Chapter 9: The Academy Unveiled
The next morning came a bit way too quickly.
The skies over Aurelius Academy glowed with the pale shimmer of twin suns rising above, their light bending against the crystalline shield that guarded the city's heart. Shuttles hovered in neat formations, ferrying groups of students toward the central campus—a sprawling, metallic citadel wrapped in gardens of glowing trees and gravitic walkways all the way.
Redmond adjusted his visor mask as he stepped onto the platform with the rest of Squad 07 members. His aura was silent today, carefully muted, as he doesn't talk much but it didn't stop the occasional glance—or outright staring—from fellow students passing by as usual. Some whispered his name, others speculated, and a few simply just scowled with envy.
Kael, naturally, took it upon himself to absorb the attention. He stretched exaggeratedly, cracking his knuckles loud enough for a passing group of girls to hear it. "Yep ok. That's us. Squad 07. Future legends. Remember the name!"
Selene rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "Future idiot, more like."
Tiran smirked faintly, his gauntlets clinking at his side. "You do realize no one's looking at you, right? They're looking at him." He tilted his chin toward Redmond.
Kael frowned. "Him? Hm Nah. They're clearly in awe of my… sculpted frame." He flexed dramatically.
A freshman walking past burst out laughing. "Yeah, more like sculpted stomach—by bread."
The group snorted, even Selene hiding a chuckle. Kael stood frozen for a second before groaning. "I'm transferring squads."
The Academy Amphitheater
The students gathered inside a colossal amphitheater, its ceiling a transparent dome revealing the aurora-draped sky. Holograms flickered to life across the air, projecting diagrams of human figures and glowing talent emblems.
A man stepped onto the stage. His posture was firm, his eyes steel-grey, his uniform a perfect balance of utility and authority.
"Attention, first-years," his voice carried without effort. "I am Arch-Mentor Elias Ward, head of this academy. Today, your true journey begins. Yesterday was a trial. Today, we classify you."
The murmurs stilled. Ward raised his hand, and the holograms shifted.
"There are five classifications of origin talents: Enhancers. Emitters. Constructors. Defenders. Analysts. This is the framework upon which every profession and every awakened path is built."
He gestured, and each classification expanded with visual examples:
Enhancers: a figure glowing as it reinforced its body, lifting a tank.
Emitters: beams of plasma, shockwaves, light lances.
Constructors: drones forming weapons, barriers, even bridges.
Defenders: fields of light blocking artillery fire.
Analysts: vision expanded into hundreds of data streams, mapping rifts in real time.
Ward's voice sharpened. "Your profession determines your survival. Combat Specialists. Field Researchers. Tacticians. Medic Engineers. Constructors. Each one vital to civilization's future. Each one a cornerstone of Aurelius."
Student Reactions
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
"I'm going Combat, no question!" one boy boasted.
"Forget that—I want Medic Engineer. They're the only ones who don't get shot at!"
"Field Researcher sounds boring…"
"Not if you discover a new ore vein. My cousin got rich off a single find."
Kael whispered to Selene, "Enhancer, Combat Specialist. That's me. Straightforward. Hero material."
Selene gave him a flat stare. "Or corpse material."
"Cold," Kael muttered.
Tiran tapped his gauntlets. "Emitter, Combat or Tactician. Works for me."
Selene adjusted her gloves, her tone thoughtful. "Density manipulation… Constructor or Defender. Maybe both."
Magnus, standing a little apart, spoke quietly but firmly. "Analyst, Constructor. Obviously." His visor glowed faintly as if to punctuate the point.
Finally, their eyes turned to Redmond. He tilted his head, silent for a long moment. Then: "Classification means nothing if the foundation is weak."
Kael blinked. "…Did you just dodge the question?"
Redmond didn't answer.
The Professors Enter
Several figures filed onto the stage behind Ward.
Commander Maren Locke, her combat uniform scarred from real battles. She folded her arms, gaze like a blade.
Professor Ava Stroud, a tall woman with silver hair tied back, wearing a coat embedded with scanners and holo-pens. Her sharp eyes studied the crowd like specimens.
Doctor Cassian Holt, sleeves rolled up, hands scarred from implants and surgeries. He gave a nod to the medic hopefuls.
Instructor Grant Avery, younger than the rest, his smirk carrying both arrogance and charm.
Ward introduced them one by one. "These are your mentors. They will decide whether you thrive… or break."
Ceremony & Badges
One by one, names were called. Students stepped forward, placed their hands on crystalline pillars, and the holograms displayed their classification. Badges materialized from projectors, glowing emblems pinned to their uniforms.
Kael slammed his palm down first. His pillar glowed red.
"Kael Stroud. Classification: Enhancer. Profession: Combat Specialist."
Kael pumped both fists in the air. "Knew it!"
Selene followed, the pillar turning deep violet.
"Selene Veyra. Classification: Constructor/Defender hybrid. Profession: Researcher-Defender."
She nodded calmly, satisfied.
Tiran's glow was gold.
"Tiran Voss. Classification: Emitter. Profession: Combat Specialist."
Magnus stepped forward. His visor pulsed as the pillar glowed crimson-red with branching data lines.
"Magnus Nox. Classification: Analyst-Constructor. Profession: Tactician."
Finally, Redmond approached. Silence swept the amphitheater. He placed his hand on the pillar— The crystal flared vermilion, brighter than anyone before. Symbols flickered too quickly to pin down: Enhancer, Emitter, Constructor—yet none settled.
The system stalled.
Whispers rippled through the students.
"What the…?"
"Is it broken?"
"No—look. It's reading everything."
Arch-Mentor Ward narrowed his eyes but raised his hand. "System error. Manual evaluation will follow. Redmond Red'Lux—provisional classification: Undefined."
The amphitheater erupted.
The Aftermath
Later that evening, the squad lounged in their assigned quarters. Kael was still rambling about his victory pose. Selene and Tiran argued quietly over study tracks. Magnus sat in silence, visor dim.
Redmond sat at the edge of the balcony, city lights stretching out below. The auroras danced silently overhead, twin moons glowing faintly.
He lifted a small, metallic communicator to his lips. His voice was low, steady, deliberate.
"They classified me as undefined. The system failed."
A long pause. Then he added, "Just as we expected."
The line clicked. The message went out.
The academy's amphitheater was restless.
Students gathered again in the vast chamber, their voices buzzing with curiosity and gossip. The examinations were over, yet no one had moved past yesterday's shock.
"Red'Lux is trouble, I'm telling you."
"Trouble? He broke the system! That wasn't an error."
"What's under that mask anyway? Probably nothing human."
The conversations spread like wildfire until the air shimmered and the crest of the academy appeared above the stage—a tri-star shield burning with bright data streams.
A voice followed, deep and composed:
> "Attention, students. This is Dean Elias Ward. Redmond Red'Lux, report immediately to the Head Dean's office."
Silence drowned the hall.
Kael whistled low. "Damn, bro didn't even last one day before the Dean himself calls him in."
Selene's eyes narrowed. "This… isn't procedure. He's being singled out."
Tiran muttered, "Or targeted."
Redmond rose. The silver-black visor reflected the overhead lights, betraying nothing. He gave no answer to the whispers, no glance at the stares. His steps were measured, each one ringing against the floor as he left.