Day 47 in the secret realm
The chime came at 5:47 AM—fifteen minutes earlier than usual.
Nova's eyes opened instantly. Beside him, Priscilla stirred but didn't wake. He slipped out of bed carefully, pulling on his uniform while watching her sleep. The Moonlace seedling had grown another inch overnight, its silver bloom casting faint light across her face.
Beautiful, he thought. But she needs her own space. We both do.
He left a note on the pillow:
Mission board today. Back tonight. — N
The corridors were already active at this hour. A third-year couple stumbled out of a room across the hall, disheveled and laughing. Two first-years argued passionately about cultivation theory while walking backward toward their classes. A girl sat alone in a window alcove, reading by the light of the artificial sky.
Nova passed them all without acknowledgment.
The mission hall occupied the entire eastern wing of the academic complex—a massive space three stories high, its walls lined with crystalline displays that updated in real time. Hundreds of students filled the floor, their conversations creating a constant hum of noise and ambition.
Nova found an empty terminal and began scanning.
MISSION BOARD — CLASS C ACCESS
Filter by: Rank, Location, Reward, Difficulty
AVAILABLE MISSIONS:
Rank Mission Location Reward Status
F Rat infestation Academy sewers 15 merit points 27 available
E Gremlin patrol Eastern Forest 30 merit points 14 available
D Bandit scout Thornhill 75 merit points 6 available
D Herb collection Misty Valley 80 merit points 4 available
C Beast elimination Ferngrove Swamp 200 merit points 2 available
C Rescue operation Northmark 250 merit points 1 available
B Dungeon clear(F-rank) Abandoned mine 500 merit points 0 available
B Bandit leader capture Red Rock 550 merit points 0 available
A Dungeon clear(D-rank) Shadowfen 1,200 merit points LOCKED
........
Nova's eyes locked onto the C-rank mission in Ferngrove Swamp.
MISSION DETAILS:
Designation: C-47
Location: Ferngrove Swamp, 900 miles northeast of drop point
Objective: Retrieve Moonpetal Bloom (rare herb) from central swamp region
Client: Alchemist Guild, Eastern Branch
Threat Level: Moderate — Reported beasts: Bog Serpents (1st Order, 7-9 Rank), Swamp Hounds (1st Order, 4-6 Rank), unknown variables
Team Size: 3-5 recommended
Base Reward: 200 merit points
Bonus: Additional 50 points for specimen in pristine condition
Duration: 3-5 days estimated
850 miles northeast, Nova thought. The fragment's signal points northeast. This is it.
He accepted the mission.
MISSION ACCEPTED: C-47
Team slots: 2 of 3 filled
Departure: Tomorrow, 0600, Teleportation Hall 3
Bring: Standard equipment, camping supplies, swamp survival gear
The terminal spat out a small crystal—his mission token. Nova pocketed it and headed for the library.
Class C Library — 8:23 AM
The library occupied three levels of the academic complex, its shelves stretching into shadows that never quite resolved. Students sat at scattered tables, surrounded by floating holographic texts and ancient physical books.
Nova approached the circulation desk.
A bored-looking attendant—a fourth-year with tired eyes—glanced up. "Class?"
"C."
"Five hundred merit points initial credit. Standard for new arrivals." She gestured at a terminal. "Browse. Purchase. Don't damage anything. You break it, you buy it."
Nova accessed the catalog.
TECHNIQUE LIBRARY — CLASS C ACCESS
Filter by: Type, Grade, Cost
TELEPORTATION TECHNIQUES:
Technique Grade Cost Description
Blink Step F 30 pts Basic short-range teleport
Spatial Sense E 50 pts Improved landing precision
Phantom Movement D 80 pts Teleport with afterimage
Void Step C 150 pts Teleport through obstacles
Mass Teleport B 300 pts Move multiple targets
Locked A 500 pts Requires higher class
..........
SWORD TECHNIQUES:
Technique Grade Cost Description
Basic Forms F 20 pts Foundation training
Quick Draw E 45 pts Faster blade draw
Flowing Water D 75 pts Continuous attack pattern
Phantom Blade C 140 pts Strike from unexpected angles
Steel Wind B 280 pts Blade extension with mana
Locked A 450 pts Requires higher class
...........
UTILITY TECHNIQUES:
Technique Grade Cost Description
Mana Sense F 25 pts Detect mana fluctuations
Body Tempering E 60 pts Basic physical enhancement
Breath Control D 70 pts Extended stamina
Danger Sense C 160 pts Alert to hostile intent
Mana Shield C 180 pts Defensive barrier
Locked B 320 pts Requires higher class
...........
Nova calculated quickly.
Void Step: 150 pts
Flowing Water: 75 pts
Danger Sense: 160 pts
Total: 385 pts
He had 500. Enough for all three, with 115 left for emergencies.
PURCHASE CONFIRMED
Techniques downloaded to interface
Remaining merit points: 115
Knowledge flooded into his mind—footwork patterns for Void Step, the flowing rhythm of Flowing Water, the subtle awareness shift of Danger Sense. His body absorbed them like they'd always been there.
Good, he thought. Now to prepare.
Equipment Hall — 11:45 AM
The equipment hall was chaos—students pushing through aisles, arguing over limited supplies, testing weapons and armor with varying degrees of skill.
Nova gathered what he needed:
Swamp-proof boots (15 pts)
Water purification tablets (5 pts)
Emergency rations (10 pts)
Basic healing salves (20 pts)
Rope and grappling hook (10 pts)
Mana recovery pills (2x, 30 pts)
Total: 90 pts
Remaining: 25 pts
He'd use those for emergencies.
As he turned to leave, a voice stopped him.
"You're the one who took C-47."
Nova turned. Two students stood behind him—a boy and a girl, both in Class C uniforms. The boy was tall, broad-shouldered, with close-cropped brown hair and calculating eyes. The girl was shorter, leaner, with sharp features and a practiced smile.
"Leo Chen," the boy said, extending a hand. "2nd Order, 3rd Rank. Fire affinity. The mission terminal said you needed a team."
Nova studied his hand for a moment, then shook it. "Nova Almond."
"Hazel Wright." The girl's smile widened. "2nd Order, 2nd Rank. Wind affinity. Looks like we're teammates."
"Looks like."
Leo crossed his arms. "You're 2nd Order, 2nd Rank too. Same as Hazel. That puts us all at similar levels. Good balance."
"Meet at Teleportation Hall 3," he said. "0600. Don't be late."
He walked away, leaving them standing in the aisle.
Behind him, Hazel murmured something to Leo. Their voices were too low to hear, but Nova's enhanced senses—31% bloodline activation—caught fragments:
"—cold, isn't he?"
"—heard he's from Aetheria Prime branch—"
"—watch him closely—"
Class D Section — 6:47 PM
Priscilla found him outside her dormitory, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. When she approached, they opened immediately.
"You're back early."
"Missions tomorrow. Needed to prepare."
She studied his face. "Something's different. You're—" She searched for the word. "Focused. More than usual."
Nova considered lying. But this was Priscilla.
"There's something I need to do. On this mission. Something important."
"How important?"
"Life-changing."
She was quiet for a moment. Then she stepped closer, taking his hands.
"Does this have anything to do with the secrets you carry?"
Nova's jaw tightened. "I can't—"
"I know." She squeezed his fingers. "You don't have to tell me. Not yet. Maybe not ever." She looked up at him. "Just come back. That's all I ask."
He pulled her close, holding her against his chest.
"I'll come back."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
They stood together as the artificial sky darkened, the first stars appearing in patterns that didn't exist on Earth.
Teleportation Hall 3 — 5:55 AM
Nova arrived early.
The hall was smaller than he expected—a circular chamber with a raised platform at its center, covered in intricate formation patterns that glowed faintly blue. A technician waited nearby, checking instruments on a crystalline console.
Leo and Hazel arrived together at 5:58.
"Ready?" Leo asked.
Nova nodded.
The technician gestured them onto the platform. "Stand in the center. Don't move during transit. The formation will drop you at the Thornfield waypoint—that's 900 miles northeast, as requested. From there, you'll need ground transport to Ferngrove."
"How long until the swamp?" Hazel asked.
"Half day by vehicle. Maybe more if the roads are bad." The technician began activating the formation. "The city's been having beast problems lately. Stay alert. Stay together. Don't do anything stupid."
The formation flared to life.
Light engulfed them—blue-white and blinding. Space twisted, stretched, folded. For a disorienting moment, Nova existed between locations, suspended in nothing.
Then—
SLAM.
They landed on solid ground, stumbling, gasping.
The world had changed.
They stood in a small stone building—a waystation, by the look of it, with rough walls and a single door. Through the door's window, Nova could see trees. Normal trees. Normal sky. Normal air.
They were back on Earth.
"Fuck," Leo breathed. "I forgot how thin the air feels."
Hazel was already at the door, pushing it open. "Come on. We've got ground to cover."
Nova followed, one hand on his blade.
Outside, a dusty road stretched toward distant hills. Somewhere beyond them, Ferngrove Swamp waited.
And 850 miles northeast, a piece of his soul called to him.