Noctis made his way through long, echoing corridors until he reached the male dormitory—an imposing stone building covered in ivy. The scent of old wood and worn leather filled the air.
Room 209 was quiet, sparsely furnished with a bed, desk, and a small closet. Nothing remarkable.
He dropped his bag on the floor and sat on the edge of the bed, thinking.
Noctis wasn't sure what awaited him next, but one thing was clear: the game wasn't over. It was only just beginninNoctis sank onto the edge of the bed just as the door creaked open again. He glanced up to see a tall boy with messy dark hair and sharp green eyes step inside, a friendly but curious expression on his face.
"Hey, you must be Vale," the boy said, dropping his bag by the door. "I'm Riven. Roommate."
Noctis nodded, offering a cautious smile. "Yeah. Noctis Vale."
Riven grinned. "Nice to meet you. So, what's your deal? New to Aethercrest too?"
"First day," Noctis replied, standing to offer a handshake.
Riven shook it firmly. "Same here. I'm from the Western District. Heard the academy's tough but worth it."
Noctis looked around the room again. "Any idea why we fainted during the ceremony?"
Riven shrugged, flopping onto his bed. "Probably nerves or the whole 'getting blasted with Aether' thing. My sister said it was intense. You into Aether control?"
Noctis hesitated before nodding. "Yeah, I'm trying to get a grip on it. It's… different here."
Riven raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"
Noctis glanced toward the window, feeling the weight of the strange new world pressing in. "Like it's more real. More dangerous."
Riven smirked. "Sounds like you've been playing one of those Aethercrest-themed sims, huh?"
Noctis stiffened. "What's that?"
Riven laughed. "Never mind. You'll get used to it. Just watch your back. This place isn't just a school. It's a battlefield."
Noctis met his gaze, sensing the unspoken warnings beneath the words.
The two sat in silence for a moment, the distant echoes of the academy buzzing outside.
"So," Riven said finally, "ready for whatever comes next?"
Noctis took a deep breath. "I have to be."
_-
Meanwhile, down the hallway in the female dormitory, Ava—now Lyra—walked through the polished corridors, the buzz of students around her feeling both exciting and overwhelming. The air smelled faintly of lavender and old books, a stark contrast to her usual quiet home.
A nurse had led her here after she'd fainted during the opening ceremony, just like Noctis. Unlike him, Ava had been sent to the girls' wing, a maze of rooms and common areas filled with chatter and nervous energy.
She reached her assigned room and paused, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open. Inside, the room was small but cozy—a bed pushed against one wall, a desk cluttered with notes and sketches on the other, and a large window looking out over the sprawling academy grounds.
Just as she began to set down her bag, the door opened again, and a girl about her age stepped inside. She had fiery red hair tied back in a loose braid and sharp amber eyes that flicked over Ava with a mixture of curiosity and challenge.
"You must be Lyra," the girl said with a confident smile. "I'm Serena. Looks like we're roommates."
Ava nodded, returning the smile cautiously. "Yeah. Nice to meet you."
Serena leaned against the desk, crossing her arms. "So, what do you think of Aethercrest so far? It's a lot to take in."
Ava shrugged. "It's… different. Feels more real than I expected."
Serena's expression softened slightly. "You're not the only one feeling that way. Some of us have been here a while, and trust me, it only gets weirder."
Ava tilted her head. "Weirder how?"
Serena grinned. "You'll see. But hey, don't stress. We all have to learn to control our Aether — that's what really matters here."
Ava smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "Yeah. I'm ready to figure it out."
The two girls settled into a comfortable silence, the distant sounds of the academy humming through the walls.
Back in her mind, Ava wondered if Noctis was alright—if he was feeling as lost and out of place as she was.
She didn't know it yet, but their paths were only just beginning to cross in this strange, new world
Noctis blinked awake as soft sunlight streamed through tall arched windows, casting long beams across the polished wooden floors of the classroom. The faint murmur of dozens of students filled the grand hall. He rubbed his temples, still foggy from the strange events that led him here.
Beside him, Ava stirred and stretched, blinking up at the same high ceiling with a slow smile. Neither of them said a word — not yet. The sterile white uniforms felt unfamiliar, and the reality of their new surroundings settled like a weight on their chests.
A soft chime rang out, and a calm but authoritative voice echoed from hidden speakers. "Welcome to Aethercrest Academy, Initiates Vale and Lyra. Please proceed to the Orientation Hall for your first class."
Noctis nudged Ava. "Guess they know our game names now."
She smirked. "Better get used to it."
The hall buzzed with chatter as students gathered, a mix of nervous excitement and curiosity filling the air. Noctis spotted Ava weaving through the crowd and fell into step beside her. Despite everything, her presence was grounding.
A tall instructor stepped forward, robes fluttering slightly in the breeze from open windows. "Good morning, students. I am Master Caelum, your guide through the mysteries of Aether. Today we begin your journey to harness this power."
He paused, scanning the crowd with sharp eyes. "But first, let me explain the ranks of creatures you may face. From Rank 1 to Rank 5, each presents escalating danger. Your first trial will only involve Rank 1 entities — low-level but unpredictable."
Noctis and Ava exchanged glances. "Sounds manageable," Ava whispered.
"For now," Noctis replied with a smirk.
The class was divided into groups, and to their surprise, Noctis and Ava found themselves seated side by side, along with several others. Their assigned training area was a large arena surrounded by towering walls, designed to safely contain combatants and creatures alike.
Master Caelum began with a demonstration. Summoning a faint swirl of violet Aether from his palm, he shaped it into a small, shadowy wolf that leapt and snarled before vanishing.
"This is a Rank 1 Shadow Hound," he explained. "Common in the wilds. Agile and cunning, but not overly powerful."
Noctis felt a flicker of recognition — the dark tendrils of his own Aether seemed to resonate with the creature's form.
The signal was given, and small pods on the far side of the arena hissed open, releasing several Shadow Hounds. The creatures darted forward, eyes glowing faintly red.
Noctis and Ava quickly paired up, backs to each other. Noctis's shadow-infused Aether curled around his fists, while Ava summoned soft golden light that shimmered around her arms.
"Watch their movements," Ava advised quietly. "They strike fast, but predictably."
Noctis nodded, dodging a swipe from a hound, then striking with a burst of concentrated shadow Aether that sent it staggering back.
Ava moved gracefully, weaving protective Aether shields that deflected the creature's bites and claws. She healed a small scratch on Noctis's arm with a quick pulse of light.
The battle lasted minutes but felt like hours — exhausting, exhilarating. When the last Shadow Hound dissolved into a puff of dark mist, the group breathed heavily but smiled.
Back in the classroom, the instructor praised their efforts. "You showed good teamwork and control. Remember, even Rank 1 foes can be dangerous if underestimated."
Noctis glanced at Ava, who was already packing up her things. "So… what now?"
"Classes, practice, survive," she said with a grin. "And maybe figure out how the hell we got trapped here."
Noctis let out a dry laugh. "Yeah. That, too."
As the afternoon sun dipped, the academy felt less like a prison and more like a challenge — one they were determined to face together, one fight at a time.