The young Izigans waited patiently. Murmurs rippled through the hall, a mix of gossip and chatter that swelled into a restless hum. Despite the noise, many still turned their heads toward Belle.
She had sat there for hours, her back straight, eyes fixed on the high seats reserved for the great authorities.
She had counted the special marbles carved into the seats more times than she could remember. They gleamed beautifully, a small distraction that kept her mind occupied.
Suddenly, the door above the hall near the high seats swung open. Silence swept across the chamber, the loud chatter vanishing in an instant as every gaze locked forward. Hearts quickened in anticipation.
The first figure stepped out, clad in a red leather tech suit, a confident smile on his face. The hall erupted in cheers, a roar of excitement bouncing against the stone walls.
"Wow, it's Captain Brian of the Mage Clan!"
"He's taller than I expected."
"Check out that suit!"
The captains were celebrities to the young Izigans, idols they had dreamed of seeing for years.
The officials stationed around the hall allowed the shouts and cries to continue, knowing this was part of the excitement. But deep down, everyone knew this was only a small taste of what they truly longed for: the Furious Three.
Next came Captain Luck of the Chaos Clan, greeted by another wave of applause. Then followed Henk, Eren, Edge, Deborah, Oliver, and Logan. Each arrival was met with thunderous cheers, voices cracking with joy as the young Izigans beheld their heroes for the first time.
From their seats above, the captains smiled down at the crowd, basking in the admiration. Yet, one by one, their expressions tightened as their eyes drifted toward the rows of seats belonging to the Earth Clan, empty, save for one. Belle sat at the front, staring back at them with an unflinching gaze.
The captains glanced at each other, subtle but unmistakable, before their eyes finally rested on Deborah. They tilted their heads just slightly, as if silently asking a question they didn't dare speak aloud.
Deborah met their glance but said nothing. Her attention stayed fixed on Belle. From her elevated seat she could read the girl's unease, the questions heavy in her eyes.
This wasn't what I was expecting, Deborah thought, her chest tightening. She braced herself. The last callout ten years ago had brought more recruits from the Earth Clan, this time, Belle was almost alone. But Deborah knew the truth Belle didn't, and she couldn't wait to tell her: she wasn't as alone as she thought.
The crowd still cheered, expecting the Furious Three to appear. Instead, council members emerged, dressed in their iconic robes, each dyed in the colors of their clans. Though a wave of disappointment ran through the crowd, it was quickly drowned out by applause for the council.
Lord Lucas of the Chaos Clan stood. Adjusting the slim mic fixed from his ear to his mouth, he raised a hand for silence. Within moments, the hall obeyed.
"It is a great joy standing before you today," his voice boomed. "I welcome you all to Planet Galaxia!"
The name alone sent the hall into a frenzy of cheers. Lucas laughed, raising his hands higher.
"Alright, alright, calm down. You know why you are here. If you don't, let me break it to you: you are here to be trained—to become warriors, adventurers, protectors. Your coming here was by choice, and so you must also accept Galaxia's laws. Across all eight clans, the rules are the same. Break them, and punishment will follow. The weak and the unserious will be deported back to Earth before the ranking stage. And once deported, you will not return. Ten years from now, you'll be too old for another callout."
His tone hardened. "Many of you are curious about missions. When you reach your ranks, you will be sent to other planets. But know this: Izigans die. Many have died on missions. Some fall because they ignore orders. Others make mistakes that cost them their lives. Galaxia is not a playground. It is your home, and your battlefield."
The crowd sat frozen, their anticipation laced with fear.
"If you wish to be warriors, whether by strength or intelligence, then you must not fail. You must be ready to sacrifice. Humans on Earth live in systems that guide their lives step by step. Here, you will write your own. Our powers were not given to us for nothing. Since the Forty-Year War and invasion, corrupted cosmic beings still linger, threatening to bring chaos. We stand as the shield to protect our world."
He paused, his voice like steel. "So leave behind the chains of Earth. Whatever you held dear, let it go. Your adventure begins now."
His words carried a weight that sank into every ear, stirring fire in their hearts. No one wanted to be sent home in shame. Promises burned silently in their minds: they would endure, they would not fail.
Hina smiled faintly, her heart lighter than it had been in weeks. She finally had purpose.
Belle, however, leaned back in her chair, stifling a groan. Finally, he's done. Please, no more speeches. I'll collapse if this drags on.
As Lucas returned to his seat, Captain Lucy stepped forward, her smile wide as she addressed the crowd.
"Outside this hall, carriers await you. Each one bears your clan's colors, locate yours, and it will take you to your clan houses in your respective regions. You will be given further instructions by your clan leaders. This meeting is over. Proceed outside."
Chairs scraped the floor as the Izigans rose. Officials directed them toward the exit, where massive carriers floated in neat rows, their blue translucent ramps glowing like bridges of light. Each clan's ship hovered in its section, sleek and majestic.
The carriers were Small vessels, each able to seat twelve. Their interiors lined with seats facing each other, guided by artificial intelligence. Their wide hexagonal doors stood open, inviting the new arrivals with quiet hums of energy. Excitement buzzed again as the Izigans boarded their ships, ready to begin their new lives.
Belle hurried out, weaving past the crowd. She scanned the ships frantically, searching for her clan's vessel. But no Earth Clan carrier was in sight. Her stomach tightened.
A hand brushed her shoulder. "Oh, there you are."
She turned sharply. Deborah stood there, calm as ever.
"Did you follow me? You're the last person I wanted to run into."
"Are you sure about that?" Deborah tilted her head, smiling faintly. "If you're looking for the Earth carrier, don't bother. I didn't call for one. We're going somewhere else."
Belle narrowed her eyes. "Are you just going to ignore the fact I was the only one from my clan today? If I'd known, I would have sat with another clan. Why is the Earth Clan so few in number?"
Deborah sighed, her answer the same as always. "That's just the way things are."
"Right." Belle's voice dripped with skepticism. She wanted to argue, but what else could she do?
"Come with me," Deborah said at last, her voice low and serious. "There's something you need to see."