Chapter 11: Home
The train cut deeper into Norad's veins, its steady rhythm fading beneath the hum of Arisa's own thoughts. The murmurs, laughter, and mechanical chimes around her all blurred into a single muted echo. Her reflection trembled faintly against the glass, violet eyes distant. Lost somewhere between memory and uncertainty. Until something suddenly clicked in her head.
Her hand slipped into her pocket, pulling out the Kleidi once more. Its faint blue glow pulsing softly in her palm. She pressed her thumb against the scanner; the familiar ring of light swept across her skin, greeting her in a soft tone. "Welcome back, Arisa Sakarame."
She stared at it for a brief moment, then spoke quietly. "Why do I have money in my account?"
The Kleidi responded with its steady, neutral voice. "All twelve C.F.R. candidates receive housing accommodations and financial stipends courtesy of the D.O.P. The standard allowance is 15,000 N-Credits per lunar cycle. This is to assist in initial relocation and integration."
Arisa watched as small holographic icons shimmered across the device. The voice continued. "Be advised, District Five is among Norad's most costly regions. The allowance provided will sustain only standard living expenses for one month."
"Just enough to survive," Arisa murmured under her breath. She pressed her thumb against the device again, closing the holographic display. The blue light dimmed, leaving her reflection staring back at her from the blank surface. She placed it back into her pocket and exhaled quietly, watching the shifting scenery outside the window.
The neon glow of the earlier districts had begun to fade. The chaotic colors of District Two gave way to cleaner, colder tones. Silver and white swallowing the skyline. The train sped past walls of polished steel and smooth glass that reflected the sky like mirrors. As it entered District Five, everything changed.
The architecture here was precise. Towering buildings gleamed like monuments of authority, each one marked with the blue insignia of the D.O.P. Gold lined banners fluttered between their spires, and faint holograms projected mottos of loyalty and order in every open space.
Training facilities stretched across open courtyards, filled with the rhythmic drills of armored soldiers. They moved in unison, perfectly timed, their silver and cobalt armor flashing under the district's bright artificial lights.
Even from the train, Arisa could see the academy at the district's center. An enormous structure of marble white and shimmering blue, its golden spires piercing the skyline like the crown of a god. The building radiated power and precision, it wasn't just a school. It was a statement.
Arisa leaned slightly forward, her eyes fixed on it. For a moment, she wondered if this was where her real life in Norad would begin… The people around her began to thin out as the train moved closer to the central platform. Gone were the chatter and laughter of the earlier districts. Now, only silence remained. Punctuated by the occasional clink of metal boots and the low hum of tech powered armor.
A few civilians still stood near the exit doors, but they were different too. Sharper dressed, more composed. Many wore suits marked with D.O.P. insignias, while others bore the military's sigil on their sleeves. The atmosphere carried a sterile calmness. A constant reminder of who controlled this place.
Arisa glanced around her section of the train. Empty seats. Not a single passenger nearby. She leaned back slightly, her gaze returning to the window. The heart of Norad stretched before her. White, silver, and blue. Beautiful… yet suffocating.
The train continued its glide deeper into District 5, the scenery outside Arisa's window transforming with every passing minute. The skyline sharpened, towers of silver, white, and glass rose like polished blades, etched with faint blue circuitry that pulsed softly through the city's veins. The once chaotic blend of civilians and travelers began to thin. Now the platforms and streets were lined with D.O.P soldiers in varying ranks and uniforms. Their pristine armor caught the light of holographic billboards, the insignias on their chests glowing faintly in the district's signature hue.
Even amid the order, there were still citizens. A few well dressed workers, merchants, and travelers, but the hierarchy was clear. The D.O.P's presence was absolute. Checkpoints blinked at every corner, patrol drones drifted silently above, and massive banners bearing the Division's emblem rippled in the clean, artificially regulated wind.
The voice of the train's AI soon broke through the low hum of conversation. "Now arriving, District 5: Central Station. Please prepare to disembark."
Arisa's gaze returned to the window, to the enormous spire of the Academy that dominated the horizon, its golden crest glimmering beneath the sun. This was her stop. She stood, the metal floor vibrating faintly beneath her boots as the train slowed. She wasn't sure what to expect once she stepped outside, but she had the feeling she'd need to be ready for anything.
Suddenly she felt a faint shift in the air beside her, like a ripple through invisible water. Instinct moved before thought. Arisa's hand snapped out, gripping what should've been empty space. Instead, her fingers locked around a solid arm.
In that instant, six D.O.P soldiers flickered into existence around her, their cloaking tech disengaging with a cascade of blue light. Each weapon leveled on her was distinct. Sleek rifles humming with multi-colored pulses that throbbed like restrained lightning. The air grew heavy with controlled aggression.
The soldier whose arm she held had a blue plasma blade extending from his forearm, the tip hovering dangerously close to her temple.
For a heartbeat, no one moved. Arisa's eyes darted from one mask to the next, her mind already sketching out a dozen ways this could end.
"Calm down, Arisa," the soldier whose arm she gripped said, his voice muffled but steady through the helmet's speaker. "We're just escorts. We were ordered to make sure you reached your destination safely."
A flicker of anger flashed in her eyes. "And you were going to wait until when to reveal yourselves?" she asked sharply.
"Until you reached the apartment," the soldier replied. For a long moment, the hum of their weapons filled the silence between them. Then, after a slow breath and one last glance around, Arisa unclenched her hand. The soldier's arm dropped back to his side.
The soldiers slowly lowered their weapons in unison, the soft hum of their firearms dimming until only the ambient hum of the train filled the air again.
"You must have heightened senses," the man whose arm Arisa had grabbed finally said, his tone shifting from rigid to faintly impressed. He raised a hand, gesturing for the others to secure the train doors. The motion was practiced, silent and sharp.
Arisa adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder, stepping past them without a word.
"Or maybe…" the man continued, his modulated voice following her, "…it's those eyes of yours."
Arisa didn't so much as glance back. Her expression stayed unreadable, as she stepped off the train and into the open station.
The air outside hit her first. Crisp, faintly metallic, humming with electricity and power. The District 5 Station wasn't like the one she had arrived at before. This was the crown jewel of D.O.P architecture. The platform stretched across a high terrace overlooking the lower districts, the floors beneath alive with movement. Cars gliding along luminous roads, citizens and soldiers alike weaving through glowing pathways that shimmered with blue light.
The entire station sat suspended on a level that seemed to float above the city, glass walkways and suspended bridges crisscrossing like veins of light. Even from here, Arisa could hear the muted roar of engines and the faint chatter of life far below. But her attention soon shifted outward. Past the glimmering skyline, toward the Academy.
It dominated the horizon. A sprawling complex of silver, white, and gold, the Academy stretched across a massive expanse, its core tower rising into the clouds like a monument to precision and control. Around it were vast training grounds that resembled miniature cities, streets lined with simulation grids, moving platforms, and flickering barrier domes. Even at this hour, activity pulsed through the grounds. She could see the flicker of movement. Soldiers training, drones hovering, energy weapons discharging in rhythm. The Academy was alive, its heartbeat synchronized with the DOP itself.
Arisa stepped forward to the balcony's edge, resting a hand lightly on the cold metal railing as she looked out. For a brief moment, her eyes reflected the city's glow. The same purple hue mirrored back in the steel and glass below her.
Behind her, the soldiers formed a loose formation, spreading out to secure the area.
"Your apartment is just a short walk from here," the lead soldier said, his voice calm, almost casual now. "Down the stairs, one block east, then right on the corner. You won't miss it. You no longer need protection."
He made another quick gesture. One by one, the soldiers shimmered and vanished, their invisibility cloaks reactivating with faint ripples in the air.
The last to disappear was the man she had grabbed earlier. His outline flickered faintly as he gave a final nod. "Welcome to the Academy, Arisa Sakarame." Then he was gone.
Arisa stood alone on the high balcony, the night wind brushing against her hair. The city stretched endlessly before her. Bright, vast, and alive with power. She allowed herself a breath, her gaze fixed on the Academy below. This was it. The heart of the DOP. The place where she would spend the next part of her life.
The soft hum of the city filled the silence that followed. Arisa stood for a moment longer, watching the faint shimmer fade from where the soldiers had vanished. Then, she exhaled quietly and began to move.
—-
Arisa's boots tapped lightly against the smooth metal steps as she descended from the station platform. The further she walked, the more the architecture unfolded before her. District 5 was a city within a city. Every surface gleamed, walls of white alloy traced with faint blue lines, hovering vehicles gliding effortlessly through narrow lanes suspended mid air. Even the air felt different here. Cooler, cleaner, like it had been filtered through technology itself.
Down below, the streets stretched wide and pristine. Massive towers rose on either side, their mirrored faces reflecting streams of light that moved like flowing data. Between them, holographic banners floated, broadcasting recruitment slogans and proud mottos in the D.O.P's calm metallic tone. "Discipline. Order. Power."
The few civilians that walked these streets seemed measured, their steps quick and purposeful. Most wore sleek formal attire that matched the city's palette, and nearly all of them moved aside when soldiers passed. The D.O.P insignia was everywhere. Stitched into uniforms, carved into stone, projected into the air.
Arisa's eyes wandered, taking it all in. The deep hum of energy rails beneath the street. The rhythmic march of patrols crossing a nearby bridge. The faint buzz of drones overhead that never seemed to rest. Everything about this place was symmetrical, efficient, and heavy with control.
She turned right, just as the soldier had told her, her path lit by white neon strips embedded in the ground. The glow reflected against her dark clothes, tracing the faint shapes of the curse marks that reached just above her collar.
Despite the late hour, the district didn't sleep. Soldiers in varying ranks moved in and out of facilities, training courtyards still alive with blue lit motion. It felt as if the entire place ran on a single synchronized pulse.
Arisa slowed as she reached the end of the block. Ahead, tucked neatly between two towering complexes, stood a residential tower. Its polished steel doors reflected her faintly, purple irises glowing against the cool tones of the city.
For a moment, she just stood there. The weight of everything. The Academy, the DOP, this new life pressing silently at her back. Then she stepped forward and entered the building.
[[Location: Norad, District 5. Tower of the new age]]
The moment Arisa stepped inside, the contrast hit her. The world outside, the gleaming blues and silvers of the D.O.P. Gave way to something entirely different. Inside, the air felt still, calm, almost detached from the city's pulse. The interior of the building was a seamless blend of black steel and matte gray stone, elegant yet quietly intimidating. The ceiling stretched far above her head, easily three stories high, supported by smooth columns that disappeared into soft blue light.
Panels of white luminescence traced along the upper edges of the walls and across the floor, cutting through the darkness in clean geometric lines. It was minimal, but precise. Like the entire space had been designed by someone who valued control over comfort. The glow of the lights against the dark palette gave the lobby a subtle, futuristic beauty. Every sound seemed to echo faintly, her footsteps, the quiet hum of air filtration, even the faint click of machinery behind the walls.
There weren't many people around. A pair of D.O.P soldiers walked toward the elevators in silence, their metallic boots glinting with faint light before vanishing behind closing doors. Other than that, the space felt empty. Too large for the handful of lives that passed through it at this hour.
To her far right, a reception counter broke the quiet. Behind it stood a woman dressed in the standard D.O.P civilian attire. A form fitting white uniform trimmed with soft gold at the cuffs. Her hair was tied in a clean topknot, not a single strand out of place. The soft light of the ceiling panels reflected across her smooth skin, accentuating the calm, practiced warmth in her smile.
"Hello! Welcome!" she greeted, her voice gentle yet clear as it echoed faintly through the grand space. "Are you here to check in?" Her tone was sweet, professional, but not mechanical. It carried the kind of practiced friendliness of someone who understood how sterile the D.O.P's world could feel, and tried to bring a hint of humanity into it.
Arisa paused, her eyes taking in the details of the woman, her surroundings, the weight of the moment. She then approached the counter, the soft echo of her footsteps blending with the low hum of the building's lights. The receptionist looked up immediately, her expression brightening as if she'd been expecting her.
"You must be one of the twelve," the woman said, her tone light and friendly.
Arisa stopped just in front of the desk, arching a brow. "Is it that obvious?"
The receptionist gave a small laugh, her fingers tapping across a glass panel embedded in the desk. "Well, your clothes are a dead giveaway. You're not exactly blending in with the late night crowd."
Arisa gave a faint exhale, neither confirming nor denying it. Her stance was relaxed, but her eyes were scanning everything. The layout of the lobby, the reflections in the glass behind the woman, the subtle hum of nearby elevators.
"If I could just see your Kleidi for a moment," the receptionist said. "It'll help me sync your access."
Arisa reached into her pocket, pulling out the small device and placing it on the counter. The woman explained as she worked, guiding her through the brief process. "This will act as your key now. Just press your thumb here, and the system will register you as the official occupant."
Arisa followed along, still taking in her surroundings. "And where exactly am I staying?"
"Top floor, Room 555" the woman said cheerfully. "A penthouse suite."
Arisa blinked, her brows knitting slightly. "Penthouse? What the hell do I need a penthouse for?"
The receptionist smiled politely, unbothered by the bluntness. "All candidates are given full accommodations, but in your case…" she paused, glancing at the glowing text on her screen, "it seems someone made a special request. A larger housing budget, far above standard."
Arisa tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Who?"
"I'm afraid that information's restricted," the woman said with a sympathetic smile. "But he's a big name. That's all I can tell you."
Arisa didn't respond right away. She wasn't used to being the subject of someone else's generosity, and she didn't like not knowing why. A name lingered in her mind, but she dismissed it. Manko was too cheap for something like this.
When the Kleidi beeped softly, signaling the completion of the scan, the woman picked it up and handed it back to her with both hands. "All done. You're officially checked in, Miss Sakarame. Welcome home."
Arisa took the device, slipping it back into her pocket with a quiet nod. "Home," she echoed under her breath, her tone unreadable as she turned and headed toward the elevators.
For a brief moment, as the word lingered, something flickered in her mind. The sterile walls around her faded, replaced by the soft glow of lanterns and the rustle of wind through the trees of the Sakarame village. Her real home. The smell of the soil, the warmth of the air. Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
A hollow ache pressed against her chest, and anger crept in with it. Her hand clenched into a fist. The illusion vanished, replaced once again by the cold reflections of polished marble and chrome.
"This will never be home…" she murmured, her voice low and distant, almost like she was reminding herself. The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, washing her in pale blue light. Without another word, she stepped inside.
—-
The elevator hummed softly as it ascended, its faint blue light reflecting off Arisa's eyes. Alone inside, she exhaled. The kind of breath that carried an entire day's worth of chaos. From leaving Manko's cabin by the lake, to Neta's laughter echoing in Jorno's diner, to Ericna's neon gaze across the bar. Each moment blurred into the next, until she wasn't sure if she was moving forward or just being carried by the momentum of fate itself.
Then the elevator slowed. A soft chime. The doors slid open. She hadn't looked up yet, just the faint reflection of polished boots caught her eye. Her gaze lifted slowly.
A man stood there. His stance was relaxed, both hands tucked into his pockets, forearms marked with faint scars that spoke of battles won and lost. The subtle ridges of veins traced along his skin, catching the light. He was taller than her, by at least four inches. Enough that she had to tilt her head slightly to meet his eyes. Emerald green. Bright.
They weren't the dull kind of green that belonged to normal people. They glowed, faintly alive, the same strange energy she had seen in Ericna… and in herself. Beneath one eye, a clean scar cut down two inches, sharp and deliberate, a reminder of something that never healed.
His hair was black, like hers. Disheveled yet intentional, streaked with faint green highlights at the edges that shimmered under the fluorescent light. He was young, but there was a weight behind his gaze. Not naïve, not careless, but restrained. Their eyes locked.
The world outside the elevator fell silent. As if even the building itself held its breath. Arisa couldn't explain it, but the air around them felt charged, not hostile, not gentle. But familiar.
This was her floor. He didn't move aside. He simply looked down, breaking the connection, stepping back as she walked past him. No words exchanged. No gestures. Just the quiet thrum of tension in the air.
As she passed, she could feel his presence, not his stare, but his presence. Like gravity itself briefly shifted. The doors began to close. Something made her turn.
He leaned against the inner wall of the elevator, head lowered, hands still buried in his pockets. His expression unreadable. Neither cold nor welcoming, just calm. Then, at the final sliver of a second before the doors met, his eyes lifted again… Emerald eyes met with violet.
Then silence. The elevator shut. Arisa stood there for a heartbeat longer, the echo of that gaze still alive behind her eyes. Then she turned, her footsteps the only sound in the empty corridor as she walked toward her room.
The hallway was silent. Each step Arisa took echoed softly across polished floors that reflected the white and blue glow of the overhead lights. The walls here were just like the lobby, a clean mix of dark metal and smooth gray stone, but quieter, colder. The hum of distant ventilation and the faint buzz of neon strips were the only sounds that kept her company.
This was the top floor, the penthouse level. And the emptiness showed it. No late night conversations. No footsteps. Just her.
She walked past a few doors, each sleek and numbered in bright white holograms that hovered an inch off their surface, until she finally saw it. Room 555.
Her pace slowed. The number glowed faintly against the metallic door, its surface rippling with reflected light from the hallway's glow. As she got closer, a subtle vibration pulsed against her thigh. Her Kleidi.
The faint blue light shimmered through her pocket, responding to something. She pulled it out slowly, and the hallway around her seemed to dim. Maybe it was just her focus narrowing on the door ahead.
The panel beside the doorway came to life. A soft hum, a vertical line of light descending like a scanning pulse. It outlined a sleek slot below, waiting. Expectant. Almost alive.
The Kleidi pulsed brighter in her hand, its glow syncing perfectly with the rhythm of the door's light, like two heartbeats synchronizing.
She stood still for a moment, staring at the door. This was it, her new home, her new life.. And yet… The silence felt heavier than peace.
Chapter 11: Home
END