With a mechanical jolt, the orbital elevator locked into its transit rails. The lights dimmed to a deep cobalt hue. Through the glass canopy above, the orbit station came into view — a looming, luminous ring of steel and starlight, rushing toward us.
Beside me, a boy in silver-blue ceremonial robes leaned forward, voice soft but laced with awe."So… those are the trade freighters."
I followed his gaze.
Dozens of ships drifted in silence, massive and still — like sleeping titans. Docking arms extended from the station, locking onto their hulls with glowing tethers. More ships approached in smooth formation: cargo haulers, research vessels, orbital shuttles. No warships — those were banned this close to Zeraph's heart.
I turned back to the cadets around me.
Some wore family crests stitched in gold thread. Others hovered quietly behind them — less polished, but just as focused. Loyal attendants. Shadow companions. The invisible scaffolding of noble ambition.
Let's see how many of you actually have the guts to step into a chamber.
A hum. A shudder. Then stillness.
The elevator docked.
The doors slid open with a hiss.
Miss Katharina waited, framed by cold white light. Her tone was composed.
"You now stand before the Chamber Hall," she said. "Fifty calibration pods await. If your name appears, proceed to the corresponding chamber — only if you choose to attempt an Awakening."
The boy next to me shifted. So did a few others. Nervous murmurs started to spread.
Katharina didn't raise her voice.
"Silence."
It snapped the air like a whip.
"I'll say this once," she continued, stepping forward. "Only a fraction of you will awaken. For most, there will be nothing or death. We do not lie to you. This is the cost of power. Choose wisely."
Her gaze swept the hall like a blade.
It stopped — for just a second — on me.
My heart didn't flinch. I stood straighter.Nobody will stop me from my goals. Not nobles. Not my siblings.
Names began to echo through the hall.
A few cadets stepped forward. One girl a few steps away cried silently before turning away.
Then came mine.
"Kyron Kael."
More names followed. The group thinned quickly.
Then a tall man in a black military coat took the center of the hall. His voice hit like stone:
"I am Rustov Kaslov. If you choose not to enter a chamber, come with me now. You're done here."
Over two dozen cadets moved instantly. Others hesitated… then followed.
A section of the far wall dissolved like mist, revealing an exit that hadn't been there before. The moment they passed through, it closed behind them — as if they'd never existed at all.
One guard muttered, "Only fourteen left. Fewer every year."
I ignored him. My focus was on Katharina. She lifted a hand toward us.
"Approach your assigned chamber. Place your palm on the intake panel. A DNA scan will follow. If the system recorded your sequence, it will attempt to unlock your potential."
Her voice sharpened.
"Once the door closes — there's no way out."
We stepped forward — one by one. I reached my pod. The panel was smooth, cold under my fingertips.
"System initializing.""DNA sequence detected: Subject — Kyron Kael…""ERROR.""Lineage Flag Detected — Rehaven signature confirmed.""Activating extended security protocol."
I froze.
The pod hissed. Lights blinked to crimson, then blue. The door slid open — slowly, almost reverently. So the system still recognizes my true identity.
"Of course it does" I thought.
I stepped inside. And the door sealed shut behind me.