Volume 1: Path – [Academy Arc]
Chapter 14: Thalos Academy
'The place you're going to is where all people like you and even nobles like your friend Uriel go after awakening their affinities.'
'It's a beginner academy designed to help you understand your affinities better, give you a deeper understanding of the world you'll live in, and provide real-life combat experience.'
'There are a total of seven academies, each corresponding to one of the seven churches spread across the world.'
'I'm going to say this one final time - stay low until you've fully awakened your affinity, otherwise you will get bullied by others.'
'Oh, by the way, which church do you attend?'
'None, I'm an atheist.'
'Well, you're in big trouble. Don't go around saying that word in the academies; if you do, you'll be targeted. You haven't even started cultivating yet, and with no power, you'd be dead in seconds.'
'Since you're friends with Uriel, we'll send you to the academy she's attending. You can see her again, but whether you want to meet her or not is your choice.'
'You will be going to the Thalos Academy.'
Many cars have stopped infront of a huge entrance one by one people started getting out of them, in black car a 16 year old boy got out and that is Caelus, he closed the door of the car as the car went by behind him, as he looked at the towering stone archway made from deep slate-gray obsidian-like stone. At the top center, an enormous stone hourglass is embedded into the arch structure and the glass is crystal clear under daylight. The hourglass is held in a wrought iron-like frame and the outer edges of the arch are carved with sharp, precise geometric grooves, resembling time markers.
"So, this is the Thalos Academy. It's beautiful and amazing." Caelus stood in awe before the entrance of the academy. His eyes traced the tall, thin trees lining both sides of the walkway with pale silver-blue bark and matte blue-gray leaves that didn't reflect light, adding to the solemn aesthetic. The wide path beneath his feet was paved with smooth stone tiles, etched with faint sigils and symbols like a forgotten language carved with precision.
He walked forward, breathing in the crisp air. The temperature was neither too hot nor too cold, it was just a pleasant, calm warmth.
He glanced around and noticed other male students wearing the same uniform as him.
A long, dark navy coat with a sleek, structured design. It had a high, stand-up collar and long sleeves with minimal detailing. An asymmetrical seam ran across the front, giving it a modern touch. On the left chest was a large embroidered hourglass symbol, which was precise and centered. Thin, angular line patterns stitched across the coat's front and sleeves gave it a clean geometric flair without being too flashy. It was knee-length with a straight cut at the bottom and a front slit for ease of movement.
The pants were slim-fit and tailored, tapering subtly at the ankle. Made from the same dark navy fabric, they featured a single crease down the front, no pockets, no belt loops; it's just a seamless, minimal look. The hem stopped just above the shoes with no extra bunching.
And for the girls' uniform, it was similar in theme and color, the girls wore a fitted navy dress-coat that extended to mid-thigh, with long sleeves and a stand-up collar. It featured the same hourglass symbol on the chest and similar geometric stitch patterns, but with slightly curved lines along the waist for a more tailored silhouette. Beneath, they wore dark leggings that blended with polished ankle-length boots. The outfit carried the same minimalist elegance as the male's uniform.
Caelus walked toward the entrance, noticing a long line of students being processed one by one.
Through the crowd, he spotted academy staff strapping sleek, dark wristwatches onto each student's wrist as they entered. The devices looked minimal, thin, black bands with a faintly glowing edge.
As each watch locked into place, a sharp click was followed by a barely audible hiss. Students winced, some gritting their teeth or clenching their fists as the sting was brief but clearly unpleasant.
'The hell is that? I hate injections," Caelus muttered, already feeling a phantom pain in his wrist. "I wish I could avoid this... but if I remember right, Michael said the watch isn't just for show.'
The device, known as a Chronolink, functioned as a tracker, a personal identity verifier, a communication node for student-wide announcements, and even a direct channel to instructors. It could sync to the academy's time-based training schedules, display one's performance metrics, and lock or unlock access to different areas based on the rank a student has.
In a few minutes, his turn arrived. The staff member before him was a woman who appeared to be around eighteen years old. She stood with a calm, composed demeanor, her expression unreadable yet professional.
She had striking green hair, styled in a loose bun with curled strands framing her face. A single white flower was tucked neatly into her hair, adding a soft contrast to her otherwise academic appearance. Her eyes matched her hair which is the color vivid emerald green, framed by round glasses that rested delicately on her nose. She wore the academy's formal attire the fitted navy dress-coat with the embroidered hourglass emblem, and subtle geometric stitching giving her silhouette both grace and authority. A pair of green drop earrings shimmered faintly with each movement.
She adjusted her glasses and looked at Caelus with a gentle yet focused gaze before holding up a Chronolink in her hand. "Wrist, please."
Unlike the boys before him who stumbled and stared at her in awe, Caelus felt nothing. It wasn't because he was uninterested in women, but because he had already given his heart to someone. Even if someone more beautiful than her stood before him, he would simply ignore her.
He extended his arm without hesitation, offering his wrist.
The staff member gave a small nod of approval as she prepared to strap the Chronolink onto his wrist. Caelus hesitated briefly, then spoke with a sheepish voice, "Could you please do it gently? I'm scared of needles… like injections."
She let out a soft, genuine laugh, covering her mouth with her left hand. Her laughter carried lightly through the air, catching the attention of a few nearby students and most of them boys, who found themselves momentarily mesmerized.
With a soft voice, she replied, "It's okay. It doesn't hurt at all. Oh, by the way, where are you from?"
As she spoke, she gently strapped the Chronolink onto his wrist.
"I'm from Kaelvara," he answered.
The cold metal touched his skin and immediately adjusted itself, fitting snugly with a smooth mechanical shift. Caelus was distracted, focused more on the conversation than the process.
"Hmm… I've never heard of that country. Is it in Caldrith or Velmira continents?"
There was a soft click as the clasp locked, followed by a quick sting like a hair-thin needle pressing into a vein. Caelus flinched slightly, caught off guard, but the sensation was fleeting. Thanks to the distraction of conversation, the discomfort barely registered.
"It's in Velmira. How did you know it was between those two?" he asked, glancing at the newly fitted Chronolink on his wrist.
A soft blue ring pulsed along the edge of the device before fading.
"Synchronization complete," she said calmly. "You'll begin receiving notifications shortly."
She smiled slightly. "That's because I'm from Caldrith too. Caldrith and Velmira share a landmass and are close together. Your accent leaned Caldrith, and the name of your country sounded familiar sort of like older regional names I've read about, and Velmira is heavily influenced by ancient traditions, so I felt it would be this one maybe. I used to remember every country perfectly, but lately, I've been forgetting a few names."
"That's impressive. I hope your health stays good, and thank you."
"No problem. Oh, before you go, I forgot to ask your name?"
"My name is Caelus. Caelus Throne."
"I'll remember that. And make sure you remember mine, Lily Ashford. Have a great first day."
"Thank you."
Caelus looked down at the Chronolink as he walked into the academy. The interface lit up briefly, showing his name, ID number, and an empty performance graph. It then dimmed, returning to its default state, unobtrusive but ever-present.
"Next," Lily called out behind him, moving on to the student after him.
Caelus lowered his wrist and stepped forward, now marked as an official student of Thalos Academy.
Just then, he heard a cluster of whispers rising beside and behind him.
"Oh my god, she is so beautiful."
"Is she a senior? No way she's our age from her height."
"Look at the entrance she came from. That's the VIP gate, which means she's a high-class noble."
"Yeah, bro… she has such a noble aura, like she doesn't even belong on the same floor as us."
"Her uniform even looks more tailored."
"I think that's silk trim on her cuffs… definitely custom."
A pause fell as another voice, softer and filled with awe, added one final line:
"She is Uriel Evernight from the Evernight family."
...
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