The morning sun cast golden rays over the wide expanse of Nova Astra City, its towers glimmering like spears of crystal and steel. For the first time since his rebirth, Orion stepped beyond the borders of the orphanage, his eyes reflecting both awe and a quiet, determined fire.
Beside him, Lyra kept pace, her satchel slung over one shoulder. Her Core—softly glowing with pale-blue energy—hummed faintly, drawing stares from passing students.
Orion, by contrast, felt the weight of invisible gazes for another reason. No glow. No hum. Just the reputation of a coreless boy daring to walk toward the Stellar Academy's main gates.
> It feels like walking into another world…
Orion's thoughts were calm, but his steps were steady. I won't be a spectator anymore.
The gates were massive arcs of silver metal, engraved with constellations that shimmered faintly as each student passed. Beyond them stretched a wide courtyard lined with banners, each bearing the emblem of one of the five planetary divisions of Aurelia's Protectorate.
Students streamed past in groups, most in pristine academy uniforms with glowing Core insignias stitched at their collars. Orion, wearing the same plain clothes he had worn at the orphanage, drew whispers and sidelong glances.
"Is that him? The coreless orphan?"
"I heard he barely passed the entry test… or was it pity points?"
"He won't last a week."
Lyra shot a sharp glare at the gossipers, but Orion didn't flinch. He kept walking, head high.
A tall boy with a confident smirk stepped into their path. His uniform bore the Solar Division insignia, golden and bold.
"So this is the famous 'coreless wonder.'" The boy's tone dripped with mockery. "Name's Rhyden Kael. Don't get in the way of real talent."
Orion's gaze stayed level. "Then don't waste your time trying to impress someone beneath you."
A few nearby students snickered, while others exchanged surprised looks. The smirk on Rhyden's face faltered for just a moment before returning sharper.
Lyra touched Orion's arm, whispering, "Ignore him. He's just testing you."
> Noted, Orion thought, but his heart beat a little faster. Bullies come in all worlds. I know how to deal with them.
The courtyard buzzed as the Headmaster, Archon Veyra, stepped onto the elevated platform. His presence alone silenced the crowd. Tall and robed in deep navy with silver streaks like starlight, his voice carried like a wave of steady power.
"Welcome, new aspirants of Stellar Academy," he said. "Your paths begin today. Whether you rise to greatness or fall into obscurity depends not on your origins… but on your resolve."
Orion felt those words settle deep in his chest, as if aimed at him.
"Remember this: The stars themselves favor those who reach for them."
After the ceremony, the students were divided into basic training squads. Orion was placed in Squad Astra-13, a low-ranking group mostly consisting of underachievers or those with unstable Cores.
As he stood among them, he felt the sting of quiet mockery again but kept his focus inward.
During the squad briefing, the instructor announced their first task:
> "Tomorrow, at dawn, all squads will participate in the Core Synchronization Trial. Prepare yourselves."
The room buzzed with excitement and tension. For most, it would be a chance to test their abilities. For Orion, it was something else entirely.
> Core Synchronization… he thought.
If I truly have something hidden inside me, this might be the key to unlocking it.
Later that evening, Orion stood by his dorm window, looking at the distant glow of Nova Astra's lights beneath the twin moons. His reflection in the glass looked back at him—an ordinary boy, but with eyes that held the spark of something unordinary.
A whisper of energy stirred faintly in his chest, like a slumbering ember responding to the thought of the coming trial.
Lyra knocked gently on the door. "Can't sleep?"
"Not yet," he admitted. "Tomorrow… I'll find out if I'm really as empty as they say."
She smiled, soft but encouraging. "You're not empty, Orion. I can feel it. Something's waiting inside you."
He turned back to the window. "Then tomorrow, I'll wake it up."
Outside, far beyond the academy walls, a shadowed figure stood atop a distant spire. The moonlight caught the edges of her dark hair and the faint glint in her eyes.
Seraphine watched silently.
> So… the Eclipse has taken its first step.