The next morning, the training ground was filled with excitement. The sky was cloudy, and a gentle breeze crossed the courtyard, carrying dust and fallen leaves.
Recruits stood in neat lines. Some looked confident while some were shaking. Some adjusted their gloves while others shivered.
Kaen stood with Riku, Darren, and Draxion. His heart beat faster not from fear but because of curiosity.
Today was different, everyone could feel it.
Whispers spread across the courtyard.
"I heard today we'll see advanced gear."
"Maybe they'll teach us how to use it.
I heard that they used it against the beasts in the Sky War."
"No way we're just trainees.
We can't use that."
Kaen heard them but pretended like he didn't care. But deep down, he felt something strange was going to happen today.
The instructor walked in and the courtyard fell silent.
Commander Hale stepped forward. He wore black steel armor with silver stripes and a badge shaped like a broken wing the mark of a sky-unit veteran. His expression was sharp, and his voice echoed across the grounds.
"Today, you will witness the weapon that protects Eldoria from sky-born threats."
A soldier behind him pulled a sheet off a metal rack.
Whisper spread through the courtyard.
The metal device looked strange almost like armor fused with wings. Silver framework, straps, gears, and dark padded plates. A pair of folded wings on the back, and two cylindrical tubes connected to the sides.
Hale raised his hand and pointed toward it.
"This is the Gale Aerial Winger. Our most advanced weapon system."
Another instructor stepped forward and lifted the wings. The plates unfolded with a mechanical snap, and the metal wings extended outward like the wings of a giant bird.
"They are used by our soldiers in mid-air battles."
Recruits were shocked to see it.
They had never seen such a thing in their life.
Some stepped back in fear.
While some stared at them with shining eyes.
Kaen couldn't move his eyes from it.
"It's unreal," Riku whispered.
"It seems to be heavy," Darren said.
"No... they are not heavy. Draxion looked at the shape closely, studying it. Looks like they are engineered for speed. Look at the dynamics, it's magnificent.
Commander Hale continued.
"The Aerial Winger was created after the Solar Fracture. When the sky first cracked, the beasts fell from the sky. Approaching from the forest, faraway mountains. Our soldiers could not reach them, they were as tall as trees. Our archers failed. Our cannon failed. The beast ruled the sky.
He paused and looked at the crowd.
"But the Aerial Winger changed everything."
Then an instructor stepped forward and strapped the gear on his back.
The thrusters powered on with a steady hum, and blue sparks lit up along the wings as they activated.
Kaen leaned forward slightly. He felt a strange feeling similar to that when he trained.
The instructor crouched slightly.
Commander Hale raised his hand.
"Watch carefully."
The air cracked.
WHOOM!
The thrusters exploded with compressed air, and the instructor shot into the sky like a launched arrow. Students jumped back in shock.
He activated the wrist gauntlets. A metal bolt shot out, attaching to the top of a stone tower with a magnetic click. The cable tightened and pulled him forward.
Zuuuuk.
He swung between the towers his body slicing through the air. Moving his body in the air like a bird flying in the sky.
Gasps and cheers filled the courtyard.
Some recruits clapped without even realizing it.
Kaen watched silently, breath held.
The instructor released the grapple, spread the wings, and glided down smoothly before landing with a sharp step.
Dust lifted around him.
Silence spread across the courtyard for a moment.
"That was insane!"
"I want that!"
"No way we can learn this!"
Kaen looked at it shockingly. His heart felt warm.
Commander Hale let the excitement build before raising his voice again.
"This system is not for decoration. It is not a toy. It is not for those who are weak."
He looked at the recruits. His voice was loud and clear.
"It is for those soldiers who must face the beast in the sky."
Kaen swallowed.
Hale continued.
"You will learn how to use the Aerial Winger over the next several months. Button control. Thruster balance. Mid-air movement. Landing impact control. And finally, combat."
Recruits whispered among themselves.
"Yes, we are finally getting a chance to learn it."
"These may look easy, but it is not." Hale muttered.
Then Hale said the line that made everyone go quiet.
"Master this, and you will survive. Fail… and the Ashlands will eat you alive."
A few recruits lowered their heads from fear.
Some clenched their fists.
Some looked straight towards the commander with determination in their eyes.
Kaen couldn't move. His heartbeat pumped faster and faster. Sweat flowed from his forehead.
"Are you alright, Kaen?" Riku whispered, placing her hand on Kaen's shoulder.
Commander Hale clapped, and at once, everyone looked at him.
"Pair up! We will begin with contact training. No flying yet. Just wear and balance."
Recruits formed rows. Assistants brought out simple training gear from the rack. It had a smaller thruster and no grappling wire.
Kaen stepped forward when his turn came.
The soldier padded him up the gear.
"This gears is smaller, so it will be easier for you to balance."
The gear was heavier than it looked. When Kaen pulled the strap to adjust it, he felt the pull of metal on his shoulders.
"Don't move... Stand straight," the assistant said.
Kaen tried.
But the weight dragged him backward.
He stumbled on the ground.
Some students laughed at him.
"Look at him, he can't even lift that thing, how will he master it?"
"Maybe is weak."
Kaen's jaw tightened; he got up and corrected his posture. The assistant nodded.
"That's better."
Riku struggled with the gear nearly about to fall.
Darren didn't move an inch.
His shoulders were big enough to support the weight.
Draxion stood still, analysing the mechanism of the machine with interest instead of fear.
Commander Hale walked past the rows, watching them silently.
"Do not think of this as equipment," he said.
"Think of it as a part of your body."
Kaen inhaled slowly.
Why does it feel like this gear is calling me?
His chest felt warm, not burning or glowing.
"Now thruster activation at low level."
The instructor moved and pressed the switches on student's back plates
With a soft hum, the thruster felt alive.
Some students panicked as the thruster got activated.
One girl screamed as the compressed air moved her forward.
Some students fall on the ground.
The instructor helped them to stay steady.
Kaen's thrusters vibrated, and the warmth in his chest grew warmer.
As if it were responding to his heart.
This is strange...
He adjusted his gear, shifted his balance, and stood still.
The wings twisted slightly, as if they were reacting to his movement.
Commander Hale stopped behind him.
"Have you used something like this before?"
Kaen shook his head.
"No, sir."
Commander stared at him, his eyes sharp and suspicious.
"Hmm."
He walked away.
Training continued.
Students practised balancing, moving, and turning.
Some improved at it immediately
While some fall repeatedly.
Some gave up and sat on the side, gasping for air.
Kaen didn't stop.
His legs trembled, but he still pushed his body, trying to balance the gear.
He fall again.
And again.
But he didn't give up
He tried his best to maintain the balance but he couldn't.
Hours passed.
The sun began to fall, and bright orange light covered the courtyard.
Commander Hale raised his arm.
"That's enough for today."
Students removed the gear and placed it back on the racks.
Some rubbed their shoulder,
Some stretched their bodies.
Others complained about it.
But Kaen stood quietly. Breathing heavily.
His body hurt, but his determination was greater than the pain in his body.
As he walked back to the shelter, Darren patted his shoulder.
"That was amazing. I can't wait to actually use these and fly in the sky.
Riku smiled, "Yeah, and maybe fall!"
"No one is falling," Draxion said seriously.
"If we learn to use it properly."
Kaen smiled weakly.
But inside his mind, thoughts arise.
Why did the thrusters feel connected to me? Why did my chest respond to it? Why did it feel like the machine understood me and had some connection with me?
When night came, Kaen sat outside again, staring up at the broken sky.
The academy was quiet now.
No training.
No shouting.
No engine noise.
Just silence across the ground.
Kaen rested his hand on his chest. For a moment, nothing happened.
Then
His heart pulsed
A warm spark ran through his body.
Kaen took a deep breath.
And then he heard it.
A voice
Soft
Calm
"You were meant to fly."
Kaen froze.
He looked around searching the shadows around him, buildings, empty walkways, rooftops, waiting for someone to step out.
But there was no one.
Only the wind is moving through the courtyard.
"Who are you?" he whispered
His heart pulsed again, but the voice didn't come.
Just silence.
He leaned back and closed his eyes.
Why did the mark react to the gear?
Why did it speak to me?
Whose voice was it?
Kaen opened his eyes and looked at the fractured sky.
But somewhere inside him a spark had started.
A feeling.
Not fear.
No doubt.
Something dangerous and powerful.
Destiny.