Shelby led the twenty-eight newly awakened youths to a towering structure just beyond the Pre-Academy grounds. The tower loomed high with sleek walls etched in intricate runes and reinforced by layers of security enchantments. Mechanical guards stood at intervals, their eyes glowing faintly blue. The presence of armed personnel and mana scanners only confirmed what everyone already suspected.
This was the Teleportation Hall—a monumental gateway to the wider world.
Zane glanced up at the marble surface of the wall near the entrance. Words etched in both common tongue and arcane glyphs gleamed under the morning light.
It was a brief history, an inscription commemorating one of humanity's greatest breakthroughs.
Others stopped to read it too, though most skimmed past without thought.
Zane paused longer, his eyes quietly tracing each line with intent.
Behind him, Shawn Bracewell sneered. His arms were crossed, his gaze locked on Zane with undisguised contempt.
"Huh! What a bum… doesn't even know something this basic," he muttered, just loud enough for the group nearest to hear.
A few of them snickered, feeding off his disdain.
The history spoke of how two decades ago, the impossible had become real. The fusion of science and magic—long considered incompatible—had finally resulted in the Teleportation Engine Core. A machine capable of bending distance using calibrated mana and quantum spatial arrays.
Through it, humanity had not only shortened travel within their own planet—but reached out to their colonized worlds across the solar system. A feat that turned whispers of fantasy into concrete progress.
Thor Shelby stood beside Zane, arms folded behind his back, his voice lowering with the weight of reverence.
"A true marvel of human intelligence," he said, eyes never leaving the glowing pillar in the center of the hall. "They combined elemental mana with theoretical physics to stabilize the spatial drift. The equation had always been correct—it just needed the right element to solve it: mana."
Zane raised a brow. "They built all this… just twenty years ago?"
Shelby smiled. "And now? They're not done. A senior of mine told me—soon, there'll be machines capable of traveling across the entire galaxy. We'll explore systems we've only mapped in theory. That day isn't far off."
Zane looked at the humming engine core at the center of the room. A low, pulsing thrum filled the hall, like a heartbeat echoing through steel and stone.
It was the sound of possibility.
The others, meanwhile, shuffled in behind them. Some whispered to each other, most just kept their eyes forward. Shawn, though, never stopped watching Zane. His gaze narrowed further.
What is it about him? Why does he feel so... different?
His pride, bruised by Shelby earlier, now sought an outlet. And Zane—quiet, unreadable Zane—had become his target.
The hall lights flickered. The central platform lit up, signaling the machine's activation.
Shelby turned to them. "Get ready. One by one, I'll send you through."
Everyone tensed, excitement and anxiety mixing in their blood.
This was it.
No more towns. No more home comforts.
From here on—only the Academy.
And for Zane Carter, the real journey was about to begin.
One by one, the youths stepped into the Teleportation Chamber, vanishing in flashes of white light. The low hum of the engine filled the hall, deep and primal—like the growl of some ancient beast awakening from slumber.
Zane listened quietly as each candidate disappeared. Soon, his name was called.
Before he could move, Shelby turned to him. "Did you have breakfast?"
Zane shook his head. "No. Grandma insisted, but... I like to keep things short with her. So, I skipped it."
Shelby chuckled. "Good. That'll be the least of your worries. Go on. I'll see you on the other side."
With a firm hand, he nudged Zane toward the glowing chamber.
Inside, Zane found himself in a cubical room bathed in brilliant white light. The walls pulsed softly, alive with arcane energy.
Suddenly, his mana surged, reacting violently to the trace energies in the chamber. For a brief moment, it slipped from his control and resonated with the engine's pulse.
But Zane gritted his teeth and forced it down, stabilizing his flow with practiced ease.
Whatever mana they're using to fuel this core engine… it must share a similar elemental affinity to mine, he thought, his brow slightly furrowed.
If there had been any threat, his system would have triggered a virtual alert or warning. But nothing came. No red lights. No alarms.
So, he remained calm.
The chamber's hum grew louder, intensifying with every passing second. Brilliant light flared from the walls, and Zane's mana stirred again—excited, restless, as though it sensed something beyond the veil of space and time.
And then—everything vanished in light.
It lasted only a minuscule fraction of a second, but to Zane's heightened senses, it felt like minutes. Time seemed to slow. His mana began spiraling out of control again.
He felt it—draining rapidly, bleeding out of him at an alarming rate. At this pace, he'd be empty within moments. The danger was real. If all his mana was drained forcefully, the backlash would hit him hard—possibly landing him in a hospital for a month.
And yet... the System remained silent.
Panic bloomed in his chest. He tried to rein in the mana, force it back under his control—but it slipped through his grasp like water through fingers. He called the System again, but it stayed dormant, as if his survival was none of its concern.
Zane's mind raced. Nothing. No ideas. No failsafe.
Just as despair crept in, a brilliant white light ignited from the back of his right palm—overwhelming even the chamber's blinding glow.
Zane looked down.
It was the Book of Divine Judgment—the white tattoo on his hand glowing with divine brilliance. The draining stopped.
On his virtual display, he watched his mana bar stabilize, then start to rise—regenerating. The tattoo continued absorbing mana from the environment, soothing his core.
Zane let out a long breath. "That's... better."
Suddenly, his body turned weightless. His stomach flipped. He lost all sense of orientation, as if gravity no longer applied to him. A powerful headache struck just as he was hurled into a new white chamber. His head spun with nausea.
Clutching his stomach, he staggered out.
Several other youths from Whistler Town had already arrived and were recovering from the teleportation disorientation.
Then it hit him.
So that's why Shelby asked about breakfast…
If he had eaten, he'd probably be vomiting right now.
Shawn Bracewell caught sight of Zane and sneered, lips curling into a mocking grin—pure provocation.
Zane glanced at the green-haired youth and frowned.
What's his problem?
He turned away, choosing silence over reaction.
Bracewell's smugness faded instantly, a sharp sting pricking his ego. Zane's indifference cut deeper than any retort.
Ignoring someone can be the sharpest reply of all.
Bracewell clenched his fists silently, swearing to deal with Zane after they entered the Academy.
A minute passed before Shelby emerged from the chamber, looking as relaxed as ever. He threw Zane a wink, then turned to the group.
"Alright, everyone—follow me."
They stepped out of the building together.
Outside, a majestic cityscape unfolded before their eyes—towering structures of mana-infused stone, crystal walkways, floating platforms, and banners bearing ancient symbols fluttering in the wind.
Shelby smiled, stretching his arms out as if presenting a gift to the heavens.
"Welcome to Artemis City—the City of the Awakened."