The Carriage slowed long before it stopped.
At first, I thought it was just a busy street. Then I looked out the window.
"…Wow."
The Vanguard Spire didn't rise from the capital city so much as impale it.
A colossal tower of pale stone and dark metal pierced the sky, its surface layered with terraces, bridges, and rune-lined reinforcements that shimmered faintly even in broad daylight. Smaller spires branched off from the main structure like ribs, each connected by suspended walkways or enclosed rails. The higher levels vanished into thin clouds, the top completely obscured.
This wasn't a building.
This was... a statement.
Ashley leaned closer to the window beside me, eyes wide, ember-gold irises reflecting the Spire's glow. "So… this is where we're supposed to live for now?"
"Comforting thought," I muttered. "I already feel welcomed."
The Carriage rolled through reinforced gates etched with Vanguard insignia before finally stopping at a massive landing platform. As the doors hissed open, cool air washed over us, carrying the faint scent of metal, ozone, and something sharp– Aether, if I had to guess.
One by one, we stepped off.
I felt small immediately.
Dozens of freshly awakened stood there with us, some whispering, some staring openly, some trying very hard to look like they weren't intimidated. I failed spectacularly at that last one.
A woman in a Vanguard uniform approached, boots clicking against polished stone. Her posture was relaxed, but her presence carried weight.
"Welcome to the Vanguard Spire," she said, voice clear and practiced. "You've been registered as newly awakened and granted provisional access."
'Provisional?'
That word stuck with me.
"This facility serves three primary purposes," she continued as she began walking, clearly expecting us to follow. "Education. Coordination. Evaluation."
We moved as a loose group, Ashley instinctively sticking close to my side. I didn't comment on it. I wasn't eager to get lost either.
"The academy wing," the staff member said, gesturing toward a massive interior hall we passed, "offers structured courses for awakened at all stages. Combat theory, ether control, survival tactics, legacy refinement, squad coordination. Enrollment is optional, but strongly recommended."
Inside the hall, I caught glimpses of tiered lecture spaces, training diagrams cleanly projected onto Walls, and countless awakeneds roaming around.
My chest tightened.
"I guess this is where luck stops working." I murmured. "And skill and knowledge fills its place."
Ashley nodded quietly as we moved on.
"The dormitory sector houses all unaffiliated awakened," the guide said as we entered a residential wing. Long corridors branched endlessly, lined with reinforced doors marked by glowing identifiers. "Rooms are all assigned the same. You'll have private quarters."
'Private.'
That alone felt unreal.
"some facilities are shared," she added. "Cafeterias, lounges, training facilities."
The cafeteria turned out to be massive– long stone tables, warm lighting, and entire stalls dedicated to food distribution. Actual hot meals. I felt my stomach betray me immediately.
Ashley noticed.
She smiled. "Hungry?"
"I've been hungry since birth." I replied solemnly.
Next came the training halls.
If the academy wing felt serious, this felt brutal.
Wide open arenas stretched farther than I could see, reinforced floors scarred with old impact marks. Ether suppression fields hummed faintly overhead. Groups of awakened sparred under instructor supervision, some using weapons, others barehanded, ether flaring around them in controlled bursts.
"This is where you break," the staff member said calmly. "Safely."
'These masochists definitely have a way with words. How Comforting.'
Finally, we arrived at a broad circular chamber filled with terminals and notice boards.
"Meeting hubs," she explained. "This is where squads form. Missions are posted. Contracts reviewed."
That caught my attention.
Ashley glanced at me. "Guess this is where people decide who they trust."
"Or who they're desperate enough to tolerate," I added.
The staff member stopped at the center of the chamber.
"The next Evaluation Exam will be held in exactly five weeks," she announced. "Participation is optional. If you feel unprepared, you may wait for the following cycle."
'Five weeks...'
My chest tightened again.
"Pass, and you become a full Vanguard asset," she continued. "Fail, and you are reassigned."
'Reassigned sounded suspiciously like discarded.'
Whatever this place was, academy, fortress, proving ground– it was clear one thing was true.
'This is where i'll be turning over a new leaf.'
The Sun was already setting again By the time the tour finally wrapped up. My brain felt like it had been stuffed full of maps, rules, warnings, and unspoken expectations. I clutched the small metal key they handed me like it might vanish if I let go.
My own Dorm room key.
Ashley examined hers with the same quiet fascination. "So… we actually live here now."
"Yeah," I said. "Oddly Luxurious as far as I can tell."
She smiled, then glanced toward the wide hall branching off to the side, where warm light and noise spilled freely. "Cafeteria?"
I didn't even pretend to hesitate.
If the cafeteria earlier had looked impressive, actually standing in it was something else entirely.
The ceiling arched high overhead, supported by thick stone pillars carved with old Vanguard insignias. Long tables filled most of the space, already crowded with awakened of all ages—some armored, some in casual clothes, some clearly exhausted. The air was thick with the smell of real food. Not ration bars. Not stale bread.
Real food.
Steam rose from serving counters lined with artifact-heated trays. Stew. Meat. Fresh vegetables. Bread so warm it practically glowed.
I froze mid-step.
"…Ashley," I said quietly. "I think I've found religion."
She followed my stare and smiled. "You're kidding."
"I have never been more serious in my life."
We grabbed trays and joined the line. I kept glancing at the food like it might disappear if I blinked too long. When the staff finally ladled a generous portion of stew onto my plate, something inside me nearly short-circuited.
Warm. Heavy. Smelled like herbs and actual effort.
'A gift from god. Yes, this Food must be granted by a God... Preferably a god that isn't going to commit genocide this time around, though.'
I sat down at the nearest open table and immediately dug in, burning my tongue and not caring in the slightest.
"Oh– wow," I mumbled through a mouthful. "This is– why is this so good?"
Ashley shook her head, amused, but started eating too. "You're acting like you've never had a proper meal."
"I haven't," I said bluntly. "Not like this."
I was already halfway through my bowl when someone slid into the seat across from us.
"First day?" a man asked pleasantly.
I looked up. He looked about our age, Polite smile and Pale Blonde hair. Clean clothes, relaxed posture. The kind of person who looked like he belonged here.
"Yeah," I said, gesturing vaguely with my spoon. "Is it that obvious?"
He chuckled. "Just the way you're eating. Takes people a while to stop acting like the food's going to be taken away."
Ashley's eyes flicked to him. Something cautious passed through them.
"That so?" she said.
"Oh, definitely," he replied smoothly. "You two should be careful, though. New awakeneds tend to get… overwhelmed. Push themselves too hard. Especially those without strong legacies."
His smile never faltered.
I nodded, still chewing. "Good advice."
Ashley stiffened.
"Well," the guy continued, leaning back slightly, "I'm sure you'll manage. Everyone has their place here, after all."
Something about the way he said place made the word feel smaller.
"Thanks," I said honestly. "Really."
Ashley stared at me like I'd just thanked someone for stepping on my foot.
She turned back to the guy, her smile sharp. "Funny. You talk a lot about limits for someone who's still sitting here picking on people half his rank."
His brows lifted, feigning surprise. "Picking on you? I was just being friendly."
"Then maybe try it without the condescension next time."
The table went quiet.
The man's smile thinned. "You should be careful how you speak–"
"That's enough."
A new voice cut in, calm but firm.
A man had stopped beside our table. Just as close to our age... probably. Tall. Confident in that effortless way that didn't need to prove itself. His pitch-black hair was neatly parted and styled, and his dark eyes were sharp without being hostile. His clothes were casual, but expensive in a way that didn't scream for attention.
The guy across from us stiffened immediately.
"I didn't realize this table was taken," the newcomer said mildly.
The implication hung heavy.
"O-of course," the blonde guy said quickly, standing up. "Didn't mean any trouble."
He shot Ashley a glare and walked off without another word.
I blinked. "Huh. Guess he remembered he had some unfinished business."
Ashley exhaled slowly. "Eli."
"What?"
She looked at the newcomer. "Thank you."
He nodded, then gestured to the empty seat. "Mind?"
"Please," she said.
He sat down, glancing between us. "You're new."
"First day," I said, lifting my spoon. "Still processing the miracle that is this stew."
That earned a faint smile. "You'll get used to it."
"I hope not," I said. "I want this feeling to last forever."