Morning light spilled through glass windows that weren't really glass — translucent mana, shifting faintly like water.
Lucas sat on the edge of a soft bed that felt too clean for a world like this.
The room was silent except for the hum of faint runes tracing the walls.
[Ascendant Quarters — Haven-17]
[Privileges: Market access / Training grounds / Tier mobility (locked)]
He stared at the glowing text until it faded, then ran a hand through his hair.
"Divine class, fancy room… still feels like prison."
A soft chime sounded. The door opened automatically.
A girl stepped in — tall, with dark red hair tied back and a uniform that wasn't quite armor. Her wristband glowed with the symbol of a Rare rank.
"Lucas Hayes?" she asked. Her tone was half respectful, half rehearsed.
"That's me," he said, standing awkwardly.
"I'm Rena," she said with a smile that was just a little too confident. "I'm assigned as your sector liaison. My job's to make sure you don't accidentally break city protocol."
"Right," he said. "So basically a babysitter."
She laughed lightly. "If that's what helps you sleep at night."
Her eyes flicked to his weapons resting by the window. "Are those the Divine relics everyone's whispering about?"
He hesitated, then nodded. "Something like that."
She walked closer, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "You know, most guys would be bragging their heads off by now. Divine class? Golden quarters? Half the city staring? You're like the local legend already."
Lucas rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I've noticed. It's… weird."
Rena leaned in slightly. "Weird's not bad."
He blinked, eyes darting anywhere but at her. "Uh—yeah. Sure. Weird's… fine."
Her smile widened. "You're terrible at this."
"At what?"
"Talking to women."
Lucas opened his mouth, then shut it. "I'm—uh—rusty?"
She laughed, the sound echoing through the clean walls. "Relax. I'm just teasing. Come on, you're scheduled for Tier orientation."
He followed her out, grateful for the change of subject. The hallways were wide and lined with banners — symbols representing different Divisions: Combat, Research, Governance.
People in polished armor saluted as he passed. Some bowed.
He hated it.
When they reached the plaza, Rena gestured toward the view below — the rest of the city, layered like rings descending into shadow.
"See that? Every Tier's built on the one below it. The Disciplinary levels are at the base — resource production, cleanup, menial labor."
Lucas's stomach tightened. "You mean underground."
She nodded. "They keep things… orderly."
He didn't answer. His thoughts went straight to Noah.
Rena noticed his expression. "You lost someone down there?"
"Someone important," he said quietly.
She hesitated, her usual confidence faltering. "For what it's worth, Ascendants can apply for reassignment permissions. It's risky, but—"
"No," he interrupted. "If I'm going to find him, I'll do it myself."
There was something in his voice that made her step back slightly — not anger, but something heavier. Determination.
The orientation continued, but Lucas barely heard a word. The city might have been clean, structured, even beautiful — but all he could see were the walls.
[System Notice: Ascendant Trials begin in 72 hours.]
[Failure results in demotion by one Tier.]
He clenched his fists. Even here, even at the top, it was still about survival.
Later, when Rena left him at the training grounds, she turned with a faint grin.
"For the record," she said, "you did a little better talking this time."
Lucas gave her a helpless look. "You have… very low standards."
"Maybe," she said, walking away. "But you'll get there, Divine boy."
When she was gone, he sighed and muttered, "Still terrible at this."
The Uzis hummed faintly beside him — like they were laughing too.
That night, Lucas stood on the balcony again, looking down at the faint glow from the lower levels.
Somewhere under all that stone and light, Noah was still fighting.
Lucas clenched his hands, a single thought echoing through his head.
Divine or not… I'm not leaving him there.