The lecture hall of Horizon Primary Academy was built for the accelerated minds of the Ribbon-born.
The class took place exactly one week after the introductory session, a calculated delay designed to ensure the students had fully transitioned into the Academy's high-frequency environment.
The air was thick with the ozone scent of high-grade capacitors and the low, rhythmic thrum of the building's atmospheric stabilizers.
Kaelen sat in the third tier, his crimson thread vibrating at a steady Level 5.
Next to him, Mina Valerius was busy cleaning her face with wet tissues and combing her hair, trying to shake off a lingering sleepiness.
Kaelen looked at her and said, "I told you to go to bed early last night since we had class today. What were you doing so late at night?"
Mina pouted, her silver-grey eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at him. "You do not know! I was giving a video audition for a pop group, but it did not go well. I became hesitant, and they also said I need more practice."
Kaelen looked back at the holographic display and said softly, "Just keep going. You will eventually get the hold of this. Your voice is really good, so do not worry."
Mina sighed, leaning her head on her hand. "I hope so."
Leo, who was sitting directly behind them, leaned forward and whispered, "Mina, I think if not for your voice, they will accept you just for your beauty. You are really too beautiful. If I wasn't your friend, I would be intimidated by you too."
Mina's cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking both flattered and a bit flustered by the blunt compliment.
She turned her gaze back to Kaelen, her curiosity piqued. "Kaelen, why don't you ever become shy or intimidated near me?"
Kaelen went quiet, his gaze fixed on the podium.
In his mind, he thought: I was already older than thirty in my previous life. In this life, although my biology affects my mind and makes me behave like a young child, I still have my memories.
As Kaelen was lost in his thoughts, his face took on a distant, almost aloof expression.
To the others, he looked strangely arrogant, like a tiny philosopher contemplating the end of the world.
Mina, Leo, and Sora all exchanged glances, looking at the "arrogant" five-year-old beside them, and they started laughing softly at his serious demeanor.
Professor Vane walked into the hall and immediately brought the room to order by activating the central projector.
The holographic emitters hummed, casting a sharp light across the tiers of students.
The Architecture of Power
"To understand our world," Vane began, his voice carrying the weight of his Loom-phase authority, "you must understand the Fabric. And to understand the Fabric, you must understand the Veyron Lineage."
A holographic bust of a man appeared—sharp features and deep blue eyes exactly like Kaelen's.
"The First Scientist," Vane said respectfully. "His name was Alaric Veyron. He was the first to use abstract algebra to decode the mathematical logic of the Ribbon."
"He didn't just 'discover' power; he understood its fundamental syntax. In our present world, the Veyrons are the source of the Universal Stability Code."
"Together with the other Sovereign Families, they are responsible for holding our reality together."
Kaelen leaned forward, mesmerized by the blue eyes of his ancestor.
"The blood of Veyron is the most vital factor in the multiverse," Vane continued.
"Your ancestors currently sit at various edge nodes of our universe, using their Ribbon-integrated DNA to keep our reality stable."
"They hide our existence from higher-level beings who view smaller universes as mere resources. Other families provide the muscle, but Veyron provides the anchor."
The Twelve Pillars and the UCC
The projection shifted, showing twelve distinct family crests orbiting the Veyron center.
"While the Veyron DNA provides the stability code, the other Sovereign Families provide specialized support," Vane explained:
Veyron: The Source of the Universal Stability Code.
Valerius (Mina's House): Architects who create the massive Universe-Node guarding fortresses for the Veyrons to reside in.
Drakmor: The enforcers who keep breaches at various points in the universe in check through brute-force suppression.
Aetherion (Lyra's Lineage): Mentalists who create the most advanced AIs; they are literal calculating machines in human form.
"But power requires management," Vane continued. "The Unified Council of the Cosmos (UCC) manages those with and without Sovereign DNA."
"Through the Genetic Contract System, they distribute tools based on merit."
The hologram displayed the standard progression:
Level 100 (Thread Complete): Grants a Tier 200 Combat Armor.
Level 200 (Strand Complete): Leases a Personal Mecha.
The Question of Secrets
A student from the back row, a commoner named Ren, raised his hand.
"Professor, why aren't we allowed these sovereign family technologies? If everyone had the 'Master Code,' wouldn't the universe be safer?"
Vane's expression turned grave. "Ren, knowledge of this level is not just a tool; it is a blueprint for the universe."
"If a group of space pirates or those with ill intent learned the secrets of the Stability Code, they wouldn't just steal ships—they could accidentally, or intentionally, collapse a spatial node."
"They could unbalance the very math that keeps us hidden from the higher-plane predators."
Vane walked toward the center of the stage. "However, the Sovereign status is not just about blood, it is about the mind."
"If you, or anyone, discovers a truly new mathematical or physical principle of the Ribbon on your own—something that adds a new layer of stability—you too can be recognized as a Sovereign Family."
"But until then, we keep the secrets to keep the peace."
The Realization
Kaelen looked at his hands. He realized his childhood was a luxury bought by the constant mathematical labor of his bloodline.
He wasn't just a student; he was a piece of the code that kept the darkness at bay.
"They expect us to be the next generation of anchors," Mina whispered. "But I just want to sing, Kael."
"Maybe singing is a way to stabilize the frequency," Kaelen replied, his crimson thread pulsing.
"If the universe is held together by math, then music is just math that feels good. You might just be singing a song that keeps a fortress standing."
Mina looked at him, surprised. "You really do see everything as a system, don't you?"