

He clasped his hands behind his back. "Now, for those of you who have successfully passed, congratulations are truly in order. Within the next twenty-four hours, you will receive comprehensive communication from the Academy regarding your enrollment."

Twenty-four hours. That's faster than I expected.

"This communication will include detailed information about your housing assignments within Academy grounds," Ironbeard explained. "You'll receive course catalogs, class scheduling options, and information about specialized programs you may be eligible for based on your performance from the apptitude exam you took at the A.A."

Luna leaned over and whispered, "Specialized programs?"

Ironbeard seemed to anticipate that question. "Some of you may be wondering about these specialized programs. The Academy offers advanced tracks for students who demonstrate exceptional aptitude in specific areas. combat techniques, aura manipulation, aetheric theory, creature studies, and many others. Eligibility is determined both by your exam scores and by other factors."

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He paused dramatically, and I felt a slight shift in the atmosphere of our group. Several people were suddenly paying much closer attention.

"Which brings me to an important point," Ironbeard continued, his voice taking on a more significant tone. "Your performance during the examination was not only monitored for scoring purposes. Academy instructors were observing throughout the entire process, evaluating technique, decision-making, teamwork, and individual potential."

I felt a slight chill as I thought back through everything that had happened during the exam. My techniques with the Wisps, Thorgrim, the way we'd handled various situations. Had they seen everything?

"Some of you may receive additional communications from individual instructors who observed something of particular interest in your performance," Ironbeard explained. "These instructors may invite you to join their specialized classes, research projects, or advanced study groups. Such invitations are considered quite prestigious and can significantly impact your Academy experience."

A murmur of excitement and nervousness rippled through our group. I could see several exam takers exchanging glances, probably wondering if their performance had caught anyone's attention.

"These instructor communications may arrive within the same twenty-four hour window as your standard enrollment information, or they may come separately over the following few days," Ironbeard continued. "If you receive such an invitation, you are under no obligation to accept it, but I would encourage serious consideration. These opportunities don't come around often."

Sol leaned over to me. "Think any of us caught their attention?"

I shrugged, but privately I was wondering the same thing. My Wisp-catching was definitely unusual, and our team's score had been significantly higher than the others. Plus, there had been that whole situation with Thorgrim's alliance that had probably been interesting to observe.

"Finally," Ironbeard said, his voice becoming more ceremonial, "let me extend the Academy's official welcome to all of you who have passed. You are now Academy Candidates, and in approximately three weeks, you will begin your formal education at what many consider to be the most prestigious Ascendant Academy in the world."

He gestured broadly toward the massive hall around us. "The Academy has been training exceptional individuals for over eight hundred years. You will be joining a tradition of excellence that has produced some of the most influential figures in modern aura society."

Eight hundred years. That's... a long time.

"Your journey begins now," Ironbeard concluded. "Rest well, celebrate your achievement, and prepare yourselves for the challenges ahead. The Academy will push you to become the best version of yourselves, and I have confidence that each of you has the potential to excel."

The formal tone of his voice shifted to something warmer. "Take some time to process everything you've experienced today. Make connections with your fellow candidates. The people around you may become lifelong allies and friends. And remember, this is just the beginning."

With that, Ironbeard stepped back and gestured toward the hall's exits. "Staff members will be available to answer any specific questions you may have. Otherwise, you're free to return to your temporary accommodations or travel arrangements. Before you leave, a staff member will remove you bracelet for you. Congratulations once again, and welcome to the Elysium."

As the formal presentation concluded, I noticed the other instructor groups throughout the hall were finishing up their own briefings as well. The massive space gradually filled with the sound of conversation as hundreds of newly-minted Academy Candidates began processing the information they'd received.

I nudged Nyxa with my elbow. "Did you guys encounter many other groups out there? Sol and I barely ran into anyone before we found you."

Nyxa shook her head. "Not really. The forest was nearly fifty square miles. My older brother went through a similar rift exam at one of the academies, so I knew the scale would be massive. With 200-plus people spread across that much territory, you wouldn't exactly bump into each other easily."

Sol chimed in helpfully, "For perspective, Rai, Honolulu in Hawaii is about sixty square miles and has a population of over 300,000 people. So imagine trying to find 200 specific people in a city that size, but it's all dense forest instead of streets and buildings."

No wonder we only ran into Thorgrim's alliance by chance.

I leaned over toward Luna with a grin. "Hear that, Luna? Us finding you in all that space must have been fate."

Luna averted her gaze, staring determinedly at the floating crystal above us. "I-it was just coincidence," she muttered.

But I caught the slight movement behind her. Her tail giving the tiniest wag before she seemed to realize what it was doing and forced it to stop.

Sol and Nyxa had noticed too, both of them leaning in with matching smirks as they watched Luna's tail betray her feelings.

Luna's cheeks flushed bright red as she realized she'd been caught. Without missing a beat, she flipped all three of us off.

"Shut up," she grumbled, but there was no real heat in it.

—

The portal back to the Association's Greece location deposited us onto familiar ground with the usual disorienting flash of light. I emerged yawning, the exhaustion from the exam finally hitting me now that the adrenaline was wearing off.

Sol was yawning too, shouldering his travel bag as he stretched out a kink in his neck. Behind us, Luna and Nyxa followed through the portal, both looking just as tired as we felt.

"I'm craving a bed right now," Sol said with a yawn.

I nodded emphatically. "I definitely agree with that plan. I still haven't slept properly. All the adrenaline and fighting is finally catching up."

I turned to Nyxa and Luna. "What about you two? What are your plans?"

Luna stretched her arms above her head. "I'm going to stay at the temporary residence they provide for people who passed the exam. It's for anyone who's just waiting for the Academy to open up to new students."

Nyxa nodded in agreement. "Same here. The Academy provides housing for people who passed so that if they don't plan on taking other entrance exams, they can just stay nearby until admissions start. Then, the Academy assigns dorms."

Sol and I exchanged a look of disappointment.

"Wait," I said, frowning. "Why aren't you trying for other academy entrance exams?"

Both Nyxa and Luna gave us questioning looks, like we'd just asked why they weren't planning to climb a mountain for fun.

"Why would we?" Luna asked. "We got into Elysium, which was my first choice. There's no point in taking other exams."

"Elysium was my goal," Nyxa added. "I don't see the purpose in trying for another academy when we already got accepted to the one we wanted."

Sol and I shared another look. This one conveying our mutual thoughts about their lack of ambition.

"Sol and I are planning to take the entrance exams for Atlantis and Ne-No-Kuni as well," Sol said casually.

Both Luna and Nyxa stared at us like we'd just announced we were planning to fight a dragon for sport.

"You're crazy," Luna said flatly.

"Completely insane," Nyxa agreed, shaking her head. "Why would you put yourselves through more exams when you've already passed one?"

Sol and I just shrugged. "Why not?" I said. "It doesn't hurt to see what they have to offer."

We have other reasons, but no need to explain those.

Both Nyxa and Luna shook their heads like we were hopeless cases.

"Hey," I said, struck by a sudden thought. "Do you guys want to stay with me for the day? Sol was already planning to, but I figured it wouldn't be a big deal if you two stayed the night too. Plus we could all go eat tomorrow before Sol and I leave for the other exams."

Luna and Nyxa both gave me confused looks. "Why would we stay in your room?" Luna asked. "We already told you about the temporary residence."

Nyxa's eyes glinted with mischief. "Oh my, Rai. Wanting me to stay over already? How forward of you."

Luna's expression soured considerably at that comment, her ears flattening slightly.

Sol chuckled at the exchange, clearly enjoying the dynamic.

"I have a place here," I said, rolling my eyes at Nyxa's teasing. "Not a room. An actual house."

Luna's ears perked up with interest, and Nyxa's eyebrows rose in surprise.

I realized what they were probably thinking and gave them a wry smile. "It's... hard to explain."

Sol nodded solemnly. "We don't have enough chairs for that conversation today."

Both Luna and Nyxa looked confused at his cryptic comment.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Seraphina's number. She picked up on the second ring.

"Seraphina, quick question, where exactly is the house in Greece?"

"I should have a maid already waiting there," she replied efficiently. "I expected you would stay there at least a day or two between exams if you weren't leaving immediately."

"Right, but where might they be? And please tell me it's not ultra-luxurious," I pleaded.

There was a telling silence on the other end.

"The maid will be there shortly to escort you," Seraphina said, completely ignoring my plea. "Please remain where you are."

"Seraphina, you didn't answer my question about it not being ultra luxurious."

"I'll contact you tomorrow morning after you've rested," she said, and promptly hung up.

I stared at my phone, then looked up at the sky with a pained expression, silently praying it wasn't going to be ridiculously over-the-top.

I turned to Luna and Nyxa. "So… are you in or out?"

Nyxa shrugged casually. "I'm in. This sounds interesting."

Luna hesitated for a moment, clearly feeling the peer pressure. "Fine, I'll stay the night."

While we waited, I found myself looking around nervously. Every luxury car that approached gave me a mini heart attack. Sleek sedans, expensive SUVs, each one making me worry about what kind of statement Seraphina's choice of transportation would make.

Finally, a black Sprinter van pulled up, and I spotted an elf woman behind the wheel. I sighed in relief at seeing something relatively normal.

Thank the Celestial, just a van.

But as I began walking toward it, my steps slowed as memories hit me. I remembered what the inside of these things looked like when my parents had used them. Leather everything, mini bars, entertainment systems that cost more than most people's cars.

Shit.

The maid parked near the curb, exited gracefully, and walked directly toward me. She stopped a few feet away and performed a perfect bow, her hands folded neatly in front of her.

I want to crawl under a rock.

"Good afternoon, Master Alaric," she said with full formal decorum. "I am here to escort you to your residence. I trust your examination went well?"

I could practically feel Seraphina's influence in every word of that greeting.

Sol was biting his lip, clearly trying to stifle laughter. Luna and Nyxa were both giving me looks of deep suspicion, their eyes narrowing as they processed what they were witnessing. Their looks said, "Master Alaric?"

"Y-yeah," I managed to respond.

"Wonderful. I am Dorothea, and I shall be attending to your needs during your stay," she said with practiced formality. She moved to open the van's side door with a flourish.

The interior was, of course, absolutely pristine. Cream leather seats that probably cost more than most people's monthly rent, polished wood trim, multiple tablets mounted in custom holders, and what looked like a fully stocked refreshment center.

I let out a defeated sigh.

Sol came over and patted my back sympathetically. "It's okay, buddy."

We all climbed into the van, and Dorothea smoothly pulled away from the curb. Luna was staring around the interior with wide eyes, clearly bewildered by the level of luxury in what she'd expected to be a simple van ride.

Sol had immediately gravitated toward one of the tablets, poking at the screen and exploring whatever they loaded on it.

Nyxa, however, had her eyes locked directly on me with a mischievous grin that had somehow gotten even wider. Her interest in me had clearly shot up several notches, and I could practically see the gears turning in her head.

I just slumped back in my seat with a defeated expression, resigned to my fate.

Driving through the Greek countryside, I found myself repeating the same desperate mantra in my head over and over again.

Please don't be ultra-luxurious. Please don't be ultra-luxurious. Please don't be ultra-luxurious.

After about twenty minutes, Dorothea turned down a winding private road that led up into the hills. My stomach started dropping as we approached what people could only describe as an architectural masterpiece built into the hillside.

The moment the house came into full view, I felt my soul leave my body.

It wasn't a house. It was a multi-level modern marvel of curves and flowing lines, with massive floor-to-ceiling windows that glowed with warm light. Circular terraces wrapped around the structure at different levels, each one featuring its own pools and outdoor seating areas. The entire thing looked like it had been carved from the hillside itself.

Dorothea pulled into a circular driveway that was easily large enough to park a dozen cars.

"Whoa," Sol breathed, pressing his face to the window.

"Oh my god," Luna whispered, her ears standing straight up as she took in the sight.

"You are more than meets the eye, aren't you Rai?" Nyxa said, turning to look at me while biting her lip in a way that made my skin crawl.

I shivered and looked away quickly. "Please don't..."

Dorothea pulled into the circular driveway and parked. I immediately opened my door to get out, but Dorothea was already rushing around the van. When she saw I'd opened my own door, she stopped and bowed deeply.

"I apologize profusely, Master Alaric! I should have been faster to assist you. Please forgive my negligence!"

"No, no, it's really not a big deal," I said quickly, feeling my face flush with embarrassment. "Please raise your head. You don't need to apologize for that."

I'm going to kill Seraphina. She purposefully didn't tell the maids here to be casual with me.

Luna looked confused. "What's going on?"

Sol, the bastard, decided to make things worse. "Oh, Rai has quite a reputation with maids. He's a very strict master."

I spun around and pointed at him accusingly. "I am absolutely not!"

I started clenching and unclenching my hands as frustration built up. "It's all Seraphina's fault! I told them all to be casual with me, but she's so damn insistent on maintaining 'proper protocols' no matter how many times I tell her it makes me uncomfortable!"

Nyxa chimed in with obvious amusement. "Ooo, a strict young master. I can get into that."

I rubbed my eyes in frustration and turned to Dorothea with a defeated but still kind tone. "Can you please just show us to the rooms? We need showers and beds."

Dorothea caught the exchange and actually laughed a little. "It seems Lyralei was right about you, Master Alaric."

I looked up at her with a sudden spark of hope. "Lyralei said something about me?"

Dorothea nodded with a warm smile. "She mentioned that you aren't the strict type and much prefer casual interactions over formal protocols."

"Lyralei, that sweet angel," I said with genuine relief. "I need to buy her a gift."

Dorothea gestured toward the house. "Shall we head inside then? I'll show you to your rooms."

We followed her into the stunning interior of the house, where she quickly showed us to our respective rooms. Three other maids appeared carrying fresh sets of clothes for each of us, which they handed over with polite smiles.

"Would you like me to prepare dinner for this evening?" Dorothea asked as we lingered in the hallway.

I started to turn down the offer. "Oh, that's really not necessary, we don't want to—"

My stomach chose that exact moment to growl loudly, followed immediately by similar sounds from Sol, Luna, and Nyxa.

I shifted my denial into agreement with an embarrassed laugh. "Actually, that would be amazing. Where's the kitchen? I can help with—"

Dorothea chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand. "Elena wasn't wrong about you either."

Elena mentioned me too? What did she say?

"But I'll take care of everything," she continued. "You've just finished your exam and are clearly exhausted. Please, leave it to us."

I conceded with a grateful nod. Without any further discussion, we all practically rushed toward our private bathrooms. The promise of hot showers after the exam was too tempting to resist.

Once again, I found myself surprised by the sheer size of the master bedroom and its bathroom. The space was easily larger than most people's entire apartments, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of the Greek countryside. But I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind as I stepped into the shower.

The moment the warm water hit my skin, washing away all the dirt and grime from the exam, everything else faded away. This was exactly what I needed.

After my shower, I put on the fresh set of clothes the maids had provided and walked out of my room. Sol was waiting outside my door, looking refreshed and wearing his own set of clean clothes.

"Man, that shower was incredible," he said, stretching contentedly. "I almost fell asleep in there."

We walked together to the dining room, where we found Nyxa and Luna already seated at the table. Luna was carefully brushing her tail, working out any tangles. Meanwhile Nyxa was running a brush through her long hair with practiced ease.

Nyxa looked over at Sol and me with that familiar mischievous glint in her eyes. "Well, don't you two look good fresh out of the shower," she said with obvious teasing intent.

Without a word, Sol and I communicated our disbelief with a look, then we both sat down without replying.

Nyxa pouted dramatically at our complete lack of reaction to her teasing.

The maids began bringing out dishes, setting them carefully on the table in front of us. Everything looked incredible. Traditional Greek cuisine that filled the air with amazing aromas. There was moussaka with perfectly golden layers, grilled lamb with herbs, fresh Greek salad with chunks of feta, warm pita bread, and what looked like spanakopita with flaky pastry.

As the maids finished setting out the food, one of them approached with an elegant bottle of red wine and began pouring glasses for each of us.

"Oh, no thank you," I said quickly, waving my hand. "I don't need any wine."

Sol nodded in agreement. "Same here, thanks though."

Luna shook her head politely. "I'm good without it."

The maid paused, looking uncertain, but Nyxa held up her glass with a pleased smile. "I'll take some, thank you."

The maid filled Nyxa's glass with obvious relief, then quietly removed the other three glasses and retreated.

"This all looks amazing," Luna said, her ears perking up at the sight and smell of the food.

"All local dishes too," Dorothea said with obvious pride as she supervised the service. "We thought you might enjoy experiencing some authentic Greek cuisine while you were here."

I looked over at Nyxa. "This doesn't mean you're off the hook for that place you mentioned tomorrow, by the way."

Nyxa just smiled. "I didn't plan on it."

We all began eating together, and the food was every bit as good as it looked. After a few minutes of satisfied silence, an awkward quiet settled over the table as we all seemed to realize we were basically strangers sharing a meal together.

Luna was the first to break the silence. "So... that exam, huh?"

"Tell me about it," Sol said, spearing a piece of lamb with his fork. "Though I have to say, I'm deeply disappointed I didn't get the chance to spar with Rai during the whole thing."

I winced slightly. "Sorry about that. I'm also disappointed."

Sol gave me an incredulous look and gestured dramatically with his fork. "How could you possibly lose your sword after only two hunts?! Two! You just picked it up!"

I held up my hands defensively. "I put it down during one of the hunts and forgot to put it back on! It's hard to fight with a spear when you've got a sword hanging off your hip."

"That's the most ridiculous excuse I've ever heard in my entire life," Sol said, shaking his head with exaggerated disappointment.

"How is that ridiculous? That is a very justified excuse."

He shook his head, "Alright, you know what? Atlantis, you aren't allowed to use your fists. Only a sword."

"Excuse me?!" I said, leaning forward, my eyes narrowing.

"You should have taken care of your weapon, Rai. Now you must make up for it." Sol hmphed, taking another bite of lamb like he'd just laid down the law.

"Just ask me to spar with you, damn it. Don't restrict me during the exam."

Sol leaned back, smirking. "If you pass while only using a sword, I'll tell you my revelation."

"Everyone, I've decided to use a sword for the entrance exam at Atlantis."

Luna choked on her drink, laughing. "What?! Rai, you folded that fast? Sol barely had to try!"

Sol grinned, pointing his fork at me. "Easiest sell of my life."

I shrugged, trying to play it cool despite my instant surrender. "Whatever. I'll master it, pass the exam, and get that revelation. You'll see."

Somewhere in the mix, conversation naturally drifted toward other aspects of the exam.

"So Nyxa," I said between bites of moussaka, "I'm curious, why were you partnered with Thorgrim in the first place? You two seemed like pretty different types."

Nyxa set down her fork and considered the question. "Thorgrim claimed he had sect connections and backing. He was able to prove it too. He had a crest on his person that looked legitimate. I'm not sure how he got it, but his ties seemed real enough."

She picked up her wine glass and took a sip before continuing. "I wanted to get access to those connections myself. Having potential allies while attending the academy seemed like a smart move." Her expression became a bit more calculating. "Plus, I'll be honest, I was selfishly hoping I could get some financial backing as well. Academy life can be expensive, and having sect support would have made things much easier."

Luna nodded emphatically. "I know exactly what you mean. I got only a partial scholarship that covers specific required courses. Anything else I want to take, electives, specialized training, advanced workshops, all of that has to come out of pocket or through loans."

Nyxa's eyes lit up a bit. "Have you looked into the grant programs? Or considered rift diving for extra funds?"

Luna paused with her fork halfway to her mouth, her ears twitching as she processed what Nyxa had said. "Wait, you mean that's actually real? I heard rumors about students making money through rift diving, but I thought it was just... I don't know, exaggerated stories or something."

Both Sol and I suddenly leaned forward, our attention completely focused on the conversation.

"Hold on," Sol said, setting down his fork entirely. "What exactly is rift diving?"

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, this is the first I'm hearing about any of this."

Nyxa looked genuinely surprised at our ignorance. "You two really don't know? I thought everyone applying to academies would have at least heard about it." She leaned back in her chair, clearly settling in to explain. "Rift diving is basically a legitimate way for students to earn money while attending academy. The Association and various academies have partnerships with exploration companies and research organizations."

She gestured with her wine glass as she spoke. "They regularly discover new rifts, small dimensional pockets filled with valuable resources, rare creatures, or aura phenomena. But they can't always spare their professional teams to fully explore them, especially the smaller or lower-priority ones."

Luna was listening intently now, her tail still as she focused on every word.

"So they contract out the exploration to qualified students," Nyxa continued. "Academy students, specifically, because we have the training and oversight to handle the risks safely. The pay varies depending on what you find and how dangerous the rift is, but it can be really good money."

Sol whistled low. "And this is... legal? Sanctioned?"

"Completely," Nyxa confirmed. "The Academy even offers specialized courses on rift exploration techniques and safety protocols. Some students make enough through rift diving to completely cover their tuition and living expenses. It also doubles as training for the students. Some courses and clubs are even dedicated to doing rift dives."

I found myself genuinely intrigued. "What kind of risks are we talking about?"

Nyxa's expression became more serious. "Well, rifts are unpredictable by nature. You might encounter hostile aetheric creatures, unstable aura phenomena, environmental hazards, or even dimensional instabilities. That's why they only allow students who've passed certain certification courses and maintain specific grade requirements."

She took another sip of wine before continuing. "But the Academy has an excellent safety record. Students always go in teams; they have emergency extraction protocols; and there are strict guidelines about which rifts students are allowed to attempt based on their skill level. The more difficult the rift, the more your team composition matters."

Luna's ears had perked up completely. "How much money are we talking about, typically?"

"It varies wildly," Nyxa admitted. "A simple resource gathering expedition in a stable rift might net you a few hundred credits per person. But if you discover something rare or valuable, a new aura phenomenon, a previously unknown creature species, a cache of rare materials. The payout can be thousands of credits."

Sol and I exchanged glances, both of us clearly thinking the same thing.

"Credits?" I asked.

"Academy credits," Nyxa explained. "They convert directly to real currency, but they're also what you use to pay for courses, materials, housing upgrades, basically everything at the Academy. One credit is roughly equivalent to one dollar, but academy purchases are usually more efficient than buying things outside."

Sol was nodding thoughtfully. "That actually sounds incredible. Getting real-world experience while earning money to pay for school."

"Exactly," Nyxa said with enthusiasm. "Plus, the experience you gain from rift diving is invaluable. You're applying everything you learn in classes to real situations, dealing with unpredictable challenges, working as part of a team under pressure. A lot of graduates say their rift diving experiences were more educational than their formal coursework."

Luna looked genuinely excited for the first time since I'd met her. "How do you sign up? Are there requirements beyond the certification courses?"

"You need to maintain a minimum GPA, pass the safety certifications, and usually you need to be part of a registered team," Nyxa explained. "Most students form teams with their friends or classmates. The Academy actually encourages it since you'll be working together in high-stress situations."

I found myself grinning as I looked around the table. "Well, looks like we might have a ready-made team right here."

Luna's tail gave a small wag before she caught herself, and even she seemed to be warming up to the idea. Sol was practically bouncing in his seat with excitement.

Nyxa shook her head, "While I would like to agree, I'm not exactly combat focused. I'm more in the researched and development area. But I will however gladly join in if you need a dedicated researcher on the team."

"This is definitely something we should look into once we get to the Academy," Sol said decisively.

Nyxa raised her wine glass with a mischievous smile. "To our futures at the academy."

We all raised our glasses, the sound of crystal clinking together ringing out in the warm dining room.

"To our beginning," I added, and we all drank.

The conversation continued to flow naturally as we finished our meal, covering everything from Academy expectations to speculation about what our first classes might be like. Luna gradually became more animated as the evening progressed, her natural shyness giving way to genuine excitement about the possibilities ahead.

Sol flooded us with stories from his travels before he and I met at the A.A. while Nyxa shared tales of her family's expectations and her own determination to forge her own path. Even Luna opened up a bit, talking about her village and how getting into the Academy meant everything to her family.

As for me, I carefully steered the conversation away from any topics that might reveal too much about my background. The last thing I needed was more questions about my finances.

Eventually, exhaustion from the long day began to catch up with all of us. The adrenaline from the exam had long since faded, replaced by the pleasant tiredness that comes after a good meal and better company.

"I think I'm ready to crash," Luna said, stretching and yawning. "Today has been... a lot."

"Same here," Sol agreed, pushing back from the table. "Plus we've got early morning travel tomorrow if we want to make it to the other exam locations on time."

We all stood from the table, and Dorothea appeared as if summoned to begin clearing the dishes. I started to help, but she shooed me away with a gentle smile.

"Rest well, Master Alaric. You've had quite a day."

We said our goodnights in the hallway, with Nyxa and Luna heading to their guest rooms while Sol and I went toward the master wing.

"You know," Sol said as we reached our rooms, "I'm actually glad we ran into them during the exam."

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, me too. It'll be nice to have familiar faces when we get to the Academy."

"Assuming we all end up at the same place," Sol pointed out.

"True. Though something tells me our paths are going to keep crossing regardless."

We parted ways for the night, and I crawled into my bed. I knew I was tired, considering I didn't even manage to make it under the covers before I passed out.

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