In the Celestial Gardens, a realm suspended between the clouds and the grandeur of Arkanis, there lived a young man named Ian Bekkart. His life, seemingly ordinary, unfolded beneath the shadow of imperial power, unaware that greater forces were already weaving his destiny. Ian appeared to be just another youth in that floating world, but something slumbered within him: an echo that would soon thrust him beyond everything he knew, toward challenges that would shatter the limits of what it meant to be human.
At seventeen, Ian seemed serene, but his yellow eyes betrayed a contained fire. His intelligence showed in how quickly he deciphered gestures, words, and attitudes, anticipating what others couldn't see. He had no need for boasting: in combat, he proved who he was. Each strike, each evasion, was part of a language only he understood—a dance of order and purpose that revealed his true self. Beneath that discipline lived both the calm and the inferno of his soul.
His home was a refuge filled with love. His adoptive father, Alistair Bekkart, was one of the seven ministers and the spokesman of the Empire. He held the highest title: Supreme Minister. His adoptive mother, Anya Bekkart, completed the family with affection and discipline, raising Ian alongside his siblings: Aelius, Makia, and Sofia, who were the same age—though Sofia had not yet been officially adopted—and the youngest, Alena, the biological daughter of Alistair and Anya. More than leaders, Alistair and Anya built a home where emotional bonds were as strong as steel. Between training sessions, games, and deep conversations, Ian lived a happy and protected childhood.
His relationship with Alistair was special. Ian admired his power and reputation, but never saw him as an unreachable figure. He was his guide and his anchor, the man who believed in him even when his impulses were difficult to contain. Alistair saw in Ian a brilliant flame and trusted that his intelligence would prevail over any obstacle.
Despite political games and imperial tensions, the Bekkart family remained united. For Ian, that certainty was the anchor keeping him steady, though deep down he sensed something approaching—an invisible crack in everyday serenity beginning to open.
Since childhood, Ian felt he had been marked for a greater destiny. The Celestial Gardens, with their floating islands and infinite skies, taught him that grandeur and the abyss are always close. His soul demanded more than the ordinary; it sought a challenge that would test every limit of body and mind.
The Celestial Gardens formed part of the Great Empire, an immense continent that included multiple annexed territories. Among them, the floating gardens were an archipelago suspended among the clouds, home to the most promising youth. The empire had two military powers: the Imperial Army, with its structure established by ranks and hierarchical discipline, and the Archangel Fortress, a unique school that trained independent soldiers. There, members had no direct superiors; their loyalty was to excellence, and they could only be summoned by the Grand Emperor or by the Sefirot, the unique and highest position of the Archangel Fortress.
In the Fortress hierarchy, the ranks of power and reputation went from highest to lowest: Sefirot, Seraphim, Cherubim, Throne, Dominion, Virtue, Power, and Principality. Upon graduation, students earned the title of Archangels. While they were students, they were called Angels. Each rank indicated authority and respect, but not obligatory hierarchy: each warrior's independence was absolute, and obedience was given only before the summons of the highest powers.
At seventeen, Ian had to choose his path. He could have pursued an academic career, common military life, or the safe steps of an imperial bureaucrat. But Ian was not born for the ordinary. His decision was to enter the School of the Archangels, a legendary institution that had spent 129 years training some of the empire's most feared warriors. Located on one of the highest islands of the Celestial Gardens, the school granted neither diplomas nor formal ranks: only the right to be feared, respected, and remembered as a legend.
To enter, he had to pass the Entrance Exam, a test dreaded by thousands. Only one in five hundred applicants was accepted. The evaluation lasted three weeks and measured far more than strength: it demanded mental endurance, strategic judgment, and total mastery of body and will. Dying during the test was not uncommon.
Ian did not fear death. He feared not surpassing himself. Every blow received was a teacher; every failure, a tool to polish his soul. When he first walked through the halls of the School of the Archangels, he did so without seeking glory: he sought his place among the chosen. His battle was not only against others; it was against his own limits.