Chapter 23 — The Arrival of the Stars
The morning of the first day carried a new light, clear and almost solemn, as if even the sky had decided to stand tall to witness the beginning of an unknown generation. The Academy of Paladins stood atop a white hill, a vast city of stone and glass, surrounded by geometric gardens, circular towers, and training grounds where a contained energy already vibrated. Hundreds of students moved in groups—some confident, others trembling, others laughing too loudly to hide their fear. Dreams walked among them. Future heroes too. Future monsters, perhaps, even more so.
In the great central hall, an immense rotunda capped by a transparent dome, the new recruits waited in irregular ranks. The sound of murmurs rose like a nervous sea. Zayn observed everything with his hands in his pockets, looking relaxed, while Kai spoke at an almost inhuman speed behind him and Yojuro maintained that cold silence that gave the impression he was judging all of existence.
— Did you see the size of the building? Kai blurted out. Did you see the statues? Did you see the weapons on the walls? Did you see that girl over there? Did you see—
— Breathe, Zayn said.
— I'm breathing just fine!
Cynthia, arms crossed, sighed.
— I hope they teach us to hit harder than he talks.
Then suddenly, the racket cut off.
A silhouette descended slowly from the heights of the dome.
Translucent wings with blue reflections vibrated in the air with supernatural elegance. His slender body recalled a humanoid dragonfly—fine carapace, luminous eyes, noble posture. He wore a long ceremonial garment embroidered with gold and ancient symbols. His presence did not crush; it soothed.
The Director.
Alden Veylor.
A Primal.
He landed soundlessly in the center of the hall.
— Welcome.
His voice was soft, clear, almost musical.
— You have come here to become Paladins. That means power, duty, prestige… or a premature grave.
A few nervous laughs broke out.
Alden did not smile.
— Before a body learns to fight, a heart must confess why it rises.
He joined his hands.
— I will question each of you.
A collective groan ran through the room.
Kai raised his hand.
— One by one? Like… everyone?
— Yes.
— Oh.
The hours passed like a slow rain.
A thin student with green hair stepped forward.
— Why do you want to become a Paladin? Alden asked.
— Money, sir.
— Honest. Sit down.
A girl with red eyes:
— To be famous.
— Sad. Sit down.
A massive boy:
— To become the strongest.
— Empty. Sit down.
Another:
— To impress my ex.
The entire hall erupted in laughter.
Even Alden bowed his head for a second.
— Pathetic… but sincere. Sit down.
In the ranks of the Scarlet Class, Loyd declared with arrogance:
— To dominate all the weak.
— You will therefore be surrounded by competition, Alden replied.
The laughter resumed.
Kira said she wanted to understand the value of blood. Alexandra spoke of spiritual power. Rex wanted to forge sacred weapons sold at high prices. Jax just wanted to "shoot bigger things."
The director appeared increasingly tired.
— So much ambition… so little backbone, he whispered.
Then came the Zenith Class.
Robin wanted to protect the border villages.
Blanche spoke of nobility and honor.
Murata, eyes closed, said simply:
— To hear the true sound of a true fight.
Alden tilted his head, interested.
Yuma declared:
— Because no one will give me orders if I become stronger than them.
— At least that's consistent.
Kai nearly leaped to the center.
— Me, I want to become a Paladin to beat ERROR, get rich, travel, fight monsters, eat for free, and if possible, have a cape.
Alden remained silent.
— …Sit down.
— Was that a yes or a no on the cape?
— Sit down.
The room was laughing openly now.
Then Yojuro stepped forward.
Silence returned without anyone knowing why.
— Why do you want to become a Paladin?
Yojuro looked straight ahead.
— To observe those who claim to protect the world.
Alden stared at him longer than the others.
— Interesting.
He let him return to his place.
Finally, Zayn walked to the center, hands in his pockets, a quiet smile on his face.
— And you?
— I don't really know.
A murmur ran through the hall.
— You don't know?
— No. I like fighting. I like winning. I like protecting those close to me too, I think. And I have the feeling that if I stay still, something worse than death will happen to me: I'll become boring.
A brief silence followed.
Then Alden gave a thin smile.
— Finally, someone who is alive.
Zayn blinked.
— So I pass?
— You passed the moment you dared to say "I don't know."
He returned to his seat under gazes split between admiration and irritation.
The director observed the assembly of students.
— Many want power. Few want to carry what it costs.
He raised a hand.
— You shall begin regardless.
Later, the academy corridors filled with a new tumult: quick footsteps, slamming doors, awkward introductions, promises of friendship or rivalry made in less than three minutes. The first day always resembled a polite war.
Zayn eventually found the Zenith Class room.
An unexpectedly simple classroom.
Light stone walls, large windows open to the training grounds, traditional blackboards, rows of sturdy wooden desks. Nothing extravagant. Just a place built for learning how to become dangerous.
— I like it, Zayn said. It smells like future sweat.
He settled near the window, next to Yojuro who was already reading a book covered in symbols.
— What are you reading?
— Common mistakes of mediocre fighters.
— And you chose me as a neighbor?
— Practical experience.
Kai arrived and took the seat behind Zayn.
— Perfect! This way I can talk into both your ears at the same time!
— I'm going to report you before the first lesson even starts, Zayn said.
Cynthia entered in turn and set her bag down with the softness of a controlled explosion.
— If anyone snores, I'm hitting them.
— Message received, Kai said.
Gradually, the other members of the class filled the room: Blanche, elegant and upright; Robin, supple as a shadow; Murata, guided by the sound of footsteps; Axel, already discreetly making an eraser explode; Aku, observing everything calmly.
Then the door opened.
And the temperature seemed to drop.
A woman entered slowly.
Long dark hair, eyes covered by a blindfold, impeccable uniform, austere presence. Her simple gait commanded silence better than any shout.
Himari Harihiho.
Seraph of the UAP.
Kai straightened up instantly.
— OHHH—
Cynthia crushed his foot without looking at him.
Himari placed a folder on the desk.
— Good morning.
No one answered loudly enough.
— Let's try again.
Her voice was neither loud nor threatening. Yet everyone stiffened.
— Good morning.
— GOOD MORNING, MA'AM! the entire class shouted.
— Acceptable.
She joined her hands behind her back.
— I am Himari Harihiho. From today, I will be your professor of Blessed Bioenergy.
Zayn whispered:
— We actually have a Seraph as a teacher…
Yojuro replied without looking up:
— Which means it's either a privilege… or a problem.
Himari continued:
— Here, you will learn what blessed energy truly is. Not the legends. Not the heroic speeches. Not the lies that the weak tell to reassure themselves.
She turned her head slightly.
Even without seeing her eyes, everyone felt as though they were being watched.
— Advice number one.
Absolute silence.
— If you base your identity on your power… then the day someone stronger appears, you cease to exist.
The sentence entered the room like a cold blade.
Even Zayn remained motionless.
Himari placed a piece of chalk on the board.
— Advice number two.
She wrote with a sharp motion:
*Power without mastery is just an accident waiting to happen.*
Then she turned back to them.
— And several of you… already smell like an accident.
The Seraph's invisible gaze seemed to pierce through Zayn, Kai… then stop for a fraction of a second on Yojuro.
The first lesson had just begun.
And outside, far from the academy walls, something was already approaching.