A boy named Airen, a Skyborn.
At first, doctors called it rare. The healthy baby laughed and grew, but clouds followed him everywhere. Born with the undiscovered ability called Gate, his father revered him while his mother shunned him away, thinking she had given birth to a cursed son.
In the town of Frostford, murmurs of the 'Skyborn' child spread like fire, alluring unwanted observers and wary skeptics alike. The skies above seemed to reflect the child's every sensation, casting gloom or radiance across the village.
His father, Renard, an enlightened scholar, believed that the boy's birth was a prophetic intuition, a drive of change that the ancient manuscripts of the tower foretold.
The Tower pierced the clouds far beyond Frostford—a colossal spire where climbers ascended hundreds of floors, each level holding beasts and trials.
Yet, his mother's fear was rooted in old tales of demise of those chosen by the sky, stories that spoke of 'Skyborn' falling into madness.
She couldn't bear to look at him during mealtime, her hands trembling as she set her plate down at the far end of the dining table. Once, when Airen was playing outside he scraped his knee, and ran crying to her–the sky immediately darkened with his pain. She was stunned, not knowing what to say, before backing away with a horror-scarred expression.
Renard had bandaged the wound instead. After that Airen learned to keep his distance, watching her from across rooms like a ghost haunting his own home.
As the boy grew older, his abilities unfolded with his growth. Gate, this power bestowed upon him as he came into the world finally manifested. He can travel to any point he has been to before just with the command "Gate" and a vague thought of the location in mind. His mastery of Gate skyrocketed. He gained the nickname Cloud Prodigy.
Most people awakened one ability in their lifetime, if they were fortunate enough to awaken at all. Combat skills and elemental control were common. But 'Gate' was different. Spatial abilities appeared once in a generation, and none had ever manifested with such precision in someone so young.
Townspeople questioned his growth, "Could he be a god-given blessing, or an unwarranted disaster." He was treated highly by tower-climbers, who saw him as a new light for the tower. On the other hand, those who feared him treated him as if they wanted to weed him out before his potential bloomed.
The tower-climber academy accepted only fifty students each year from across the region. Graduates became elite climbers, sponsored by nobles and guilds. For Airen, acceptance meant protection–the Academy's barrier spell allowed only admitted students and professors to enter. Failure meant remaining in Frostford, exposed.
The tower-climber academy admissions test was being held in 2 months. Renard mentioned it to Airen. "Go there and win, my son. Airen, you must WIN."
This was Airen's chance. He withdrew to the northern woods, a place where clouds hung low and thick—where he could train unseen. For one month, he refined Gate until he could split space with a thought, until he could arrive at a location before his own heartbeat finished its rhythm.
But those who feared him saw his isolation differently. They saw an opportunity.
The clouds shifted and Airen sensed the presence of four assassins harboring immense blood-lust. "Gate", he said. Airen appeared standing in front of the 4 assassins. Coordinated attacks happened immediately as the lead assassin yelled, "TEAR HIM APART! KILL THE SKYBORN!" Airen whispered. "Gate."
Airen's intent to kill faded away as he realized these people were humans too. The clouds were a mix of darkness and light reflecting his uncertainty.
His father's words came to mind, "Airen, you must WIN."
"Gate."
Thunder shook the ground as space split. The clouds turned deep red filled with his anger, malice, and will to survive. He put his hand through the gate and grasped an assassin's head, the man frozen in shock before the space closed. Airen's stomach churned. The clouds shuddered, flickering between crimson rage and sickly pale guilt.
Three remained. Airen's hand was still warm with blood. The clouds darkened further.
The assassins all froze. Realizing their lives were on the line against Airen. The smaller one—barely bigger than Airen himself—took a step back, his blade trembling.
"Gate."
Airen appeared behind him. Before the boy could react, space split around his torso. When it closed, the assassin saw the bottom half of his body detached. The clouds pulsed with crimson fury, thunder rolling overhead like a war drum.
Two remained.
The lead assassin gritted his teeth and charged, desperation overriding fear. The other moved in unison flanking on the right, trying to corner Airen. Very coordinated, but very predictable at the same time.
Airen simply said, "It's futile."
"Gate." He vanished as their blades met at where he'd stood. "Gate." He reappeared behind the lead assassin and shoved him aside. "Gate." Space opened beneath the flanking assassin's feet—not to another location, but thirty feet straight up. The man fell, screaming. When he hit the rocks below, bone cracked. The screaming stopped.
One remained.
The final assassin dropped his weapon and guard. He frantically pleaded for mercy, "Please SPARE MY LIFE, I HAVE A WIFE—"Airen froze. Clouds flickered, red bleeding into sickly yellow-green. Uncertainty struck him.
"You must WIN." His father's voice echoed again. "Win? Is this what you call winning?" Airen thought. Airen looked at the man trembling, eyes wide, face struck with horror.
"Run," Airen whispered. "Go to your wife and never come back"
The man showed no hesitation. He bolted upright and fled into the woods, disappearing into the trees.
Airen stood alone among the bodies and let out a deep sigh. The clouds above him shuddered between pale guilt and exhausted gray. His hands wouldn't stop shaking. He had won.
But the blood
on his hands was still warm.
The Tower Academy's testing grounds sprawled across fifty acres of enchanted marble and ancient stone. Nearly three hundred applicants stood in neat rows, but whispers rippled through the crowd the moment Airen arrived.
"That's him—the Skyborn."
"I heard he killed four men in the woods."
"The clouds follow him everywhere."
The clouds darkened. Airen ignored the whispers and took his place within the rows of applicants.
A man strode onto the raised platform at the front—broad-shouldered, with a scar running from temple to jaw. "Alright, alright, settle down everyone. The exam will begin shortly." He grinned, showing teeth. "My name is Hugo, and I'll be your first examiner. Only two hundred of you will pass my test."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"The first test will be... a RACE!" Hugo's grin widened. "All powers and abilities are allowed. Sabotage is encouraged. Just one rule—no killing." He pointed to the distant treeline. "First two hundred to reach the Tower gate, three miles north, move on. The rest go home. Any questions?"
Silence.
"Good. On my mark—"
Airen's mind raced. Three miles. Gate could take him there instantly, but he'd need to have been to the location before. He'd never set foot at the Tower gate.
"GO!"
The applicants exploded forward. Abilities flashed everywhere—flight, super speed, elemental control.
Airen ran. No flight. No speed enhancement. Just Gate and his legs.
A flyer dove at him, eyes locked. "Out of the way, Skyborn!"
The flyer slammed into him, driving him to the ground. Pain exploded across Airen's ribs. The clouds above flickered red with anger—but Airen forced himself to stay calm. He couldn't afford to waste energy on revenge. He scrambled up and kept running.
Airen is lacking behind the group. He checks his surroundings for any familiar areas, but spots nothing.
The ground trembled. Blocks of stone from the starting platform shot forward like projectiles, moving along the race path ahead of the applicants. They didn't fall randomly—they moved with purpose, guided by invisible force.
Hugo laughed from the platform. "Oh, I forgot to mention—it wouldn't be that easy. The course... evolves."
Airen looked up, watching the stones move. A single cloud drifted above one block—then another—tracing a path. It was almost like... guidance.
Understanding struck. The clouds weren't random. They were showing him the pattern. The safe route through the chaos.
Thunder cracked overhead as Airen opened a gate ahead of him. Not to the finish line—he didn't know that location yet—but to where the clouds pointed. Forward. Safe passage through the moving stones.
He jumped through.
When he emerged, applicants were still fifty yards behind him. He was in the top twenty now, the Tower gate finally visible in the distance.
Hugo chuckled. "Seems like the Skyborn is finally awakening." He nodded toward the gate. "Welcome to the Academy, applicants. Rest up. The second exam begins at dawn."
A girl with long black hair approached him as the crowd dispersed. Her expression was calm rather than curious or fearful.
"Hello, Skyborn," she said. "I've heard a lot about you."
Airen's jaw tightened, "I have a name you know."
"Ah yes—Airen," she smiled lightly. "I'm Yona. I wanted to talk to you about the next exam."
"What about it?"
"I heard its a group project." She paused, watching his reaction. "I was thinking maybe we could partner up."
Airen studied her. No fear in her eyes. No hostility either. Just… calculation. "Why would you want to partner with me?"
"Because everyone else is afraid of you," Yona said simply. "And fear makes people stupid. I'd rather work with someone competent." She tilted her head. "Besides, those clouds of yours are useful. And I have something you need."
"Which is?"
"Information." She glanced toward the examiners' platform. "The second test isn't just about power. It's about control. And from what I saw in the race, you're still figuring yours out."
"You sure about that?" Airen gestured vaguely at the sky. "Because my 'competence' apparently includes needing weather patterns to tell me where to go. Real inspiring stuff."
"Better than the guy who flew into a boulder," Yona replied without missing a beat.
"Fair." Airen cracked the smallest smile. "Alright. Hello, teammate Yona. Now care to explain this 'information' that you have?"
Yona glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "The second exam is a team survival trial. Groups of two navigate a simulated Tower floor—traps, illusions, monsters. Most teams fail because of a lack of coordination."
"And you think we'll coordinate better?" Airen asked.
"I think we have something most teams don't." She lowered her voice further "I've also read about Skyborn in the Academy archives. The clouds aren't just a reflection of your emotions—they're tied to your life force. Use them too much without understanding and you'll be consumed by the clouds. That's what the 'madness' was. Previous Skyborn consumed by the clouds, fell into rage and destroyed everything in their path before destroying themselves."
Airen's stomach tightened. His mother's words echoed in his mind.
"In a survival trial, you'll be under constant pressure," Yona continued, "If you try to rely on the clouds like you did in the race, without control, you won't make it through. That's where I come in."
"What's your ability?"
She held up her hand. A faint magic circle appeared in her palms branching out to each of her fingers, like circuits growing beneath her skin. "Conduit." She didn't elaborate, just met his eyes. "I can make sure you don't kill yourself using those clouds. Trust me—you'll need it."
Airen considered this. If the clouds really were draining his life force, having someone who could control it… He extended his hand with mock solemnity. "Yona, I am now within your care."
The two hundred remaining applicants gathered at dawn in a courtyard surrounded by towering stone walls etched with glowing runes.
A woman stepped onto the platform—tall, silver-haired, with eyes like steel. "I am Examiner Sera. The second test begins now."
She gestured. Behind her, a massive doorway materialized, leading into darkness.
"I welcome you all to… The Labyrinth. A shifting maze filled with traps, illusions, and creatures. Reach the center, each team member MUST place their hands on the labyrinth token to pass. After 50 teams touch the token it will be deactivated and the rest of you fail."
She paused. "The Labyrinth reads your fears and exploits your weaknesses. You have two hours."
Teams began moving toward the entrance.
Airen glanced at Yona. "Ready?"
"Stay close and don't burn yourself out in the first five minutes."
Airen laughed. "Don't worry. I'll try not to explode."
"Good. Let's go." She smirked back.
They stepped into the darkness.
The darkness gave way to dim green light. Vast stone walls stretched upward, covered in thick moss that glowed faintly. The ceiling was lost in shadow—if there even was one.
A torn map lay on the ground near the entrance. Airen picked it up. Crude but legible—a path marked in red ink leading to the center.
"Too easy," Yona muttered.
"Agreed. But it's a start." Airen pocketed the map.
They kept moving, footsteps echoing off the stone. Other teams scattered in different directions, their voices fading into the maze.
The first turn came quickly.
A low growl rumbled from around the corner.
Airen and Yona froze. The growl deepened, followed by the scrape of claws on stone. Something massive stepped into view—a creature half bear, half something ancient and wrong. Its eyes glowed the same sickly green as the moss.
It charged.
"Airen, move!" Yona stepped forward, hands extended. The circuits beneath her skin flared bright.
The bear's momentum shifted mid-charge—not stopping, but redirecting. Its massive body twisted sideways, slamming into the stone wall with bone-crushing force. It roared with confusion and pain.
Before it could recover, Airen acted. "Gate."
He appeared above the beast, hand extended. Space split around the creature's neck. When it closed, the bear collapsed, lifeless.
Airen landed, breathing hard. The clouds overhead flickered—crimson edged with gray.
"Nice teamwork," Yona said, lowering her hands. "But watch those clouds. That's twice you've used them today."
Airen glanced up. She was right. They were darker than before.
"Let's keep moving."
They moved deeper into the labyrinth, More creatures emerged from the shadows—twisted things with too many limbs. More traps activated beneath their feet—spikes, fire, collapsing floors. Each time, Airen used Gate, the clouds above darkened.
By the time they neared the center, his vision blurred at the edges. His legs felt like lead.
"Airen, you need to slow down," Yona warned.
"We're almost there." He pushed forward.
The final corridor opened into a vast chamber. In the center, a glowing token pulsed with golden light—but there was a massive shadow looming over them in front of it. A creature of shadow and stone, twice the size of the bear, with eyes like burning coals.
It roared.
Airen didn't hesitate. "Gate." he appeared beside it, hand extended to split space around its head.
Nothing happened.
The clouds above had turned pitch black. His knees buckled.
The creature's massive claw swung down.
"AIREN!" Yona grabbed his arm. The circuits beneath her skin blazed brilliant white. She stepped in front of him, redirecting the creature's strikes as Airen's eyes rolled back.
"Airen please get up we have to go!" Yona exclaimed.
Airen fell into his inner consciousness.
"W-Where am I?" Airen questioned.
A voice started echoing, "Worthless outcast. Monster. YOU'LL NEVER BELONG."
Airen was fading his arms slowly disappearing into the darkness.
Suddenly, a loud voice thundered, "YOU ARE A SKYBORN."
Airen's fading stopped. "Who are you? Why am I here" he questioned.
"You will understand in time, young one. But know this—you are a Skyborn. We do not bow to fear. So, GET UP!" The voice asserted.
Airen jolted upwards.
"You're back!" Yona smiled.
Airen glanced toward the monster's direction. "On my mark Yona."
"Ready when you are." She replied
"Gate." Airen opened a portal behind the creature. Yona redirected its own attack—the massive claw swinging through the gate, striking the beast in its own back. It howled and collapsed.
They ran.
Both hands slammed onto the token simultaneously. Golden light flared, and the world shifted.
They emerged gasping into sunlight. Other teams stumbled out of various exits around the courtyard—some celebrating, others limping, a few carrying unconscious partners.
Examiner Sera stood on the platform, arms crossed. When the last team exited, she raised her hand. The labyrinth doorways sealed shut.
"Fifty teams remain," she announced. "Congratulations. You've proven you can survive, coordinate, and adapt." Her steel eyes swept across them. "You are now students of the Tower Academy."
Cheers erupted. Airen exhaled, his legs finally giving out. He sat heavily on the ground. Yona dropped beside him, equally exhausted.
"We did it," she breathed.
Airen looked up. The clouds above had settled into a calm, silver-gray. Not dark. Not threatening. Just… there.
A new figure stepped onto the platform beside Sera—an older man with a long white beard and robes covered in stars. His voice carried across the courtyard with surprising strength.
"Welcome, students, to your new home. I am Headmaster Valen." He smiled, but there was something knowing in his expression. "You've passed two exams. You've earned your place here."
He paused.
"Now for your third exam… Enjoy your stay!"
Confused murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"The tower is your exam now. Prove yourselves worthy." He explained
Valen spotted Airen in the crowd. "I look forward to what you can doSkyborn."
Airen looked up. The clouds shifted to pale blue—for the first time, they looked like hope.