The morning sun had barely brushed the towers of Aurelin when Lina and Sera stood hand in hand outside the gates of the Academy. The marble campus gleamed in the early light, Resonance conduits beneath the courtyards glowing faintly blue, responding to the flow of energy from the city above.
Twelve years old and already certain that everything would be new, everything would be dangerous, and everything would be wonderful.
Arion adjusted the straps of their satchels, standing a little taller than his daughters. "You're not just walking into a school," he said, voice calm. "You're walking into history."
Sera tilted her head. "History as in… boring old stuff?"
"History as in learning to protect people who can't protect themselves," Arion replied. Lina's eyes sparkled, and even Sera straightened, taking his meaning.
Behind them, Lysandra smiled, her arms crossed, military posture softened by the pride she felt. "Remember, you're not competing with anyone. You're learning. You'll find your place. And don't forget, the Seven are here for guidance."
Sera's eyes flicked upward at Arion. "Even if we mess up?"
"Especially then," he said, and Lysandra squeezed his arm approvingly.
Later, in the quiet of the Spire, Arion spoke privately with Keal.
As Keal looked over the city from the observation deck. "You're worried," he said, simple and direct.
Arion didn't deny it. "Not about Aurelin itself. It's stable. But our people—beyond the capital—they don't have the protection they deserve. There are gaps in the Resonance array. If a rift opens in a remote province, no one would see it until it's too late."
Keal's eyes narrowed, thoughtful. "You're talking about expanding the array."
"Yes," Arion said. "A world-wide network, monitoring every major population center and conduit. Not just reactive—it would be preventative. Theal and I will oversee it. The technology exists, the Codices can manage the flow. But I can't focus only on the capital. I won't forget what it feels like to be on the ground."
"You're afraid of becoming like them," Keal said softly. "The ones who rise, then forget to look down?"
Arion met his gaze. "Exactly. I won't be that person. The Empire doesn't belong only to those at the top. It belongs to everyone. And if the multiverse pushes at us again, knowing where rifts might appear could save lives—many lives."
Keal exhaled slowly, resting a gauntleted hand on Arion's shoulder. "Then I trust your judgment. But don't overextend yourself. The Seven are strong, but even we have limits."
Arion nodded. "I know. That's why the Academy matters too. The children are our future guardians. Including mine."
Back at the campus, the new batch of students had arrived fully registered under the academy. Children of the noble houses carried themselves with pride, polished uniforms, insignias sewn carefully onto cloaks. Yet for Lina and Sera, not knowing that the experience was more personal not just to the seven but especially the noble houses. They were the first real legacy of the Seven, the first to carry forward the bloodline that had survived the Convergence, that had rebuilt a world from fracture scars who knows how powerful they could be.
standing amongst the students in the hall after their Arion had dropped them about to listen as their aunt addresses the students. Sera was shaking with excitement as she had taken Aunt Mira as a role model Lina was more of a daddy's girl. her father usually called her chaotic. aunt Mira usually prefer the term unpredictable says it keeps life entertaining
Across the large hall, the other Seven kept a watchful eye on the new intake. Asha there with her quiet presence. Jun circulated among instructors, ensuring the schedules and training routines ran smoothly. Theal as weird as ever with his eyes monitoring whatever. Riven's presence was quieter, almost imperceptible, yet every student instinctively respected the space he occupied.
Mira finally spoke, stepping onto the stage, her voice clear across the hall. "Welcome," she began, sweeping a hand across the gathered students. "You are here because you have a gift. Some of you have trained under your families; some are just discovering your abilities. Here, we will teach you control, responsibility, and—most importantly—how to use your power to protect others. This is not a competition, though some of you will find challenge in it. You are part of a lineage, part of a world, and part of something far larger than yourselves."
She glanced at Sera, who beamed, and then at Lina, whose eyes were sharp with curiosity. "For some of you, your guides will be one of us—the Seven. Take what we offer. Learn. Question. Grow. And always remember that failure is not shame; it is the first step toward understanding."
Lina and Sera exchanged a glance, pride and nervousness intermingling. The Seven weren't just legends—they were family. And now, they would become mentors, role models, and protectors.
Throughout the day, the students were divided into groups for introductions, basic assessments, and familiarization with the Academy. Occasionally, one of the Seven would step into a class. Arion guided Lina through her precision casting exercises, encouraging her to approach problems logically but with creativity, emphasizing control over raw power.
"Remember," he said quietly, "your strength is in thinking ahead. Don't just react—predict, shape the flow, and control it." Lina nodded, furrowing her brow in concentration, trying to match her father's calm precision.
Sera, meanwhile, shadowed Mira in the training hall, her laughter carrying as she tested probability exercises. Mira's movements were fluid, almost playful, bending the outcomes of small events to teach adaptability.
"Miss unpredictability," Mira teased lightly, "keep your eyes open. Chaos has a rhythm if you know how to listen." Sera grinned, soaking in every lesson, her small frame moving in sync with her aunt's guidance.
The noble house students observed closely, some with pride, others with quiet rivalry. Children of House Virell scribbled notes furiously on Resonance patterns, while those from House Corven tested endurance and weapon drills. Tensions were subtle but noticeable; the Academy was as much about discipline and knowledge as it was about learning how to interact with peers from other influential families.
Asha moved quietly among the students in meditation and emotional awareness classes, guiding some through exercises to control Resonance flow via empathy. Jun supervised restorative exercises in the garden courtyards, checking stamina and teaching basic safety principles. Theal remained in the monitoring room, his gaze following every spike in Resonance with a precise, analytical intensity. Riven stood in the combat simulation hall, silent but alert, students instinctively giving him space, his approval measured in nods rather than words.
By midday, the girls reunited with their parents in the courtyard. Lysandra had brought a light lunch, but the girls hardly noticed, still buzzing from lessons and observations.
"You see the way Mira moves?" Sera said, animated. "I want to be that good someday!"
"She teaches more than just skill," Arion replied, smiling at his youngest. "She shows you how to adapt to situations no one else sees coming. That's important."
Lina looked up at her father. "And you teach me to… think before I move. Not just power, but control?"
"Exactly," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Both are needed. You'll each have a role model, but don't forget to learn from everyone. The Seven are here to guide, yes—but the Academy itself has teachers for every subject. And you will learn from them all."
Sera pouted slightly. "So you mean I can't just follow Aunt Mira all the time?"
"Not always," Arion said, chuckling. "But she'll be there when you need her most. And she's a good guide for your spirit, just like I am for your mind."
By afternoon, the formal orientation concluded. Students began exploring the campus in smaller groups, some heading to combat halls, others to libraries or Resonance labs. Lina and Sera moved together, occasionally bumping into peers from noble houses, exchanging polite nods and curious glances.
The presence of the Seven lingered everywhere. Their footsteps, their eyes, and their occasional words of encouragement shaped the tone of the Academy. Even when not speaking, their influence reminded everyone that this institution was not ordinary—its mission went beyond study. It was about preparing guardians, and these two girls were the first of their line to inherit that legacy.
As the sun began to dip over Aurelin's towers, Arion watched his daughters from the balcony above the central courtyard, Lysandra by his side.
"They're ready," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else.
"They'll make their mark," Lysandra replied. "And they'll have every support from the Seven. From you and Mira especially."
He nodded, heart swelling. "I hope so. But it's also about letting them grow on their own. They'll learn what we can't teach—experience, instinct, and courage. And we'll be here if they need us."
The city below hummed with the rhythm of Aurelin—airships drifting, Resonance conduits pulsing steadily under the streets, and the Academy alive with the first steps of a new generation.
For Lina and Sera, the journey had only just begun. And this time, they would not walk alone.